Murder Most Holy

The Sorrowful Mysteries of Brother Athelstan #3

by Paul Harding (Pseudonym), Paul Doherty

It is the early summer of 1379 and Sir John Cranston—Coroner of the city of London—has trapped himself in a wager with Signior Gian Galeazzo, Lord of Cremona, who has challenged him to resolve a certain murder mystery within two weeks. Men have been repeatedly found dead in the scarlet chamber of one of Cremona’s manors. They have no marks upon them, they have neither drunk nor eaten poison, and there are no secret passageways or entrances to the room. They are united only by the have awful expressions of terror upon their faces. Realizing that his reputation and future wealth now rest upon the solving of this mystery, Cranston seeks the help of his faithful secretarius Brother Athelstan in untangling the perplexing case.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Historical Mystery, Crime, Medieval, Historical, Fiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published September 10, 1992

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

A pseudonym used by Paul Doherty.

Book 1-7 of The Sorrowful Mysteries of Brother Athelstan were originally written under pseudonym Paul Harding. Since 1998, starting with book 8, The Sorrowful Mysteries of Brother Athelstan were published under his own name Paul Doherty.

Reviews

[Ingrid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again I enjoyed reading the adventures of Brother Athelstan. Very entertaining.

[Clemens Schoonderwoert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book in 2014, and its the 3rd volume of the marvellous "Brother Athelstan" series.

This tale is set in the year AD 1379, and its a mystery with a twist, in that its a contest between Signor Gian Galeazzo, the Lord of Cremona, and Sir John Cranston, Coroner of London and owner of the miraculeus wineskin.

This wager is to solve a certain murder mystery within two weeks, in which men are found dead in the scarlet chamber of one of Cremona's manors.

Unable to solve this mystery himself, Sir John Cranston seeks the help and assistance from his friend and faithful Friar, Brother Athelstan.

Together they start investigating this macabre case, and some twists and turns, followed with a superbly worked out plot, they will finally be able to identify and catch the culprit of these killings.

Highly recommended, for this is another superb addition to this terrific series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Wonderful Most Holy Mystery"!

[Jazzysmum · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has been a long time since I first read this one.
I couldn't remember much, but thoroughly enjoyed the reread.

In a different spin we have a mystery of the locked room type, which threatens to destroy Sir John Cranston's reputation. Plotted most cunningly by John of Gaunt, the Regent.

A body found under the flagstones at Brother Athelstan's parish church St Erconwald's. This body becomes a saint in the eyes of Athelstan's ever eager, to make a penny parishioners.

The third problem for our indubitable duo, is several murders at Blackfriars, Athelstan's mother house.

Of course after a merry chase, Athelstan solves all three and Sir John's reputation, to the delight of the young King Richard but not his uncle or Blackfriar's murderer.

[Trevor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chronologically, this is number 3 is this excellent series. Clearly Paul Doherty was getting ambitious for both his characters and his writing and rather the give Athelstan and Cranston one problem to solve, in this book he gives them three: a number of puzzling deaths in the red chamber of a Manor House in Italy; a grizzly discovery in St Erconwald's and unexplained deaths among the Dominicans of Blackfriars. Added to all this, Cranston stands to be ruined if he loses a bet! Doherty is a deft enough writer to weave the three threads together and this is another highly enjoyable read. He has also upped the ante on the descriptions of the squalor and degradation of London in 1379 - it provides a rich and colourful background!
Highly recommended.

[Francis · Rating 3 out of 5]

A kind hearted Priest and his friend the Coroner of London a loutish braggart with a big heart and an even bigger appetite run around medieval London solving mysterious deaths with a bit of humour and lots of empathy for the poorer citizens of the realm. A light hearted and entertaining series.

[Judy A · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm loving this series. Mr Doherty's writing brings the medieval period vividly to life and the two main characters work really well together. They are completely different from each other, and perhaps that's the appeal. There are plenty of other characters who attend the church at the centre of the stories and they are all very well portrayed. The ugliness of the murders are thus mitigated by the engaging characters and humour between the coroner and Brother Athelstan. I already have book 5 lined up for the near future!

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I may have read this before as the puzzle of what killed a series of people in a closed room rang familiar. But...long ago...before I began checking off books in goodreads so I wouldn't have this happen. I'm afraid there are thousands of books I read before I joined, so this system will never be perfect for me. But it helps. I like historical fiction set during the 1300's so I will gravitate to subjects I enjoy. This was the third in the series of Brother Athelstan mysteries. It contains a great deal of interesting information about life in London and the stark contrast between Southwark and the royal household where John of Gaunt "watches over" his nephew King Richard II. There are murders to be solved at the Blackfriars priory of the Dominican order in London, and Athelstan makes a good clerk to Cranston, London's coroner. This book was a very enjoyable read, filled with colorful characters and language as well as astute analysis on the part of Athelstan.

[Christopher Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume of the series was better than the last. Its a pair of mysteries side by side; a riddle posed by a foreign dignitary in the court of King Richard (under John of Gaunt as regent) with an enormous wager, and a series of killings in a monastery - the very one Athelstan himself once lived and trained in. Meanwhile, a radical priest proposes a new theological tretise about the purpose of the incarnation and inquisitors are present to hear it. As the bodies pile up, Athelstan himself is in danger and the inquisitors do not care for his actions.

A better written book than the first two, this shows growth in Doherty as a writer. Both Athelstan and the Coroner Sir Cranston are more fleshed out and likable as characters, and the slow growth of Athelstan's little slum church is nice to see.

As a side note, Doherty's theological acumen is a bit sketchy as he finds no heresy in a theology that abandons the atonement and redemption, but its a minor plot point.

[Jayaprakash Satyamurthy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the last two Brother Athelstan books, but I did find the second one a bit perfunctory at times. This one makes up for that lapse in spades with lots of noisome street scenes, a vast array of supporting characters, three main mysteries and a handful of subplots. Plus, this isn't The Name Of The Rose, but there's something very thrilling about solving murders committed in a medieval monastery - it's such a distant, different and self-contained world. I hope the remaining titles in the series live up to the verve and complexity of this one.

[Blücher Bücher Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ein Krimi, der im 14. Jahrhundert in London spielt. Im Zentrum stehen John Cranston, Untersuchungsrichter des Königs für London, und sein Schreiber, der Benediktiner-Mönch Athelstan. Erster liebt das Essen, den Wein und seine Frau. Der Mönch hingegen tritt nachdenklich und ruhig auf. In dem dritten Buch über das mittelalterliche Ermittlungsduo geht es um 3 Fälle, die es zu lösen gilt. Dieses Buch ist eine kurzweilige Unterhaltung und mal etwas Anderes.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy these Sir John Cranston and Brother Athelston stories. The two men are a really good partnership. Sir John is a larger than life man, coroner for the city of London, who loves to eat and drink, yet loves his wife, Lady Maude, even more. Brother Athelston is a Dominican friar, sent to Southwark as a penance for having run away to war when he was a novice, taking his brother with him. The brother died.
Four monks in Blackfriar's Monastery are murdered, but there is no proof and no clues, as to who committed the crimes. Sir John's mind is not sully on the murders, as he has been tricked into solving a puzzle, set by John of Gaunt, regent for the young King Richard.
The two men investigate the thorny issue of the murders in the monastery, with the help of a young lay brother. As Sir John and Brother Athelston visit one of the friar's parishioners, he has a sudden burst of inspiration, that gives him the answer to the coroner's secondary problem.
Both cases are well constructed. The clues are there, but some are obscured slightly, to make the reader think. There are a few lesser problems for Brother Athelston, which, whilst causing minor trouble for the cleric, all seem to slot into the main crime.

[Colin Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dominican Friar Athelstan is the priest of St. Erconwald's church in Southwark and clerk to the coroner Sir John Cranston. This is his punishment and penance for previous misdemeanours. He is sent for by the Prior at Blackfriars when a brother disappears and another is murdered. On top of that, a skeleton is discovered in his church, and Sir John is given a locked room mystery by John of Gaunt. The pair gradually work through the problems with Athelston doing the work and Sir John bumbling along and acting as the front man.

Very good story with well-thought-out plots that intertwine to make an excellent novel. Strong characters support the story and wonderful descriptions of the filth and squalor of the age. 4 stars.

[KBS Krishna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Three short stories clubbed together and palmed off as a novel.
Perhaps it wouldn't have been such a bad idea if the stories were good; but one story is outright silly, one is a puzzle that was old in the 14th C., and the third meanders like a drunk in the library. There is, of course, a fascinating nugget of information at the end of the third story. But it is like stumbling our way through a dark tunnel for a firefly.
I am sure other Athelstan mysteries are better. But I don't know if I will try as I didn't much take to the pusillanimous friar or his foul-mouthed alcoholic braggart companion.

[Bruce Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder at the Abbey

This time Father Athelstan and Cranston have three mysteries to solve. While replacing the flagstones in the Church a skeleton is found. Is it the remains of a Saint or someone else? An Italian challenges Cranston to solve a mystery of men who died in a cursed tower. Then at Blackfriars four brethren are murdered. Can the mysteries be solved? Can Cranston solve the mystery of the cursed tower and win 1,000 crowns? It's a great read. I enjoyed it.

[Finlay Zanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was good however, there was too much going on too focus on each of the mysteries with a challenge from the Italian lord, the murders at Blackfriars, and the body at St Erconwalds. Each one got minimal time in the book with it seemingly resolved with little time spent on the deduction.

[Doug Adamson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good writer and an interesting story. There are actually three mysteries needing resolution. As to be expected, all three are resolved (in pretty short order). Interesting characters. Overall, I think Ellis Peter's Caedfael series is more enjoyable.

[Bethan Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third brother Athelstan book.
There are dead Dominican Friars; a locked room riddle given by the Italian Lord of Cremona; and a skeleton found under the altar of Athelstan’s church. Just the usual for Athelstan and Sir John Cranston, to deal with.

[Rosso Nadal · Rating 4 out of 5]

es un escritor, tan divertido y adictivo como Agatha Christie.
Sus dos protagonistas son inteligentes, opuestos, muy entrañables.La información de la época, siglo XIV, historica y socialmente muy buena.

[Maeghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

They are all good....

...but this was especially good. Three mysteries in one. Making my way through the whole series again and I forgot how complex they were.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m really enjoying this series. Brother Athelstan and Sir John are really likable characters. It’s an easy read.

[Sara Eames · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

A reasonable historical mystery, but I felt that Brother Athelstan had too many mysteries to solve. Unfortunately, I also wasn't keen on one of the main characters.

[Ana Méndez Vergel · Rating 2 out of 5]

poco interesante, escrito de una forma algo caótica.

[Diana Hockley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never having read the books of Paul Doherty, I was attracted at first by the splendid cover of the paperback which I bought. The background is a soft golden map of medieval London and in the middle of the cover there is an oval inset outlined in shiny gold. Inside the inset is a section of a church depicting the altar, screened wall and outline of an ornate door. Lying on the black and yellow paving stones are two bodies dressed in bright blue hose, one with a green jerkin, the other with red. The title is printed in embossed gold letters against a blue background, under which is a border of an ecclesiastical pattern frequently seen in church pews. A monk clad in a purple gown stands on the left hand side of the title, a skeleton on the right. Most intriguing!

Brother Athelstan, friar of St Erconwald's, is beset by problems - namely one monk missing and another dead and - once the altar stone is lifted in the church during restoration work - the skeleton of what appears to be a young woman.

Sir John Cranston, the King's Coroner and Brother A's friend, is invited to a banquet given at the Regent's Palace by John Of Gaunt, where he is trapped into a wager by a visiting dignitary. The wager is that he will - or will not - come up with a solution to a "locked room" murder mystery. Sir John is forced to accept, however, if he loses Sir John will pay a thousand gold crowns on his behalf, thereby binding him to John Of Gaunt forever. If he wins, he will gain the thousand gold crowns for himself.

Paul Doherty has presented the reader with an interesting cast of characters. At St Erconwald there is a delegation of two from the Inquisition, who are there to judge the young and ambitious Brother Henry's controversial treatise on God. Brother Athelstan is surrounded by his cat - Bonaventure and his old warhorse, Philomena - and a small group of lay brothers.

The story centres around two plots: Sir John's desperation for Brother A to come up with a solution to the locked room mystery, his fear of his tiny wife, Maude and love for his twin sons. The other is what turns out to be the murder of one Brother, the disappearance of the other and then... well, you need to read this excellent and thoroughly enjoyable mystery for yourself!

Doherty weaves three irresistible murder mysteries against a seething, colourful and sometimes brutal backdrop of medieval London, not the least of which is the young King Richard, who true nature flashes out from behind his boyish demeanour- a portent of things to come.

[Simon Mcleish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally published on my blog here in January 1999.

One of the disadvantages to attempting to read a series of novels from a public library is that it is extremely difficult to read them in the correct order. This is why I have only just made it to reading the third of Paul Harding's "Sorrowful Mysteries of Brother Athelstan", even though I have already read several later novels in the series.

Murder Most Holy is in fact three separate murder mysteries, which simultaneously test the abilities of the London coroner Sir John Cranston and his friend, the Dominican friar Athelstan. One is theoretical, a puzzle set Cranston by the Lord of Cremona, visiting London, as a bet; it is a locked room mystery. One involves a skeleton dug up during renovation at Athelstan's Southwark church, St Erconwalds, in danger of being thought to be the miracle-working remains of the saint himself. The main mystery is set at the friary of Blackfriars, where Athelstan himself had trained. There, a series of senior friars have been killed during the investigation into a thesis in theology presented by one of them which has to be defended against possible heresy charges.

The medieval background is as well done as ever, and the mysteries are interesting; an excellent member of the series.

[Barefoot Gypsy Jimerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great English Murder Mysteries!!

This English mystery was a two fur. First we have John uncle to little king Richard. John true to trap Cranston in to solving 4 murders. If he figures it out he gets alot if money. If not will John will pay, so that means he will have our over sized corner in his pocket.

Second we have some murders at the Blackfriars. This is where Athelstan learned to become a friar. There is a lot going on so pay close attention.
The writer goes in to great detail on he the English lived in the slums in cheap side. Its in such detail it makes you sick to your tummy. The filth, piss, cats an dogs, human waste an trash an even people dead in all these piles to be thrown in the river. But he also tells you how all the money people live an do nothing to help the poor. So you journey along with these outside characters from one part of London to the next to solve these Haines Murders with lot eating an alot more drinking alone the way and some good laughs thrown in. Paul Doherty did a fantastic job, well done sir.

[Katie Bee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked this up at random from the library. While it's no Brother Cadfael, it's nonetheless a pleasant afternoon's read with rather a lot of murders to sort out. There's not only the main set of murders - which worryingly keep increasing as Brother Athelstan and coroner Sir John Cranston investigate them - but also a mysterious skeleton under the flagstones of Athelstan's church, and a locked-room puzzle Cranston has wagered to solve (a wager that could ruin him if not won).

Some of the characters are drawn a little broadly, and could use more thoughtful nuance, and the solution to the main murder spree is perhaps more guessable to today's reader than it was when the book was written in 1993, due to a surge in interest in a certain historical personage (though perhaps that surge went as far back as 1993 - I'm not certain about that). Nevertheless, it's an engaging and pleasant read, and if I happen across other Brother Athelstan books in future I will pick them up.

[Connie]

There is plenty of humour in this book to offset the unpleasantness of the filthy, vermin-ridden and extremely dangerous streets of medieval London. Brother Athelstan is called upon to help Sir john Cranston solve a riddle. Mayhem and mystery, of course, dog the duo's footsteps on both sides of the river. Sir John Cranston is his drunken, sleepy self, with moments of brilliance. Brother Athelstan is conscientious and determined to improve the conditions in his parish. Of course, as usual, he is hindered in this work by the necessity to attend Sir John, on the one hand, and by the shenanigans of his assorted parishioners. Two mysteries unfold. The reader learns assorted facts about medieval guilds, about loyalties to the crown, about church discipline and about the human heart. I have read this series more than once and loved it each time. There is always something new to discover in Paul Doherty's medieval England.

[Rhonda · Rating 2 out of 5]

This series gets better with each subsequent book, particularly in the character development of Brother Athelston, his parishioners, the Lady Maude, and evening minor 1 book characters. I still find Cranston to be insipid cardboard and emptily buffoonish though. He gets no deeper, gains no wisdom, doesn’t change much in any way. I don’t understand why. I suppose as a foil to Athelston, but honestly I find him both boring and irritating. He makes what might otherwise be a 4 star review a 2 - 2.5. I will read the next, but don’t look to it with relish as I would were it not for that one cartoonish one-dimensional character.

[Kevin Gardner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant

Murder Most Holy is another very Quick read in the Brother Athelstan series by Paul Doherty, this series and the authors Corbett series are both highly recommended to any one who likes a good historical who dunnit, not only are these books a good murder mystery but they are filled with some very funny moments too. The one thing you can guarantee with a Paul Doherty book is some very interesting insights into everyday medieval life, you can almost smell the dirt and filth from the streets. This is a brilliant addition to the Athelstan series and comes very highly recommended.

[Estelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best novels i have read in a long time.

I love the two main characters of the book, Sir John Cranston and Brother Athelstan but there is also a lovely third main character in a form of a stray tom cat, Bonaventure. This combination of the three make for great reading and give a light funny moments in a pretty dark world and storyline.

I truly love this book and will re-read many times more.