num_pages: 368
description: County Coroner Sir John de Wolfe investigates a series of brutal murders in 12th-century England. The discovery of the murdered crew from a shipwreck…is just the first in a string of atrocities. The captain was the husband of Sir John's former mistress, Hilda, and his investigation troubles both his shrewish wife Matilda and his current mistress…After a series of horrific murders, all related by the use of an unusual knife and crossbows with Arabic lettering, Sir John realizes that all the victims were connected to a disastrous crusade. Meanwhile, Sir John's disgraced brother-in-law Richard de Revelle is involved in a scheme to make money for Prince John, who's trying to seize his brother's throne. The King of France has sent a Mohammedan alchemist to work with a Scot to turn base metal to gold, and Richard is providing them supplies and a secret place to work. When Hilda goes on her own crusade to track down her husband's killers, she's made a prisoner, along with Matilda and Richard…Knight's tenth populates a detailed study of the period with well-drawn characters
language: English
title: The Elixir of Death
titlecomplete: The Elixir of Death (Crowner John Mystery #10)
genres: Mystery, Fiction, Medieval, British Literature, Crime, Historical, 12th Century, Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery
ratings_count: 478
series: Crowner John Mystery
publisher: Simon  Schuster UK