The Winter King - A Hawkenlye 13th Century British Mystery (A Hawkenlye Mystery)
It’s 1211, and King John—hated by his subjects because of his harsh taxes and long-standing feud with the pope—sits on England’s throne. Rebellion threatens, with portents and visions of the king’s demise rife among the peasantry. As the story opens, wealthy Lord Benedict dies at his own feast. The man is despised by many, including his beautiful young wife and most of his serfs. But when the sheriff determines that Benedict was murdered, a bizarre string of circumstantial evidence leads not to Benedict’s wife or servants but to renowned healer Meggie, daughter of Sir Josse d’Aquin. Desperate to prove her innocence, Meggie begs her father to help. Attention is temporarily diverted from the murder when two young men who were apparently headed to visit the reclusive Lord Wimarc are discovered brutally murdered. Were their murders linked in any way to Lord Benedict’s? Outstanding period detail, an intriguing plot, engaging characters and suspenseful twists make for an excellent read. --Emily Melton