Poet Geoffrey Chaucer didn't expect to be catapulted into a murder investigation when he decided to go on a pilgrimage to Canterbury with a motley crew of pilgrims. But one of the pilgrims, beautiful Sophia, flirted with one too many men, and didn't live to tell about it.
When the mysterious and beautiful gypsy, Sophia, is murdered on her way to the shrine of St. Thomas a Becket at Canterbury, poet/pilgrim/astrologer Geoffrey Chaucer is in danger of being accused of her murder. He calls upon his longtime friends, John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, scholar Robert Willard and Robert's innkeeper wife Agatha, to help him find the true killer.
Thefts of silver objects, a touching case of love at first sight, and a mob of frightened and disgruntled peasants threaten to impede the investigation. Yet Geoffrey's innate ingenuity, his insights into people, his experience as a spy, and his skills as an astrologer eventually lead to the identity of the killer. But will it be in time to stop a second murder?
Excerpt
Stepping cautiously in order to avoid tripping or startling Remile, Chaucer entered the stall and found his horse's head. He petted the faithful animal's nose, crooning sweet words to him, receiving loving nuzzles in reply. With a sinking heart Geoffrey realized he should have found an apple for him.
The next moment something crashed upon his head, causing him to fall from the ground. Someone evil, someone who would willingly kill both man and beast, was in the stall with them. Remile could smell it. The man who killed Sophia now had his hands on Geoffrey.
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Reviews for "Murder on the Canterbury Pilgrimage"
Reviewed by Amy Coffin
12/22/2002
[Murder on the Canterbury Pilgrimage] is such a fun book! Using the Canterbury pilgrimage as a backdrop and placing Geoffrey Chaucer in the role of detective is an interesting idea. Author Mary Devlin is to be commended for providing such a unique plot. I've grown weary of some of today's suspense authors and their cookie-cutter story lines. Murder on the Canterbury Pilgrimage is a welcome sight on the book shelf. I recommend [it] to all mystery lovers. If this Devlin work had been around when I was in high school, I may have had a deeper appreciation for Chaucer.
Reviewed by Draupadi
6/27/2001
I couldn't believe it! Geoffrey Chaucer, whom I hated in high school, a detective? But it works! Great characters, great plot, lots of intrigue and red herrings! Fun!
During the Christmas Season, servants Jane Meyers and Alfie Dawkins search for missing persons from opposite sides of the social spectrum: a homeless man and the Duke's son.
