This is the first "Medieval Mystery" I read. It's hard not to compare with a couple of my favorites, Ellis Peters and Peter Tremayne. I didn't find the immersion in the time period as compelling as in their books, but I still enjoyed the historical facts that were included. I guessed the culprit about halfway through the book, although not necessarily all of the details of the murders. I dislike having information that those solving the murders don't know, so I was somewhat annoyed by the chapters from the viewpoints of some of the suspects. Overall though, I did find the book enjoyable enough that I'll read more of the series as I come across them, though I won't necessarily seek them out. Review based on an ARC provided through Netgalley.

I read the first few books in this series and loved them, so when the book came up on Net Galley, I saw this as an opportunity to jump back into the series. Yes, I am very late—I had a heck of an ending to 2017 and into the New Year and didn’t think I would be able to review the books I had received from Net Galley—then I fell and ended up in the hospital and in recovery going on the second month now. So I re-read the book and liked it more the second time. You’ve got to know by now the 14th book in the series isn’t going to bring any new surprises but the author delivered again a solid mystery against the backdrop of the order of the Hospitaller’s. It was an enjoyable slow burn to the reveal, gaining momentum as I read. It’s also the type of story where you could pick it up in the middle of the series and not be too lost. I’m usually not the biggest fan of medieval religious sleuths—give me Joliffe over Cadfael any time (lol)—but I did find the intricacies of convent life interesting in this context.

The year of 1282 was tumultuous for both England and Wales were at war. The Prioress Eleanor is on her way home and she has been requested by her brother to hand over the rents and a private letter only into the hands of the Prioress Amicia and no one else. Though curious, Eleanor proceeds to do just that.



What greets her at the Mynchen Buckland Priory is chaos and disturbance. The Prioress Amicia has been accused of murder and is under detention and the new Prioress is not very pleased to either accommodate or have Eleanor on the premises. To add to the complications it is her brother Damien who is the preceptor in charge of the brothers who live alongside the priory. The reception of the small party is tense and it is apparent that they are not welcome at all.



On realizing that Amicia has been wrongfully detained Eleanor is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery and it is only by pretense of being unwell that she is allowed to stay. Unraveling the mystery of not one murder but two under cover of ill health and not being able to move out of her room she is dependent on the faithful Brother Thomas and Sister Anne to bring information to her to solve the puzzle.



I did not think that I would appreciate this mystery murder set in medieval times. Surprisingly I did. The setting and the story of the priory was an interesting one and did not weigh too much on religious aspects but on the story itself. Murder is murder whatever century it happens and solving is very much a procedure of investigation and deduction. Very nicely put together.

Goodreads and Amazon reviews posted on 21/2/2018. Review on my blog mid March 2018

1282 and Prioress Eleanor with her retinue travel to Mychen Buckland to deliver a letter and rents to the Prioress Amicia. Only to find that Amicia has been found guilty of murder, never having acknowledged her innocence or guilt. After reading her letter Amicia asks that Eleanor find proof that she is actually innocent of the crime.
Not a very interesting mystery, and the characters really didn't come to life for me. A quite slow paced though well-written story.

A Marvelous Novel That Provides a New View on the Prioress Eleanor, Sub-Infirmarian Sister Anne and Brother Thomas

The novel starts with the three Tyndal religious traveling home after a visit with Prioress Eleanor’s Baron brother, who asked that she delivery a gift and a litter to an old dear friend, Amicia, who is the prioress of a Knights Hospitaller priory. Upon arriving, she discovers that the prioress has been found guilty of murder and is imprisoned waiting what the Knights Hospitaller prior of England will decide to her punishment. The new Prioress, the Prior and Priest of the male side of the priory seen hostile and want them to leave as soon as possible. Eleanor persuades the new Prioress to allow her to visit the imprisoned Sister Amicia. After Eleanor delivers the letter, Amicia asks her to prove her innocence but not inform the Prioress or anyone else what they are doing. Now, Eleanor must find a way to extend her stay. She succeeds by faking an injury, but the Prioress, Prior and priest make it quite difficult for her to coordinate the actions of Sister Anne and Brother Thomas. The main storyline proceeds from here. My imagination was captured immediately. I just could not stop reading.

I was fascinated to find how could Prioress Eleanor coordinate and investigate the murder without raising any suspicion while they are being actively being thwarted. It added an extra richness to the story that dovetails so well with the main storyline and provides more insight into the personalities of all three Tyndal religious.

This novel is the fourteenth in this series. I did not see anything that would be needed from the previous novels to understand and enjoy this novel thoroughly. For those who are avid readers of this series like I am, the ending was quite interesting. Not only are all the loose ends in the main storyline are tied up, but also some very interesting history into the Prioress Eleanor’s family are revealed.

For those who do not want to read novels with graphic sex, foul language, and over-the-top violence, there is absolute none in this novel. Also, unless you are quite familiar with the terms of that era, I recommend reading this novel on a kindle or with an excellent dictionary nearby. The author used many terms of that era that quite often sent me to the dictionary or Internet. This is not a negative criticism as the use of authentic medieval terms added an air of authenticity and helped me feel being in the period.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel. For the first time reader or the avid reader of this series I believe you will enjoy it also. I rate this novel with five starts.

I have received a free kindle version of this novel through NetGalley from Poisoned Pen Press with a request for an honest, unbiased review. I wish to thank Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read this novel early.

If you haven't read this series before- and I hadn't- you might find it a bit complicated at first. However, once you settle in, it's a pretty enjoyable and different sort of read. Can a medieval mystery be a cozy? Or a cozy medieval? This makes a good argument that good characters translate across time and space. 1282 UK is a mess of warring factions but Prioress Eleanor, Brother Thomas and Sister Anne find themselves pressed into service to absolve Prioress Amicia of the murder of a woman who was, well, the classic villain. There's enough medieval details to keep fans of the genre happy while the mystery itself is intriguing but not too complicated. This was a worthy read and I'm going to look for more in this series.

2.5 rounded up.
“I managed all that without lying too much.”
No Prioress Elenor, you didn’t. You’re a big old liar! This was a pretty undynamic story which was very slow going. Prioress Elenor , the Infirmarian Anne and Brother Thomas are a team who have a reputation for solving crimes. And they seem to principally do this through lying! This amused me, but really that was the only source of entertainment in the book.
I have read quite a few medieval monk/nun murder series and sadly this one offered little that was new. The most interesting historical aspect for me was the link between the hospitallers and the Crusades and how it led to some respite in the form of nursing and care back in England (and where we get our ‘hospitals’ from.
Thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book. All opinions are my own.

A very enjoyable Medieval Mystery in Priscilla Royal's Prioress Eleanor's outing #14, possibly one of the two best ones so far. The poignant ending, connecting the two Prioresses and their families, ratcheted it up to 5 Stars.

"Spring 1282. England is at war again with Wales.. Baron Hugh of Wynethorpe,prepares to join his King's army in Outremer." He asks his sister Prioress Eleanor to carry a gift of rents from the to Mynchen Buckland Priory. The reasons for this unfold as you will read this fine mystery.

Prioress Eleanor, Brother Thomas and Sister Anne travel to Somerset where they stumble into a scenario much different than they had planned. Former Prioress Amicia is confined in a cell, charged with murder and the new Prioress Emelyne is hostile and tries to get them to leave immediately.

What can our trio from Tyndal Priory do to solve a mystery long over? Well order your copy now and you will find out. Suitably complicated and quite delightful.