Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Sacrilege, via Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources.
A nun is found dead. A priest is horribly attacked. An evil older than sin is loose in Yorkshire…
Marske, 1361. Sir Ralph de Mandeville with his assistants Peter and Merek have recently come from Reeth to hold a court session in Marske but are pulled away at the news of a most heinous crime having been discovered further down the River Swale.
A boat has been found, floating down the river. Inside is a truly horrifying scene – the body of a nun, her wrists cut and her hands fixed in the sign of benediction… As Ralph uses his astute skills of inspection, his mind asks a most difficult question – is this self-murder or murder most foul? Were her last moments spent in benediction prayer… or malediction warning? With both Marrick Priory and Easby Abbey within a stone’s throw of Marske, it appears something is not quite right in the house of God…
When the body of a priest is found mutilated as if by a wild animal, the villagers fear the nun’s body has opened the gates and let loose a monster from Hell… but Ralph starts to wonder if something much more human is at the root of these evils.
As he follows the grim clues, he fears he knows where this miserable sacrilegious journey will end. The question is, can he catch the murderer and prevent more grisly deaths – his own included?
My Review (4 stars out of 5)
Called to investigate a mysterious death while carrying out their duties in court, Sir Ralph de Mandeville and his assistants are taken to view the body of a nun who appears to have committed self-murder. But as he begins to investigate, Sir Ralph realises that something more sinister is going on.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author and the second of three in the Ralph De Mandeville Mysteries (book 3 due out on 2nd October). The book is crammed with historical references and relevant details demonstrating the author’s knowledge. I liked the particulars concerning court proceedings, as well as descriptions of the sights and smells around the village which helped set the scene and atmosphere of the story. For me, it felt a little slow in the telling and a bit more pace would’ve helped things along. The author also has a habit of writing overly long sentences which don’t do him any favours. Having said that, I enjoyed the tale, particularly the superstitious and sometimes bizarre beliefs (Murdered by a thing from hell) of its characters.
An interesting and detailed book which will please lovers of medieval history.
Author Bio
I was born in St Andrews and studied medicine at the University of Dundee in Scotland. I lived and worked in Wakefield in Yorkshire for 40 years, within arrow-shot of the ruins of a medieval castle, the base for a series of historical novels.
I am a retired GP, medical journalist and novelist, writing in several genres. As Keith Moray I write historical crime fiction in the medieval era and in ancient Egypt, The Inspector Torquil McKinnon crime novels set on the Outer Hebridean island of West Uist, and as Clay More I write westerns. Curiously, my medical background finds its way into most of my
fiction writing.
In my spare time I enjoy the movies, theatre and making bread. I play golf and I run at carthorse speed. As a frustrated actor I have found occasional solace as a supporting artist, but enough said about that!
I now live in Stratford-upon with my wife Rachel and whichever of our children and grandchildren who happen to pop in.
Social Media Links
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Bookbub profile @dr_keithsouter
Colin Garrow 