“Michael Jecks is a national treasure”Scotland on Sunday
Bloody Mary Tudor Mystery Series featuring Jack Blackjack: The Reluctant Assassin
Meet Jack Blackjack, probably the worst assassin in London. All he wants is an easy life, good pay, and ideally several friendly women of negotiable virtue – but these are not easy to come by in Queen Mary Tudor’s England. And his reputation will keep going before him!
Jack has the misfortune to have been found at the scene of a murder, and his new friend, John Blount, thinks he is the ideal man for the job of removing certain “obstacles” in the way of his employer’s ambitions … so Jack is soon provided with a good, fat income, bonuses, a house, a new suit of clothes, and occasional tasks which are not at all to his taste!
“a thoroughly enjoyable and engaging romp through mid 16th century London”
Shots Magazine
The Art of Murder:
Nick Morris is a keen watercolourist with an unfortunate portfolio of cat paintings. He is not a cat lover. He would much prefer to be out painting landscapes, but he is developing an embarrassing habit of discovering dead bodies.
In his first novel he visits a wonderful old manor house converted into a hotel, but the owner, his subject, is not keen on the idea of a painting. In his second outing, Nick soon discovers that a successful businessman may want a decent painting of his landscape, but there may be more to this than meets the eye. And next, his third adventure, will involve travelling all the way to Italy, where student artists are keen to learn all he can tell them. But as usual, danger stalks his path …
“A delightfully realistic protagonist and plenty of madcap scenarios add up to a fun read.”
Kirkus Reviews
Shanghailanders:
“skilfully brings 1920s Shanghai alive: the teeming streets, the dodgy businessmen, the shady establishments, the drink, the women, the drugs and the murders … More please.”
Michael Ridpath
In 1920s Shanghai only the toughest police officers survive. China is a land of warlords all competing to rule. Civil war, war-stocks of guns, drugs, alcohol, gambling and prostitution make this a supremely dangerous place for the unwary.
When a rich banker’s chauffeur is murdered, Rod Cottey of the Shanghai Municipal Police Force has to risk everything to find the murderer.
“Pacy, atmospheric and steeped in intrigue, this is a thriller that truly thrills.”
Peter Lovesey
The Vintener Trilogy:
“What an absolute joy the trilogy by Michael Jecks was.”
The three books outline the appalling horrors of the Hundred Years War with the first three major battles: Crecy, Calais and Poitiers. We follow Berenger Fripper’s vintaine of archers as they take the long march to these battles, and while we join this band of brothers as they suffer hardship and danger, we also see the world through their eyes and the eyes of their victims, the French refugees forced to flee from their path.
“More magic by the master of the medieval”
Quintin Jardine
“A textbook example of how to blend action and detection in a historical”Publishers Weekly
The Templar Series:
The series that started my journey as an author – the stories of Sir Baldwin de Furnshill and his friend and companion, Bailiff Simon Puttock.
Sir Baldwin is Keeper of the King’s Peace, a knight with a warrant to hunt down felons from hundred to hundred, while Simon is a peacekeeper on Dartmoor, reporting to the Abbot of Tavistock. This series follows their lives, seeing the tumultuous changes that occurred during the reign of King Edward II, leading to civil war and the King’s abdication.
“A gem of historical storytelling … authentic recreation of the modes and manners, superstitions and primitive fears that made up the colourful but brutal tableau of the Middle Ages”
Northern Echo
The First Crusade:
The First Crusade, the long, brutal pilgrimage that led to so many wars over the centuries – this is the story of two brothers on their journey: one a committed Christian seeing this as his own route to salvation, the other a worldly man seeking only rewards here on earth. But in the fierce fighting, both will find their convictions and their relationships tested to the extreme.
“Customers find the story great, accurate, and well-written. They appreciate the come-to-life characters and interesting characterisation. Readers describe the book as fantastic, riveting, and brilliant. They also mention it’s a good read.”
Amazon Quote
Scavengers:
“An instant classic British spy novel. Mature, thoughtful, and intelligent. Highly recommended.”
Lee Child
When Danny Lewin is found dead in a remote Alaskan cabin, there seems little doubt that it was suicide.
When the Cold War ended, Jack Case was one spy too many. After 9/11 there was a rash of new recruits: younger, talented specialists. But they were often poorly trained. They swiftly became mired in embarrassments, which is why Jack was pushed into the new Scavenger team, to tidy up their mess.
Lewin’s death is just one more situation that needs to be tidied up.
At least, that is what Jack was told. But once in Alaska, he discovers that there is much more to this case. The rules of the game have changed, and now Jack must impose his own rules: Scavenger rules.
“Better than Baldacci!”
Review on Amazon
Medieval Murderers:
“A thoroughly enjoyable read”
Daily Mail
Nearly a quarter of a century ago, four medieval crime writers happened to meet in a pub. That meeting was to lead to Medieval Murderers, a performance group of crime writers who travelled across the UK giving talks. Then, because it was fun, Bernard Knight, Ian Morson, Michael Jecks, Susanna Gregory, Karen Maitland, Philip Gooden and CJ Sansom collaborated on a book, The Tainted Relic – which was to become the first of ten books in the Medieval Murderer series. All novels formed from our individual characters, leading to sweeping stories that flow over the centuries, and books that should be kept in any historical crime library!
“The various excellent crime writers each weave a clever and inventive tale around a central theme”
Good Book Guide
Short Stories and Collaborations:
Over the years I have been asked to write a number of short stories for collections, and I am glad to be able to present two collections here of my earlier stories. However, I also list all those anthologies which have included my works, as well as those collaborative efforts with The Detection Club and others.
“Another fantastic work from the superb Michael Jecks”