The Scandal of the Skulls

Abbess of Meaux #7

by Cassandra Clark

Murder and mayhem engulf Hildegard of Meaux and sexy abbot Hubert de Courcy in a seventh mystery as soon as they get back from Avignon. They arrive secretly on the English coast, in a storm, at dead of night. Why the secrecy? Because the duke of Gloucester, head of the King's Council in Westminster, is savagely condemning every single one of young King Richard's allies to death at The Merciless Parliament. Even his tutor, the nationally beloved Sir Simon Burley, is in the Tower awaiting execution. Outraged by Gloucester's cold ambition and diabolical cunning, Hildegard is willingly drawn into a plot to free Sir Simon by the ambiguous knight in grey. Meanwhile, an apprentice is found hanging from a rope in Salisbury Cathedral. Are both events linked and if so, how? Hildegard defies death to discover the truth.

Genres: Mystery, Medieval, Historical Mystery

336 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2016

About the author

I'm mad about the middle ages and love writing this series of medieval whodunits featuring nun sleuth Hildegard of Meaux. When I started with Hangman Blind I thought Hildegard would become an abbess but then she joined the Cistercians who only allowed women to be prioresses so she's had to put up with that. It surprises me that I'm writing historical novels at all, especially ones involving crime, as before this I wrote contemporary plays and romance. I'm doubtful about putting too much violence in the stories as there is already so much in the world and I don't like the idea of adding to it, even if only in the imagination, but then, it's part of that world too so it cannot be avoided. I would love to write a book shadowing every year of Richard II's reign with a different, multi-layered mystery for Hildegard to solve. She's about 32 now, with two children living in different households as was the custom then, so by the time poor Richard is murdered, she's going to be quite old. I wonder if she and Hubert will ever be together? Who knows? It's a question readers often ask me but we'll have to wait and see.

Reviews

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love Domina Hildegarde, she's a strong but troubled character in a time when being a monastic could cost you your life.

Hildegard is returning to England from France, during a time of great upheaval for King Richard. Being in a religious order does not give her and her fellow monastics any type of immunity from those who are trying to overthrow King Richard. In the middle of this crisis Hildegarde and her fellows must solve a murder, prove a man accused of murder innocent. Ward off an unwanted admirer, and ensure that her daughter marries not only well but someone she likes.

Even though these are historically written, the author does not normally add real people to the story line. This is one of the few books where some of the characters are real and can be researched.

[G.A.NEWMAN · Rating 5 out of 5]

5star book

Enjoy this series very much,sorry I cannot borrow them all.every other one leaves gaps. Will no read the last one

[pamela titterington · Rating 5 out of 5]

So well written

It's so good to read these books, superb characters ,I cannot read enough of them,Cassandra Clark's writing it's wonderfull, !

[Carol Keogh (Goodfellow) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another brilliant mystery

I am reading this series again as I love Hildegard and Hubert and all the various characters we come to know through the books.

[geoff Bridgman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read

I have now read so far the Hildegard of Meux books ,one suggestion would be a book about Gregory and his friend ,it would fill in gaps ,loved this story .

[Susan Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bloodshed and mystery

Hildegard and Gregory rush to solve two murders before an innocent third person is charged with the crime. In the process, a kidnapping takes place, the suspect vanishes, and an old foe returns to torment Hildegard in truly devious ways.
All of this takes place while friends of King Richard II are trying to rescue his former tutor and remaining friend in the Tower, Sir Simon Burley. A fortune in good has been gathered to help pay for an attempt to spring Hurley from his prison, but along with the gold is a terrible secret, a deadly secret.
More twists and turns than an Oklahoma twister, this book kept me guessing to the very end. I hope there will be more Hildegard of Jesus mysteries to come. I am especially curious to see just how Hubert and Hildegard overcome their heart problems.
I highly recommend this and all other Hildegard of Meaux medieval mystery books to anyone who is interested in historical mysteries. The research Ms. Clark has done is fairly accurate and she gives reasons for any deviations from that history at the end of her book. And this is fiction.
I have not been compensated in any way for my honest review, I purchased this book on my own and will gladly purchase others as they are written.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am wondering why I liked this book so much, and I do suspect it has to do with returning to medieval England - my favorite fictional place to retreat having spent more time recently than I really wanted to in my least favorite era ("golden age"). Retreat you say? Ha! Hellish things went on during this period when poor King Richard was barely supported. Hildegard is barely believable, seemingly always doing the physically and socially impossible considering the era and her nun's habit. Nevertheless, I have already read all of the best medieval mysteries I could grab up so I was willing to part with my money to change centuries. This story plays out mostly in Salisbury and includes some interesting detail on the work of stone masons restoring the tower there. Hildegard's companion on the journey had just returned from a long time fighting Saracens to allow pilgrims safe visits. His sword skills were called on more than once as Hildegard investigates deaths as usual and also comes to her aid in the difficult rescue of Hildegard's kidnapped daughter in the thick of the marshes. Peril and Danger, oh my! Though efforts are made to rescue a major figure (Sir Simon Burley) from the Tower, all fail and another skull is piked to London Bridge.

[ELzabeth Livingstone]

Excellent

The mixture of faith and the planning, plotting of the various people keep to the usual style of Hildegarth and her complicated life and affections.

[BookAddict · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series and quickly gobble up every installment. This one didn't disappoint either, with ups and downs and one bit of intrigue after another into its conclusion. Yes, there is us a lot that's highly improbable given the era and the fact that Hildegard is a nun, but the history is so good, the plots so well drawn and clever, and the characters so excellent that you can excuse the bit of oddity. Theses are a must read for fans of medieval historical and mystery fiction.