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Prioress Eleanor of Tyndal Priory is back again in this fifth in this medieval mystery series that provides a picture of life in England in the 13th century. Eleanor runs a large operation as head of both a monks' house and a nunnery. Her relationships with the village and villagers mean that she comes in contact daily with civil authority and the good and evil among the townspeople. A much disliked man has died by poisoning while in a room in the local inn. With him is Ivetta, a prostitute. Martin has many enemies, and no one is surprised that he has been killed but the method is most disturbing. As Ralf, the Crowner (coroner) asserts to Eleanor, poison is a woman's weapon. There were two women nearby when Martin ingested the fatal potion. One was the prostitute and the other the bar maid. Ralf has a soft spot for Signy, the bar maid, and refuses to believe she is guilty. As for Ivetta, it seems unlikely that she would murder the man who was a protector of sorts. Eleanor, as well as many of her contemporaries, believes very strongly in the presence of Satan and his evil workings among men and women. She believes that she has a duty to help Ralf bring the evil doer to justice. She also feels that she should convince Ivetta to give up her wanton life and repent. Many prostitutes in that time would join a religious community when they wanted to do penance for their previous sins. The book is rich in information about the medieval age and the thoughts and practices of those living at that time. One interesting possibility for woman was the choice to become an anchoress, a sort of female equivalent of a hermit. Of course, women in those days were thought to be weak and sinful and lacking the intellectual processes or brilliant minds that men possessed. Which belief Eleanor proved false each day, but that is beside the point! The anchoress could not live in a cave or a hut in the woods, but could enclose herself in a tiny room attached to a church, where she lived out her life in prayer and contemplation. She also had a small window where those who were so inclined could seek her comfort and advice. There are many undercurrents to the story. Brother Thomas' continuing struggle to hear the word of God and know that his sins are forgiven and the Prioress' temptations of the flesh and her constant striving to overcome her sins remain constant threads in the series.. The villagers and their lives and their pasts also come into play, especially those of a group who had been responsible for a death many years previously. The author discovered medieval literature as a university student. After a career in government, she turned her talents to writing novels. Her research and dedication to bringing us a true picture of this fascinating time shines forth in each book in the series.
Reviewed by Lorraine Gelly, July 2008
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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