Bibliograph

The first murder, a historical mystery, by the Medieval Murderers (Susanna Gregory, Bernard Knight, Karen Maitland, Ian Morson, Philip Gooden)

Type

Label

The first murder, a historical mystery, by the Medieval Murderers (Susanna Gregory, Bernard Knight, Karen Maitland, Ian Morson, Philip Gooden)

Language

eng

Index

no index present

Literary Form

novels

Main title

The first murder

Oclc number

780335299

Responsibility statement

by the Medieval Murderers (Susanna Gregory, Bernard Knight, Karen Maitland, Ian Morson, Philip Gooden)

Sub title

a historical mystery

Summary

A sudden snowstorm in late December 1199 means that two parties of travellers are forced to abandon their journeys and take refuge in the bustling market town of Carmarthen. Unfortunately, the two groups, one representing the Archbishop of Canterbury and one comprising canons from St David's Cathedral, are bitter opponents in a dispute that has been raging for several months. When an enigmatic stranger appears, and requests permission to stage The Play of Adam, which he claims will alleviate tensions and engender an atmosphere of seasonal harmony, the castle's constable, Sir Symon Cole, refuses on the grounds that encouraging large gatherings of angry people is likely to end in trouble, but his wife Gwenllian urges him to reconsider. At first, it appears she is right, and differences of opinions and resentments do seem to have been forgotten in the sudden anticipation of what promises to be some unique entertainment. Unfortunately, one of the Archbishop's envoys, the one chosen to play the role of Cain, dies inexplicably on the eve of the performance, and there is another 'accident' at the castle, which claims the life of a mason. Throughout the ages, the play is performed in many guises, but each time bad luck seems to follow after all those involved in its production

Classification