The Tournament of Blood

The knights prepare for combat, but the killings aren't on the field...

It's 1322, and plans to host a tournament in the spring give moneylenders everywhere a golden opportunity. Many knights in Devon are already indebted to Benjamin Dudenay, and when a month before the festivities, he is found beaten to death, it is not in the least bit surprising.

Simon and Baldwin must hurry to find the culprit, but then a carpenter commissioned to build the stands is killed in a similar fashion, leaving them with even more mysteries to solve ...

"So what do we have here? First off, an essay on the history of the medieval tournament precedes the book which is worth the price of admission alone. Secondly, this is a proper mystery novel, despite the reader knowing the name and motive of the murderer. I can't really clarify that point without going into spoilers, but there's a complexity to events that is only revealed at the last minute, one element of which is genuinely surprising, especially to long-term readers. Third, the setting is fascinating. The backdrop of the medieval tournament is brought vividly to life, and the points of view of the various knights and squires gives a full picture of the event. And finally, it's a novel about family and the lengths that people will go to for their loved ones. And it works on every single one of those levels."

In Search of the Classic Mystery Novel