Saintly Murders: A Medieval Mystery Featuring Kathryn Swinbrooke

C. L. Grace is a pseudonym for the author Paul Doherty, who also writes under several other pen names, Michael Clynes, Paul Harding etc.. He has to be the most prolific author writing today and it mystifies me how he has had the time consuming position of head teacher at a school in the south of England and write such well researched books, for that is what they are. Whether he is writing about medieval England, Ancient Greece, Rome or Egypt he is more than adept at setting the scene accurately for the reader. However for me his always in his element when writing about the medieval period. This set of novels feature the medieval physician Kathryn Swinbrooke and are good light reading. The idea of using a woman healer as the lead character sets them apart from many other books, and Kathryn is a likable and believable character. I say believable because at the period that the books were written history would have us believe that dabbling in medicine of any kind was tantamount to a woman admitting she was in league with the devil. Kathryn has been recalled to Canterbury and is beleaguered by problems, not least whether her erstwhile and vidictive husband is still alive. Also the Archbishop requires her help in assessing whether a recently dead monk deserves to be made a saint, something that for his own reasons the Archbishop is none too keen on and last but not least for her to investigate why Canterbury should recently have had a plague of rats. Business has not been poor recently at the shrine of Thomas a Becket and the dwindling stream of pilgrims visiting the city has dropped to a trickle not only because of the rats but because of several pilgrims being poisoned not too long ago (see a Shrine of Murders). Because of this and other problems the cunning Archbishop does not want a new saint detracting from the shrine and instructs Kathryn to do her best to stop this happening. Kathryn's investigative skills soon lead her towards the fact that the monk did not die of natural causes by was in fact murdered and the hunt is soon on for the killer. There is much to enjoy in these books not least the author's writing style, attention to detail and the backdrop of medieval Canterbury. Needless to say the author's research into the period he is writing about is second to none.

I enjoy this series, and I was sorry when it appeared that C.L. Grace had ended it. I don't think it's a GREAT series, but I always enjoy the books. This was no exception. I was completely caught up in the multiple plots and I hope there will be more volumes in the series. I would recommend Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael series, beginning with A Morbid Taste for Bones: The First Chronicle of Brother Cadfael; Margaret Frazer's Sister Frevisse series beginning (I think) with The Novice's Tale (Sister Frevisse Medieval Mysteries); and Kate Sedley's series beginning with Death and the Chapman (Medieval Mystery).

The War of the Roses appears over with Edward IV firmly on the crown and only Henry Tudor, in exile in France, left to represent the Lancaster hopes. Yet the King of France continues to nibble away at England's strength. Rumor has it that he has a traitor high in the English royal party--but whom.When a Canterbury monk and the Queen Mother's confessor dies and is found with the stigmata on his body, Kathryn Swinbrooke is asked to serve as Devil's Advocate in his proposed canonization. Was his death a miracle, or could it be something worse?Certainly there are evil things abroad. Rats have invaded Canterbury and human rats swarm as well. A spy returned from France has learned the name of the traitor but is killed before he can divulge the truth. Kathryn is forced to deal with several intertwined mysteries--and finds herself in grave personal risk.C. L. Grace writes a wonderfully involving novel set in the fascinating War of the Roses period of English history. Kathryn is an interesting and well developed character--increasing the reader's buy-in to the risk and danger that she finds herself in.Both the medical technology and the accounts of monestary living add to the readers' interest.A fine and compelling read.BooksForABuck.

The War of the Roses may be over for the time being, however intrigue is still the game of the day. And apothecary Kathryn Swinbrooke finds herself uncomfortably in the middle of another mare's nest that includes murder, political intrigue and fraud, in the "Saintly Murders."It's 1472, and Kathryn is summoned by the Archbishop of Canterbury to investigate the death of Roger Atworth, a friar in the Order of Sack. Roger Atworth was once a soldier and a member of Dame Cecily of York's (Edward IV's mother) household. As a soldier he led a very violent and lawless life, however, he later repented his sinful ways, gave up the secular life and joined the Order of the Sack. His honest repentance for his past sins and his compassion and understanding towards others earned him a reputation for holiness, and he even became Dame Cecily's confessor. So that when his dead body is discovered in his cell, and the marks of stigmata are found on it, there is a clamour to see him beatified. Soon, people are claiming to have witnessed sightings of him and to have been cured of various ailments as a result. The Archbishop wants Kathryn to play Devil's Advocate and to argue against beatification by proving that there is a logical and scientific/medical explanation for everything that has occurred. On the surface, her task seems easy enough. However, Kathryn soon finds her investigation heavy going -- the friars of Roger's order are openly hostile, cagey and secretive; and a preliminary examination of Roger's body shows that he did not die of natural causes at all, but was murdered. Kathryn begins to suspect that it was his ties to Dame Cecily that got him killed, especially when one of Edward IV's most trusted spies turns up dead outside the friary. Now, Kathryn's academic search for the truth has turned into a manhunt for a ruthless killer. But will she be able to discover who this killer is and what it is he is after before he strikes again?I'm really glad that Paul Doherty (a.k.a. C. L. Grace) has decide to continue the Kathryn Swinbrooke series. This series was one of my favourites, and I was really disappointed when he stopped writing it a couple of years ago. And what a relief that even though it's been quite a while since the last book in this series, this latest Kathryn Swinbrooke novel is as fresh and as riveting as the other four. As usual, Doherty has peppered the novel with enough detail and atmosphere to keep the novel authentic and accurate to its time period. And Kathryn Swinbrook is as strong minded, vital, appealing and intelligent as ever. The plot is a clever and intriguing one that kept me guessing for quite a while, and the book fairly reeked with suspense and tension as I wondered if Kathryn would unmask the murderer before (s)he struck again. This novel is a truly brilliant historical murder mystery, and definitely makes for riveting reading.

Kathryn Swinbrooke, physician in Canterbury, is called upon to be the Devil's Advocate in the petition of sainthood for the queen mother's confessor. The plot twists as much as the lanes through the old town. Aided by Kathryn's would-be lover, Colum, the two search for the spy and murderer who is attempting to bring the French to the British throne. One false step could see Kathryn dead.The mystery is thoughtful and the plot intricate. The historical background thorough. If you enjoy the Owen Archer series by Candace Robb. Try this one.