Review: Attaboy Attebrook !...
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 12 10, 2012
Jason Vail has crafted a medieval mystery tale, set in 1262 Ludlow England, with  Stephen Attebrook, a former soldier, as Deputy Coroner. An officer of the King, Attebrook is more cop than coroner in this tale of Peter Bromptone, a young apprentice who deserts his liege and runs away with his betrothed only to be accused of his employers murder. The story begins with Attebrook investigating a death not far from the local tavern. What seems accidental soon turns to mayhem with the discovery of a knife wound and the plot thickens when our coroner meets Lord Baynard and some of his truly nasty compatriots. Along with these evil doers, The Wayward Appentice serves up the expected medieval faire of taverns, swords, duels, wenchs and grog. Attebrook must battle, disobey and flaunt convention is his quest to determine the guilty and the innocent.The medieval setting is familiar and the plot suffices but The Wayward Aprentice shines because of its central character. Vail has excelled in creating a complex and compelling hero in Stephen Attebrook whose early life, family and war experiences have formulated his view of the world and human relationships. He is noble and cunning but self doubt lurks close to his every move. He is both dignified and disfigured with a foot long ago mangled in battle but justice, rather than blind obedience to the powerful, is his motivation. Attebrook is not an imposing figure but this belies his physical skills in combat and expertise in swordplay. The Wayward Appentice fits in nicely with the Brother Cadfael and Hangman stories for readers who are fans of all that is medieval but it is singular in its development of a truly interesting protagonist in Stephen Attebrook.