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21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A crime novel set in the reign of Richard the Lionheart, 4 Mar 2001
By A Customer
The setting is at the beginning of Richard the Lionheart's reign, when Richard is seeking to endear himself to his rather reluctant subjects. As an act of clemency, he releases prisoners from jail. But it seems to be backfiring on Richard - a series of murders starts near the the abbey of Hawkenlye, which is ruled by Abbess Helewise, a confidant of his mother, the redoubtable Queen Eleanor. Local opinion is that the murders were committed by released prisoners. But is it so? Richard sends Josse d'Aquin, a knight from his lands in France, to resolve the murders and restore hid good name. Helewise and Josse make an intriguing pair, with complementary characters, and the investigation proceeds to its rather unexpected conclusion.
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11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
As good as anything Peters ever did., 13 April 2001
By A Customer
A terrific novel. I can only ask why she is not more widely read!! The characters are well drawn, and sir Josse and the Abbess Helewise make a great time. the historical detail is very accurate, and makes the story seem oh-so relistic. The conclusion is unexpected, and the ending very sad. I loved it. well done. Keep writing!!!
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The First in the Series, 25 Aug 2006
Alys Clare has written many other novels under a different name. She is able to breathe new life into the medieval period. A period of history that many novelists take as their background subject. Alys Clare lives in Kent. This is the area in which the books are set.
When a young nun is found murdered, King Richard turns to an old friend, Sir Josse d'Acquin, to trace the killer. The knight has very little success until he meets the Abbess of Hawkenlye Abbey, Helewise. Her quick mind and powers of deduction are as good if not better than his own.
To try to win favour with the English people, his subjects, Richard the Lionheart has given amnesty to many of the villains cluttering up the jails. He has done this as an act of generosity and to try to get the people of England to accept a king who has hardly set foot on English soil. Abbess Helewise is a close friend of the King's mother, the redoubtable Eleanor of Aquitaine. And it is close to Helewise's Abbey that the murders are taking place. The local people are of the opinion that it is the thieves and cutpurses that Richard has released that are causing murder and mayhem.
Richard's act of leniency seems to have backfired on him and he is desperate to restore his good name, without incurring the wrath of the people and his mother, who thinks that Richard should spend more time in the country he rules.
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