On a remote East Anglian coast stands Tyndal Priory, which belongs to the Order of Fontevraud, a rare ‘double house’ where monks and nuns live and work in close proximity. Outside its cloisters, England smoulders in the waning years of Henry III’s (1207-1272) reign. Simon de Montfort’s rebellion has been put down but a pall of unrest still hangs over the land like smoke.
The Wynethorpe family sided with the king during the rebellion and as a reward for their loyal service, twenty-year-old Eleanor of Wynethorpe has been appointed prioress of Tyndal Priory.
Eleanor’s arrival is resented by the nuns and monks – they had already elected their own candidate for the position. Young and inexperienced, Eleanor will face a grave struggle – in a place dedicated to love and peace, she will find little of either.
THE MEDIEVAL MYSTERIES IN ORDER
I. Wine of Violence
Late summer, 1270: Only a day after Eleanor’s arrival at Tyndal priory, a brutally mutilated monk is found dead in the cloister gardens and another, more personal grief is brought to her by Brother Thomas, a young priest with a troubled past. Not only must Eleanor struggle to gain the respect of her terrified and resentful flock, but she must also find a killer.
Wine of Violence is available here.
II. Tyrant of the Mind
Winter, 1271: Eleanor has returned home to tend to her mortally ill nephew. But soon after she arrives, her brother, bloody dagger in hand, is found standing over a corpse. Outside her priory, in a world of armed men, Eleanor may have little authority, but she is determined to untangle the Gordian knot of thwarted passions and old resentments even if it means defying her father – a man with whom she longs to make peace.
Tyrant of the Mind is available here.
III. Sorrow Without End
Autumn 1271: In the woods surrounding Tyndal Priory, the discovery of a disembowelled corpse wrapped in a crusader’s cloak horrifies the community. A bronze dagger planted in the man’s chest is engraved with a strange, cursive design. It is no Englishman’s weapon. Could it be a Saracen blade? Wielded by an assassin?
Sorrow Without End is available here.
IV. Justice for the Damned
May 1272: Recovering from a near-fatal winter fever, Eleanor visits her aunt at Amesbury Priory, who asks her to investigate a ghost people claim is haunting Amesbury. When a local man is found beheaded, Eleanor realizes she’s dealing with a human killer, not an otherworldly spirit.
To read Justice for the Damned, click here.
V. Forsaken Soul
Summer, 1273: The summer of 1273 is peaceful for most of England – except in the village of Tyndal where Martin the cooper has been poisoned at the local inn. The list of suspects is long – there were plenty with good cause to wish the brutal cooper dead – but God’s justice must be rendered – even for the forsaken soul.
To read Forsaken Soul, click here.
VI. Chambers of Death
Autumn, 1273: Waylaid by bitter storms and illness, Eleanor accepts lodging at a manor. Eleanor and her companions receive a warm welcome, but they soon realize all is not well. When a groom is found butchered, the sheriff arrests a servant, who is herself murdered before she can either prove her innocence or be led to the gallows. As strangers in this place, Eleanor and Thomas know nothing of motives or past history, yet God’s justice demands that they do what they can...
To read Chambers of Death, click here.
VII. Valley of Dry Bones
In the late summer of 1274, King Edward I has finally been anointed England’s ruler. His queen is contemplating a pilgrimage in gratitude, and emissaries have been despatched to Tyndal Priory to assess its suitability as a royal waypoint. But Death travels with them and Eleanor is soon embroiled in the dangerous world of power games, both secular and religious.
Valley of Dry Bones is available here.
To read an exclusive preview of Valley of Dry Bones, click here.
VIII. A Killing Season
Winter, 1274: Baron Herbert’s return from crusade should be cause for celebration. But the man is morose, withdrawn and secretive. And then his sons start to die. Some believe the Baron harbors a dark sin for which God has cursed him. Can Eleanor help him before Death’s scythe harvests more souls?
A Killing Season is available here.
IX. The Sanctity of Hate
Summer, 1276: Tyndal Priory is peaceful – or was until the corpse of a deceitful and unpopular man is found floating in the millpond. The list of suspects is long, but the villagers of Tyndal are certain they know who the killer is. They demand a homeless Jew is hanged for the crime. While the lynch mob gathers, Prioress Eleanor has to ask herself why are they so keen to convict a stranger for the murder of a man none of them could stand?
The Sanctity of Hate is available here.
X. Covenant With Hell
Spring, 1277: Prioress Eleanor is on a pilgrimage, looking for peace and respite, when rumours spread that King Edward is on his way, seeking God’s blessing for his invasion of Wales. Lurking in this sacred place, however, is an assassin with murderous treason in mind. When a nun falls to her death from the priory bell tower, is it a tragic accident or a sign of what’s to come? And can Eleanor expose the killer in their midst or will she too fall victim to one who has made a covenant with hell?
Covenant With Hell will available from 1st December 2013.