Murder on the Canterbury Pilgrimage

by Mary Devlin

Book Overview

Geoffrey Chaucer uses his keen insights into human nature to track down the murderer of the gypsy, Sophia, on the road to the shrine of St. Thomas a Becket at Canterbury.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0595098789
• ISBN13: 9780595098781
• Release Date: April 2003
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Length: 252 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Thank you, Amy!

As a great fan of medieval mysteries, I was compelled to read this one by Amy Coffin's very favorable review on her website, The Book Haven. I found this book to be exciting, gripping, and fascinating in what it reveals about the history of the period which gave rise to Chaucer's CANTERBURY TALES. The story is woven around a tangle of political intrigue, religious rivalry, and well-drawn, complex characters. Geoffrey Chaucer finds himself accused of a murder he didn't commit, and must call upon his friends in high places to give him a chance to discover the true killer. If you enjoy the works of Michael Jecks, Kate Sedley and Candace Robb, give Mary Devlin a try. You'll be glad you did!

A Fatal Pilgrimage To The Canterbury Cathedral

Set in England during the late 1300s, "Murder on the Canterbury Pilgrimage" begins with a group destined for the Canterbury Cathedral, to pay homage to the Christian shrine of St. Thomas Becket. Among the group is Geoffrey Chaucer, a famous English poet and an employee of King Richard II. Although Geoffrey isn't a fictitious character, the mystery he sets out to uncover is. It was never proven he was a detective, but his interests in occult practices--such as astrology and Tarot card reading--certainly are relevant, proving to be just as useful as the clues he finds.The mystery begins when a young gypsy woman (Sophia) is found stabbed in the heart while asleep in her bed. The initial suspect is Jack the summoner, who vanishes shortly after Sophia's death. However, there are others who are just as liable to be the killer: Sir Richard de Burgoyne, who strongly discouraged his son Simon from associating with Sophia; the jealous friar Sophia had flirted with; even Geoffrey himself. After all, it was his Tarot card that was found next to Sophia's body.Out of desperation to clear his name, Geoffrey contacts a good friend of his: John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster. With his help--as well as that from a few other pilgrims--,they begin to unravel Sophia's mysterious past and her connection to the Church, discovering an evil brotherhood that will do anything to preserve the sanctity of the Roman Catholic Church.Even though I'm not familiar with the Middle Ages, I thoroughly enjoyed this timeless tale of corrupt clergy and the unconventional methods of profiling Sophia's killer. Not to missed if you like medieval mysteries.

Captivating and intriguing

"Murder on the Canterbury Pilgrimage" is a delightful addition to the growing canon of medieval mysteries. Ever since Umberto Eco wrote his brilliant "Name of the Rose", followed by Ellis Peters with her Brother Cadfael series, the idea of the medieval sleuth solving crimes in the face of superstition has become increasingly popular.Ms. Devlin gives a new twist to the genre in introducing none other than Geoffrey Chaucer as the the protagonist. And what a perfect choice he is! Writer, spy, astrologer, and keen observer of human nature, Chaucer is just the man to solve the mystery of who murdered the gypsy Sophia, en route to Canterbury.This book, in addition to giving us a wonderful mystery, also does a fine job of setting Chaucer in the context of his time, and making his world come alive. I've always felt that historical figures can be understood better if one has some insight into their culture, whether it be medieval, Roman, Victorian, etc. A book such as this is the perfect way to create a vivid picture of Chaucer's world, which the author has done very well. I would compare Devlin's novel favorably to the marvelous Nicholas Bracewell mysteries by Edward Marston, set in the London theater scene of the 1590s. Both make the past come alive with real people (even in fiction).A highly recommended read!

Nefarious doings indeed!

I'm a great fan of medieval mysteries. However, some of them seem to be nothing more than pale carbon copies of Ellis Peters or Sharan Newman. This one definitely doesn't fall into that category. The idea of poet Geoffrey Chaucer as a detective is absolutely delicious, and the characters, some of whom are taken from Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, and some which aren't, are either intriguingly puzzling or the kind you'd want to have for your best friend. The plot is full of twists and turns, and definitely gives a new twist on the Canterbury Tales.Incidentally, I'm also an English teacher. In the fall, I plan to assign this book to my students. It'll probably help them to appreciate Chaucer that much more!

Great Fun! And a Good Read.

Ms. Devlin gives us a wonderful little mystery that includes a bit of everything - multiple murders, political intrigue, astrology, religious conflicts, power struggles and petty jealousies, love triangles, interesting characters, and a very satisfying solution, all set in a historical period that comes alive under Ms. Devlin's guidance, not in a didactic way, but smoothly as a gentle undercurrent to the mystery's progress. If historical mysteries, such as Brother Cadfael, appeal to you, then you simply must give Mary Devlin a try. I think you'll be very pleasantly surprised.