The Nightingale Gallery
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4.2 • 91 Ratings
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- $0.99
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- $0.99
Publisher Description
A terrible power struggle threatens the very core of Britain…
In 1376, the Black Prince dies of a terrible sickness, closely followed by his father, King Edward III in 1377. The crown of England is left in the hands of a mere boy, and the great nobles gather like hungry wolves round the empty throne.
Soon the prelates of the church and the powerful Merchant Princes of London are drawn in. One of these, Sir Thomas Springall, is foully murdered within a few days of the old king’s death.
Sir John Cranston, the coroner of London, is ordered to investigate. He is assisted by Brother Athelstan, a penitent Dominican monk. From the sinister slums of Whitefriars to the barbaric splendour of the English Court, Cranston and Athelstan are drawn into a dark and terrifying web of intrigue…
The first in a scintillating historical mystery series, perfect for fans of C. J. Sansom, Susanna Gregory and S. J. Parris.
Praise for The Nightingale Gallery
'The best of its kind since the death of Ellis Peters' Time Out
'If you like Inspector Morse, you'll love Brother Athelstan' Prima
'Evocative and lyrical descriptions' New Statesman
Customer Reviews
Disgusting
That’s the apt word for the London of the 14th C. when Friar Æþelstan served penance as the Coroner’s scribe in investigating equally disgusting murders. The filthy environs of Southwark and the filthy thoughts and designs of their clever assassin in the filthy streets of þe City prove a challenge to the truth-seeking pair. The author rarely fails to detail the rank putrefaction and common excrement that dominated medieval life. He also is historically accurate about the squalor of common folk and the politics of Royal scheming that directed the flow of history.
The book is well written and the plot —that’s the only word that fits the rationale of so many murders before the criminals are outed— is opaque as all evidence is hidden. But the truth will out!
Wonderful characters and well written storyline
Excellent tale of murders and deceit