Prayers of the Dead

#17 in the Medieval Mystery series

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November 1283.

Prioress Eleanor’s cousin, the Earl of Ness, visits with his wife, Eda. When his unloved spouse is murdered in a priory chapel, and the weapon used is his knife, he becomes the prime suspect. Crowner Ralf claims the investigation under the king’s law. No monastic is suspected, and the involvement of her own cousin certainly disqualifies her. But the prioress insists she take jurisdiction and even question her cousin.

Another murder follows. Eda’s priest is killed in the same chapel. Eleanor is exhausted with other problems from an arrogant new prior, the serious illness of her old nemesis, and an incompetent new maid. And although she believes her cousin to be innocent, he is lying to her. Even she wonders if she shouldn’t turn this over to Ralf.

But why was Tyndal the crime site? Is her cousin a killer? What is the connection between the murders of Eda and a pious man disinterested in earthly things? With the discovery that Eda was a woman who collected secrets and let them be publicly revealed, the suspect numbers grow. Eleanor feels overwhelmed, but her beloved priory has been defiled by murder and honor demands she rectify it.

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