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Secret Murder: Who Shall Judge?
"In the days of old, life could be cheap. Death, however, could be very expensive."
What if, in the middle ages, North America had been settled by Europeans? The Americas would have developed very differently. Settlers from an eleventh-century Europe would have been on a relatively even footing with the local people, whom the Norse called Skraelings. We could end up with an Anglo-French empire along the Mississippi up to the head of navigation at Saint Anthony Falls. North of that would be Norse, settling on the Iron Range; and north of the Norse, Finns. Large areas of North America would still belong to the Skraelings. Traders would travel about, by land and by river, as traders always have. At trade fairs, men and women of different lands, laws, and customs would come together. As always, jackals would gather to prey upon them …
What if, in the middle ages, North America had been settled by Europeans? The Americas would have developed very differently. Settlers from an eleventh-century Europe would have been on a relatively even footing with the local people, whom the Norse called Skraelings. We could end up with an Anglo-French empire along the Mississippi up to the head of navigation at Saint Anthony Falls. North of that would be Norse, settling on the Iron Range; and north of the Norse, Finns. Large areas of North America would still belong to the Skraelings. Traders would travel about, by land and by river, as traders always have. At trade fairs, men and women of different lands, laws, and customs would come together. As always, jackals would gather to prey upon them …
- GenresMystery
154 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2011
3 people are currently reading
95 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 5, 2019
At it's most basic the story is a murder mystery. What makes it unique is the clever premise: The Norse colonize North America through Hudson's Bay. The English via the Ohio and Mississippi and Native Americans still live throughout. They all meet near modern day St. Paul.
I am guessing it is set in the Eleven or Twelfth century based on the technology. The author makes a believable world from her starting point. Good character development with believable motivations.
One minor quibble. All the Norse are pagans. The Norse did not discover North America until the late 900's by which time conversion was well under way.
Still, a fun book. If you like murder mysteries, Alternative History, Brother Cadfael books and/or the Medieval period you'll probably enjoy this.
I am guessing it is set in the Eleven or Twelfth century based on the technology. The author makes a believable world from her starting point. Good character development with believable motivations.
One minor quibble. All the Norse are pagans. The Norse did not discover North America until the late 900's by which time conversion was well under way.
Still, a fun book. If you like murder mysteries, Alternative History, Brother Cadfael books and/or the Medieval period you'll probably enjoy this.
August 23, 2022
Ragnar Forkbeard, iron-monger, and Olaf Far-Traveler, trader in exotic goods, have come from Surtsheim in the north to Northlanding, the falls that block boats from coming any further up the Great River. It is time for the great spring fair and the merchants have come from all over the New World to sell and trade here at the edge of English lands. Also here is Thorolf Pike, who was outlawed in Surtsheim for killing Snorri Crow, Ragnar’s old lord. He’s now a successful merchant himself in Northlanding, if not a well-liked one.
As unpopular as he is, there are plenty of suspects when Thorolf turns up dead, an arrow through his chest. But no one claims responsibility for this sneak attack, which makes it a crime by the standards of both the English law and the Northmen’s code–secret murder!
This murder mystery takes place in an alternate history where the Vikings never lost touch with Vinland, going on to form a thriving colony, while the English and French came up what we know as the Mississippi at a much earlier time due to pressure at home from more successful Islamic invaders in Europe. Thus the setting is a fanciful version of Minnesota, with a Scandinavian presence in the Iron Range. Northlanding is St. Anthony Falls, near the small city of Milltown (Minneapolis.)
While Ragnar is the main protagonist, we also get to see events from the viewpoints of Benedict, the fairgrounds manager; Otkar, Thorolf’s former right-hand man who’s trying to hold the followers together with him as their new leader; and Dirk, the bailiff’s deputy, who represents the English authorities.
Thorolf is mentioned to have had an adventure which is told in greater detail in the book Minnesota Vice.
This is a short novel, and despite the exotic setting plays out much like other historical mysteries you have read. The clash between the customs of the Northlanders and the English give some interest. Ragnar is aware of the White Christ, and gives homage to him, but is still a follower of Thor, and most of his men are still worshippers of the Norse gods.
One bit of interest is that Ragnar is also a poet, and he often drops bits of skaldic verse, including a “scorn-poem” that denounces an enemy. The cook, Gunnar, has been wounded in the head, and his dreams may or may not be prophetic (he may be simply be gifted with the ability to pick up on subconscious clues.)
Late in the story, the truth of Thorolf’s killer becomes known, and thus the subtitle of the book. Who shall judge this person, by Norse or English law? The answer may not satisfy some readers’ sense of justice.
I liked this book and think it should be better known. Recommended to fans of historical mysteries and Vikings.
As unpopular as he is, there are plenty of suspects when Thorolf turns up dead, an arrow through his chest. But no one claims responsibility for this sneak attack, which makes it a crime by the standards of both the English law and the Northmen’s code–secret murder!
This murder mystery takes place in an alternate history where the Vikings never lost touch with Vinland, going on to form a thriving colony, while the English and French came up what we know as the Mississippi at a much earlier time due to pressure at home from more successful Islamic invaders in Europe. Thus the setting is a fanciful version of Minnesota, with a Scandinavian presence in the Iron Range. Northlanding is St. Anthony Falls, near the small city of Milltown (Minneapolis.)
While Ragnar is the main protagonist, we also get to see events from the viewpoints of Benedict, the fairgrounds manager; Otkar, Thorolf’s former right-hand man who’s trying to hold the followers together with him as their new leader; and Dirk, the bailiff’s deputy, who represents the English authorities.
Thorolf is mentioned to have had an adventure which is told in greater detail in the book Minnesota Vice.
This is a short novel, and despite the exotic setting plays out much like other historical mysteries you have read. The clash between the customs of the Northlanders and the English give some interest. Ragnar is aware of the White Christ, and gives homage to him, but is still a follower of Thor, and most of his men are still worshippers of the Norse gods.
One bit of interest is that Ragnar is also a poet, and he often drops bits of skaldic verse, including a “scorn-poem” that denounces an enemy. The cook, Gunnar, has been wounded in the head, and his dreams may or may not be prophetic (he may be simply be gifted with the ability to pick up on subconscious clues.)
Late in the story, the truth of Thorolf’s killer becomes known, and thus the subtitle of the book. Who shall judge this person, by Norse or English law? The answer may not satisfy some readers’ sense of justice.
I liked this book and think it should be better known. Recommended to fans of historical mysteries and Vikings.
June 29, 2012
I found this book on the New Mystery shelf at the library. It is set in Minnesota in the Middle Ages where the Norse and Finns have the North, the Indians (Skraelings) have the West, and the English and French have the East and South. Think Brother Cadfael at St. Anthony Falls.
Unless you believe in the Kensington Rune Stone, there is no evidence that the Vikings came to Minnesota a thousand years ago. But if they had come and prospered, the Norse, English, French, Finns, and Skraelings might have come together at a trade fair near the site of the great falls. Jealously, murder, justice and revenge happen and there is plenty of what seems to be authentic descriptions of life in that day. Viking religious practice and a couple of Viking funerals are described. There are honorable men on all sides, but they have somewhat different rules of justice.
Fun and short. Minnesota author and publisher
Unless you believe in the Kensington Rune Stone, there is no evidence that the Vikings came to Minnesota a thousand years ago. But if they had come and prospered, the Norse, English, French, Finns, and Skraelings might have come together at a trade fair near the site of the great falls. Jealously, murder, justice and revenge happen and there is plenty of what seems to be authentic descriptions of life in that day. Viking religious practice and a couple of Viking funerals are described. There are honorable men on all sides, but they have somewhat different rules of justice.
Fun and short. Minnesota author and publisher
May 14, 2012
I enjoyed this story. The premise is a good one: the Norse travels across the North Atlantic prospered and were emulated by people from other countries, but not in the extensive numbers of the migration that began in the seventeenth century in our history.The technological parity of settlers and indigenous peoples, and the non-existence of smallpox epidemics resulted in a more balanced pattern of settlement.
The plot hinges on the clash of cultures and legal systems during a trade fair when a murder occurs. The characters are compelling, both personally and culturally, and the story is satisfying.
The plot hinges on the clash of cultures and legal systems during a trade fair when a murder occurs. The characters are compelling, both personally and culturally, and the story is satisfying.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews