Author:
Paul W. Feenstra is a historical fiction novelist. Meticulously researched and detailed, his character driven novels create a dramatic window into our chronicled and complex past. Born in Wellington, New Zealand, in 1959, to Dutch immigrants, Paul still commutes to Los Angeles, California, where he worked as a multiple ‘Emmy’ nominated entertainment industry professional.

Created in a similar style as acclaimed authors Bernard Cornwell and Ken Follett, ‘Falls Ende – Primus’ is a fast-paced, emotional novel that will leave you breathless. 

The small picturesque hamlet of Mellester in Devonshire, England, is home to herdsman, Godwin Read and his son, Odo. When the aging knight, Sir William Ainsley, Lord of Mellester Manor goes on a hunt for wild boar, the inexplicable happens, and Godwin makes a decision that will ultimately impact their lives and Mellester Manor for ever. 

Set during the tumultuous reign of King Henry II, in feudal England, the quiet and peace of Mellester Manor is shaken by the unexpected. For Odo, there is more at stake than just his dignity and pride because they’ve already been taken, all he has left is his life. Will Falls Ende see his downfall and disgrace and how far will one man go to protect what’s closest to his heart?

Falls Ende is more than a simple story, it’s a saga of survival against all the odds.

Falls Ende

Built from rock, the gaol of Mellester Manor was used frequently, mostly to offer some perspective to those who needed solitude and sobriety. It was never used to secure people for long periods of time, usually no longer than a day or two; until the lord heard the plea in the manorial court, or the accused's demeaner returned to a more temperate frame of mind. Punishment never amounted to gaol time, nor was any time spent incarcerated taken into consideration when contemplating a sentence. Floggings were popular; the pillory provided ample entertainment, and a death penalty was a noteworthy event that drew people from miles away.


Other than the family of the guilty, the entrepreneurial folk of Mellester Manor tended to see the bright side; an execution was healthy for the economy. So when the lord decided that the appropriate punishment for the accused was death, local merchants and innkeepers saw an upturn in business and nearly everyone benefitted in some way.


Chapter 27