So there’s this Saxon princess  Beornwyn in 848 CE. She’s supposed to be the bestest, most nicest, most virginal of all the girls in the land. Except she’s maybe not so much that. And her maid knows everything. Is she going to church to pray, or to meet a lover? And who is the lover? And are the Vikings about to raid the village as well? Something nasty happens in the church, and Beornwyn doesn’t make it. And her maid becomes the virgin saint’s guardian […]

Yup, more medieval murders. Relatively short murder mysteries written by folks who specialize in medieval murder mysteries. Super fun stuff! This one starts way back, with a couple of brothers joining King Arthur in a battle fighting Saxon invaders at the battle of Badon Hill (allegedly, Bath). According to historical records, it took place sometime around 560 CE. A few centuries later, in Bath (a place I’m dying to go), Lady Gwenllian and her husband Sir Symon are summoned to investigate a suspicious death that […]

In 1154, Prior Wigod of Oseney Priory writes The Play of Adam, about the world’s first murder (according to some). Trouble is, when the play is acted, maybe some folks get a little too method. So the prior adds a warning about the play: “Beware the sins of envy and vainglory, else foul murder ends your story.” Like modern times, people back then weren’t real keen on avoiding envy and vainglory, so as the play makes its way through the ages, death and foul murder […]

There is a series of these books (I think I’ve already covered one of them) all basically containing short mysteries written by authors who specialize in different parts of the Medieval era. Each story/mystery revolves around a common theme or idea. In this book, all the stories center on a relic – a piece of the true cross. Oh, and a murder or two. Or are they? (Murders, that is). The relic starts out in Jerusalem in 1100, during the Crusades. It makes its way […]