Sweet Death

York, July 1274.

When a wealthy nobleman is murdered in the guest house of Saint Mary’s Abbey, Matthew Cordwainer, King’s Coroner of York, must work to discover the killer while avoiding either giving offense to the nobleman’s contentious family or overstepping the bounds of the Church’s liberties.

At the same time, a tavern maid in York is poisoned by sweets left for her by her secret lover. When a second woman dies, Cordwainer finds himself investigating three murders, aided by his manservant Hugh Porrock and Berta Northgate, mistress of the King’s Head tavern – all while trying to keep house for himself in the absence of his longtime cook and housekeeper Agytha.