The Owen Archer Series #11When a prominent citizen is murdered, former Captain of the Guard Owen Archer is persuaded out of retirement to investigate in this gripping medieval mystery.1374. When a member of one of York's most prominent families is found dead in the woods, his throat torn out, rumours spread like wildfire that wolves are running loose throughout the city. Persuaded to investigate by the victim's father, Owen Archer is convinced that a human killer is responsible. But before he can gather sufficient evidence to prove his case, a second body is discovered, stabbed to death. Is there a connection? What secrets are contained within the victim's household? And what does apprentice healer Alisoun know that she's not telling?Teaming up with Geoffrey Chaucer, who is in York on a secret mission on behalf of Prince Edward, Owen's enquiries will draw him headlong into a deadly conspiracy.
For my readers.
Owen Archer (Captain Archer) – former captain of guard and spy for the Archbishop of York
Lucie Wilton – master apothecary; Owen’s spouse
Gwenllian, Hugh, and Emma – Owen and Lucie’s natural children
Jasper de Melton – Owen and Lucie’s adopted son and Lucie’s apprentice
Dame Philippa – Lucie’s aunt, recently deceased
Kate – Lucie’s housemaid
Lena – the children’s nurse
Alfred and Stephen – former members of archbishop’s guard, Owen’s lieutenants
Tildy – Kate’s sister, formerly Lucie’s housemaid, now wed to the steward of Freythorpe Hadden
Magda Digby (aka the Riverwoman) – midwife and healer
Alisoun Ffulford – apprentice to Magda Digby
Rose and Rob – temporary caretakers; Kate’s twin siblings
Bartolf – patriarch, coroner of Galtres
Hoban – merchant, Bartolf’s son
Muriel – Hoban’s spouse
Olyf – Bartolf’s daughter, Adam Tirwhit’s spouse
Joss – servant
Cilla – servant
John and Janet Braithwaite
Paul – son, married to Elaine
Muriel – daughter, Hoban Swann’s spouse
Galbot – Paul Braithwaite’s dog trainer
Alan – servant
Ned – bailiff’s man, temporary servant
Adam Tirwhit – merchant, brother-in-law of Hoban, son-in-law of Bartolf
Olyf – spouse, daughter of Bartolf Swann
Wren – housemaid
Crispin – merchant, former soldier
Euphemia – widow, Crispin’s mother
Eva – servant
Dun – servant
Gerta – daughter of charcoal-burners
Warin – poacher, and his children
Jehannes – Archdeacon of York; Owen’s good friend
Brother Michaelo – former personal secretary to Thoresby
*John Thoresby – former Archbishop of York (deceased)
*Alexander Neville – newly appointed Archbishop of York
Dom Leufrid – secretary to Archbishop Neville
*Abbot William – abbot, St Mary’s Abbey
Brother Oswald – hospitaller, St Mary’s Abbey
Bess & Tom Merchet – owners of the York Tavern
Old Bede – regular at the York Tavern
Winifrith – Bede’s daughter
George Hempe – city bailiff and merchant, wife Lotta
*Gerard Burnby – coroner for York
Honoria de Staines – owner of a brothel near the Bedern
*John Gisburne – merchant, MP
*Geoffrey Chaucer – in York on a mission for Prince Edward; Owen’s friend
Antony of Egypt – member of Prince Edward’s household
* real historical figures
‘Humans are inclined to see our own species as embattled; we are locked in an eternal struggle in which we defend our own “culture” against the elemental, animal forces of “nature.” And for millennia, our fellow apex predator, the wolf, has been forced to serve as a symbolic stand-in for all of nature, red in tooth and claw.’
‘What do folk see when they see a wolf, Bird-eye? The animal? Think again.’
