The first in Alys Clare's mediaeval mystery series - to appeal to all fans of Ellis Peters and Candace Robb.

Shortly before his unexpected coronation, King Richard passed a law letting all of England's prisoners go free. Shortly afterwards a young nun is found, gruesomely murdered. Richard swiftly employs an old military colleague of his, Josse d'Acquin, to unravel this hideous mystery. Who could have wanted to kill this innocent young novice, and, more worryingly, why?



Josse goes to Hawkenlye Abbey to find out the answers to these questions. He is having little success until meets the Abbess Helewise, a woman who quickly proves herself to be his equal, both as an amateur sleuth, and as a figure the community can rely on during this turbulent time for England.



This duo have to find the murderer, and find him quickly, or they'll have the King of England to answer to...

"Rich in detail and with a good sense of time and place" - Hertfordshire Star

"An engrossing tale" - Kirkus Reviews

"Proof that a writer of medieval crime fiction can deliver something fresh" - Times Crime Supplement