Helpful Score: 1
Sixth in the Hawkenlye Abbey historical mystery series set in 1190's Kent, England. Features Abbess Helewise of the aforementioned Abbey, as well as Sir Josse d'Acquin, knight and retainer to King Richard, who in this book has just been captured and imprisoned. When a woman who is near death is brought to the Abbey's infirmary as a result of wounds inflicted during a flogging and branding, and the new, fanatical stand-in priest for the Abbey is found with his neck broken, Josse and Helewise both struggle with questions of loyalty to church, country and self, especially when it's learned that the injured woman is a Cathar--a member of a heretical sect, who was punished by the aforementioned priest before he died. As usual, a great visit to 12th century England and a good look into some of the issues at hand during that time. I've enjoyed each of the books in this series very much.
