Joys of My Life

by Alys Clare

Overview

skillfully plotted, delightfully written genre-bender with appealing characters, bold adventure, and dark intrigue. Top notch!' - Booklist Starred Review

The latest Hawkenlye medieval mystery

May 1199. Abbess Helewise has been summoned by Queen Eleanor to discuss the building of a chapel at Hawkenlye Abbey. Meanwhile, Sir Josse d'Acquin is on the trail of a group of mysterious knights rumoured to be devil worshippers. As Helewise heads for home, Josse follows his quarry to Chartres, where he meets the last person he expects: Joanna. And she has grave problems of her own . . .

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781780102481
Publisher:	Severn House
Publication date:	03/01/2012
Series:	Hawkenlye Series , #12
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	224
File size:	536 KB

About the Author

Alys Clare divides her time between Tonbridge, England-in the area where "Tavern in the Morning" is set—and her ancient stone cottage in Brittany. The author of two previous Hawkenlye mysteries, "Fortune Like the Moon" and "Ashes of the Elements," she has also studied archaeology at the University of Kent at Canterbury.

Editorial Reviews

A summons from Eleanor of Aquitaine changes the lives of Abbess Helewise of Hawkenlye and Sir Josse d'Acquin. The English queen's letter informs the abbess that a chapel will be built at Hawkenlye in memory of Eleanor's recently deceased son, King Richard the Lionheart. In addition, Eleanor wishes to see Sir Josse, though her reasons are a closely guarded secret. When the weary travelers arrive on an island off the French coast, Eleanor orders Helewise to Chartres, where she can engage stonemasons and carpenters to build the new chapel. Josse, meanwhile, is ordered to find out the truth about rumors linking Richard with a group of knights purported to be devil-worshipers who sacrifice young boys and practice unspeakable sexual acts. He sets out in search of the knights' leader Philippe de Loup, who, along with his men, is guarding a secret passed on for generations. The trail of corpses left by Philippe leads to Chartres, where Josse meets his lover Joanna. A powerful force among the worshippers of the old religion, she has come to guard the seat of ancient power that will be covered by the new cathedral. Inevitably, all but Joanna are led back to Hawkenlye, where, in a time of great danger and personal upheaval, Josse will seek the truth and Helewise will make weighty decisions about the new chapel. Another winner in Clare's medieval series (The Paths of the Air, 2008, etc.), thanks to a canny brew of mysticism, romance and adventure.

Kirkus Reviews