The Chatter of the Maidens (Hawkenlye Mysteries) [Paperback]

Alys Clare (Author)

Book Description

Series: Hawkenlye Mysteries | Publication Date: July 1, 2003

The serenity of Hawkenlye Abbey has been disturbed by the arrival of a new nun and her two young sisters. Recently orphaned, Alba has left her convent in Ely to take her grieving sisters from the scene of their sorrow. Abbess Helewise is not convinced of her selflessness—Sister Alba is a mean-spirited and turbulent presence. Her anxieties grow when her friend Josse d’Acquin is brought to Hawkenlye, half-dead from blood poisoning. Then a body is discovered, and one of the sisters goes missing. In order to discover the truth behind Alba’s flight to Hawkenlye, Helewise sets off for Ely, where she uncovers a clever and chilling network of lies.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A well and gently written medieval [series]. -- Booklist

A worthy successor to Ellis Peters. -- Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Alys Clare is a history enthusiast who has written many novels under a different name. Alys Clare lives in Kent, where the Hawkenlye mysteries are set.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton (July 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0340793287
• ISBN-13: 978-0340793282
• Product Dimensions: 0.6 x 4.5 x 6.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #101,929 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #14 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Mystery & Thrillers > Mystery > Series

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Everything is Not as it Seems, August 28, 2006

By 

J. Chippindale (England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Chatter of the Maidens (Hawkenlye Mysteries) (Paperback)

Alys Clare's novels are like a breath of fresh air. I love medieval murder mysteries and there are certainly a lot of them about (thank goodness), but the authors books breathe new life into the period and her will they won't they situation with Helewise and Sir Josse, holds the reader's attention as well. Don't be swayed into thinking that these books are written with the female reader in mind. They are for everybody, young and old, male or female. Alys Clare lives in Kent where the Hawkenlye mysteries are set.

The peace and quiet of the Abbey at Hawkenlye has been disturbed by the arrival of a new nun and her two young sisters. They have been recently orphaned and Alba the eldest has had to give up her post at a convent in Ely to get her sisters as far away as possible from the scene of their grief.

However Helewise, the Abbess at Hawkenlye is not sure that the gesture is solely for the benefit of the young girls, after all Alba is known by all to be a mean-minded young woman. Helewise's anxiety is increased when her friend Sir Josse is brought to the Abbey half dead from blood poisoning. Then a body is discovered and one of the sisters goes missing. Helewise sets off the Ely to discover the real reason for Alba leaving the convent there . . .

17 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 12th Century Mystery a Great Read!, May 13, 2003

By 

Gerre S. Deibert "erregz" (Lakeland, Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Chatter of the Maidens (Hawkenlye Mysteries 4) (Hardcover)

This Hawkenlye mystery (fourth in the series) is a must for those who enjoyed Ellis Peters's books. However, it stands on its own, with a fresh approach to medieval crime novels. The author provides an engrossing tale, finely drawn characters in Abbess Helewise and her friend, Josse d'Acquin, and a realistic sense of the time period.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A light and quick read ..., July 26, 2007

By 

JaneConsumer (Philadelphia, PA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Chatter of the Maidens (Hawkenlye Mysteries) (Paperback)

The fourth book in the Hawkenlye mystery series is a short quick read. It's set in medieval times (circa 1190) in an Abbey in East Anglia. The plot is a simple one with a predictable outcome.

Three sisters arrive at the Abbey with no place to go. Both parents are dead. One exhibits strange and violent behavior. Soon, a pilgrim to a nearby holy attraction dies mysteriously.

When the Abbess investigates, she uncovers another violent death. The outcome is predictable. There's a very minor romance sub-plot that adds a bit of spice to an otherwise mediocre story.

If you like Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael series or Peter Tremayne's Sister Fidelma series, you will probably like this book. But if you prefer brain-teasing puzzles or a book rich with accurate history, then this book probably is not for you.