A Confusion of Sins

A Confusion of Sins is the 5th novel in the series of medieval mysteries featuring Sir Bellamy of Itchen and Magdalene la Bâtarde. It is 1139 and England is in turmoil. King Stephen has found an excuse to seize and imprison the elderly and powerful Bishop of Salisbury and his nephews, whom the King suspects of treason. Stephen’s brother, Henry, is the Bishop of Winchester, and despite the love he has for elder brother, he has called an ecclesiastical convocation to consider the actions of the King. In the middle of this political crisis, the body of a monk, brutally murdered, is discovered in a house in London. The monk is Bernard of Rouen, a favorite of the Bishop of Rouen—an ally of the King who will be attending the convocation. Bernard, however, had a taste for gold and had offered to spy on his master for the Bishop of Winchester. Worse, the monk appears to have been murdered shortly after having been with a lover. And it gradually becomes clear that Bernard had other secrets, secrets that might have led someone to kill him. Bell must find out who is responsible for the murder, but must make certain that no one learns of the connection between Bernard and his master Winchester. Meanwhile, the ambitious son and deputy of the Sheriff of London is convinced that the easiest way to bring this matter to a close is to blame Magdalene la Bâtarde. With suspects ranging from prostitutes and merchants with secrets of their own to the great lords of the realm, and with Bell struggling with his feelings for Magdalene, A Confusion of Sins will certainly delight new and old fans of the series.