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THE MONEYLENDER OF TOULOUSE
by Alan Gordon
St Martin's Minotaur, May 2008
336 pages
$24.95
ISBN: 0312371098


Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada

The Fool’s Guild is still trying to improve its relationship with the community and with the Church. The Church is currently opposing the Fools and their mission to prevent warfare by outlawing performances and by hounding fools. The Fool’s Guild operates under the assumption that when people are laughing they cannot be fighting with each other. The fact that no one believes a fool could be a spy, or involved in politics, provides them with the means and opportunity to influence the government. To this end, the Guild wants to replace the Bishop of Toulouse with a less narrow-minded bishop. Theophilos is sent to that city with his wife, Claudia, his young daughter, and his apprentice, Helga. He is to figure out how to remove the current Bishop – Bishop Raimon de Rabastens – from his position.

There are many problems in Toulouse beyond its unfriendly Bishop, and Theophilos must find a way to help the citizens, as he is now their Chief Fool. Bishop de Rabastens has a large amount of unexplained debt and a short temper. As well as a tempermental bishop, the town faces many of the problems that occur in places that are attractive to tourists. One of Toulouse’s largest problems is that of gambling and money lending.

Milon Borsella is a moneylender observed threatening de Rabastens. Shortly after this confrontation, his murdered body is discovered in a tanner’s vat. Theophilos believes that this might be the lever needed to force de Rabastens from his position. He must only find the right way to present his evidence. In order to gain a better understanding of everyone involved, he puts on street performances, performs for the nobles, engages the local fools as spies and sends Helga into the Borsella household as a spy.

When another victim is found, Theophilos must find the killer and clear an innocent man’s name. The killer is crafty and is plotting to remove Theophilos and his family from Toulouse and from the world of the living. Theophilos must protect his own family as well as carry out his mission from the Fool’s Guild.

THE MONEYLENDER OF TOULOUSE is the seventh book in the Fool’s Guild series. While this book does make allusions to the events of previous books, it is possible to read it as a standalone. Gordon supplies enough storyline and character background that the reader does not feel as though he or she is missing vital information if he or she begins the series with this book.

Reviewed by Sarah Dudley, July 2008

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