In the civil war between King Henry III and Simon de Montfort, Eleanor of Wynethorpe's family sided with the king. Eleanor's brother is a close friend of Prince Edward and her mother is a dear friend of the queen. As a reward for loyal service to the crown, Eleanor is appointed prioress of Tyndale Priory. This political reward is resented by the sisters and monks who reside there.

Not long after Eleanor steps foot on the priory Brother Rubert is murdered. Brother Thomas, who is at the priory to find out why their financial solvency has dwindled, becomes involved in the murder inquiry. When he is attacked and left for dead, Eleanor believes the same person is responsible for the murder and the attack. Life turns more dangerous when someone tries to attack the prioress in her sleeping quarters. Using people she trusts, a trap is baited to catch a killer.

Wine of Violence is a fascinating look at medieval life in the year 1270 during the reign of King Henry III. Readers read about sexual predators enjoying the largesse of the Catholic Church and how secular choices are made for religious appointments. Priscilla Royal is a talented storyteller entertains and educates her audience with this regal historical.

n the year 1270 on the remote East Anglican coast, the new prioress of Tyndal priory (a small “double house” where the monks and nuns run a hospital), the young Eleanor of Wynethorpe, is prepared to face some resentment but not the dire consequences of several deadly sins, including lust, in Royal’s stellar debut.

Eleanor’s political appointment, a reward to her parents for their loyalty to King Henry III, has embittered some of the Tyndal nuns and monks, particularly Sister Ruth, who was assuming the job would be hers. Eleanor knows that gaining the trust of the sisters and brothers she’s to lead is vital, but when a beloved monk is found murdered in the cloister gardens, Eleanor has a brutal killer to deal with as well. The arrival of a young priest, Brother Thomas, struggling with the demons created by a crime he committed compounds her problems. As the violence continues, Eleanor, Thomas and the local coroner join forces to investigate.

With its intriguing plot, chilling conclusion and characters who exhibit universal and timeless feelings, this fresh first has all the potential to evolve into a series as enduring as Ellis Peters’s Brother Cadfael books.

 

ll books are now available in hardcover, trade paperback, large print, and e-reader versions. "Forsaken Soul', "Chambers of Death," "Valley of Dry Bones," and "Killin gSeason" are available in audiobook from Blackstone Audio.