What do you think?
Rate this book
Kathryn Swinbrooke #1
Die Heilerin von Canterbury
When a series of murders paralyzes the town of Canterbury in the fifteenth century, physician and chemist Kathryn Swinbrooke, assisted by bumbling Irish soldier Colum Murtagh, searches for a killer with literary tastes and rather personal motives.
252 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
74 people are currently reading
950 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
February 17, 2023
This series has been around for a while and is written by Paul Doherty under the pen name Celia L Grace. Sometimes you can get this under his name.
This the first in a a 7 book series set just at the conclusion of the War of the Roses - the House of Lancaster vs the House of York for the English crown.
It takes place in Canterbury and we are introduced Kathryn Swinbrooke, the daughter of an apothecary and a practicing apothecary, herbalist and doctor herself.
She meets newly crowned King Edward IV 's(House of York) Lieutenant Colum Murtagh, while being called into help solve the murders of pilgrims to the shrine of Thomas a Beckett.
The two work well together and uncover an unhinged killer.
We are introduced to Kathryn's household which Murtagh joins and so the series is set.
An enjoyable read for those of us of who are whodunnit fans.
A great map of Canterbury is included at the start.
This the first in a a 7 book series set just at the conclusion of the War of the Roses - the House of Lancaster vs the House of York for the English crown.
It takes place in Canterbury and we are introduced Kathryn Swinbrooke, the daughter of an apothecary and a practicing apothecary, herbalist and doctor herself.
She meets newly crowned King Edward IV 's(House of York) Lieutenant Colum Murtagh, while being called into help solve the murders of pilgrims to the shrine of Thomas a Beckett.
The two work well together and uncover an unhinged killer.
We are introduced to Kathryn's household which Murtagh joins and so the series is set.
An enjoyable read for those of us of who are whodunnit fans.
A great map of Canterbury is included at the start.
April 29, 2018
A good while back I read a book called The Apothecary Rose by Candace Robb, as I read this book I kept thinking, Have I read this already? It’s not the same exactly but we do have a female apothecary helping find a murderer with the help of a possible love interest in both.
Kathryn Swinbourne is a ‘doctor’ or apothecary in Canterbury towards the end of the War of the Roses.
Someone is poisoning random pilgrims visiting the shrine of Thomas a Beckett. She is called in to help investigate as it is felt only another apothecary would have such knowledge of poisons therefore she can help find him (it is a him so we don’t have to go through her being suspected too).
She has a feisty thrice married maid and confident, Thomasina and the help, wanted or otherwise, of the new king’s head of stables, Irishman Colum Murtagh.
All main characters have their own sad, worrisome secrets even the funny and foul-mouthed Thomasina.
I found the story enjoyable enough though not particularly riveting.
Kathryn Swinbourne is a ‘doctor’ or apothecary in Canterbury towards the end of the War of the Roses.
Someone is poisoning random pilgrims visiting the shrine of Thomas a Beckett. She is called in to help investigate as it is felt only another apothecary would have such knowledge of poisons therefore she can help find him (it is a him so we don’t have to go through her being suspected too).
She has a feisty thrice married maid and confident, Thomasina and the help, wanted or otherwise, of the new king’s head of stables, Irishman Colum Murtagh.
All main characters have their own sad, worrisome secrets even the funny and foul-mouthed Thomasina.
I found the story enjoyable enough though not particularly riveting.
August 14, 2007
A SHRINE OF MURDERS (Amateur Sleuth-England-1471) – G+
Grace, C. L. (aka P.C. Doherty), 1st of series
St. Martin’s Press, 1993-Hardcover
Kathryn Swinbrook is a physician in 15th century Canterbury. Pilgrims come from everywhere to visit the shrine of Thomas Beckett, and someone is killing them and leaving short poems pinned to the Cathedral doors. Kathryn, along with Irishman and soldier for the crown Colum Murtagn, is asked by the town officials.
*** I quite enjoyed this. Although there were anachronisms aplenty, it is true that there were women physicians during this time. The clues were fairly obvious, but the use of herbology, use of Chaucer’s poems and the position of women during the time was very interesting. The characters were good, particularly Kathryn’s servant Thomasina and I didn’t mind either the secondary plot or the budding romance between Kathryn and Colum. It’s a light, quick read good for a Sunday afternoon.
Grace, C. L. (aka P.C. Doherty), 1st of series
St. Martin’s Press, 1993-Hardcover
Kathryn Swinbrook is a physician in 15th century Canterbury. Pilgrims come from everywhere to visit the shrine of Thomas Beckett, and someone is killing them and leaving short poems pinned to the Cathedral doors. Kathryn, along with Irishman and soldier for the crown Colum Murtagn, is asked by the town officials.
*** I quite enjoyed this. Although there were anachronisms aplenty, it is true that there were women physicians during this time. The clues were fairly obvious, but the use of herbology, use of Chaucer’s poems and the position of women during the time was very interesting. The characters were good, particularly Kathryn’s servant Thomasina and I didn’t mind either the secondary plot or the budding romance between Kathryn and Colum. It’s a light, quick read good for a Sunday afternoon.
January 7, 2021
An most interesting historical mystery. The setting, characters, lifestyle descriptions are quite excellent. The mystery itself is a bit plebeian. Overall this wonderful entertainment 'eye-candy'.
January 31, 2022
Will give book two a go.
Will that waa a nice being to a good series. Maybe a little longer in the telling an some excitement.
Will that waa a nice being to a good series. Maybe a little longer in the telling an some excitement.
January 11, 2023
The first in a series of murder mysteries set in 15th century Canterbury. Kathryn Swinbrooke, a physician and apothecary, is asked to investigate when someone starts murdering pilgrims to the shrine of St Thomas a Becket. She has to cooperate with Colum Murtagh. An Irish soldier who serves the king. This is an enjoyable mystery with some good characters,Kathryn is an attractive and interesting heroine, Colum is a highly desirable love interest, and I didn’t guess the identity of the murderer, which always pleases me.
November 24, 2025
i haven’t read a book i despised this much in a long time. i was immediately interested when i read the first few pages and got hints of strong, well written women and interesting historical tidbits, then my interest kept dropping the more i read. the characters were boring and surface-level, having basically no depth to them or really ANYTHING that made them interesting. the story was more “will they, won’t they?” than murder mystery. it felt as though the author was more interested in writing historical facts from the 1400’s than following the plot of his own story. every time any “detective work” was done, i was hopeful the story would pick up, only for them to be met with “another dead end”. the end felt as though the author finally remembered he was writing a murder mystery and not a romance and had to very quickly wrap things up. it felt very rushed and very anticlimactic. i wish i had put this book down when my gut told me to.
Read
July 27, 2021This is a different take on a Sherlock Holmes mystery instead of sherlock it is a woman named Catherine and this takes place in the 1500s. She. She gets hired by the Crown to help investigate deaths in Canterbury. The murders are based off of The Canterbury Tales.
July 4, 2022
Very good story. I’ll read the series.
July 1, 2025
Easy to read.
December 1, 2017
Entretiene sin pretensiones. De lectura ligera y divertida. Aunque creo que las siguientes de seguro serán más atrapantes, no sólo desde el misterio sino desde la vida personal de los protagonistas.
December 2, 2017
What looks to be another excellent series
Paul Doherty amazes me as to how prolific he is, and the variety of character. He has an easy flowing style that captures the sights and particularly smells of the times about which he writes. While not every mystery is a page turner, they do not come out as formulaic. His characters are varied and interesting and he writes strong women well ( at least from a males perspective. This new cast of characters is very likeable and I have already downloaded the next three in my kindle. His mysteries at captivating, and I am sure there will be a five star in the group.
Paul Doherty amazes me as to how prolific he is, and the variety of character. He has an easy flowing style that captures the sights and particularly smells of the times about which he writes. While not every mystery is a page turner, they do not come out as formulaic. His characters are varied and interesting and he writes strong women well ( at least from a males perspective. This new cast of characters is very likeable and I have already downloaded the next three in my kindle. His mysteries at captivating, and I am sure there will be a five star in the group.
October 16, 2023
El primer libro de la serie de Kathryn Swinbrooke escrito por Paul Doherty bajo el seudónimo de C.L. Grace.
En general, me gustan los libros de Doherty, sus misterios están bien pensados y sus personajes son interesantes.
Pero este libro sufre por ser el primero de la serie. Se entretiene mucho en presentar el contexto histórico, muy interesante (el final de la Guerra de las Dos Rosas), pero no le deja muchas páginas a la investigación del crimen en un libro de poco más de 200 páginas (en Kindle). Pero por otra parte, el crimen es esta vez realista, simple y creíble. Y aunque se puede adivinar el criminal, hay suficientes pistas falsas como para entretener.
Los personajes no son tan buenos como en otras series del autor. Thomasina, la nodriza/ama de llaves de Kathryn, resulta demasiado ilustrada para el s. XV: no solo sabe leer y escribir, también conoce mitología clásica. Pero bueno, su señora parafrasea a Shakespeare en El Mercader de Venecia aunque la obra no haya sido escrita aún.
Como en todos los libros de Doherty, lo mejor son sus descripciones de tabernas, calles, vestimentas... Puede tomarse todas las licencias que quiera, que no he encontrado a ningún autor que me haga sentir que camino por una ciudad medieval como él.
En general, un libro entretenido y me leeré los siguientes de la serie.
En general, me gustan los libros de Doherty, sus misterios están bien pensados y sus personajes son interesantes.
Pero este libro sufre por ser el primero de la serie. Se entretiene mucho en presentar el contexto histórico, muy interesante (el final de la Guerra de las Dos Rosas), pero no le deja muchas páginas a la investigación del crimen en un libro de poco más de 200 páginas (en Kindle). Pero por otra parte, el crimen es esta vez realista, simple y creíble. Y aunque se puede adivinar el criminal, hay suficientes pistas falsas como para entretener.
Los personajes no son tan buenos como en otras series del autor. Thomasina, la nodriza/ama de llaves de Kathryn, resulta demasiado ilustrada para el s. XV: no solo sabe leer y escribir, también conoce mitología clásica. Pero bueno, su señora parafrasea a Shakespeare en El Mercader de Venecia aunque la obra no haya sido escrita aún.
Como en todos los libros de Doherty, lo mejor son sus descripciones de tabernas, calles, vestimentas... Puede tomarse todas las licencias que quiera, que no he encontrado a ningún autor que me haga sentir que camino por una ciudad medieval como él.
En general, un libro entretenido y me leeré los siguientes de la serie.
June 18, 2025
A Shrine of Murders is an enjoyable amateur detective novel set in the Middle Ages, and is a great option for somebody looking for a historic cozy mystery.
The book's strength comes from its setting - the bustling town of Canterbury, England at the end of the War of the Roses - and the characters who come together to solve a string of murders that have been committed around town.
Kathyrn Swinbrooke is a local doctor who is invited by the town council to help find the killer before rumors spread and scare off the religious pilgrims that flock to Canterbury. She is joined by a rough-around-the-edges Irish soldier named Colum Murtagh, who has recently been appointed Canterbury's Commissioner of the Peace by the newly crowned King Edward, and her stubborn and outspoken housekeeper, Thomasina. The book also includes some interesting insights into the political atmosphere after the War of the Roses, and many references to Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.
Reading this book reminded me of watching an episode of Cadfael. The mystery was simple and wraps up nicely, but I was really there for the characters and the historic atmosphere. I will happily read the next book in the series when I want another cozy mystery.
The book's strength comes from its setting - the bustling town of Canterbury, England at the end of the War of the Roses - and the characters who come together to solve a string of murders that have been committed around town.
Kathyrn Swinbrooke is a local doctor who is invited by the town council to help find the killer before rumors spread and scare off the religious pilgrims that flock to Canterbury. She is joined by a rough-around-the-edges Irish soldier named Colum Murtagh, who has recently been appointed Canterbury's Commissioner of the Peace by the newly crowned King Edward, and her stubborn and outspoken housekeeper, Thomasina. The book also includes some interesting insights into the political atmosphere after the War of the Roses, and many references to Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.
Reading this book reminded me of watching an episode of Cadfael. The mystery was simple and wraps up nicely, but I was really there for the characters and the historic atmosphere. I will happily read the next book in the series when I want another cozy mystery.
September 5, 2025
Voici le premier tome de cette série (que l'on pourrait qualifier de cosy mystery et même de romantic suspense) écrite en 1993 sous un pseudonyme par Paul Doherty. C'est un roman qui se lit très vite où l'on prend plaisir à s'instruire tout en se distrayant. La série de meurtres est basée sur ce qui fait la grande renommée de Canterbury en cette fin de la guerre des Deux-Roses au XVème siècle : les contes de Canterbury du poète Chaucer ainsi que le pélerinage organisé sur la tombe de Thomas Becket. Cela pourrait vous apparaître austère mais pas du tout !
Notre héroïne, une apothicaire médecin prend toute la lumière... son quotidien, le secret qu'elle dissimule, la vie de sa maisonnée... et bien vite ses amours. L'intrigue permet de faire connaissance avec toute une galerie de personnages, et l'auteur explore rapidement mais avec une efficacité très intéressante notamment la place de la femme dans la société médiévale, pauvre ou riche. Le rythme est enlevé, le ton alerte et si le vocabulaire a bien une consonnance "à l'ancienne", il reste tout à fait contemporain. Du pur divertissement...
Très agréable surprise !
Notre héroïne, une apothicaire médecin prend toute la lumière... son quotidien, le secret qu'elle dissimule, la vie de sa maisonnée... et bien vite ses amours. L'intrigue permet de faire connaissance avec toute une galerie de personnages, et l'auteur explore rapidement mais avec une efficacité très intéressante notamment la place de la femme dans la société médiévale, pauvre ou riche. Le rythme est enlevé, le ton alerte et si le vocabulaire a bien une consonnance "à l'ancienne", il reste tout à fait contemporain. Du pur divertissement...
Très agréable surprise !
December 28, 2025
Set in 1471, during a lull in the hostilities of the War of the Roses. King's soldier (Edward IV at that time), Colum Murtagh has been sent to administer various activities in Canterbury, one of which is to investigate the death of several pilgrims to the Thomas Beckett shrine at the cathedral. Kathryn Swinbrooke is drawn into the investigation for her knowledge as a physician & herbalist. The clever killer appears to be using Chaucer's Tales to choose his victims.
Kathryn & Colum work on tracking down a wily & well-placed murderer while her maid, Thomasina, attempts to protect her mistresses life, reputation & best interests - you can't be too careful with a dangerous Irishman around. There is a developing relationship there, although various circumstances may restrict it to platonic, at least for the time being.
Kathryn, Thomasina & Colum are interesting & likeable characters. I enjoyed the story, both the investigation & the historical aspect of life for people in Canterbury. I would like to read the whole series if I could get my hands on it.
Kathryn & Colum work on tracking down a wily & well-placed murderer while her maid, Thomasina, attempts to protect her mistresses life, reputation & best interests - you can't be too careful with a dangerous Irishman around. There is a developing relationship there, although various circumstances may restrict it to platonic, at least for the time being.
Kathryn, Thomasina & Colum are interesting & likeable characters. I enjoyed the story, both the investigation & the historical aspect of life for people in Canterbury. I would like to read the whole series if I could get my hands on it.
July 3, 2018
I am always looking for another series as good as Brother Cadfael's and Sister Frevisse's, and had high hopes for Kathryn Swinbrooke, physician of Canterbury during the Wars of the Roses who is helping to catch a serial killer. I read all but 50 pages of this 177-page book and decided I didn't like it and was wasting my time. Although Kathryn and her life and story are interesting, the book seemed to be marking time until the final reveal, including a lot of redundancy, and in such a short book, that is a huge failing. Unfortunately, I had such hopes for the series that I had already bought the other (seven?) books, so that was a waste of money. I'm sorry this wasn't a better read.
December 11, 2018
Canterbury chose the wrong side in the war between the Yorkists and Lancastrians and the city is in chaos when the murders begin – pilgrims to the shrine of Thomas á Becket, poisoned by a variety of expensive toxins available only to medical practitioners. The king sends a seasoned soldier, Irishman Colum Murtagh, to put a stop to the threat to the city’s lucrative pilgrim tourism and he is assigned Kathryn Swinbrooke to provide the specialized apothecarial knowledge needed for the investigation. The plot is a stretch and at least one strand is left dangling at the end but Kathryn is an interesting character and the setting is well-researched.
August 4, 2025
An educated serial killer leaves clues culled from Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales in this well-written 15th Century Canterbury mystery. Canterbury’s tourist trade already suffered during the War of the Roses, and now the town leaders fear that pilgrims, who are being targeted, will stop coming. The Archbishop suspects a doctor of the clever murders and asks for the help of Kathryn Swinbrooke, who cures her patients with herbs, leeches, and common sense. Kathryn is backed by her servant Thomasina and Colum Murtagh, an Irish mercenary. Originally published under a pseudonym, A Shrine of Murders is the first of Doherty’s Canterbury Tales.
November 14, 2017
A very good medival mystery to read
I follow the author Paul Doherty from his Hugh Corbett mysteries and decided to read the Kathryn Swinbrooke mysteries as well for the first time. They are just as entertaining as the Hugh Corbett mysteries just set into a different time in English history, during the time after the War of the Roses. Kathryn Swinbrooke in this first book in this series sets up the introductions for her and her friends and how she gets involved with solving murders for not only the city of Canterbury but royalty as well.
I follow the author Paul Doherty from his Hugh Corbett mysteries and decided to read the Kathryn Swinbrooke mysteries as well for the first time. They are just as entertaining as the Hugh Corbett mysteries just set into a different time in English history, during the time after the War of the Roses. Kathryn Swinbrooke in this first book in this series sets up the introductions for her and her friends and how she gets involved with solving murders for not only the city of Canterbury but royalty as well.
October 28, 2022
Well written book but sadly disappointing.
Started bout so well. Typical Doherty...well thought out, well written, historical detail, well crafted, but kind of silly at times. Not just humor that belongs...he does that well, too, but silly. I did not expect that. I want to know more about Kathryn Swinbrooke, Thomisina, Agnes and The Irishman so I will read more in this series. Hope the next book and more are wholly better.
Started bout so well. Typical Doherty...well thought out, well written, historical detail, well crafted, but kind of silly at times. Not just humor that belongs...he does that well, too, but silly. I did not expect that. I want to know more about Kathryn Swinbrooke, Thomisina, Agnes and The Irishman so I will read more in this series. Hope the next book and more are wholly better.
January 17, 2018
Good, if simple mystery set in medieval Canterbury. A female apothecary, with secrets & troubles of her own, is contracted to help an Irish soldier of the victorious King's army solve a series of murders among pilgrims. Thanks to the author's historical knowledge and skill, medieval life comes alive in every glorious dirty, smelly detail.
January 19, 2018
1471 and there is a murderer in Canterbury. the archbishop hires Kathryn Swinbrooke to discover the murderer. She needs the help of Colum Murtagh the Commissioner of Peace, Simon Luberon and Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.
I like the main characters and hope they appear again. An enjoyable mystery, and start to a new series.
I like the main characters and hope they appear again. An enjoyable mystery, and start to a new series.
May 8, 2018
This was okay. I enjoyed reading it but there was nothing special. A murder mystery in the medieval ages in Canterbury. I like the characters. The mystery wasn't great and felt out of place for the setting. It was however, short. I think that is why I picked it up. I'll probably pick up another because I did enjoy the main character and her servant.
October 14, 2020
I enjoyed this mystery immensely. Medieval Canterbury is a fantastic setting and beginning the series with a shout-out to Chaucer was fun. I think it was dificult to find these books in the US when they were new in the 1990s, but they are out in Kindle format now. I'm very glad I gave the series a try and am on to the second book.
September 25, 2017
Che scriva sotto il suo vero nome o sotto uno dei suoi numerosi pseudonimi, Paul Doherty scrive gialli storici di grande appeal.
Questo è il primo della serie dedicata a Kathryn Swinbrooke, donna medico a Canterbury nel XV secolo.
Questo è il primo della serie dedicata a Kathryn Swinbrooke, donna medico a Canterbury nel XV secolo.
May 20, 2019
I am always searching for a new series that will grab on and hold my interest. Unfortunately this book proved to be full of potatoes and broth with very little meat. I generally try to give a new series a second try before crossing it off my list but this one will have to wait.
June 18, 2021
I am thoroughly enjoying Paul Doherty's historical murder mysteries. The Brother Athelstan mysteries got me started, but I did enjoy this one as well which introduces me to a brand new slate of characters.
November 14, 2017
An enjoyable quick read. The references to Canterbury Tales made me read it over again. Already started on 2nd in series.
December 9, 2017
Informarive
If you didn't know anything about Chaucer this gives an inkling. Difficult to act detective as not a lot of clues. The perpetrator seems random.
If you didn't know anything about Chaucer this gives an inkling. Difficult to act detective as not a lot of clues. The perpetrator seems random.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews