The Jester (novel)
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 2003 |
| Founder | James Patterson, Andrew Gross |
| Products | Historical suspense novel |
The Jester is a historical suspense novel authored by James Patterson and Andrew Gross.
Plot
The narrative unfolds in Europe during the year 1096, centering on Hugh De Luc, a French peasant oppressed by the harsh rule of Duke Baldwin. In pursuit of liberation, Hugh enlists in the First Crusade. Amidst an assault on a Turkish settlement, he intervenes to stop men abusing a priest and subsequently takes possession of the priest’s staff, which he carries with him afterward.
Upon his return to Veille du Père, Hugh discovers that his wife Sophie has been abducted, his son Phillipe has died, and their inn lies in ruins. Villagers report that the assailants wore black crosses and were disgraced knights targeting Hugh specifically. Convinced that Sophie is imprisoned within Treille’s dungeons, Hugh ventures into the forest but is rescued from a wild boar by Emilie, a noblewoman and daughter of the King of France. She tends to him in Borée, governed by Stephen, husband to her cousin.
To gain access to Lord Baldwin’s fortress at Treille, Hugh adopts the guise of a jester with assistance from Emilie and Norbert, Borée’s court jester. Discovering that Sophie was never held at Treille, he returns to Borée. By earning the confidence of Anne—Emilie’s cousin—he uncovers Sophie’s captivity there; Anne had misled him. Hugh slays three Tafurs—formidable war band sentinels rumored to practice cannibalism—and escapes back to Veille du Père.
When the Tafurs launch an attack on Veille du Père, Hugh’s traps eliminate all but one invader. This sole survivor breaks Hugh’s staff, revealing a concealed reliquary: the Holy Lance believed to have pierced Jesus Christ’s side. With the local peasants rallying behind him, Hugh captures Baldwin and marches on Borée. He triumphs over the Tafurs’ commander known as "Black Cross."
Stephen endangers Emilie’s life; however, a plan devised by Hugh and Anne rescues her. During their pursuit of Stephen into the castle, Anne kills him using the Holy Lance.