Priscilla Royal

Reviews

Sorrow Without End, Tyrant of the Mind, Wine of Violence
Harriet Klausner's Review Archives

Interviews

WomenOnWriting

Sorrow Without End

"Eleanor's steadfast faith in a merciful God must contend with the vicious nature of man in a compelling resolution."

Publishers Weekly Starred Review

"Tautly woven, this introspective period piece oozes with suspense and intrigue."

Booklist

Praise for Tyrant of the Mind
"Think of 'Gosford Park' with no central heating and you'll get some idea of what's going on in this very interesting historical re-creation."

—Dick Adler, Chicago Tribune

Tyrant of the Mind

February 2005: Tyrant of the Mind was one of five nominees for the Bruce Alexander Historical Mystery Award given at Left Coast Crime Conference this year in El Paso, Texas.

"The chill that pervades Royal's second medieval historical (after 2003's Wine of Violence) stems not just from the bitter winter besetting the Welsh border castle of Wynethorpe but also from the murderous tensions that afflict its occupants. The illness of Richard, grandson of Baron Adam of Wynethorpe, has brought home the boy's aunt, Eleanor, prioress of Tyndal, as well as her companions, Sister Anne, a nun skilled in medicine, and Brother Thomas, a handsome and unwilling monk.

Jealousy, lust, fear and treachery lead to murder, perhaps committed by Eleanor's brother, Robert, who's found standing with a bloody knife over the freshly slain victim. It's up to Eleanor and her oddly matched companions to prove Robert's innocence before medieval justice delivers its swift and violent verdict. The author carefully renders the hardships of surviving the harsh winters without obscuring the small pleasures that people of the period enjoyed. Eleanor, forceful or diplomatic by turns, is an engaging and resourceful heroine, and Brother Thomas shows surprising depths and strengths. Royal brings her 13th-century world vividly and artfully to life in a series sure to have a bright future."

Publishers Weekly

To Order Your Copies:

Poisoned Pen Press
Amazon.com
BookSense.com is a search site that provides the address of more than 1,200 independent booksellers in the United States where you can order copies of Priscilla's books.