When one of her company falls ill on a return journey to Tyndal, Prioress Eleanor accepts lodging at a nearby manor. There, Master Stevyns’ wife is having an affair with the groom, while a local widow acts more the lady of the manor than the lady herself. The master’s eldest son and spouse are obsessed with sin and heaven, while his youngest son, bound for the church, unexpectedly returns with more interest in lute playing than the priesthood. It is no surprise when someone’s throat is cut, but the sheriff does all he can to avoid offending the family rather than seeking the real killer. When he arrests a servant, she herself is stabbed before she can either prove her innocence or be taken off for hanging. Eleanor must discover the dark secrets that have led to this string of killings before the murderer strikes again.
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"Oh, enjoyed this one. An historical mystery that shows the life in England after the defeat of Simon, under the fist Henry. Right up my alley!" — Carol (4 out of 5 stars)
"Oh, enjoyed this one. An historical mystery that shows the life in England after the defeat of Simon, under the fist Henry. Right up my alley!"
“As the author of Forsaken Soul and Chambers of Death, I wanted you to know how delighted I have been with the readings of my works by Vanessa Benjamin. Not only does she have a wonderful voice for works set in thirteenth-century England but she has caught the characters perfectly with inflection and accent. Many thanks for having her do the audios of my books. It has been a pleasure to listen to her read them.”
“Absorbing…Once again, Royal combines a well-executed plot with authentic period detail.”
“Royal’s medieval mysteries keep the characters believable to the time and offer enough details and personal traits that listeners will relate to them. Narrator Vanessa Benjamin delivers the quirks of this story with verve; hilarious nicknames, insulting personal descriptions, deliberate mispronunciations, and diverse accents are all splendid as they flow from her lips…The highlight of this fascinating story is the scene in which Eleanor and Thomas communicate in Latin—as if they are praying—a clever deception that enables them to talk in front of the enemy.”
“Suspense and suspects abound as the devout duo winds its way through the startling twists and turns of the well-crafted plot. A worthy successor to Ellis Peters’ Brother Cadfael, Prioress Eleanor also compares favorably with Peter Tremayne’s Sister Fidelma.”
" This was weaker than other books of the series-the characters were more stock and the mystery was not so mysterious. I was a little disappointed. "
" Love every book in this series. Priscilla Royal never disappoints me. "
" Cadfael meets Crowner John! "
Priscilla Royal grew up in British Columbia, earned a degree in world literature from San Francisco State University, and worked for the federal government in various positions. She is the author of the Medieval Mystery series featuring Eleanor, prioress of Tyndal, and she is a member of the Mystery Writers of America, California Writers Club, and Sisters in Crime.
Vanessa Benjamin (a.k.a. Roe Kendall) is a native of the British Isles. Some twenty-five years ago she moved to the United States with her family and set down roots in Maryland. She graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, London, receiving their silver medal as well as the Sir Emile Littler and Caryl Brahms awards. Benjamin has performed on stage in the Washington, DC, area for several years and at many venues and has performed at the Kennedy Center as Mrs. Schubert in the long-running show Shear Madness. An accomplished actress and narrator, she has recorded over two hundred books. Her work as a freelance voice-over artist and narrator has led her in many interesting directions, from technical government materials to eighteenth-century romance novels to hotel advertising, but narrating books is what she really enjoys. “I really love playing all the parts when I narrate a book. It’s an adventure, a challenge, and above all I feel that I learn something new with each book I read. I do a lot of reading for the Library of Congress’ Blind and Physically Handicapped program, and it is so rewarding for me especially when I get a letter from a patron; it’s a great service for the listener.”
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