"Entralling medieval mysteries . . . vividly drawn characters

Sanctity of Hate

A Medieval Mystery, Poisoned Pen Press, 2012

 "...the best yet in a consistently strong series....and the pacing makes this a one- or two-sitting read at most."

The corpse of an unpopular newcomer floats in the priory millpond. A Jewish family, refugees under the 1275 Statute of the Jewry, is accused. Did Jacob ben Asser kill him or was it Gytha, the prioress' maid? Even Prioress Eleanor now wonders if she wants to unmask the killer.

A Killing Season

A Medieval Mystery, Poisoned Pen Press, 2011

When Baron Herbert returns from crusade, he grows increasingly morose and withdraws from his family. When his sons begin to die in strange accidents, questions are asked whether Herbert harbors a dark sin for which God has cursed him. The baron suddenly sends for Sir Hugh of Wynethorpe, begging his friend to bring spiritual and secular healers. Sir Hugh persuades his sister, Prioress Eleanor of Tyndal Priory, as well as a respected physician, Master Gamel, to accompany him. Although Sir Hugh is pleased when the prioress brings her healer, Sister Anne, he is surprised to find the mysterious Brother Thomas included.

“It wouldn’t be a religious pilgrimage without a murder—at least not in one of Royal’s authentically wrought medieval mysteries. Tensions simmer within and without the walls of Tyndal Priory as Prioress Eleanor and her assistants await the arrival of the royal scouting party designated to approve the convent’s accommodations in advance of the arrival of the queen and her esteemed companions. What makes this series tick are the recurring subplots involving Eleanor, Thomas, and Ralf that run through all the narratives, binding the characters and their intimate stories together into an intriguing subtext.

A Medieval Mystery, Poisoned Pen Press, 2009

This book can be ordered through Amazon.com just by clicking on the cover to the left (and while you are there, visit Priscilla's Authors Blog).

"At the outset of Royal's absorbing sixth medieval mystery to feature Prioress Eleanor of Tyndal (after 2008's Forsaken Soul), Eleanor and a group returning from a journey through Norfolk take shelter from a bitter autumn rainstorm in a manor house near Tyndal after one of their party, a young nun, falls gravely ill. Eleanor and her companions receive a warm welcome, but they soon realize all is not well at the manor, whose residents include the earl of Lincoln's steward, the steward's family and staff. When a groom is brutally butchered in the stable and the cook accused of his murder, Eleanor and her faithful friend, Brother Thomas, can't help investigating what they soon see is a convenient rush to judgment by the local sheriff. As the death toll mounts, they discover any number of suspects among the manor's household. Once again, Royal combines a well-executed plot with authentic period detail.

A Medieval Mystery, Poisoned Pen Press, 2008
Hardcover, trade paperback, large print, audio cassettes, MP-3 CD and CD from Blackstone Audio Books.

~ Publisher's Weekly

~ Publishers Weekly (starred review)

A Medieval Mystery, Poisoned Pen Press, 2007
Hardcover, as a trade paperback and in large print.

" . . . a clever historical whodunit that uses a vivid background to enhance an engaging investigation . . .

“The author subtly treats the erotic charge surrounding Eleanor and Thomas while shedding light on 13th-century understandings of sexuality. Royal draws together the murder, the manuscript and the ghost in an unexpected conclusion.”

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Alice McDoughall has absolutely no interest in sleuthing, and thinks amateur detectives are a silly bunch, so imagine her shock when she comes to the defense of her best friend, whose restaurant is threatened when obnoxious food critic Arthur Peters drops dead while dining in her establishment, and uncovers a murder, and a whole host of suspects. A deliciously enjoyable whodunit featuring a memorable cast of characters and one of the most surprising murder weapons in mystery history!