The Crooked Spire by Chris Nickson

The year is 1361 and Black Death has crossed the land.  John is an orphan, who's only real skill in life is being able to "feel" wood and knows instinctively how to cut the wood and what it's best used for.  This skill gets him a job at the church.  It also leads him into murder...

Mr. Nickson gave me a copy of this ebook to read for review (thank you).  The book has been published, so check with your local bookstore for a copy.

John goes to work early one morning and finds the foreman dead on the floor of the church.  He becomes a suspect because he is alone when he finds the body and there's no one else around.  This concerns him enough that he becomes a bit careless at work and ends up breaking his arm.  There's no way to know yet if this ends his career but it certainly ends his current job.

I like the way Mr. Nickson fleshed out this story.  He starts with a lone male who meets a young man and chats with him a bit.  He goes to the house the boy has recommended and rents a room from the widow.  The widow befriends him and so do other members of the village.  He even gets to do some work on the case since he's unemployed at the moment.  

The time period the story is set in is interesting.  Laws and rules were different then.  Family life is poor.  But most people are happy despite that.  It's the greedy ones that cause the problems.

When John finds himself in danger because of the questions he's asking, his position becomes tenuous.  How can he find out who the murderer is without offending those in power?  And will his new romance with the young man's sister survive if he can't work again?

I enjoyed this story.  I also see that it's the first book in a new series.  I'll be watching for more.  The author made me like his characters and I want to watch them develop.  Life is not easy, but when is it ever?

Happy reading.