Knights of the Cross - Tom Harper

Another "semi-historical" novel, as that genre together with the obvious fantasy and sci-fi reads remain my favorites to spend time with during bus trips and lunch hours.

And in this one, I go back into the era of the Crusades...

Plot

1098.  The armies of the First Crusade race across Asia Minor routing the Turks and reclaiming the land for Christendom.  But on the Syrian border, their advance is halted before the impregnable walls of Antioch.

As winter draws on, they are forced to suffer a fruitless, interminable siege, gnawed by famine and tormented by the Turkish defenders, the entire crusade is on the verge of collapse.  In the midst of this misery a Norman knight is found murdered.  His lord, the ruthlessly ambitious Bohemond charges Demetrios Askiates to find the killer.  But as Demetrios investigates, the trail seems to lead ever deeper into the vipers' nest of jealously, betrayal and fanatism which lies at the heart of the crusade.

What I liked about it

* the actual crusade parts and the battles and sieges paint a nice grandour of the endeavour

What I didn`t like about it

* well, it is for my likings to much a Sherlock Holmes like book at times to be honest.