Books: Medieval mysteries

Page-turning historical fiction about an age of sin and faith | George Grant

It appears that the medieval mystery is alive and well. Four masters of historical fiction have recently turned their hands to the task of creating whodunnits set in the enigmatic glory years of Christendom. The results are supremely satisfying.

The King's Bishop is the fourth in an on-going series of mysteries by Candace Robb. Set in the great medieval trading center of York during the turbulent days of King Edward III, each of the books in the series features the struggles, loves, and adventures of Owen Archer, a soldier-sleuth of remarkable gifts. Ms. Robb has an eye for detail and a unique ability to bring her settings to life. But thankfully she never allows the exotic time and place to overwhelm the narrative flow.

Sharon Kay Penman has written a number of fine historical epics before. The Queen's Man is her first attempt at a mystery. Set in the wild and woolly days of the Plantagenets in England and France, the tale of intrigue, murder, and mayhem she tells masterfully captures the very essence of the age.

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