Without a Trace

The Chronicles of Hugh de Singleton, Surgeon, Book 12

By: Mel Starr

Narrated by: Steven Crossley

Length: 8 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

Lady Philippa, the wife of Sir Aymer, a knight of the realm, disappears while travelling from her husband’s manor to Bampton. She and her maid are traveling in an enclosed wagon, while her husband and his grooms and a squire are mounted.

When the party arrives at Bampton Castle neither the lady nor her maid are within the enclosed wagon: they have simply vanished. As the disappearance may have happened while the travelers were on Lord Gilbert’s lands, his surgeon and bailiff, Hugh de Singleton, is assigned to discover what has happened to the lady. Has she been taken? Her has she fled her husband?

A few days later her husband receives a ransom demand, and Hugh is named to deliver the money. Why him? The ransom is paid, but the lady is not returned. Can Hugh help find her, or is it already too late?

©2019 Mel Starr (P)2019 Blackstone Publishing

WELCOME BACK STEVEN CROSSLEY!!

When I first began listening to this wonderful series, it was Crossley’s vocal performance that brought the story to life. Then, he was replaced. The next reader was adequate, but did not rise to Crossley’s skill. Thank you Mr. Crossley for returning to grace our imaginations of Starr’s story of mysteries, crimes and miscreants at work, with your superlative performance.

Excellent original storylines and narration

This, book 12, may be one of the best in the series. I particularly appreciate Hugh's application of his reading and understanding of Holy Writ to his final actions in the resolution of such a quandary.

Amazing

Inter in medieval life. Family s of average daily mind set victims along with a delightful family. Love this story . What a treat.

I LOVE this series!! High de Singleton = excellent

This whole series is wonderful. Hugh de Singleton, is humble, makes mistakes & gets there in the end. The characters are well formed & so are the mysteries. The details are correct historically. I just really really enjoyed all of it & HOPE that they release 13 & 14 in audio format (and 15 when it comes out) Steven Crossley is wonderful - as usual!!

One of the best in the series

I really enjoyed this story. It had a nice, leisurely pace, with enough action to hold my interest. I hope that Audible will soon have Mel Starr's two new books in this series available to audible listeners.

Almost love

Read almost the entire series and like the characters and stories. But Starr has the tendency to write an intriguing mystery that builds for chapters then ends with someone more or less admitting the crime in its entirety w very little prompting in the last couple chapters. Everytime I go from a 4-5 stars to a 3 because I'm aggravated by the abrupt endings. Such a talented writer but bad finisher.

These get better and better!!!

Another excellent story from Mel Starr! This is thoroughly enjoyable and the author explains the fact that the places and some characters are historically accurate. Very interesting!!

Another great instalment

I have been thoroughly enjoying the series so far, this book did not disappoint. However, having listened to both, I definitely prefer Bruce's reading over Croasley's. Tim Bruce sounds younger, which fits the character better and has that wonderful mischievous cadence that really suits with Mel Starr's sarcastic and humorous asides. Having said that, this book, like most of the others in the series, falls short in the end. It's almost like Starr gets bored and rushes the endings in stories that he has done such a great job cultivating. The endings just feel a little lackluster where a previously devious malefactor suddenly spills the beans with little pushing or investigation. If he turned the last chapter into maybe 3 well written ones, these books would be truly wonderful.

Superb

Mel Starr and this reader (who’s name escapes me at this time) are superb!
The research and literary value alone are exceptional. This exceeds many scholarly articles and books- I’ve read too many to number. The reader is well educated and well spoken and conveys the sentiment and meaning flawlessly. This is all around entertaining, educational, and the cast entirely likable.

Entertaining light reading

I really liked the book series; it's well written with amenable characters, a nice historical setting and is perfect for distraction.

It doesn't have great character development, turns or an amazing plot. But there's nothing wrong with that,
it does serve its purpose.