Fortune Like the Moon

Hawkenlye Mysteries #1

by Alys Clare

Shortly before his unexpected coronation, King Richard passed a law letting all of England's prisoners go free. Shortly afterwards, a young nun is found gruesomely murdered. Richard swiftly employs an old military colleague of his, Josse d'Acquin, to unravel this hideous mystery. Josse goes to Hawkenlye Abbey to find out the answers to these questions, and together with Abbess Helewise, they must find the murderer quickly, or they'll have the King of England to answer to.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Medieval, Historical, Fiction, British Literature

242 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Alys Clare is the pen name used by Elizabeth Harris for the Hawkenlye series of historical mysteries.

Alys Clare is the pseudonym of a novelist with some 20 published works to her name. Brought up in the countryside close to where the Hawkenlye Novels are set, she went to school in Tonbridge and later studied archaeology at the University of Kent. She lives for part of the year in Brittany, in a remote cottage deep in an ancient landscape where many past inhabitants have left their mark; on her doorstep are relics that date from the stone circles and dolmens of the Neolithic to the commanderies, chapels and ancient tracks of those infamous warrior monks, the Knights Templar. In England, Alys's study overlooks a stretch of parkland which includes a valley with a little spring. The waters of this spring are similar in colour and taste to Tunbridge Wells's famous Chalybeat Spring, and it was this that prompted Alys's setting of her fictional Hawkenlye Abbey in the very spot where her own house now stands.

Reviews

[Overhaul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un relato de suspense en la Inglaterra medieval, con la abadesa de un convento y un caballero de Ricardo Corazón de León como investigadores.

En Tonbridge, un valle cercano a la abadía de Hawkenlye, descubren a una pobre novicia degollada.

Los habitantes del lugar sospechan que el brutal asesinato es obra de uno de los presos liberados por el rey Ricardo Plantagenet, futuro Ricardo Corazón de León, quien, para ganarse la simpatía del pueblo, ha concedido la amnistía a todos los reclusos. Éste envía a su emisario, el valiente y leal caballero Josse d'Acquin, a investigar la espeluznante muerte.

Josse descubre que la abadesa Helewise es una inteligente aliada: muy sensata y pragmática, nada suele pasársele por alto. Combinando sus dotes, Josse y la superiora dejan al descubierto lo que se oculta tras la tranquila vida en la Inglaterra rural del medioevo y descubren la amenaza que encierra el asesinato..

Me ha gustado muchísimo el contexto histórico, la ambientación, personajes y lo ágiles que parecen ser todos estos libros. Vienen genial. Una interesante saga para dejarse llevar.

Tiene sus cosas pero se agradece la evasión, agilidad y simpleza. Por simpleza no se me entienda que la trama es una porquería.

Es un entretenido, adictivo y ligero misterio en tiempos medievales. Ambientado en la época de Ricardo I de Inglaterra. Muy bien ambientado si uno quiere sumergirse en dicha época.

Monjas de la abadía de Hawkenlye son asesinadas en circunstancias misteriosas. Las preguntas comienzan a juntarse.

Giros inesperados al final. Lectura ágil y agradable de leer, invita a seguir captando tu interes y curiosidad. De las que se agrade por su simpleza y su vez por estar logrado con su ambientación.

Leeré más de esta serie...✍️🎩

[Labijose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Una intriga medieval, la primera de la serie de Hawkenlye, que supone una lectura ligera y algo superficial, pero bastante entretenida. Tiene aspectos positivos: una trama interesante, aunque nada absorvente, personajes bien perfilados, y ambientación bastante lograda, (aunque yo no estuve allí en esa época, así parece que fue la Edad Media, ¿no?).

Continuaré con la serie, sobre todo, cuando quiera darme un respiro de lecturas más sesudas.

[Ingrid · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new series to me. I thoroughly enjoyed reading no. 1 in which a knight of King Richard I has to solve more than one murder in the convent of Hawkenlye. I love the humour and the way I learned about Richard I, the Lionheart and his mother Eleanor of Aquitaine.

[Manybooks · Rating 1 out of 5]

Perhaps some of you might well claim that I should not even be rating and reviewing Alys Clare's Fortune Like the Moon (the first of the author's Hawkenlye mysteries), and with only one star at that, since I in fact stopped reading rather early on (basically very soon after I began to notice that much of Fortune Like the Moon is not really what I would personally consider a historical mystery setting but rather strangely New Age in content, with seemingly more information and details on what I would tend to label as modern pagan traditions and lore than historical reality).

However, for me, if I start a novel (or any book for that matter) and cannot finish it, I will indeed generally always both post a negative review and a one or perhaps rarely a two star ranking (for yes, it is only very rarely that I do dump a book, there are ALWAYS very good reasons why I would choose to do this, and indeed, these reasons should in my opinion also be presented and shown in both my review and with a negative star ranking).

Therefore, while I do in Fortune Like The Moon find both Josse d'Acquin and Hawkenlye's Abbess Helwise interestingly and positively conceptualised as characters, as individuals, and have also found some (if not perhaps even a goodly number) of Alys Clare's descriptions and verbal snapshots of Mediaeval England textually rich and intruiging, the to and for me ridiculously modern Wiccan and New Age inclusions in Fortune Like the Moon (the Forest People with their goddess worship and magic) have not only totally ruined for me with these in my opinion strangely fantatstical anachronisms what might have been the start of a new and interesting, readable historical mystery series, this has also made me realise that there is no way I would care to continue with either Fortune Like the Moon or with the rest of the Hawkenlye novels. For honestly, Ms. Clare, if I wanted to read a Neo Pagan, Wiccan or New Age infused novel, I would choose a fantasy and NOT a historical mystery (as for me, historical mysteries should first and foremost feel reaslistic and to and for me, this has certainly not been the case with Fortune Like the Moon).

[Antusa de Ory · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un relato de suspense ambientado en la Inglaterra medieval a principios del reinado de Ricardo Plantagenet, futuro Corazón de León, pero que podría haber sido en cualquier otro momento de la historia, sencillamente, la autora le da un principio a la historia y un motivo para investigar el caso del posible asesinato de una novicia de la abadía de Hawkenley. Un relato ligerito, fácil de leer y muy entretenido. Una buena desconexión entre los tochos históricos que tanto me fascinan.

[LJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

FORTUNE LIKE THE MOON (Historical Mystery-England-1100s) – G+
Clare, Ayls – 1st in series
Hodder & Stoughton, 1999- Hardcover
*** Josse d’Acquin has been sent, by King Richard Plantagenet, to Hawkenlye Abbey. Hawkenlye was designed by Richard’s mother, Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine and is run by a woman, the Abbess Helewise. Richard, at the decision of this Mother, had all prisoners released in celebration of Richard’s coronation. Now a young nun has been brutally murdered and Josee is sent to find the killer and do damage control should the killer be one of the released prisoners.
*** Clare clearly knows her history and embedded it in the story in a way that is fascinating, but not distracting. The dialogue is very well done, not written in the vernacular of the time but with the influence in its cadence. Josse and Abbess Helewise are interesting characters although we don’t learn a lot about them. There are plenty of twists and turns to the story but my biggest quibble is the manner of the victim’s death—it’s a bit implausible. I very much enjoyed the book and shall definitely continue on with the series.

[Hannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rating Clarification: 2.5 Stars

First story in the series was ok, but can't hold a candle to Brother Cadfael.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Delightful, light medieval mystery. Set in the time of Richard I of England.Two nuns in Abbess Helenwise's abbey of Hawkenlye are murdered under mysterious circumstances. Helenwise and the French knight, Sir Josse d'Acquin, team up to solve the crimes. They hope to prove that criminals set free under an amnesty did **not** kill these women. Very unexpected twists at the end. A fast read. This novel whetted my appetite for more in the series.

[Gintautas Ivanickas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ričardas Plantagenetas, dar joks ne Liūtaširdis, o tiesiog šiaip – Ričardas, tegul ir pirmasis to vardo, savo žengimo sostan proga paleido laisvėn krūvą nusikaltėlių. Amnestija šventės proga, taip sakant. Ne visi tuo džiaugiasi, yra, kas ir burba – girdi, ne baisiai čia protingai naujasis karalius pasielgė. O čia dar kaip tik šalia Hawkenlye vienuolyno aptinkama vienuolė perrėžta gerkle ir, panašu, dar ir išprievartauta. Aišku, paleisti zekai kalti – kaip kitaip?
Ričardas siunčia Anglijon savo riterį, Josse d'Acquiną, kad šis išsiaiškintų, kas ir kaip. Ir geriau išsiaiškintų taip, kad ne tie paleisti nusikaltėliai kalti, o kažkas kitas. Josse gana greitai supranta, kad taip ir yra, kad nusikaltimo šaknys kažkur kitur. Bet viena – suprasti, o kita – įrodyti. Tik sugavęs tikrą nusikaltėlį tai gali padaryti. Nežinia dar, kaip jam sektųsi, jei ne abatės Helewise pagalba. Bet jau kur du stos...
Gana neįmantrus istorinis detektyvas. Pripainiota daug, bet viskas taip... na, kažkaip.
Užtat parašyta gana sklandžia, smagia kalba.
Tvirti trys iš penkių.

[P.K. Adams · Rating 1 out of 5]

One of the worst historical mysteries - and, in fact, books - I have ever read. Bland, slow storytelling, stilted dialog that's amateurishly written, characters that didn't pull me in, extensive narrative passages with no meaningful action, including the final scene that violates every rule of dramatic storytelling - basically, lots of issues that should have been caught by whoever edited the book, but weren't. I had hoped to find a new mystery series to follow, but I'm not going to waste my time. There are too many great, exciting books out there to bother with this one.

I would give it half a star if it was possible.

[Nancy Ellis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Richard Plantagenet has just become king and as a gesture of good faith has released felons from English prisons. Unfortunately, a young nun is soon found murdered, and suspicion centers on them. In order to clear his conscience, Richard sends his knight, Josse d'Acquin, to investigate. Working with the wordly-wise Abbess Helewise, it soon becomes apparent that the nearby wood, the haunted Weald of Kent, hides local currents of lust, greed, and anger. It's a good story, brings to mind the wonderful Brother Cadfael stories.

[Abigail Bok · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fortune Like the Moon is set in southern England (the Weald, to be precise) in the 1180s. Richard Plantagenet, soon to be crowned Richard I, has tried to buy a little popularity with his subjects by a mass release of prisoners, but when a nun is murdered at Hawkenlye Abbey he is afraid his gesture will backfire. He sends a knight, Sir Josse d'Acquin, to investigate and hopefully show it wasn't one of the released prisoners who committed the deed.

Sir Josse is a veteran soldier, one of those quiet, observant, self-contained types and quite appealing as a central character. He teams up with the abbess, another veteran of life, to solve the mystery. They make a wonderful pair, and clearly esteem each other, possibly to the point of unseemliness, though any attraction is kept latent. There are other cleanly drawn characters, and a mystery that is not too mysterious but was interesting for me nonetheless because of the interest I took in the dramatics personae. The politics of the day are ably depicted, and my best girl Eleanor of Aquitaine gets a cameo.

The book is capably written without either excessive period language or excessive anachronisms. I liked it a lot and will read more by Alys Clare.

[Susan in NC · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought I had read this first entry in the Hawkenlye series, but once I started reading it I realized I hadn't; I've since read and enjoyed some of the other books in the series and wanted to reacquaint myself with how the series started. Very well, it turns out, with few of the awkward, contrived tricks an author often uses to start a series - over explaining, too much background of characters and situations, where too much is told instead of shown.

A novice nun appears to have been brutally raped and murdered after King Richard frees several prisoners in a show of amnesty; worried that his act of benevolence will be blamed for the crime before he has even set foot in his new kingdom, Richard dispatches Sir Josse d'Acquin to investigate the murder. Arriving at Hawkenlye Abbey Josse makes the acquaintance of Abbess Helewise and the two join forces to discover the twisted truth behind the murder.

I really enjoyed the logical progression of the friendship and growing bond between the two leads, as well as Helewise's and Josse's interactions with supporting players like Sister Euphemia and Brother Saul; I also felt the mystery was particularly well-done. My only slight complaint was the ending; even after loose ends were tied up it dragged on a bit tending to Josse's personal life and getting him back to Hawkenlye in what seemed like a realistic but rather long-winded way. Ah well, small complaint for the start to what has become one of my favorite series! Recommended to fans of historical mysteries.

[Niffer · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm not a history buff. Every once in awhile I read reviews about an historical fiction book "full of" anachronisms, followed by a list of things about how a certain paper-making technique was not invented until 100 years later, or a model of gun was only issued to French soldiers 20 years after the Mexican main character had supposedly used that model in a duel. Okay, so probably authors could have done slightly better research. But generally it didn't detract from my reading of the book.

Then there's this book. As I said, I'm not a history buff, but I do expect at least an attempt to make the characters sound like they live in a different time setting.

This book starts out with a nun being murdered and (presumably) raped. King Richard sends someone from his court to investigate. Okay, I can work with that.

After reading a scene in the village inn where the locals were tossing around the word rape like they were passing a bowl of M&Ms, followed by a scene where one of the nuns said she noticed the victim's hymen was still intact, therefore she couldn't have been raped, followed by her saying something along the lines of "I'm a midwife--I've seen more vaginas than you've had hot meals" when someone expressed doubt about her observation, I decided to do a little research.

In case anyone is curious, according to a website I found, the word "rape" originated in the late 14th century. The word "hymen" originated in the 16th century. The word vagina in the 17th century. And I don't think I will be finishing this book.

[Nick · Rating 1 out of 5]

With so many books currently to read, i'm finding it ever more difficult to force myself to read a book that doesn't immediately grab me in one way or another. I'm finding this particularly a problem when it comes to historical mysteries - a genre I love dearly, however have recently been finding that some of its more popular and prolific authors are somewhat... less than satisfactory.

A chapter and a half in to this book and it has still done little beyond exposition, characterisation has been minimal at best, and the author's voice simply fails to interest me in the slightest. With so many other books unread, including several by Candace Robb and Ellis Peters, it's unlikely I will return to Alys anytime soon.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This really might have been a 3.5 star read, but I’ve rounded it up because I learned a lot of history. I’ve learned that Richard I was basically French and his mother was Eleanor Aquitaine. It is set more than 100 years after William the conqueror conquered and the Crusades were happening. I’ve read several medieval mystery series, but they have generally been set a couple of centuries later. So I may read one or two more of the series to see if the history stays interesting!

[Matthew Ainley · Rating 2 out of 5]

This would probably be more of a 2.5 stars. Different genre than I’m used to reading, and my copy was leant to me by a customer.

A historical murder mystery set in the brief period of Richard I’s rise to King and, controversially, his policy to open the prisons upon his crowning. A nun dies at Hawkenlye Abbey and one of Richard’s courtiers - Josse d’Aquin - is tasked with solving the murder. With assistance from Abbess Helewise, together they uncover the truth behind the brutal murder.

My main issue with this was that I didn’t gel with any of the characters. They all seemed quite 2D and derivative, especially Josse’s occasional interest in women and flirting. There was also the issue of the structure. I’m used to the Agatha Christie mould of getting to know each suspect during the novel before the result is given. However, in this, Alys Clare does not give us a roster of suspects from which to make our own decision (and one of the murderers is only introduced halfway through!) A reading of this is more guided, and there is less room to theorise on the murderers and circumstances.

The historical aspect of the novel, especially towards the end, was interesting. I would’ve liked it to play into this more - especially the funny relationship between Richard and his mother Elenor - but I get that this is secondary to the plot.

All in all, I don’t think I’ll give any others in this series a go for a while.

[EuroHackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I liked this more than The Woman Who Spoke to Spirits, I am still left with an overwhelming feeling of "meh." Not even the super melodramatic ending raised my emotions more than that. This book doesn't have the same irritating narrative quirks as Spirits, and it actually has a mystery plot with a distinct first, second, and third act. But its still meh.

There is no variation on this theme; exactly who you think did it, did it. The author's outline was practically glowing at some points; certain things were signposted to a ridiculous degree. It was almost insultingly simple. It's also evident that this author doesn't have a terribly high opinion of Richard I; I'm not sure I'm up for reading more about that, even as background fodder.

Josse and Helewise were interesting protagonists, and I liked them. I might even read more of this series in future, but nothing here left me clamboring for more.

[Sebastian · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5 ster. Heerlijk boek en prettig om te lezen uit de 12e eeuw.

[Gregoire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plus une enquête policière sur deux crimes mystérieux qu'une réelle plongée dans le royaume du tout nouveau roi d'Angleterre Richard I
Par contre, une belle analyse psychologique (un peu dans le style d'Agatha Christie) des protagonistes et la rencontre de deux fortes intelligences : le français Josse d'Acquin et l’abbesse Helewise. Un nouveau couple à suivre si l'auteur arrive à renouveler ses intrigues dans d'autres directions que les problèmes affectifs qui, inutile de me rappeler, sont parmi les ressorts les plus utilisés dans les enquêtes policières

Dans ce premier tome, une question reste sans réponse, quelle est cette apparition "druidique" que Milon croise dans la forêt ???

Je suivrai la série

More a criminal investigation on two mysterious crimes than a real dive in the kingdom of quite new king of England, Richard I
But, a beautiful psychological analysis of the protagonists (a little in the style of Agatha Christie) and the first meeting of two strong minds : French Josse d' Acquin and the abbess Helewise. A new couple to be followed if the author manages to renew her intrigues in other directions that the emotional problems which, useless to call it back to me, are the most used strings in criminal investigations...

it's well written but lacks of historical descriptions (that could be a good point for such readers who don't love to much descriptions and prefer good fast stories ...)

In this first volume, a question stays without answer : what is this "Druidic" appearance which Milon crosses in the forest?

[Lisa Voss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alys Clare brings the very distant past to life with wit, insight and warmth in this first of her Hawkenlye Mysteries. Clare's tale is set in 1157, a time of civil war in England, as King Stephen and the Empress Matilda vie for the kingdom's throne. A young nun is found dead near Hawkenlye Abbey with ghastly wounds that point to murder. Helewise, Hawkenlye's perceptive and proficient abbess, sets out to discover the truth about the death, with help from unlikely ally, Sir Josse D'Aquin. Josse has been sent to England on behalf of its absent ruler, King John. As a "King's Man", Josse is tasked with discovering how the new monarch's decrees are affecting the general populace. His Majesty's well-intentioned decision to free prisoners from English jails as a sign of good-will. Josse discovers that the benevolent gesture may have backfired as it appears likely that one of these newly-freed criminals must be involved in the grisly Hawkenlye case. The mystery is interesting and the author brings this time and place vividly alive, but the best part about the book is the growing friendship and deep regard that develops between sheltered Abbess and the world-weary knight.

[Roger · Rating 2 out of 5]

These days I like almost any mystery set in an era before cell phones and computers. But even with that factored in I did not care for Fortune Like the Moon. The action is set at the beginning of the rule of Richard I, but our main characters (and in fact most of the dialogue in the book) are entirely too modern. Alys Clare throws in some history but it's mostly in the form of explication and these mini-essays detract from the narrative rather than add to it. Our two sleuths are canny, which is admirable, but essentially they are a little too canny-for people who have never conducted a murder investigation they seem to function like a house on fire. Based on this first book I am glad I do not own any others in the series-I'd have to get rid of them too.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

O Fortunata!
velu Luna
Statu variabilis,
semper crescis
aut decresis

Oh, Fortune!
Like the moon, changing,
Forever waxing and waning...

From Carmina Burana

Good start for the first book of this series. 3,5 stars.

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who is killing the NUNS?!?!?! For pity's sake. That's heinous.

A true gentleman investigates with the wise and thoughtful and tough Abbess and the resolution is indeed satisfactory. Well, for the reader. Not so much for the deceased characters.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first in the Hawkenlye Mystery series. I read another book by Alys Clare a while ago and enjoyed it, so when I went to the library and saw this book, I decided to give it a try. I really enjoyed this story.

Richard has been declared King of England. Before he is even officially crowned, his mother, Queen Eleanor, realizes all the prisoners in the jails in England as a gesture of goodwill. What started out as a well-intentioned idea quickly turns into a disturbing problem. A nun is found brutally murdered outside an abbey in an area that supports a main road that leads to London. Word travels fast in areas like Hawkenlye and this is not what a new King needs as he begins his reign. so Richard ask a man he vaguely knows to travel to England, from France to find out what really happened. Josse is an intelligent man and will gladly help his King find the answers he seeks. Did one of the newly released prisoners, murder this nun? Most of the people who live in the area seem to believe so. Jesse goes to Hawkenlye Abbey and meets Abbess Helewise to start accessing the situation. Both of them quickly realize that there is more to this murder than it first appears. As some details become clearer, more questions are raised. Josse knows it is not a released prisoner. He knows the answers lie in the life of the deceased. when another nun is found dead also, Josse believes he has the answer to this whole unseemly affair. Abbess Helewise does not completely agree. Josse decides he will get the proof to make Helewise see his solution is correct. Abbess Helewise, in her thoughtful and kind way, finds out the truth, but she could be putting herself in danger.

I enjoyed this story. I am a fan of the Brother Cadfael series and this series was compared to Cadfael. I was also attracted to the fact this time I would be reading about life in an abbey in the Middle Ages. this sotry has the cozy mystery kind of feel that I find entertaining and bard to out down until the end. I am going to read the next book in the series soon

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the untimely death of his older brother, and then of his father, Henry II, Richard Plantagenet has inherited the throne of England. He thinks little of England; he’s lived in France most of his life. To celebrate his coming coronation, he orders the jails emptied. That turns out to be a poor idea, as many people figure this will result in a rise in crime. Soon, indeed, a rape/murder of a young nun, occurs, and Richard (not yet the Lion Hearted) sends an aide, the knight Josse d’Acquin, to investigate, hoping that the killer is not a former convict.

At the abbey, Josse and the Abbess Helewise set out to solve the murder- which turns into even more of a mystery when some new information from the abbey’s healer (and now medical examiner) comes to light. Then no sooner do they think they have that one solved when another novice is also found dead, with her throat neatly cut. Do they have a serial killer on their hands?

The story was complex enough to keep me interested, and I liked Sir Josse and Abbess Helewise- and liked how they worked together. The author has a good bit of knowledge as to the era she’s writing in, but.. the characters sometimes speak as if they belong to our time. While I don’t expect them to speak Middle English (heaven forbid), certain phrasings are just jolting. The book was a little light on characterization, but as this is the first of a series there is plenty of time to build on that (I think there is something like 15 in the series now). I did have to wonder about the ease with which nuns, and Sir Josse, came and went in the abbey. Were they really that open? Or did the right rules come later in time? I honestly don’t know. Anyway, an interesting, quick read. Four stars.

[Patty_pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Primo libro della seria dei misteri dell'abbazia di Hawkenlye. Siamo del 1189 alla vigilia dell'incoronazione di Riccardo Plantageneto, la cui madre, Eleonora d'Aquitania, artefice dell'ascesa al trono di Riccardo, è molto affezionata a tale abbazia, visto che l'ha praticamente fondata lei seguendo lo stile di Fontefraud. Una delle novizie viene ritrovata orrendamente esposta con la gola tagliata e tanto sangue sparso per il suo corpo. Visto che una delle azioni intraprese dal futuro sovrano è stata la liberazione di molti prigionieri, per evitare che il delitto sia accostato a questa amnistia, viene mandato ad indagare Josse D'Aquin. Il cavaliere ha un'ottima impressione della badessa, Helewise, molto in gamba e attenta nella gestione delle persone e dell'economia della Abbazia. La ragazza defnta si rifugiò in abbazia per non essere costretta a sposare un uomo a lei non gradito. La sua morte sarà dovuta a questo? Mentre l'indagine prosegue con una collaborazione molto proficua tra Helewise e Josse, un'altra novizia viene trovata morta dallo stesso Josse. Una novizia che pare avesse fatto amicizia con la prima morta. La soluzione del caso è molto più semplice di quello che appariva, una confessione arriva subito ed il resto è in discesa. Un giallo medievale molto leggero, scorrevole anche se i personaggi, eccettuati i protagonisti, non sono tratteggiati per bene, non mi hanno impressionata tanto. Nel complesso si legge fluidamente.

[Susan Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder by night

Quite a good read. I didn't want to put it down. It did drag in a spot of two, but the pace picked up again and made up for it.

King Henry VII died and Richard, his younger brother, inherits the throne. Richard has lived nearly all his life in Aquitaine, which he inherited from his mother, Queen Eleanor. As a beneficent gesture, he released some prisoners from various gaols around England. Shortly thereafter, a young noviate nun is found dead, her throat slashed and her body bloodied.

Josse d'Acquin has been appointed by King Richard, through his mother, to investigate this horrendous crime. He must travel to the Abbey at Hawkenlye and begin without knowing exactly how it what he has to do. There, he meets Abbess Helewise and an investigative team is formed.

I was not paid for this review nor was I reimbursed for this recommendation. I have not been compensated for my opinion,but I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys medieval mysteries.

[Jazzysmum · Rating 3 out of 5]

It has been a long time since I first read this, the first in the Hawkenlye Mysteries.

I enjoyed it the first time round and did again this second reading.

My only complaint was that the author didn't capture the language spoken and situation of the time for the characters and think that a little more research would have helped.
England at this time had only been been conquered just over a hundred years, so the old languages and practices of the Anglo Saxon people - especially rurally would still be in evidence.

I liked the relationship between Josse and Abbess Helewise and the author's ending comments about Richard the first who used England as a bank to fund his crusades has proved to be true.

This series is set at an interesting time in England's history, where had become one nation instead of separate kingdoms.

As I have the series I shall be reading more.

[Cindie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I continually got lost in the storyline. This book, although it has some redeeming qualities, was very disjointed. I have a good memory, but often had to go back and reread a section to try and figure out who was who and where they were in relation to others. I enjoyed the historical perspective regarding the brutalities of the men, especially the king's legacy. The author is clearly versed in English history and is definitely aware of how the different classes of the citizens caught in the cross fire of regency greed. This is one of the few period books I have read where a man has difficulty controlling his temper and blindly and stupidly walks into trouble and luckily is rescued. Not sure I will be reading the next in this series, though.