Bag of Bones — Jason Vail

July 1264

The Ludlow beggar One-eye Dick finds the scattered bones of two dead men on a hillside north of the town -- and a precious gold ring. Hoping to make some easy money, he sells the ring to Will Thumper, a well-known criminal in town, who then resells the ring to a crooked Ludlow goldsmith.

But the ring is identified as belonging to a wealthy cattle merchant and his bodyguard who went missing weeks before. Thumper is arrested and charged with the merchant's murder and that of the bodyguard. Given Thumper's unsavory reputation, it is obvious that the local jury who know him well will be happy to send him to the gallows regardless of the evidence.

Yet Stephen Attebrook, newly appointed as coroner for southern Shropshire, has doubts. These are strong enough to entice him to promise Thumper's family that he will do what he can to exonerate the rogue.

Thumper's dilemma is the least of Stephen's troubles. For he must confront the campaign of one of his greatest enemies, Nigel FitzSimmons, to convict him of treason and the vendetta of the brother of a man he killed in battle. Defeat by either man means Stephen's death and the confiscation of his manor.