Murder at the War [Paperback]

Mary Monica Pulver (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 2, 2001

The Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) is a group of enthusiasts who research and selectively re-create the Middle Ages for knowledge and for fun. At their events, they wear historical clothing and call each other by medieval-style character names. Once a year, they meet to display their handiwork and stage a mock medieval war.

In Murder at the War, policeman Peter Brichter (known in the SCA as Stefan von Helle) and his wife, Kori (known as Katherine of Tretower) go to the war for the fun. But the revelry turns deadly serious when a known troublemaker, Thorstane Shieldbreaker, is actually murdered. The local police, anxious to find the culprit, turn their attention to Peter and Kori as suspects once they find the two have quarreled with Thorstane. It is up to Lord Stefan and Lady Katherine, with their inside knowledge of the SCA, to clear their names and solve the crime.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The war of the title, taking place on a farm in Pennsylvania, is attended by thousands of members of the Society for Creative Anachronism, whose dedication to medieval custom and costume is annually unloosed in this recreation of medieval battle and ceremony. In period dressincluding full armor for the menwith names to match, SCA members speak in chivalrous tongue as King William leads the Midrealm (Midwestern) contingent in carefully regulated battle against King Oswin of the East. Also fighting are those in the Dark Horde, a group of independents who, like mercenaries, hire out to whichever side makes the best offer. But this year the fun comes to an abrupt end when Lord Torstane Shieldbreaker, a querulous and unpopular Horde member, is found near death from a real stab wound. Local modern-day cops suspect Lady Katherine of Tretower, first on the scene and most recent victim of Thorstane's unpleasantness. But Lord Stefan von Helle, her husband and a cop himself in the "mundane" world, solves the murder by figuring out the grammatical intent of Thorstane's last words. While the mystery itself is less than compelling, this first novel's characters are distinctive and its trappings certainly unique. The rub of current times against the mores of centuries past gives rise to a pleasant friction.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

The annual gathering of the Society for Creative Anachronism in Pennsylvania is the scene of this thoroughly enjoyable first novel. All the participants, dressed in medieval garb, are assembled to fight the Pennsic War. But in the midst of the battle the most disruptive of the Mongol hoard is murdered. What follows is a clash between the state troopers and a group of 5400 people all acting like something out of King Arthur's Court. Even though a bit slim on mystery this is highly recommended for those who like some zany fun mixed with murder. JV
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 180 pages
• Publisher: F T L Pubns (May 2, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 096535752X
• ISBN-13: 978-0965357524
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #964,088 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent fictional look at the SCA, with a mystery added, June 8, 2001

By 

Eric Oppen (Iowa Falls, IA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Murder at the War (Paperback)

Mary Monica Pulver's a longtime member of the SCA, and is well-qualified to write a mystery set in and among the Society's members at our largest gathering, the Pennsic War (upwards of 10,000 people onsite). Unlike _Bimbos of the Death Sun_ et seq., there's no attitude of "oh, look at the freaky weirdos who should get a life," instead, we get a sympathetic look at the SCA's subculture and how it meshes and clashes with the surrounding "mundane" world. The various groups within the SCA are presented fairly faithfully, although things now are not quite as they were when she wrote this book. The mystery element is honestly puzzling, and hinges on a bit of SCA lore that's in front of the reader's face from the beginning. A good first mystery novel, with an unusual setting.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book for both medievalists and mystery fans!, January 3, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Stow, OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Murder at the War: A Modern-Day Mystery With a Medieval Setting (Hardcover)

Mary Monica Pulver has a knack for making each of her books unique--this one is an "exotic setting" mystery, located at a Medieval History group's annual re-creation of a "Medieval War." The victim is a fellow you'll love to hate and the main suspect is the wife of the detective/protagonist. All in all this is a fun romp in the woods in armor. Members of the Society for Creative Anachronism (a real living-history group) will recognize thinly veiled descriptions of their own members here--a touch of reality amidst the fantasy that makes this book a delightful read!

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly good, June 18, 2005

By 

Monday Addams (New Jersey, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Murder at the War (Paperback)

I had previously tried to read one of the medieval mysteries written by Margaret Frazer, who is actually Mary Monica Pulver writing with Gail Frazer. While I'm interested in the Middle Ages, I was so bored reading it, I couldn't finish. I worried this book would be of the same quality but my interest in the SCA motivated me to try it anyway. I was in the SCA years ago and attended Pennsic just a few years after this book was first published. This book promised lots of nostalgia and it delivered.

The first several pages took a bit to get through, learning both the mundane and SCA names of the many characters, and relearning SCA terminology. Once I had that down though, the story was up and running. Like the Margaret Frazer book, the murder doesn't happen until halfway through the story, but it didn't bother me half as much this time. The murderer was the first person I guessed but there were a few serious red herrings thrown in that threw me off. The characters were very likeable and I'm going to look up the next book in the series, even though it supposedly doesn't feature the SCA. After reading this, I was actually tempted to join up again, it was so fun reliving old times.

As for the review that implies Pulver can't write, ignore it. If the reviewer himself can't form proper sentences, what does that tell ya?