Synopsis
A wonderful murder mystery surrounding the election of Arthur, King of the Britons, a brutal murder, and the introduction of a new sleuth, a meticulous scribe who notices things that go unseen by most men, a gritty (and very human) Brother Cadfael type of
VOYA
Malgwyn is pulled from his life of drunkenness to help solve the murder of young Eleonore. He does not want to render assistance, least of all for the man who has come to retrieve him: Arthur, to whom he lost part of an arm in battle and toward whom he still harbors resentment. He reluctantly returns to the castle to clear Merlin, the one accused of this foul murder. A second murder may mean the forfeiture of Merlin's life and the end of Arthur's rise to power as well. This historical mystery combines much of the rich heritage of the legend of Arthur and Merlin with the more contemporary fascination with forensic evidence. Malgwyn is a detective, one who uses clues at the crime scene and careful interrogation to uncover the truth about Eleonore's murder and the subsequent crimes and disappearances. His character is complex; there are forces driving Malgwyn that might easily interfere with his ability to reason and be objective. Therein lies the suspense of this novel that could easily become part of a class study about Arthur and the Arthurian legends. The ending leaves readers hopeful that there may be other mysteries for Malgwyn to solve at the behest of Arthur. Reviewer: Teri Lesesne