A Curious Death(2022)

Jason Vail

The deputy constable of Oxford Castle, Miles de Dinesley, is found dead in a tub at a local bathhouse, just two alcoves away from where Stephen Attebrook, once a coroner at Ludlow, and his good friend, Gilbert Wistwode, are enjoying a soothing bath after a long journey.

The Oxford coroner rules the death an accidental drowning.

But Dinesley’s influential uncle, Percival FitzAllan, the earl of Arundel, is not convinced. Even though no one saw anyone enter or leave Dinesley’s alcove, FitzAllan believes his dear nephew was murdered.

With nowhere else to turn, FitzAllan engages Stephen, his bitter enemy, to find the killer. Stephen, content to put the profession of solving murders behind him, would rather avoid involvement. So, FitzAllan makes an offer too tempting for Stephen to refuse: the recovery of Stephen’s childhood manor, which had been confiscated by the crown and granted to FitzAllan.

But war interferes. Prince Edward sends Stephen on a perilous secret mission to pave the way for the first battle of the war about to erupt in earnest between Edward’s father, King Henry, and the rebellious barons under the leadership of Earl Simon de Montfort.

With Stephen preoccupied and the title to Hafton Manor in the balance, Gilbert takes up the charge — which drags him into the corrupt morass of Oxford’s underworld and taxes his deductive powers to the limit.