Crown of the Realm — Jude Chapman

A knight on the run must defend his family without sacrificing his honor. FRANCE: In the year of grace, 1190. When the kings of England and France meet to make final preparations for the Third Crusade, an assassin releases an arrow aimed at the hearts of one of those kings, but the bolt strikes a lady-in-waiting instead. All fingers point toward Drake fitzAlan, a young knight serving under Richard the Lionheart. Hunted down by loyal knights from France and England, Drake first makes haste to secure the safety of his loved ones and then returns to Nonancourt Castle, there to uncover the truth … if he can. In a castle where the assassin or assassins are still at-large, more will die that night, even while Drake has run-ins with princes and fools, each having motive enough to want Richard dead. The game changes when his brother Stephen is taken hostage and held for ransom. The payment for his release is simple: Richard must be assassinated or Stephen will die. Mixing action, chivalry, romance, and mystery, Crown of the Realm will take you on a majestic ride when kings wore crowns and knights fought valiantly.