I’m a fan of Medieval Mysteries so I was familiar with most of the names on the Table of Contents. My favorite stories involve women solving murders. Doug Allyn’s “The Country of the Blind” features a blind girl, Noelle, a ward of a convent. Together with an ex-soldier turned minstrel, Noelle overcomes her lack of sight with a special ability to solve puzzles…and murders.
In “Like a Dog Returning” Sister Fidelma–a judge who wields power rare for women of that era–solves a murder occurred 20 years in the Past. I’ve read over a dozen of Peter Tremayne’s Sister Fidelma mystery novels and this story delivers some shocking surprises!
If you’re looking for an excellent collection of mystery stories with excellent writers, you’ll find Murder Most Medieval (2001) ideal! GRADE: A
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
INTRODUCTION / John Helfers — vii
Like a dog returning…a Sister Fidelma mystery / Peter Tremayne — 1
The country for the blind / Doug Allyn — 19
Cold as fire / Lillian Stewart Carl — 61
A horse for my kingdom / Gillian Linscott — 81
The simple logic of it / Margaret Frazer — 97
Plucking a mandrake / Clayton Emery — 117
A gift from God / Edward Marston — 139
The Queen’s chastity / Tony Geraghty — 159
The reiving of Bonville keep / Kathy Lyn Emerson — 175
For the love of old bones / Michael Jecks — 197
The wizard of Lindsay Woods / Brendan DuBois — 219
Improvements / Kristine Kathryn Rusch — 247
A light on the road to Woodstock / Ellis Peters — 259
Authors’ Biographies — 285
Copyright and Permissions — 291
Good one!
As you know, I read two Sister Fidelma collections after you reviewed them. Doug Allyn and Brendan Dubois are two of my favorite mystery short story writers.
Jeff, I enjoyed all the stories in MURDER MOST MEDIEVAL. Excellent anthology.
John Helfers was my editor at Five Star Press! He also wrote a fine story that took place at my old employer’s, McChord AFB! Obviously, he has good taste!
Bob, I’m always impressed by all the people you know! John Helfers did a great job with MURDER MOST MEDIEVAL!
One which has gotten by me so far…no one phoning it in, I gather!
Todd, I missed MURDER MOST MEDIEVAL when it was first published, too. But, I’m glad I discovered it! Great anthology!
Barring a couple, I have not even heard of these authors. Your high praise makes me search for this book.
Neeru, MURDER MOST MEDIEVAL is one of the best anthologies I’ve read in 2024!
This anthology looks very good and would be a way to read some authors I haven’t read before. I will check out the book sale in September and if it is not there, I am sure I can get a copy through ABEBOOKS.
Tracy, MURDER MOST MEDIEVAL is one of the best mystery anthologies I’ve read in 2024. Highly recommended!