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Title: Justice for the Damned

Subtitle: The Medieval Mysteries, Book 4

Author: Priscilla Royal

Narrator: Wanda McCaddon

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 10 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-24-16

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 12 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

It is May 1272, and Prioress Eleanor of Tyndal, recovering from a near-fatal winter fever, journeys to Amesbury Priory to visit her aunt in time for the Feast of Saint Melor. Although Eleanor hopes to regain her strength in the midst of pleasant childhood memories, death reveals a most troublesome fondness for her company.

A ghost now haunts Amesbury. Is it perhaps the spirit of a pregnant woman who drowned herself in the River Avon? But soon the specter turns murderous. A man is decapitated near the river where the grim figure walks, yet Sister Beatrice, Eleanor's aunt and acting prioress of Amesbury, shows an uncharacteristic hesitancy about taking charge of any investigation.

As others apparently fall victim to the vengeful ghost, Eleanor struggles to put a human face on the restless spirit, and Brother Thomas, pursuing a secret mission for the church connected with the priory's famous psaltery, finds that his own demons have unexpectedly taken on a very human form.

Corpses grow in number. Death dances with glee. All hope of sweet spring begins to die, and even love takes on a somber hue.

Members Reviews:

Excellent as always!

I have read almost all of Priscilla Royal's Medieval Mysteries with Prioress Elenore and Brother Thomas, and am starting them for the 2nd time. This one is a particular favorite because due to the excellent character development, the angst suffered by most of them seems to be finally somewhat under control. It also seems that more mature logic is helping to alleviate the worst of the physical. I feel sure better days are in store for all of these religious.

but I enjoyed the author's notes the most

This is a well-mannered tale of treachery in a religious setting in the 13th century. We have no record of the speech of "everyday" people of that time. The characters in this book are remarkably well-spoken, calm and reasonable (excepting when drunk one presumes) but there's a real murder mystery here to solve. There's also a real sense of place and time and conventions of the day. The description of life in an abbey, and in a town closely associated with religious houses seems grounded in serious research and I enjoyed Royal's notes at the end of the book as much as I did the story.

Needs more mystery and less Eleanor/Thomas romanticism

Medieval Mystery # 4

Slowly recovering from a nearly fatal illness, Prioress Eleanor finds herself interested in a suddenly appearing local ghost. When the ghost's appearance turns murderous, she and Brother Thomas step up their investigating, trying to prevent additional deaths.

Interesting if obvious plotline and side stories, and a truly impressive presentation of post-illness attitudes and medieval beliefs about the final judgment, but Royal is still harping on Eleanor's lust for Thomas and Thomas' homosexual longings. It's the old man-and-woman-can't-work-together-without-being-attracted line that I find extremely irritating; it just takes up space without advancing the storyline. The title was perfect.

Another rich mystery in this series

Prioress Eleanor and her companions, Sister Anne and Brother Thomas, have traveled to Amesbury, site of another house of the Fontevraud order, unusual in its structure that allows both women and men to live in the same priory, under the guidance of a female nun.