Forsaken Soul

In the summer of 1273 Prioress Eleanor finds herself involved in the poisoning of one Martin the Cooper, a mystery which holds too many suspects and a killer who could be any one of them. Eleanor's investigation causes her more problems and leads to more murders in Priscilla Royal's FORSAKEN SOUL, a challenging medieval mystery for any library strong in historical novels or mysteries.

One might think a reader would grow weary of Medieval mysteries, but not this reader! I started Royal's series late last year and gobbled them up one by one with great pleasure. I am eager for the next. Royal's characters are very sympathetic and easy to care about. Her prose is inviting -- not extremely complex -- while entirely literate and satisfying to someone who loves words and structure. Her attention to historical detail is admirable and, while, as one reviewer remarked, there is not an abundance of historical detail, it is entirely sufficient to the stories. In my opinion, the historical notes in the back make up for any insufficiency one might perceive. Theses are slim volumes and quick to read -- they are complete, but definitely leave one hungry for more. Since Prioress Eleanor is young, we should have many more installments to enjoy.

Reviewed by Tyler R. Tichelaar for Reader Views (4/08) "Forsaken Soul" is the fifth installment in Priscilla Royal's Medieval Mystery series. I have not read the previous books in the series, but I was able to follow the plot without any problem. In the beginning, I had a little difficulty remembering who all the characters were, but I quickly caught on. Royal drops hints to events from previous books, and it is clear the characters have been developed over the series, so I may have missed some of the significance in their relationships, but I do not think anyone would have difficulty following the story. The main characters of the book, at least those most involved in solving the murder, are Prioress Eleanor of Tyndal Priory, her monk, Brother Thomas, whom she secretly loves, and Crowner Ralf, a type of medieval lawmen whose job it is to bring justice to the community. The excitement begins when Martin the Cooper is poisoned at the village inn while coupling with the local whore. Because of her relationship with Martin, the whore is suspected as his killer, but it is soon revealed other people in the village may have equally had reason to kill Martin. For me, the most fascinating part of the book was the depiction of Juliana, an anchoress at the priory. Anchoresses typically walled themselves up in a small room they never left and into which food was brought to them. They also had a window where people could come and speak to them of their sins and seek advice. Part of the mystery revolves around how the suspects have all at different times visited the anchoress, and because their visits are nocturnal, it is whispered the anchoress is not as pious as she may seem. Speculation in the village even suggests Satan himself had a hand in the murder. The medieval setting did not distract me from the story, nor was it overly detailed; in fact, I would not have minded more historical detail. What makes the book interesting is the type of tools people used back then to commit murder, so different from most modern mysteries where guns and advanced technical and chemical weapons are used. The religious viewpoints of the characters were also strongly depicted, making the reader understand how they struggled to understand God and whether he had a hand in their daily lives or would punish sinners through murder. I also greatly enjoyed reading the Author's Notes, where she described her research into medieval England. While I would have liked more historical detail, Priscilla Royal clearly did her research on the time period and especially the religious occupations of the characters. Because of the intriguing historical setting and the original characters, I think any lover of mysteries or historical fiction will enjoy "Forsaken Soul."

In 1273, Prioress Eleanor of Tyndal struggles with issues. First the nearby villagers openly disapprove of the nightly visits that her new obstinate anchoress Sister Juliana is doing; Eleanor has failed to get her to understand that perceptions are everything to the locals even if the woman is not committing any sins. Second the spouse of her close friend Crowner died giving birth to a daughter. Finally she fears she may be breaking her vows as she is attracted to Brother Thomas. However, that all seems trite when abusive Martin the Cooper, loathed by all, dies while lying with a prostitute at an inn. Eleanor and Ralf believe the bully was sent to hell via poison. Soon others also die by poisoning as Eleanor and Ralf investigate serial murders that lack a tying motive. The latest Priscilla Royal medieval mystery (see JUSTICE FOR THE DAMNED) is a clever historical whodunit that uses a vivid background to enhance an engaging investigation. Eleanor is terrific as she realizes her personal problems seem mundane and insignificant when the homicides begin. Readers will appreciate her efforts along with those of Ralf to solve the homicides before others prematurely meet the creator. Harriet Klausner