Chambers
of Death
A
Prioress Eleanor of Tyndal Mystery
Priscilla
Royal
Poisoned
Pen Press (Hardcover)
ISBN-10: 1-59058-640-9 (1590586409)
ISBN-13: 978-1-59058-640-2 (9781590586402)
Publication Date: August 2009
List Price: $24.95
Synopsis (from the publisher): When one of her company falls ill on a return journey to Tyndal, Prioress Eleanor accepts lodging at a nearby manor. Master Stevyns' wife is having an affair with the groom while a local widow acts more the lady of the manor than the lady herself. His eldest son and spouse are obsessed with sin and heaven while his youngest son, bound for the Church, unexpectedly returns with more interest in lute playing than the priesthood. It is no surprise when someone's throat is cut, but the sheriff does all he can to avoid offending the family rather than seeking the real killer. When he arrests a servant, she herself is stabbed before she can either prove innocence or be taken off for hanging. Will Eleanor discover the dark secrets that have led to this string of killings before the murderer strikes again?
Review:
Chambers
of Death is the 6th mystery
in this series by Priscilla Royal, set in medieval England and
featuring Prioress Eleanor of Tyndal.
It is the end of autumn on a blistery, icy raining day as Prioress
Eleanor, administrator of Tyndal Priory, a Fontevraudine nunnery,
returns from an ill-advised journey concerning boundary disputes and
contracts. Together, with her traveling companion, Brother Thomas, a
monk at Tyndal, and a fifteen-year-old novice, Mariota, Prioress
Eleanor seeks a refuge from the weather in that Mariota has suddenly
turned quite ill. She is feverish and her breathing is ragged and
labored. They are fortunate to find lodging at the manor of Henry de
Lacy, Earl of Lincoln. The members of the household are gracious and
show great warmth to their visitors, carrying Mariota into a room with
a bed near the fire to hasten her recovery, and giving Eleanor clean
and dry clothes. The good will of some of the members of the family did
not last long, however. Filled with anger, jealousy and lust, some
remarked that the Devil with all his ghosts and demons were residing in
the manor. Though Eleanor is desirous of moving on, Mariota’s
fever does not break on the first day, and the visitors are invited to
stay on until she is well. On the second night of their stay, a cry of
“murder” is heard throughout the manor. Tobye, the
stable groom is found dead, his throat slashed. Without hesitation, the
local sheriff decides the deed was done by another servant, so
immediately arrests the Hilda the cook, who had been known to look at
Tobye in lustful ways. He is going to take her off to hang her.
Eleanor, although she had no idea who might have killed Tobye or why,
was sure it was not Hilda. She knows she is a guest and should not
become involved, but this is not her nature. Eleanor forces herself to
confront the question of why she had gotten involved in this matter of
murder. This was not priory land. The king’s law ruled here.
After her successes in similar affairs, has she grown conceited? If
true, she must cease her involvement and confess her overindulgent
arrogance. She fears, however that, the evil in this place of refuge is
more sinister than she had imagined. And then two more deaths occur,
one which appears to be a suicide and another clearly murder. Who will
the sheriff suspect now, and can Eleanor help identify the murderer?
The real strength of this series is in the character of Prioress
Eleanor. She is truly and interesting and captivating person. Although
she sees the sins of those who come to her for blessings, she
recognizes that she, too, is a sinner. The other characters here are
equally appealing, well considered and drawn. The plot in Chambers of Death
is especially strong, the setting providing an appropriate atmospheric
gloom over "whodunit" and why. This series continues to improve with
each successive outing of the Prioress, and is highly recommended.
Special thanks to guest reviewer Betty of The Betz Review for contributing her review of Chambers of Death and to Poisoned Pen Press for providing an ARC of the book for this review.
Review Copyright © 2009 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved
Have you read Chambers of Death? How would you rate it?
Mysteries in this series ...
Wine
of
Violence
Poisoned Pen Press (Hardcover), December 2003
ISBN-10: 1-59058-088-5 (1590580885)
ISBN-13: 978-1-59058-088-2 (9781590580882)
Tyrant
of
the Mind
Poisoned Pen Press (Hardcover), December 2004
ISBN-10: 1-59058-135-0 (1590581350)
ISBN-13: 978-1-59058-135-3 (9781590581353)
Sorrow
Without End
Poisoned Pen Press (Hardcover), January 2006
ISBN-10: 1-59058-214-4 (1590582144)
ISBN-13: 978-1-59058-214-5 (9781590582145)
Justice for the Damned
Poisoned Pen Press (Hardcover), June 2007
ISBN-10: 1-59058-330-2 (1590583302)
ISBN-13: 978-1-59058-330-2 (9781590583302)
Forsaken Soul
Poisoned Pen Press (Hardcover), August 2008
ISBN-10: 1-59058-521-6 (1590585216)
ISBN-13: 978-1-59058-521-4 (9781590585214)
Chambers of Death
Poisoned Pen Press (Hardcover), August 2009
ISBN-10: 1-59058-640-9 (1590586409)
ISBN-13: 978-1-59058-640-2 (9781590586402)
Omnimystery
keywords for Chambers of Death
...
Location(s) referenced: England.
