By the Edge of the Sword (A Mediaeval Mystery)
Christmas in 1218. A stranger found frozen to death carries a message for our main characters, Martin and Edwin. An old friend named Joanna is accused of murder. Worse still, she was discovered holding a bloody knife over her dead husband’s body. If the sheriff’s representative convicts her, she’ll burn at the stake. For Martin, Joanna is a woman he still has feelings for. For Edwin, his talents of deduction are called on to uncover the facts when all that remains is gossip.
While book seven of a series, this is easily read as a standalone. The characters are effortlessly discernable from one another, and the relationships are easy to pick up on. The actual investigation doesn’t start until midway through the book, which quickly escalates in tension as multiple suspects are forced by weather into proximity. Danger and intrigue surround Martin and Edwin, as they are outsiders in this community, and emotions are already running high in the castle they’re staying in. Martin’s lovesick pinings get tiresome, and his headstrong ways at times interfere with Edwin’s investigation. Meanwhile, Edwin must contend with an inept investigator sent to represent the sheriff while also trying to discern fact from gossiped fiction. It’s easy to feel Edwin’s frustration as he interviews witnesses. Hanley has a strong grasp on everyday life in this time period with lovely setting details, particularly women’s roles. This is an intelligent and captivating mystery, and I would definitely read more of this series and this author.
