A Maze of Murders (Kathryn Swinbrooke Mysteries) [Hardcover]

Danger, more murder, and more locked room mysteries confront Kathryn as she investigates. Maltravers was killed in the middle of a maze to which only he knew the secret. The jewel was kept in a locked room in a guarded monastery. A thief vanishs from a locked church. It seems that perhaps the avenging angels truly have stepped in. Certainly all of the suspects have alibies that cannot be shaken. Yet Kathryn diagnoses murder, not God's justice. She's determined to unravel the maze of death and murder and find the killer hiding in its depths.

Author C. L. Grace makes the middle ages come alive. Set during the English War of the Roses, A MAZE OF MURDERS convincingly describes English justice of the time, the (mixed) role of women, contemporary medicine, and the ambiguous nature of justice in a time when patriotism and treason are distinguishable only after a battle is fought and lost. Kathryn's dogged determination to solve a host of locked room mysteries is admirable and sympathetic.

I would have preferred to see better motivation for the final murder--which seems to exist only to give Kathryn the final clues she needs to the solution. Also, I suspect that Kathryn's mild flirtation with her fiance, Colum Murtagh, is intended to humanize Kathryn. Instead, it seemed cloying, distracting from the murder without adding anything to the story. Notwithstanding these flaws, A MAZE OF MURDER makes enjoyable reading.

A deeply-religious ex-warrior, Sir Walter believed that vengeful Turkish "Athenatoi" had been tracking him but Kathryn looks at his household and sees that the evil came from much closer to home. His beautiful young wife, his secretary, his priest, the madwoman and her daughter that he had helped all bear him ill will. The list of suspects is long and the connection between the disappearance of the ruby and the death of Sir Walter is as complex as the maze itself.

The writer has a deft hand with character and plot and his depiction of medieval life is detailed and accurate. He brings this period to life as few writers have been able to do (and let's face it, he's had lots of practice, writing also under the name of P. C. Doherty).

This is a good addition to the Swinbrooke series; not only are the characters well developed but the social interactions - the gulf between rich and poor, educated and superstitious - work well in this setting.

A deeply-religious ex-warrior, Sir Walter believed that vengeful Turkish "Athenatoi" had been tracking him but Kathryn looks at his household and sees that the evil came from much closer to home. His beautiful young wife, his secretary, his priest, the madwoman and her daughter that he had helped all bear him ill will. The list of suspects is long and the connection between the disappearance of the ruby and the death of Sir Walter is as complex as the maze itself.

The writer has a deft hand with character and plot and his depiction of medieval life is detailed and accurate. He brings this period to life as few writers have been able to do (and let's face it, he's had lots of practice, writing also under the name of P. C. Doherty).

This is a good addition to the Swinbrooke series; not only are the characters well developed but the social interactions - the gulf between rich and poor, educated and superstitious - work well in this setting.