Today I’m reviewing the newly released The Heretic of Haltemprice Priory by Steven A McKay!

Even better news is that this book contains a bonus novelette, The Christmas Hunt too.

Here’s the blurb

TWO EXCITING WINTER TALES IN ONE COLLECTION!
England, c. AD 1330
Winter fast approaches in East Yorkshire and the dark, cold nights have brought more than just frost to the newly founded Haltemprice Priory. An oppressive pall hangs over the area like a smothering blanket, prompting one of the anxious monks to seek help from an old friend.
Robert Stafford, a friar from nearby Wakefield, has some experience in dealing with strange mysteries, having helped solve a number over the past few years. As he settles into Haltemprice however, things begin to escalate and the friar fears he might have bitten off far more than he can chew this time. Calling on his friends Will Scaflock and the bailiff John Little to work with him it seems they may face more than just earthly enemies as they battle the gloom crushing the spirit, and perhaps the very life, from the inhabitants of the priory.
One monk with a library of eldritch books seems to know much about the progressively more deadly troubles afflicting windswept, frostbitten Haltemprice, but is he a lunatic, a heretic, a murderer, or perhaps something even more terrifying?

The Heretic of Haltemprice is the ideal story for a stormy winter evening beside the fire, but if that’s not enough, this collection also includes a second, bonus tale, The Christmas Hunt!
Will Scaflock has gone missing after chasing three outlaws off his property and, as the day draws to a close with no sign of his return two old friends arm themselves and set out in the midst of a blizzard to find him. There’s sure to be a Christmas miracle in this fast-paced, snowy adventure, but it might not be what John Little and his friends expected!

Review

The Heretic of Haltemprice Priory is a novel set in the world of The Forest Lord series by Steven A. McKay.

I’m getting used to the author belting out a cracking novella each year, I have a soft spot for the series as I still remember picking up the first book in the series and finding my love for Robin Hood and his band of men.

That being said.. how can the author give us something fresh and new.. but also make the reader feel at home? Well I’m not quite sure how he keeps coming up with these cracking storylines but he certainly knows how to keep the series going.

Friar Tuck has been contacted by an old friend to help with some strange events happing at a new priory. Tuck has had a fair share of adventures into the weird and wonderful so it’s no surprise he’s there.. ready to hunt out the truth.

The thing is.. with the previous happenings you always felt it could perhaps by explained.. somehow.. but this…there’s a strange melancholy in the area and everyone is affected.. how could this be anything other than supernatural? It’s darker from the off but that just intrigued me even more.

Things quickly escalate when some animals are stolen and sacrificed. Tuck knows he needs help so seeks out some old friends to help him.. none other than Will Scaflock and the bailiff John Little… these three have been friends for years ever since they followed Robin Hood.. it’s been many years but they haven’t lost their touch and quickly set about finding the culprit.

But.. yeah it’s not that easy. If anything things get worse and the sacrifices continue.

Tuck has a suspect.. but no real evidence but as time goes by things just get more creepy,.. the melancholy.. the smell..death.. disturbed graves.. it’s enough to send shivers down the spine.

For me the tone was perfect, it’s dark and gloomy but perfectly balanced with detail, polished plot and character development.. add in the wow factor ending..a mad dash to put an end to things.. and a twist at the end to lift the spirits.

The best gift an author can bestow is imagination and McKay is the ultimate gift giver!

Quite honestly it felt like a short story but it’s not.. I think I just felt so at home.. back with Tuck that time just didn’t register, so you definitely have enough story to really get to grips with.. don’t say I didn’t warn you.. you’ll not be able to put it down.

To top it off the reader gets an extra novella thrown in and it’s another adventure for some of our favourite characters when Will goes missing!

Pace wise the whole book flows well and engages your mind. For fans of the series you are transported right back to the authors previous works and it just reminds you just what we are missing but offers hope to the readers for more. What I loved is that again the author manages to give the reader what we want but also leaves a lot to our own imagination.. what comes next could be anything and It will great to see what the author comes up with next.

Astounding 5*

To find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon.. but be warned the book is just new out..so my advice is just take my word as gospel and buy the damn book! Ha.