Chains of Folly [Large Print]

This is a mystery novel set in the Middle Ages, part of Roberta Gellis' series with Madeleine la Batarde and a worthy addition to the series. As a mystery it is enjoyable both in terms of the puzzle presented and in terms of solution without the scientific evidence we are accustomed to accepting. (No fingerprints, much less DNA) However, it is also well worth reading for the glimpse into life as it was lived in the Middle Ages, which can be surprisingly modern in some ways and just as surprisingly incomprehensible in others. Ms. Gellis has a truly fine grasp of what the dry history must have meant to the people who were living it and a talent for conveying the feel of it so that the reader feels he or she has had a chance to visit the era rather than be lecturec about it. For instance, she can convey both the insanitary conditions and the people's total acceptance of those conditions as "ordinary" life. That is a talent in the writing that is extremely enjoyable.

This is Roberta Gellis at her best. It has an intriguing plot with many surprises. The Magdalene La Batarde series are generally very good, but this is possibly the best yet. The historical setting is as enthralling as ever, and the fix the Bishop of Winchester finds himself in can only be solved by the genius of Magdalene and her women and her faithful Bell. If you like a very entertaining mystery this is great.

In medieval England, the Bishop of Winchester turns in for the night only to find the corpse of a woman dressed like a whore. He calls for his trusted aid, Sir Bellamy of Itchen, who finds the woman holds a letter from Robert of Gloucester, the enemy of the King, addressed to the Bishop. Bellamy and the Bishop conclude that someone is setting up the religious leader to discredit him on the eve of a religious concave that will probably scold the monarch for his actions against the Bishop of Salisbury. Reluctantly Bellamy agrees to investigate who would commit homicide to deface the Bishop. He starts his inquiries visiting his estrange former lover Magdalene la Batarde, the whoremistress of the Old Priory Guesthouse as she knows all the girls and their customers. .Her information not given with any cooperation leaves an open field from the king to any one of several nobles coveting the bestowal of royal favorite status, but she and Bell investigate together. Roberta Gellis, the grand dame of medieval thrillers, is at the top of her game with this terrific historical mystery that uses the homicide and the social pecking order to tell a vivid tale. The story line actually takes off rather quickly with Magdalene on the case from near the start and never takes a break until the climatic confrontation with the knife wielding killer. Fans will appreciate how the sleuthing team knows when to tiptoe with extreme caution and when to smash and crash as who is the recipient of the inquiries is more important than what one learns if the detectives want to keep their heads about them. CHAINS OF FOLLY is a fabulous medieval who-done-it. Harriet Klausner

The bit of a personal cliffhanger at the end of the third volume of the set, made the determination of her publisher not to pick up the fourth volume in this medieval mystery series particularly distressing. However, Five star stepped into the breach and has brought out Chains of Folly to my great relief. Once again, Gellis takes the reader to the environs of the Old Priory Guesthouse, run by whoremistress Magdalene who finds herself juggling personal feelings, disturbing political events and her own complicated business as she tries to solve the mystery of the dead prostitute found seated at a table in the Bishop's private apartment. Gellis' intimate knowledge of medieval life and events makes this a particularly engrossing story.

Following A Mortal Bane; A Personal Devil and Bone of Contention, Chains of Folly is the fourth volume in the Magdalene la Batarde series. Once again Roberta Gellis has written a very well thought out mystery. Her attention to detail and knowledge of the medieval period is superb and extensive. As usual she portrays very believable characters and a convoluted plot. Once began, I couldn't put it down till the last page.