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Medieval Mystery #15
The Twice-Hanged Man
Prioress Eleanor escorts her very pregnant sister-in-law and brother Robert from the family estates near the Welsh border to a village deemed more defensible while Welsh princes and King Edward skirmish. There she, Brother Thomas, and sub-infirmarian Sister Anne become embroiled in a murder a witness says was committed by the ghost of a man recently executed by the village hangman.
256 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2019
50 people are currently reading
184 people want to read
About the author
Priscilla Royal
26 books124 followersPriscilla has a degree in world literature from San Francisco State University, where she discovered the beauty of medieval literature. She is a theater fan as well as reader of history, mysteries, and fiction of lesser violence. She lives in Northern California and belongs to the California Writers Club and Sisters in Crime.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
August 12, 2019
I have long been a fan of Priscilla Royal’s medieval mystery series, for historical accuracy matters a lot to me and she is as obsessive-compulsive as I am about research. 😊 Her characters are men and women of their time, reflecting the beliefs and mores and superstitions of medieval England in the thirteenth century. Her latest book, The Twice-hanged Man, immediately became one of my favorites. She took an actual event and creatively spun it into a suspenseful story with some very clever plot twists, surprises I’d not seen coming. And I loved the inclusion of Welsh characters, for readers of my books know that I left my heart—not in San Francisco—but in Wales.
October 19, 2019
Read the first half, got bored, skipped to last few chapters to see if the obvious killer was right, it was! But the helpful author’s note at the end clarified matters - Royal found, in her research, the story of a twice-hanged man, and used that to build a rather unsatisfying mystery around. I have read every book in this series, and it has been uneven for me - always well-researched, and several very likable, interesting recurring characters, but sometimes the dialogue is rather stiff and wooden, and the mysteries rather obvious.
In this book, Prioress Eleanor, along with Sister Anne, her excellent healer (former apothecary’s wife in her former life), and Brother Thomas, her traveling escort and investigative right-hand man, are accompanying Eleanor’s very pregnant sister-in-law and brother to their family lands. The mother-to-be is about to give birth, and all are concerned that she do so in a safe place.
After the baby arrives, a local abbot asks Eleanor and her fellow religious to investigate the death of a local priest; the ghost of a recently twice-hanged Welshman (of the title) was seen over the priest’s body. Locals fear the hanged man’s ghost, in the form of a demon, killed the priest because he refused him last rites. Nonsensical to our modern sensibilities, but Royal generally does a good job of showing how pervasive and real the fears of ghosts, demons and Satan were in medieval times - especially in the rural areas among the largely illiterate common people. It doesn’t always make for a gripping mystery, though, as in this case, and she sometimes goes overboard, making the guilty party so nasty or unlikable, that they come across as obviously guilty and two-dimensional.
What I liked - further development of Brother Thomas’ character, the secretly gay right hand man to Prioress Eleanor in her travels and investigations. She’s always loved him, but has no idea of his tortured past and how he became a monk; one big secret is finally revealed at the end of this book, so it will be very interesting to how Eleanor deals with this knowledge going forward.
She is a great character - strong, smart, compassionate and committed to protecting those in her care at all costs. Seeing her deal with wielding her authority as a well-born woman, and prioress of Tyndal Priory, which houses both female and male religious, is always interesting. Harder to stomach is the blatant misogyny both she and Anne have to put up with from all men - noble, common, or religious; oftentimes the male religious are the worst, sneering at Anne as she tries to examine a dead body (Thomas has to describe it to her), and condescending to both women and prattling on about evil, weak women. Ugh! As much a reminder of how far we’ve come, as a reminder of how bad it was and why it took so long to get here!
The last several books have been excellent, and even if this mystery wasn’t really a great puzzle, the further development of some very intriguing and unusual characters will bring me back for Royal’s next outing.
In this book, Prioress Eleanor, along with Sister Anne, her excellent healer (former apothecary’s wife in her former life), and Brother Thomas, her traveling escort and investigative right-hand man, are accompanying Eleanor’s very pregnant sister-in-law and brother to their family lands. The mother-to-be is about to give birth, and all are concerned that she do so in a safe place.
After the baby arrives, a local abbot asks Eleanor and her fellow religious to investigate the death of a local priest; the ghost of a recently twice-hanged Welshman (of the title) was seen over the priest’s body. Locals fear the hanged man’s ghost, in the form of a demon, killed the priest because he refused him last rites. Nonsensical to our modern sensibilities, but Royal generally does a good job of showing how pervasive and real the fears of ghosts, demons and Satan were in medieval times - especially in the rural areas among the largely illiterate common people. It doesn’t always make for a gripping mystery, though, as in this case, and she sometimes goes overboard, making the guilty party so nasty or unlikable, that they come across as obviously guilty and two-dimensional.
What I liked - further development of Brother Thomas’ character, the secretly gay right hand man to Prioress Eleanor in her travels and investigations. She’s always loved him, but has no idea of his tortured past and how he became a monk; one big secret is finally revealed at the end of this book, so it will be very interesting to how Eleanor deals with this knowledge going forward.
She is a great character - strong, smart, compassionate and committed to protecting those in her care at all costs. Seeing her deal with wielding her authority as a well-born woman, and prioress of Tyndal Priory, which houses both female and male religious, is always interesting. Harder to stomach is the blatant misogyny both she and Anne have to put up with from all men - noble, common, or religious; oftentimes the male religious are the worst, sneering at Anne as she tries to examine a dead body (Thomas has to describe it to her), and condescending to both women and prattling on about evil, weak women. Ugh! As much a reminder of how far we’ve come, as a reminder of how bad it was and why it took so long to get here!
The last several books have been excellent, and even if this mystery wasn’t really a great puzzle, the further development of some very intriguing and unusual characters will bring me back for Royal’s next outing.
August 10, 2019
The harbinger of demons sweep before them!
Autumn of 1282. Prioress Eleanor, of Tyndal Priory, the faithful Sister Anne, healer and sub-infirmarian, and Brother Thomas escort Eleanor's brother Robert's pregnant wife out of the their Welsh Marcher lands into one of Robert's lesser holdings, Wynethorpe manor, just inside the English border.
Apart from the threatened difficult birth, the three are plunged into a community troubled by the supposed apparition of a ghost, the shade of a dead man, Hywel, the village stonemason, recently hanged! Twice! And there's a dead priest the ghastly figure was seen leaning over. Dark, demon ridden tidings indeed!
The local abbot, having "failed to exorcize this malign spirit", wants Eleanor to investigate this stark deed, to "save [the village] from this malignancy", and send the demon back to whence it came.
Well actually, half Welsh Abbot Gerald wants a bit more than that and watching Eleanor maneuver around the Abbot's other agenda is fascinating. Eleanor is unconvinced that this is an ecclesiastic matter. Brother Thomas and Sister Anne are initially, sent to "determine if death was caused by a mortal hand."
The situation becomes more complex when two more deaths follow suit.
Amidst the roiling politics of the time, what with Edward I's war against the Welsh, and beyond the troubling deaths, it was Brother Thomas I felt for. Thomas is suffering a whirlpool of emotion and guilt as he fights his natural inclinations troubling his sacred vows, indeed his very being, because of his love for the wine merchant Durant, even as he's tempted by the spice merchant Lambard. The poignancy of his repudiation of Lambard really points to his agony.
The twist being that Eleanor has her own demons to face concerning Thomas. She has been strongly attracted to him and fought those feelings fiercely, even as she goes about obeying her calling. An unspoken love that she constantly battles.
When Eleanor finally realizes Thomas' proclivities she fears for him. The times were becoming more dangerous for men like Thomas. Along with this comes the realization that "her love over time had grown far more complex than lust."
Always a strong advocate for justice, Eleanor has her hands full and I suspect in future sequences, despite being sworn to her life's path, her heart will be heavy.
An intriguing novel of murder, beliefs, politics, love and practices in medieval England.
A Poisoned Pen ARC via NetGalley
Autumn of 1282. Prioress Eleanor, of Tyndal Priory, the faithful Sister Anne, healer and sub-infirmarian, and Brother Thomas escort Eleanor's brother Robert's pregnant wife out of the their Welsh Marcher lands into one of Robert's lesser holdings, Wynethorpe manor, just inside the English border.
Apart from the threatened difficult birth, the three are plunged into a community troubled by the supposed apparition of a ghost, the shade of a dead man, Hywel, the village stonemason, recently hanged! Twice! And there's a dead priest the ghastly figure was seen leaning over. Dark, demon ridden tidings indeed!
The local abbot, having "failed to exorcize this malign spirit", wants Eleanor to investigate this stark deed, to "save [the village] from this malignancy", and send the demon back to whence it came.
Well actually, half Welsh Abbot Gerald wants a bit more than that and watching Eleanor maneuver around the Abbot's other agenda is fascinating. Eleanor is unconvinced that this is an ecclesiastic matter. Brother Thomas and Sister Anne are initially, sent to "determine if death was caused by a mortal hand."
The situation becomes more complex when two more deaths follow suit.
Amidst the roiling politics of the time, what with Edward I's war against the Welsh, and beyond the troubling deaths, it was Brother Thomas I felt for. Thomas is suffering a whirlpool of emotion and guilt as he fights his natural inclinations troubling his sacred vows, indeed his very being, because of his love for the wine merchant Durant, even as he's tempted by the spice merchant Lambard. The poignancy of his repudiation of Lambard really points to his agony.
The twist being that Eleanor has her own demons to face concerning Thomas. She has been strongly attracted to him and fought those feelings fiercely, even as she goes about obeying her calling. An unspoken love that she constantly battles.
When Eleanor finally realizes Thomas' proclivities she fears for him. The times were becoming more dangerous for men like Thomas. Along with this comes the realization that "her love over time had grown far more complex than lust."
Always a strong advocate for justice, Eleanor has her hands full and I suspect in future sequences, despite being sworn to her life's path, her heart will be heavy.
An intriguing novel of murder, beliefs, politics, love and practices in medieval England.
A Poisoned Pen ARC via NetGalley
July 5, 2019
A Strange Death Is Solved But the Future of Prioress Eleanor and Brother Thomas May Be In Peril
This fifteenth book in the Medieval Mysteries finds the heroine, Eleanor, Prioress of Tyndal, with her brother, Robert, and his very pregnant wife, Elizabeth, fleeing into English territory from the Welsh rebel bands. Accompanying her is Brother Thomas, a monk in her order and close friend, and Sister Anne, the sub-infirmarian. They make it safely to a hunting lodge in a small village within English territory where Elizabeth gives birth to a baby girl. Soon after their arrival, the Abbot Gerald from the local abbey begs to see Prioress Eleanor about his problem. His priest has been murdered and a witness has identified the person kneeling by the body as a man named Hywel, but Hywel was recently hung—twice. Prioress Eleanor accepts. The storyline unfolds from here.
The author weaves many twists and turns into this storyline starting with there was not any foul play in the death of the priest. Prioress Eleanor deploys her monk and sub-infirmarian to help her discover what is happening. But, then, a real crime is committed. My interest was quickly hooked and I finished this novel in shorter time than usual.
Significant events occur in the B-storyline in this novel. For Prioress Eleanor and Brother Thomas, one is able to control these feelings, and one is not. These moments of weakness have the potential to be catastrophic to both their positions and possibly their persons.
That sex occurs outside of marriage does play a role in this novel; there are mistresses, and who visits or does not visit the local bawdy house. There is only one instance where sex the act is described but it was very short, not graphic and was needed for the story development. There is not any modern foul language. These two aspects should not bother most readers. The other thing that readers should know if this is the first novel in the series or medieval novels in general, the use of terms and items of that time period. I read this novel on a Kindle. The advantage for me is that the embedded dictionary is quite good with providing definitions of these medieval terms. When that way fails, the quick access the Internet from the novel easily fills that void. Lastly, if this is the first novel in this series for you, I believe that you can read it without lost in understanding as the author adequately provides the background to understand the significance.
The aspect of this novel and this series in general is that the stories stay very fresh. Each one is new and still supported by the familiar Prioress Eleanor and her retinue. Do read the Author’s Note for interesting background on the many aspects of the novel and its characters.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this novel. I believe that you would also. I do recommend reading this novel. I rate it with five stars. Enjoy.
I have received a free kindle version of this novel through NetGalley from Poison Pen Press with an expectation for an honest, unbiased review. I wish to thank Poison Pen Press for the opportunity to read this novel early.
This fifteenth book in the Medieval Mysteries finds the heroine, Eleanor, Prioress of Tyndal, with her brother, Robert, and his very pregnant wife, Elizabeth, fleeing into English territory from the Welsh rebel bands. Accompanying her is Brother Thomas, a monk in her order and close friend, and Sister Anne, the sub-infirmarian. They make it safely to a hunting lodge in a small village within English territory where Elizabeth gives birth to a baby girl. Soon after their arrival, the Abbot Gerald from the local abbey begs to see Prioress Eleanor about his problem. His priest has been murdered and a witness has identified the person kneeling by the body as a man named Hywel, but Hywel was recently hung—twice. Prioress Eleanor accepts. The storyline unfolds from here.
The author weaves many twists and turns into this storyline starting with there was not any foul play in the death of the priest. Prioress Eleanor deploys her monk and sub-infirmarian to help her discover what is happening. But, then, a real crime is committed. My interest was quickly hooked and I finished this novel in shorter time than usual.
Significant events occur in the B-storyline in this novel. For Prioress Eleanor and Brother Thomas, one is able to control these feelings, and one is not. These moments of weakness have the potential to be catastrophic to both their positions and possibly their persons.
That sex occurs outside of marriage does play a role in this novel; there are mistresses, and who visits or does not visit the local bawdy house. There is only one instance where sex the act is described but it was very short, not graphic and was needed for the story development. There is not any modern foul language. These two aspects should not bother most readers. The other thing that readers should know if this is the first novel in the series or medieval novels in general, the use of terms and items of that time period. I read this novel on a Kindle. The advantage for me is that the embedded dictionary is quite good with providing definitions of these medieval terms. When that way fails, the quick access the Internet from the novel easily fills that void. Lastly, if this is the first novel in this series for you, I believe that you can read it without lost in understanding as the author adequately provides the background to understand the significance.
The aspect of this novel and this series in general is that the stories stay very fresh. Each one is new and still supported by the familiar Prioress Eleanor and her retinue. Do read the Author’s Note for interesting background on the many aspects of the novel and its characters.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this novel. I believe that you would also. I do recommend reading this novel. I rate it with five stars. Enjoy.
I have received a free kindle version of this novel through NetGalley from Poison Pen Press with an expectation for an honest, unbiased review. I wish to thank Poison Pen Press for the opportunity to read this novel early.
September 18, 2019
Once again Ms Royal has created a masterful story using her protagonists in a setting of a small village near the Welsh border during the conflicts between the English and Welsh. A stonemason is hanged for murder and his spirit is bedeviling certain villagers. He must be exorcised.
September 30, 2021
Based on a true story!! Very interesting
October 13, 2022
Prithee, believe me when I tell you this tome’s prose has been murdered most foul…and on a dark and stormy night. I only gave this 2 stars because the mystery was mildly interesting and the ludicrous writing made me cackle. Here’s a sample: “Any joy he had felt that evening abandoned him, and the black dog of melancholy howled with fiendish abandon as it clawed its way back into his heart.” Forsooth!
August 1, 2019
Prioress Eleanor of Tyndal, Brother Thomas and Sister Anne return in The Twice-Hanged Man, latest in the medieval series from Priscilla Royal.
Eleanor and her fellow Christians hardly have time to rest (she’s with her pregnant sister-in-law, who’s just about to give birth and so they have fetched up in a tiny village) before she’s asked to find a murderer -- who everyone is convinced is a ghost. Hywel is dead, it can’t be him that’s terrorizing people -- can it? The first dead man is a priest, which means asking her for help is probably doubly necessary. She’s the one with “the gift of visions” -- and no one will let her forget it. Since the prioress believes there is no such thing as ghosts, she must seek an earthly explanation.
Thomas is struggling from the beginning, as he has throughout the series. His secret must be kept from everyone, obviously, and it is a heavy burden, especially for a religieux. Priscilla Royal has always handled this subject with care and quiet understanding.
Sister Anne thinks it was a natural death for Father Payn, as he was older and unwell, and it was probably a heart attack -- perhaps from seeing this “ghost.” But how to convince the abbot of this?
Bardolph was the hangman -- not well-liked, but then what hangman ever is? Soon the hangman himself is dead. And then, there is another murder. We’re not short of bodies in The Twice-Hanged Man.
As in many mysteries, family members are likely suspects. In the author’s hands they are troublesome characters, with unpleasant personality traits and secrets they are loath to reveal.
All the while this is going on Thomas is in torment. He has met a townsman -- and begins to wonder if anyone saw them. His suffering is as deep as the mystery that surrounds the murders.
The prioress saves all -- a diabolical cover-up! and gets a murderer to confess -- but not before that murderer accuses Thomas of a foul deed. Eleanor then serves God in the best way possible, to her mind. For some, given these books take place in the medieval world, Eleanor’s thinking may be too modern a response. Readers will have to decide on their own.
The trial is over, a murderer condemned. The travelers from Tyndal are ready to make their way home. But there’s more coming, a way to finish out the story and bring a form of conclusion to Eleanor and Thomas. She has personal and indeed professional decisions to make. What she decides forms the end of the book, and puts the story of a ghost to rest, too, for Abbot Gerald and his village.
An author’s note explains the true historical precedents behind the plot -- how a twice-hanged man can actually become something miraculous.
To me, it was pretty obvious who the murderer was -- the book was just a means to an end, a vehicle to reveal Brother Thomas’ secret. It’s about time, really. Time for it to come out and for Eleanor to know.
Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for a copy of this book in advance of publication, in exchange for this review.
Eleanor and her fellow Christians hardly have time to rest (she’s with her pregnant sister-in-law, who’s just about to give birth and so they have fetched up in a tiny village) before she’s asked to find a murderer -- who everyone is convinced is a ghost. Hywel is dead, it can’t be him that’s terrorizing people -- can it? The first dead man is a priest, which means asking her for help is probably doubly necessary. She’s the one with “the gift of visions” -- and no one will let her forget it. Since the prioress believes there is no such thing as ghosts, she must seek an earthly explanation.
Thomas is struggling from the beginning, as he has throughout the series. His secret must be kept from everyone, obviously, and it is a heavy burden, especially for a religieux. Priscilla Royal has always handled this subject with care and quiet understanding.
Sister Anne thinks it was a natural death for Father Payn, as he was older and unwell, and it was probably a heart attack -- perhaps from seeing this “ghost.” But how to convince the abbot of this?
Bardolph was the hangman -- not well-liked, but then what hangman ever is? Soon the hangman himself is dead. And then, there is another murder. We’re not short of bodies in The Twice-Hanged Man.
As in many mysteries, family members are likely suspects. In the author’s hands they are troublesome characters, with unpleasant personality traits and secrets they are loath to reveal.
All the while this is going on Thomas is in torment. He has met a townsman -- and begins to wonder if anyone saw them. His suffering is as deep as the mystery that surrounds the murders.
The prioress saves all -- a diabolical cover-up! and gets a murderer to confess -- but not before that murderer accuses Thomas of a foul deed. Eleanor then serves God in the best way possible, to her mind. For some, given these books take place in the medieval world, Eleanor’s thinking may be too modern a response. Readers will have to decide on their own.
The trial is over, a murderer condemned. The travelers from Tyndal are ready to make their way home. But there’s more coming, a way to finish out the story and bring a form of conclusion to Eleanor and Thomas. She has personal and indeed professional decisions to make. What she decides forms the end of the book, and puts the story of a ghost to rest, too, for Abbot Gerald and his village.
An author’s note explains the true historical precedents behind the plot -- how a twice-hanged man can actually become something miraculous.
To me, it was pretty obvious who the murderer was -- the book was just a means to an end, a vehicle to reveal Brother Thomas’ secret. It’s about time, really. Time for it to come out and for Eleanor to know.
Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for a copy of this book in advance of publication, in exchange for this review.
March 28, 2021
This may be an "it's not you, it's me" thing. Reading a random book in the middle of a series is always a dicey proposition, since you don't know the characters and haven't been there for the earlier parts of their arcs.
That said, I didn't warm to the main characters, particularly Eleanor, whose judginess is really off-putting. I'm also not really sure how I feel about the handling of homosexuality in the story. It felt both inconsistently handled and there largely for the angst, which isn't exactly a great reason for adding representation. But it might seem less that way to someone who'd read all the previous books. IDK.
All in all, there was nothing here to make me want to rush out and read more of these.
That said, I didn't warm to the main characters, particularly Eleanor, whose judginess is really off-putting. I'm also not really sure how I feel about the handling of homosexuality in the story. It felt both inconsistently handled and there largely for the angst, which isn't exactly a great reason for adding representation. But it might seem less that way to someone who'd read all the previous books. IDK.
All in all, there was nothing here to make me want to rush out and read more of these.
August 8, 2019
I found this a good book, but not a great one. The central characters are interesting, but they all seem a bit wiser and more broad-minded than I find believable. The mystery itself starts off slowly, but become truly engaging about halfway through the novel. If one likes mysteries in medieval settings, this will prove an enjoyable read. If one isn't beguiled by the setting, the book will likely seem slowly paced and not particularly complexly plotted.
July 7, 2019
Thanks NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC 4.5 stars ( rounded up) mostly for the last half of the book. It's Mystery #15 and I felt that Brother Thomas and Prioress Eleanor needed to settle their relationship issues. Guess what? They did so!!
"Prioress Eleanor is escorting her younger brother, Robert, and his wife, who is in labor, from their Marcher lands to greater safety at a Wynethorpe manor in a village just inside the English border. With her are Brother Thomas and Sister Anne. " .. Naturally a mystery awaits all of them.
The history of a twice-hanged man was an actual 1307 canonization case for Thomas de Cantilope, a bishop and a Welsh rebel William Cragh, who was hanged twice the same day 1287. He survived it was said because of the intersession of prayers to Bishop de Cantiope.
There was lots of other actual historical data used about this particular war or rebellion. Abbot Gerald also was modeled after Gerald of Wales also Loved that too as both de Cantilopes and Geraldis Cambrensis connect to both my paternal family ( Carrow) and maternal family (Faunt or L'Enfant) in Wales.
The ending was terrific and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Preorder yours now!
"Prioress Eleanor is escorting her younger brother, Robert, and his wife, who is in labor, from their Marcher lands to greater safety at a Wynethorpe manor in a village just inside the English border. With her are Brother Thomas and Sister Anne. " .. Naturally a mystery awaits all of them.
The history of a twice-hanged man was an actual 1307 canonization case for Thomas de Cantilope, a bishop and a Welsh rebel William Cragh, who was hanged twice the same day 1287. He survived it was said because of the intersession of prayers to Bishop de Cantiope.
There was lots of other actual historical data used about this particular war or rebellion. Abbot Gerald also was modeled after Gerald of Wales also Loved that too as both de Cantilopes and Geraldis Cambrensis connect to both my paternal family ( Carrow) and maternal family (Faunt or L'Enfant) in Wales.
The ending was terrific and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Preorder yours now!
August 1, 2019
Perfect for fans of the medieval mystery (duh) this tale of Eleanor the prioress investigating the murder of a priest allegedly murdered by Hywel. However, Hywel was hanged not once but twice by the local executioner. Could he have survived? Well this well done and vivid novel is based in part on real events from the 13 century. Eleanor ostensibly wandered into this mess as she was escorting her brother Robert and his pregnant (in labor) wife Elizabeth across the border to what they think will be safety. Brother Thomas is also part of the group and he and Eleanor, well, they have feelings for one another. I've only read one of the books in this series and as before felt a tad at sea at first (there's terminology and phrases from the period) but quickly fell into the rhythm of the story. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. A good read.
August 13, 2019
Priscilla Royal's medieval mysteries always satisfy me. In The Twice-Hanged Man, Prioress Eleanor, Infirmarian Anne, and Brother Thomas end up in the Marcher lands for the birth of her sister-in-law's child. A murder, a hanging, and a second hanging when the beam breaks, a ghost?, and more twisty incidents. Brother Thomas has a particularly hard time. As usual, excellent research and intriguing plot with characters I like.
NetGalley/Poisoned Pen Press
Medieval Mystery. Aug. 6, 2019. Print length: 384 pages.
NetGalley/Poisoned Pen Press
Medieval Mystery. Aug. 6, 2019. Print length: 384 pages.
October 26, 2024
The twice hanged man.
Eleanor goes to visit her brother only to be confronted with a mystery. A Welsh Ghost hunts the village. Three men die. Is the ghost of the Welshman killing those who wronged him or is it a real person? Can Eleanor solve the mystery and will the evil spirit be sent back to hell? I enjoyed this book.
Eleanor goes to visit her brother only to be confronted with a mystery. A Welsh Ghost hunts the village. Three men die. Is the ghost of the Welshman killing those who wronged him or is it a real person? Can Eleanor solve the mystery and will the evil spirit be sent back to hell? I enjoyed this book.
September 15, 2019
Another strong edition to this series. I've kept reading these over the years not just for the mystery, but for the characters, their thoughts, their development, their friendship. None of that disappointed here.
December 22, 2019
I DNF this book. Its is a latter book in a series that I have never read before. Perhaps if I knew these characters from the beginning I would have enjoyed this book. The characterization was good but the story development was sooo sloooow I just lost interest.
August 12, 2019
Good read in an interesting series. Can’t wait to see what’s next for the Prioress, Thomas and the rest of familiar characters.
January 16, 2021
Wonderful historical mystery
If you have read the others, you know how delightful Ms Royal's stories are. If you haven't, you are in for a treat. But go to the first one.
If you have read the others, you know how delightful Ms Royal's stories are. If you haven't, you are in for a treat. But go to the first one.
June 28, 2022
Excellent writing (technically) with strange and subtle messaging that is not. Made it to chapter 10 before I had to put it down for good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2023
A library find.
Interesting.
Interesting.
April 20, 2025
Engaging yet predictable story.
September 16, 2025
Befuddled, cat’s out of the bag, round out who’s in the family. We are all human. Corruption and bribes.
Read
January 17, 2026Imported from Library History
October 26, 2019
These are always just so great. In this one I found myself wandering and unfocused but that could be me. I also figured out the killer early on I just couldn't figure out exactly how/why but the ending was very satisfying. The end historical info is always so great and in this case it was fascinating. I will always read this series!
January 23, 2025
1282 Arriving at Wynethorpe Manor to escape the Welsh and to allow Robert's wife to peaceful give birth. Prioress Eleanor and Brother Thomas are soon engaged in another mystery. A twice hanged man is seen to have committed murder. How is that possible.
An entertaining historical mystery
An entertaining historical mystery
Read
August 17, 2019Full review can be found here: https://www.criminalelement.com/revie...
September 28, 2019
Excellent writer. I love the period and she does a great job tying into the real events of the time. Plus, it's a mystery to die for!
(I met this book at Auntie's Bookstore in Spokane, WA)
(I met this book at Auntie's Bookstore in Spokane, WA)
June 28, 2019
It is 1282 and Prioress Eleanor is tending to the pregnant wife of her brother, Robert, on the border of Wales and England. Sister Anne known for her healing and Brother Robert accompany them. Eleanor is asked by the Abbot to assist in discovering the truth of a mystery involving who he believed is a ghost haunting the village. The ghost is believed to have murdered a priest and is also believed to be the ghost of a man who was hanged twice!
Priscilla Royal has loosely based this on the history of a man who survived being hung twice and gives insight in to the era of war between England and Wales.
I am now aware this is part of a series but I have not read any of the others yet. There did seem to be history between the relationships of some characters which I assume are known from previous titles which hasencouraged me to add the series to my 'to read' list.
The story is full of twists and mystery which will keep you turning the pages til the end. Although it is loosely based on fact the timelines are off to provide a more entertaining read which Priscilla explains in the authors note at the end.
Overall I enjoyed the book and would recommend to those with an interest in medieval history.
Priscilla Royal has loosely based this on the history of a man who survived being hung twice and gives insight in to the era of war between England and Wales.
I am now aware this is part of a series but I have not read any of the others yet. There did seem to be history between the relationships of some characters which I assume are known from previous titles which hasencouraged me to add the series to my 'to read' list.
The story is full of twists and mystery which will keep you turning the pages til the end. Although it is loosely based on fact the timelines are off to provide a more entertaining read which Priscilla explains in the authors note at the end.
Overall I enjoyed the book and would recommend to those with an interest in medieval history.
August 4, 2019
A well written, engrossing and entertaining historical mystery.
It's well written and well researched and I loved the historical setting and the fleshed out characters.
The mystery is full of twists and turns and kept me guessing.
Even if it's not the first in this series it can be read as a stand alone as it's full of details.
Recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
It's well written and well researched and I loved the historical setting and the fleshed out characters.
The mystery is full of twists and turns and kept me guessing.
Even if it's not the first in this series it can be read as a stand alone as it's full of details.
Recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
August 21, 2019
Excellent addition to Prioress Eleanor's Saga
Priscilla Royal builds excellent and exciting stories with characters you wish you could meet. I cannot wait for the next book to see where her research and lively brain tale us.
Priscilla Royal builds excellent and exciting stories with characters you wish you could meet. I cannot wait for the next book to see where her research and lively brain tale us.
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