Battle, intrigue, murder; welcome to fifth century Britain

Welcome to fifth-century Britain: the Romans have left, the Saxons have invaded, the towns are decaying and the countryside dangerous. A young leader has forged a reputation as both a warrior and a diplomat and supreme power is within his grasp. But Camelot does not exist; chivalry is nonexistent; betrayal and treachery are endemic. This is not the Arthur of legend. And neither is this Arthur's story.

This tale belongs to its grim narrator, Malgwyn ap Cuneglas, a man whose broken life mirrors the broken Roman roads that divide the landscape. Once a feared warrior, he should have lost his life when he lost his swordhand on the battlefield. But Arthur saved him, condemning Malgwyn to a half-life as a meagre scribe. But when a young woman is murdered and Arthur's reputation is threatened, Malgwyn is tasked with solving the mystery and safeguarding the stability of Arthur's newborn realm.

"A moving, gritty, intriguing take on the Arthurian myth with solid, well-drawn characters, and a fantastic murder mystery you can really sink your teeth into. The best of Ellis Peters rendered in the battle-tongue of Bernard Cornwell." - MC Scott

"Stirring stuff, with plenty of intrigue and atmosphere" - Guardian

"A story of the factions that fought and plotted for supremacy, and it is the story of how one man, Malgwyn, is able to reclaim a life and dignity that seemed lost forever. Above all, it is a well-crafted, fine historical mystery" - Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine

"Powerfully told and atmospherically driven" - The New York Journal of Books

"Turns a time-honoured historical legend on its head, creating a new mystery series steeped in Arthurian mythology" - Booklist

"A fascinating blend of history and fiction... sure to engage fans of both Bernard Cornwell and Ellis Peters" - Library Journal

"Political intrigue and ancient superstition loom large in this excellent mystery" - Publishers Weekly