- Hardcover: 247 pages
- Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd; 1st ed 1st printing edition (1 Nov 2001)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0340793279
- ISBN-13: 978-0340793275
- Product Dimensions: 23 x 15.8 x 2.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 469,849 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
The Chatter of the Maidens (Hawkenlye Mystery)
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Review
'Proof that a writer of medieval crime fiction can deliver something fresh' (The Times Crime Supplement )
'A worthy heir to Ellis Peters, though grittier, materialises' (Poison in the Pen on Fortune like the Moon ) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
'A worthy heir to Ellis Peters, though grittier, materialises' (Poison in the Pen on Fortune like the Moon ) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
Review
'Proof that a writer of medieval crime fiction can deliver something fresh' The Times Crime Supplement; 'A worthy heir to Ellis Peters, though grittier, materialises' Poison in the Pen on Fortune like the Moon
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Alys Clare brings medieval England to vibrant life, painting her charecters on a canvas of historical fact. This series of Hawkenlye mysteries featuring Abbess Helewise and Sir Josse d'Aquin gets better with each book.
In this the fourth, and best to date, all is not what it seems with a new sister, Alba. Her concern for her grieving siblings following the death of both parents takes her from her convent in Ely to Helewise's door at Hawkenlye Abbey.
Alba's subsequent behaviour and attitude are contradictory to the "Angel of Mercy" image she is at pains to project. When the body of a pilgrim is discovered at the Holy Water shrine Helewise sets out to discover the truth behind Alba's flight from Ely.
With Sir Josse recovering in the Abbey infirmary after a life-threatening bout of blood poisoning and unable to offer more than advice and reasoning she takes lay brother Paul with her to Ely. There are many twists and sub plots as a tissue of half truths and lies are unravelled leading to the final solution. Sir Josse helps towards this as he befriends Alba's youngest sister who is helping out in the Infirmary. The complex plot races to a stunning climax leaving the reader begging for more.
In this the fourth, and best to date, all is not what it seems with a new sister, Alba. Her concern for her grieving siblings following the death of both parents takes her from her convent in Ely to Helewise's door at Hawkenlye Abbey.
Alba's subsequent behaviour and attitude are contradictory to the "Angel of Mercy" image she is at pains to project. When the body of a pilgrim is discovered at the Holy Water shrine Helewise sets out to discover the truth behind Alba's flight from Ely.
With Sir Josse recovering in the Abbey infirmary after a life-threatening bout of blood poisoning and unable to offer more than advice and reasoning she takes lay brother Paul with her to Ely. There are many twists and sub plots as a tissue of half truths and lies are unravelled leading to the final solution. Sir Josse helps towards this as he befriends Alba's youngest sister who is helping out in the Infirmary. The complex plot races to a stunning climax leaving the reader begging for more.
Format:Kindle Edition
In this, the fourth of the engaging Hawkenlye mystery series, it is Abbess Helewise who takes centre-stage throughout in her search for answers to a strange nun's past and a sudden murder at her own gates. With faithful friend and knight, Sir Josse D'Aquin lying seriously ill in her infirmary after a bout of blood poisoning that almost took his life, it is up to the combined efforts of Helewise and the faithful Brother Saul to journey into the flatlands of Cambridgeshire and the dangerous and mystical Fens to discover the past life of a troublesome, disturbed nun who arrived on her doorstep begging sanctuary for herself and her two younger sisters. It is not only that both younger girls do not seem at all fitted to the cloister, but also that they clearly hide secrets, and are patently afraid of their elder. What are they all running from? And why do none of their stories tally? The search for the truth will take Helewise and her henchmen into strange territory and the arms of the mysterious Knights Templar before they can put the pieces back together and try to save some souls...
Less murder mystery than medieval adventure in my eyes, this is still a great read, written in Alys Clare's wonderful way, that simply keeps you turning pages! The relationship between Helewise and her knight Josse is wonderfully endearing, both characters engaging in their own right, as are some of the others featured here, such as lovely Brother Saul and the indomitable Sister Euphemia, infirmarian. Sit back, let yourself be taken through time to King Richard Lionheart's England and enjoy...!
Less murder mystery than medieval adventure in my eyes, this is still a great read, written in Alys Clare's wonderful way, that simply keeps you turning pages! The relationship between Helewise and her knight Josse is wonderfully endearing, both characters engaging in their own right, as are some of the others featured here, such as lovely Brother Saul and the indomitable Sister Euphemia, infirmarian. Sit back, let yourself be taken through time to King Richard Lionheart's England and enjoy...!
Format:Hardcover
Alys Clare's novels are like a breath of fresh air. I love medieval murder mysteries and there are certainly a lot of them about (thank goodness), but the authors books breathe new life into the period and her will they won't they situation with Helewise and Sir Josse, holds the reader's attention as well. Don't be swayed into thinking that these books are written with the female reader in mind. They are for everybody, young and old, male or female. Alys Clare lives in Kent where the Hawkenlye mysteries are set.
The peace and quiet of the Abbey at Hawkenlye has been disturbed by the arrival of a new nun and her two young sisters. They have been recently orphaned and Alba the eldest has had to give up her post at a convent in Ely to get her sisters as far away as possible from the scene of their grief.
However Helewise, the Abbess at Hawkenlye is not sure that the gesture is solely for the benefit of the young girls, after all Alba is known by all to be a mean-minded young woman. Helewise's anxiety is increased when her friend Sir Josse is brought to the Abbey half dead from blood poisoning. Then a body is discovered and one of the sisters goes missing. Helewise sets off the Ely to discover the real reason for Alba leaving the convent there . . .
The peace and quiet of the Abbey at Hawkenlye has been disturbed by the arrival of a new nun and her two young sisters. They have been recently orphaned and Alba the eldest has had to give up her post at a convent in Ely to get her sisters as far away as possible from the scene of their grief.
However Helewise, the Abbess at Hawkenlye is not sure that the gesture is solely for the benefit of the young girls, after all Alba is known by all to be a mean-minded young woman. Helewise's anxiety is increased when her friend Sir Josse is brought to the Abbey half dead from blood poisoning. Then a body is discovered and one of the sisters goes missing. Helewise sets off the Ely to discover the real reason for Alba leaving the convent there . . .
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Everything is Not as it Seems
Alys Clare's novels are like a breath of fresh air. I love medieval murder mysteries and there are certainly a lot of them about (thank goodness), but the authors books breathe new... Read more
Published on 28 Aug 2006 by J. Chippindale
Clare is simply a stunning writer
There is not a lot to add to what the previous review has said.
Alys Clare is the best writer of medieaval mysteries since Ellis Peters. Better, even, in my opinion. Read more
Published on 17 Jan 2002
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