Perfect for fans of historical mysteries! Very historical-= it's set in 1282. I learned a bit about the time period and enjoyed the complex plot.

I've been a fan of Royal's for years and this is the first time I find myself disappointed with one of her books. I've always loved how well-drawn her characters are, but here the returning characters seemed oddly flat and to just be going through the same old routine. The group of abbots around whom the mystery revolves were barely developed as individuals, which is a great pity as they seemed to be ripe for a (slightly anachronistic) Chaucerian skewering.

Despite my disappointment with this volume, I will continue to seek out Royal's books with the hope that the next one will return to her usual standard.

This is an okay murder mystery in a historical setting with some nice tidbits on living in medieval England. The characters aren't really fleshed out that well - which might be due to the fact that this is the only part of the series I've read, so I missed out on previous character development - and the resolution of the murders felt somewhat lackluster and boring.

A medieval mystery murder/s set in an abbey. The age old reason - the struggle for power and supremacy. Was there then, is still here now!
The setting was beautiful and descriptive. The workings of the abbey fascinated me and how women of the time tried to manage their lives in the restricted sphere they were allocated to. How men tried to control women, their possessions and their power for their own greed.
Very well told.


Goodreads and Amazon reviews up on 28/2/2017. Review on my blog mid June