Customer Reviews
Sir Josse Has Mixed Loyalties - By: J. Chippindale, 23 Aug 2006 
Alys Clare's novels are like a breath of fresh air. I love medieval murder mysteries & there are certainly a lot of them about (thank goodness), but the authors books breathe new life into the period & her will they won't they situation with Helewise & Sir Josse, holds the reader's attention as well. Don't be swayed into thinking that these books are written with the female reader in mind. They are for everybody, young & old, male or female.
Richard the Lionheart is still hostage after the crusades, but his people are struggling to cope with the crippling amount they have had to pay to secure his ransom. Even before the problems with Richard's ransom not alll of his subjects were enamoured of the King, who is hardly ever in the country he rules. No wonder his brother John is gathering to him a number of loyal followers.
The Abbess Helewise has the difficult task of keeping her abbey going through the cold & brutal winter, as she tries to fend off starvation of her nuns & the local villagers. Then out of the blue Helewise's son returns to her, a son she has not seen for nearly 20 years. He claims that his wife is suffering mental illness & his son is a mute. He desperately needs help.
But then a man is found strangled & hanging from a tree close by the abbey. Next day her son & his family flee & Sir Josse must investigate & delve into Helewise's past life before she took the veil. Were her husband & father in law alll that they seemed?
Can the Abbess prevent even more murder, or will the blame be laid at the door of her innocent son?
