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Crowner John Books in Order

Browse the Crowner John books by Bernard Knight in order, with short summaries, series background, and clear help on where to start reading.

Last updated: July 2, 2026

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15 books

The Poisoned Chalice

by Bernard Knight

1998

Exeter is shaken by rape, murder, and a silversmith who seems tied to both crimes. Crowner John must protect his prime suspect long enough to find proof, even as the case tears through powerful families.

The Sanctuary Seeker

by Bernard Knight

1998

Freshly appointed coroner of Devon, Sir John de Wolfe rides to Widecombe to examine an unidentified corpse. The dead man proves to be a crusader, and the investigation quickly pits John against the sheriff, his own brother-in-law.

Crowner's Quest

by Bernard Knight

1999

On Christmas Eve, a canon found hanging looks like a suicide until Sir John notices too many loose ends. A second killing and his sheriff brother-in-law's interference point to a deeper conspiracy.

The Awful Secret

by Bernard Knight

2000

An old comrade from the Crusades begs Sir John for help after uncovering a secret that could shake the Church. Pursued by the Knights Templar, John is pulled into a dangerous chase that reaches even the pirate haven of Lundy.

The Tinner's Corpse

by Bernard Knight

2001

A murdered tin miner on Dartmoor draws Crowner John into the fiercely guarded world of the tinners. Missing men, local loyalties, and Gwyn's own arrest make this one of his most difficult Devon cases.

The Grim Reaper

by Bernard Knight

2002

Exeter is stalked by a killer who chooses victims by their sins and leaves biblical texts at the scene. Because the murders show learning and scripture, Crowner John suspects a priest, in a city full of them.

Fear in the Forest

by Bernard Knight

2003

A royal forest officer rides into a Devon village already dead, pierced by an arrow that hints at murder, not robbery. As Crowner John digs deeper, he finds corruption, fear, and a conspiracy hiding inside the king's harsh forest laws.

The Witch Hunter

by Bernard Knight

2004

A wealthy Exeter merchant collapses dead, and what looks like natural causes soon sparks a frenzy over witchcraft. The stakes become personal for Crowner John when the victim's widow helps turn the city against so-called cunning women, including Nesta.

Figure of Hate

by Bernard Knight

2005

A hated local lord is found stabbed after a public quarrel, but nearly everyone around him had reason to want him dead. Faced with feuding brothers, a wronged wife, and old grievances, Crowner John must pick through a crowded field of suspects.

The Elixir of Death

by Bernard Knight

2006

When mutilated seamen turn up on the Devon coast, Crowner John follows a trail that leads from murder to alchemy and secretive monks. Strange sightings and dangerous beliefs turn an already brutal case into one of his most unsettling.

The Noble Outlaw

by Bernard Knight

2007

A corpse found hidden in a school roof seems to point straight at a hunted Cornish knight living rough on Dartmoor. Sir John de Wolfe is not convinced, and a second violent death makes the case even murkier.

The Manor of Death

by Bernard Knight

2008

An unidentified young man is found in the harbour town of Axmouth, and Crowner John quickly sees he was strangled, not drowned. Local sailors and townsfolk close ranks, hiding a truth dangerous enough to kill for.

Crowner Royal

by Bernard Knight

2009

Summoned to Westminster as Coroner of the Verge, Sir John de Wolfe steps into a court thick with greed and intrigue. A murdered clerk in the Thames points toward a conspiracy against King Richard.

A Plague of Heretics

by Bernard Knight

2010

As yellow plague grips Exeter, Crowner John must juggle a sick brother, church politics, and a run of savage murders. Rumors of heresy turn the city ugly, and even John's loyalties are called into question.

Crowner's Crusade

by Bernard Knight

2012

Returning from the Third Crusade in 1192, Sir John de Wolfe finds England restless and a royal courier murdered on Devon's shore. The case pulls him into Prince John's plotting and marks the start of his life as a coroner.

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