Review: this one lives up to its reputation
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 18, 2007
Reviewed by Cheri Fisher for Reader Views (4/07)The story in "Justice of the Damned" takes place at the Amesbury Priory in the spring of 1272.  The author, Priscilla Royal, writes in her notes that the actual priory did exist with the same Prioress Ida from the story. The real characters end there and the story is fictional.  Royal does an excellent job describing the medieval times.  Her detailed descriptions of what life must have been like in the year 1272, includes vivid descriptions of the clothing, food, homes and characters' teeth.  I was quickly engaged by the story and also found it to be a very good murder mystery.The main character, Prioress Eleanor of Tyndal, returns to Amesbury Priory where she grew up.  She has gone to stay with her aunt in hopes that she will fully recover her strength from an illness that nearly claimed her life and to be there for the Feast of Saint Melor.  She has traveled to Amesbury with Brother Thomas, with whom she has secret feelings for.Much to Eleanor's dismay, quiet is going to elude her on this trip.  Not long after she arrives, one of the locals is found near the river without his head.  Everyone quickly believes that he was the unfortunate victim of the late Queen Elfrida or Mistress Eda's ghosts.  They fear that Queen Elfrida's spirit is upset because several monks were recently caught taking in the pleasures of the local inn instead of praying her soul out of purgatory.  And Mistress Eda's spirit may have risen because it appears that she was unjustly accused of taking her own life and not buried on sanctified grounds.  As the ghost goes on a killing spree, Eleanor finds it hard to believe that a ghost, especially a woman's ghost would do these kinds of heinous acts.  She and Thomas begin an investigation of their own.  This leads them into the locals' lives where they have to quickly learn to discern between local gossip and actual stories.  As Thomas moves ahead with the investigation, he is thrown into situations in the village that will completely test his faith.I have always found Poisoned Pen Press books to be good quality and this one lives up to its reputation.  If you enjoy stories about the medieval times and murder mysteries, then you will enjoy "Justice for the Damned."Received book free of charge.