Gosh! The books I have generally read with Patterson's name on them have been gory death mysteries. This book is definitely gory but more of a love story and a quest for revenge for the loss of that love.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I was not sure I would like it when I started reading it and realized that the book is set in France during the Crusades. There are many battles fought hand to hand that are explicitly detailed by Patterson and Gross. I definitely cringed at the overall lack of respect the characters had for human life. Generally in a serial murder or murder mystery novel, there is only one person or set of persons who have such litte regard for life. Since the book is set during feudal France, pretty much all people have a lack of respect for the price of life.

Other than the vivid battle scenes, the book was about a quest of one man to find his way through life after coming home from the Crusades and finding his wife and child (unknown to him) slaughtered by a local lord. In his quest for revenge, he becomes a Jester for the local Duke's court. Unbeknownst to him, he has returned from battle with a sacred Christian relic. A band of knights, wearing no colors, continue to reek havoc on his village trying to find this relic. Eventually the Jester comes to realize what it is he has and he leads the serfs into a revolt against those who seek to continually raid their town.

There is still half a book left at this point, but I do not want to spoil the ending for you! I found the book hard to put down and was extremely surprised that I liked it as I am not one for period pieces.

Whoever ends up with the book, Good Reading!

Release planned for Friday, June 06, 2003 at another bookcrosser by mail in Brampton, Ontario Canada.

*bounce *bounce *bounce Wahoooo!!!!
The precious cargo just arrived and I'm so excited...Thanks :* :)

I just got this from LadyGothic, I'll return it next week.

I don't usually care for previous era novels but I found myself staying up late to read this one.
Passed on to LadyGothic this morning.

Trike left this in my door early this morning, so I'll jump right into it and keep the ray moving, will post my comments soon as I'm done!

Bravo! What a wonderful book!!!

I'm an avid fan of Patterson and this is unlike any of his usual scribe theme, so readers are into a special treat in this novel.

Being set in medieval times (my soul tug!) it has brutal drama but is action packed, witty and addictive.
*Woosh* I could not stop reading!

Thank you Yvi-1 for sharing this incredible book with me :)

It's off to Seferim shortly and I hope she enjoys it as much as I did!

(PS... I've added a travel diary sheet to the back of the book, signing for Yvi-1, Trike & myself with our prospective locations & dates to add to the Karma of it's travels.)

Release planned for Tuesday, August 19, 2003 at postal release to BCer seferim in Columbia, Maryland USA.

I got this one this one yesterday--I have already started reading. Thanks!!

SEPTEMBER 18th Update:

When I started The Jester, I had only read one other Patterson, Kiss the Girls, which I thought was pretty good. I worked in a book store for a number of months and I realized the legions of fans that this man has, so I thought I would try another of his books, specifically this one... I love historical fiction! I was not disappointed. I really liked the books, and as the other readers have mentioned, it was hard to put down! I am not a big fan of the short one-two page chapters, that does not qualify as a chapter to me, but that is more of a technical issue than anything else. Overall a very enjoyable read. I would like to see Patterson write another historical piece.

This one will be off to cytronella when Hurricane Isabel has left my area :)

OK, I was so excited about reading this book that I signed up for two different bookrings/rays. Naturally, both books arrived in the same week! I'm going to send on the other one (the ring book) so it can get on back to it's home sooner, and read this one, which I signed up for first, and then journal my review in both places. I am starting this book today, so I shoud have it moving on soon!

More after I've read it!

Thanks, everyone . . .

Really enjoyed this book! Especially appreciated the very brief chapter format, as I was able to read it all the time, and get to the end of a chapter each time I set it down, even if I only had a few minutes to read. The historic setting of the book was well done, and entertaining. I was a bit worried that it would bog down the story, but it did not at all. About my only complaint is that the plot is pretty transparent, and I knew long before the story told me what would happen next. The story and characters were good enough that I enjoyed reading the book in spite of knowing what was coming next!

I'll be sending this on to the next reader as soon as I get an address from her/him. Thanks, yvi-1, for sharing!

I'm not so sure about this one, but I like Patterson so I want to give it a try - thanks for sharing it with us.

I've held this book throughout my long recovery from a car accident, and I've kept it far too long, so I'm going to pass it along unread. Thanks for including me, and sorry for the delay.

Arrived yesterday, many thanks. Sounds very interesting, am looking forward to reading it. I have two bookrays in front of this one, but I'll get to it as soon as I can.