Spotlight/Giveaway: The King's Justice by E.M Powell

Publication Date: June 1, 2018

Thomas & Mercer

Paperback & eBook; 288 Pages

ISBN-978-1542046015

Series: Stanton and Barling #1

Genre: Historical Mystery

A murder that defies logic—and a killer on the loose.

England, 1176. Aelred Barling, esteemed clerk to the justices of King Henry II, is dispatched from the royal court with his young assistant, Hugo Stanton, to investigate a brutal murder in a village outside York. The case appears straightforward. A suspect is under lock and key in the local prison, and the angry villagers are demanding swift justice. But when more bodies are discovered, certainty turns to doubt—and amid the chaos it becomes clear that nobody is above suspicion. Facing growing unrest in the village and the fury of the lord of the manor, Stanton and Barling find themselves drawn into a mystery that defies logic, pursuing a killer who evades capture at every turn.

Can they solve the riddle of who is preying upon the villagers?

And can they do it without becoming prey themselves?

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound

E.M. Powell’s historical thriller Fifth Knight novels have been #1 Amazon and Bild bestsellers. The King’s Justice is the first novel in her new Stanton and Barling medieval murder mystery series. She is a contributing editor to International Thriller Writers’ The Big Thrill magazine, blogs for English Historical Fiction Authors and is the social media manager for the Historical Novel Society. Born and raised in the Republic of Ireland into the family of Michael Collins (the legendary revolutionary and founder of the Irish Free State), she now lives in North-West England with her husband, daughter and a Facebook-friendly dog.

Find out more by visiting www.empowell.com.

You can also find him on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

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Giveaway

During the Blog Tour we will be giving away 6 paperback copies of The King's Justice!

To enter, please enter via the Gleam form below.

Giveaway Rules
– Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on July 13th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
 – Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.

  The King's Justice

Review: The Lord of Ireland by E.M. Powell

 England, 1185.

John is a prince without prospect of a crown. 

As the youngest son of Henry II, he has long borne the hated nickname ‘Lackland’. When warring tribes and an ambitious Anglo-Norman lord threaten Henry’s reign in Ireland, John believes his time has finally come. Henry is dispatching him there with a mighty force to impose order. Yet it is a thwarted young man who arrives on the troubled isle. John has not been granted its kingship—he is merely the Lord of Ireland, destined never to escape his father’s shadow. Unknown to John, Henry has also sent his right-hand man, Sir Benedict Palmer, to root out the traitors he fears are working to steal the land from him. But Palmer is horrified when John disregards Henry’s orders and embarks on a campaign of bloodshed that could destroy the kingdom.

Now Palmer has to battle the increasingly powerful Lord of Ireland. Power, in John’s hands, is a murderous force—and he is only just beginning to wield it.

Publication Date: April 5, 2016 

Thomas & Mercer Kindle, Paperback, Audiobook; 370 Pages

 Series: The Fifth Knight

 Genre: Historical Thriller

  

*****  

This is the third book in the Fifth Knight Series by EM Powell. I have read the first two books which I really enjoyed and looked forward to continuing with this series. Though I highly recommend starting at the beginning with The Fifth Knight and then continuing with The Blood of the Fifth Knight, these books can be read as standalones but there is history with some of the main characters that are fully explained in the first one.

What I really loved about this book was the way John Lackland was portrayed. You know how you have an image in your mind of historical figures, not just their looks but their personalities and behavior? In this book John was exactly how I pictured him and I love that. Being the son of a King with no inheritance left I can see how he would be bitter, jealous and out to prove he is worthy of a Kingship. Henry is right in his fears of Johnny by only making him Lord of Ireland.

This book continues with the story of Sir Benedict  Palmer and his wife Theodosia as they set off to Ireland at the request of King Henry II. Again this was an action-packed book full of mystery and suspense and I was not disappointed. Though some characters are fictional the author also draws on real historical figures and events, thus creating a very entertaining read. Her descriptive writing was spot on and I had no problem visualizing what was taking place and being able to feel the emotion of the characters here.

The author ended the book with historical notes explaining what was fact and fiction which always finishes a book off nicely. I have not heard if this series will continue but one can always hope.

Thank you to each of HFVBT for the invite to be part of this blog tour and a complementary e-book copy for review purposes

Praise for The Fifth Knight Series

"With her fast-paced mysteries set in the tumultuous reign of Henry II, E.M. Powell takes readers on enthralling, and unforgettable, journeys." -Nancy Bilyeau, author of The Crown “Both Fifth Novels are terrific. Benedict and Theodosia are not merely attractive characters: they are intensely real people.” -Historical Novels Review “From the get-go you know you are in an adventure when you enter the world of E.M. Powell's 12th century. Peril pins you down like a knight's lance to the chest”-Edward Ruadh Butler, author of Swordland

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E.M. Powell’s medieval thrillers The Fifth Knight and The Blood of the Fifth Knight have been number-one Amazon bestsellers and on the Bild bestseller list in Germany. Born into the family of Michael Collins (the legendary revolutionary and founder of the Irish Free State) and raised in the Republic of Ireland, she lives in north-west England with her husband, daughter and a Facebook-friendly dog. She reviews fiction and non-fiction for the Historical Novel Society, blogs for English Historical Fiction Authors and is a contributing editor to International Thriller Writers’ The Big Thrill magazine.

Find more information at E.M. Powell's website and blog.

You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

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Review: The Fifth Knight by E. M. Powell

      

To escape a lifetime of poverty, mercenary Sir Benedict Palmer agrees to one final, lucrative job: help King Henry II’s knights seize the traitor Archbishop Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral. But what begins as a clandestine arrest ends in cold-blooded murder. And when Fitzurse, the knights’ ringleader, kidnaps Theodosia, a beautiful young nun who witnessed the crime, Palmer can sit silently by no longer. For not only is Theodosia’s virtue at stake, so too is the secret she unknowingly carries—a secret he knows Fitzurse will torture out of her. Now Palmer and Theodosia are on the run, strangers from different worlds forced to rely only on each other as they race to uncover the hidden motive behind Becket’s grisly murder—and the shocking truth that could destroy a kingdom

Publication Date: January 22, 2013

Thomas & Mercer Publishing

Paperback; 390p

ISBN-10: 1611099331
Review copy provided by the author via Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours

****

When I was asked to be part of this blog tour I jumped at the chance.  Presently reading my way through the kings of England this book arrived just after I finished reading about the murder of Thomas Becket. Add the fact that it is the author's debut and I was in my happy place.

Originally released as a Kindle serial, it is now available in paperback.  This is a book that spins a new twist to the murder of Archbishop Thomas Beckett at Canterbury Cathedral on December 29, 1170.  Was he murdered on the orders of King Henry II? Did the knights take the King's hints literally? Or is there something just as sinister going on?

This book gives an account that is very fast paced, (though rather gruesome at times) into what could have happened.  I find sometimes with fast paced books push me to read faster too.  The chapters usually ended with me wanting to read more, just one more chapter.  It was a very interesting mystery which I have to admit not being able to totally figure out the ending myself, some things were predictable but not all.

I would have liked a little more historical content for the time period.  But all in all a good mystery and I look forward to reading more by this author.

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E. M. Powell was born and raised in Ireland, a descendant of Irish revolutionary Michael Collins. At University College, Cork, she discovered a love of Anglo-Saxon and medieval English during her study of literature and geography. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, the Manchester Irish Writers, the Historical Novel Society, and International Thriller Writers. A reviewer for the Historical Novel Society, she lives today in Manchester, England, with her husband and daughter.

For more information, please visit E.M. Powell's website and blog.  You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads.

Virtual Book Tour Schedule

Tuesday, April 16
Review at Confessions of an Avid Reader
Wednesday, April 17
Review at Sir Read-a-Lot
Thursday, April 18
Review at Turning the Pages
Friday, April 19
Interview & Giveaway at Sir Read-a-Lot
Monday, April 22
Review & Giveaway at Flashlight Commentary
Tuesday, April 23
Review at Oh, For the Hook of a Book!
Wednesday, April 24
Interview & Giveaway at Oh, For the Hook of a Book!
Thursday, April 25
Review at The Lit Bitch
Interview at Bibliophilic Book Blog
Friday, April 26
Guest Post at Historical Fiction Connection
Monday, April 29
Review at A Book Geek
Tuesday, April 30
Guest Post at Kinx’s Book Nook
Wednesday, May 1
Review & Giveaway at Book Addict Katie
Thursday, May 2
Review & Giveaway at Just One More Chapter
Friday, May 3
Review at The Musings of a Book Junkie
Monday, May 6
Review at Layered Pages
Review at Overflowing Bookshelves
Tuesday, May 7
Review at Raging Bibliomania
Wednesday, May 8
Review at West Metro Mommy
Thursday, May 9
Review at So Many Books, So Little Time
Friday, May 10
Review & Giveaway at Broken Teepee