It is late summer in the year 1270 and England is as weary as its aging king, Henry III. Although the Simon de Montfort rebellion is over, the smell of death still hangs like smoke over the land. Even in the small priory of Tyndal on the remote East Anglian coast, the monks and nuns of the Order of Fontevraud long for a return to tranquil routine. Their hopes are dashed, however, when the young and inexperienced Eleanor of Wynethorpe is appointed their new prioress over someone of their own choosing. Nor are Eleanor's own prayers for a peaceful transition answered. Only a day after her arrival, a brutally murdered monk is found in the cloister gardens, and Brother Thomas, a young priest with a troubled past, arrives to bring her a more personal grief. Now she must not only struggle to gain the respect of her terrified and resentful flock but also cope with violence, lust and greed in a place dedicated to love and peace.

Customer Review: Wine of Violence

Wonderful book. If you like medieval mystery you will like Priscilla Royal. She seems to get better with each book.

Customer Review: Not a vintage mystery, for cert

Although Royal's debut novel does not quite deliver, it holds considerable promise for the future.

The circumstances of the murder are intriguing, but the solution is mundane. The ending is flat, but I won't say exactly why, because you don't want spoilers in a review.

The heroine, the young Prioress Eleanor, is interesting and likeable. The way the sleuthing skills are divided between three of the characters is odd, and not altogether satisfactory.

The author uses Modern English, as one would expect, except for the curious use of the word 'cert'. So, when asked if anyone suspected a monk of murder, a character says, "Some did, for cert". It happens a few times, and is quite jarring. Also, the dialogue is often inappropriate for the speaker. A serving girl, talking of a prioress and a brother, says, "Neither seemed comfortable in dealings with the secular world", and so on, totally out of character. More editorial effort is required, and then perhaps Eleanor and company will deliver more satisfying adventures.

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