Book excerpt: A gang of ruthless pirates and the prospect of civil war threaten medieval Britain... Sir Baldwin de Furnshill and Bailiff Simon Puttock, Michael Jeck's savvy sleuths, are on the case again in The Death Ship of Dartmouth, another compelling, well-crafted tale in the Knights Templar series. Perfect for fans of Ellis Peters and Bernard Cornwell. Autumn, 1324: when a man is found dead in the middle of a Dartmouth road, many assume his demise to be the result of a drunken accident. Meanwhile, a ship is found ravaged by pirates out at sea, the crew killed or captured. Could this be the beginning of a new onslaught, or something even more sinister? Sir Baldwin de Furnshill has been told of spies and messengers being sent to the great traitor Roger Mortimer in France. If this is true, then civil war in England is surely imminent. Together with his friend, Simon Puttock, Baldwin is tasked by the most powerful men in the Kingdom with uncovering the truth. Fail, and they will be executed. Succeed, and others may be ready to silence them for ever. What readers are saying about The Death Ship of Dartmouth: 'Michael's books are full of intrigue and mystery and they are particularly well researched' 'Michael Jecks has got to be my number one author... I just can't get enough of his books. If you like a medieval whodunnit this is the writer for you' 'One of the finest entries in a consistently outstanding series - five stars'