Susanna M Newstead

Alysoun

A Savernake Novel

• Broschiertes Buch

Produktbeschreibung

A dead falconer. An abducted woman. And a boar spear.The date is 1208. The date is 1208 Step into the enigmatic world of Aumary Belvoir, Constable of the county of Wiltshire and the revered Warden of Savernake Forest. Amidst the lush tapestry of medieval England, Aumary finds himself entangled in a web of treachery and deceit. As he inherits his father-in-law's majestic hunting birds, the air crackles with tension when his chief falconer is discovered lifeless in the mews. Was Roger Hawkes struck down by his own beloved creatures, or is a more sinister force at play? The mystery deepens with the disappearance of Roger's daughter, her clandestine marriage to the local iron master casting ominous shadows over the land. And when tragedy strikes once more with the murder of Cedric, Aumary's young groom's beloved Alysoun, the plot thickens with every passing moment. This is no ordinary time in England's history; the suffocating grip of the English Interdict looms large, locking the doors of churches and shrouding the land in darkness. In this era of forbidden rites and suppressed whispers, Aumary must navigate a labyrinth of suspects and scarce evidence to untangle the threads of these heinous crimes. Will this be the case that pushes our valiant Constable to his limits? With so many secrets veiled in the mists of time, Aumary Belvoir must summon every ounce of his wit and courage to unravel the truth. Alysoun is the fifteenth installment of Susanna M. Newstead's Savernake Medieval Murder Mystery Novel series, where the thirteenth-century ballad "Alysoun" sets the stage for a tale of love, betrayal, and murder. Author Interview How did the Interdict shape Aumary's challenges? The 1208 Interdict halted church functions due to a conflict between King John and Pope Innocent III. Aumary, as a leader, had to balance loyalty to the crown with the needs of his people, navigating strict laws and growing bolder in his solutions. What inspired Aumary Belvoir, and how has he evolved over the series? Aumary's character is shaped by medieval social hierarchies, with loyalty to his king being crucial. He sometimes challenges authority, showing resilience despite risks. Inspired by the idea of a noble but tenacious man facing loss and striving to earn the king's trust, Aumary has developed into a compelling, layered character. What role do hunting birds play in Alysoun? Falconry is part of the medieval backdrop. Hunting laws are more relevant to the plot than falconry itself, highlighting the era's strict social hierarchies and penalties. How does the ballad "Alysoun" influence the book? The medieval poem aligns with themes of love, betrayal, and loss. The character Alysoun has been a recurring figure, representing an idealized love, and her story ties into the series' themes of vulnerability and tragedy, drawing inspiration from Shakespeare's Othello. How do you keep each new story fresh and engaging? Using historical poems as titles sparks new ideas, while familiar characters and new themes keep readers engaged. Each book may explore different "age-old" themes, like madness or loss, and often features backstories of minor characters, which adds depth. What interesting historical details did you uncover for Alysoun? Research into 13th-century coroner's reports revealed intriguing, often gruesome insights into medieval life. For example, during the Interdict, people reportedly hung their dead in churchyards, fearing their souls would be lost if not buried on hallowed ground. This eerie detail found its way into Alysoun.

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Produktdetails

• Verlag: MadeGlobal Publishing
• Seitenzahl: 272
• Erscheinungstermin: 1. Dezember 2024
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 203mm x 133mm x 17mm
• Gewicht: 346g
• ISBN-13: 9788412595390
• ISBN-10: 8412595394
• Artikelnr.: 72239679

Autorenporträt

Susanna M. Newstead has always been captivated by history, with a particular fascination for the era of King John (1199-1216). This interest began in her childhood when she penned historical stories that so engrossed her teachers that they eagerly awaited each subsequent instalment.The genesis of her Savernake Forest Series can be traced back over four decades. In her twenties, as a student of speech therapy, she embarked on this literary journey, initially committing her words to a small orange notebook in an age before computers. Unfortunately, the demands of life, including the need to cover the mortgage, took precedence, and her literary pursuits gradually waned. At the same time, her creative energies found expression in other forms such as painting and embroidery.Her professional path eventually led her into the realm of dementia research in Oxford, a challenging and often sombre field. In search of distraction from the emotional rigours of her work, she delved into historical murder mysteries and discovered a genuine fondness for them. This discovery planted the seed of an idea: why not try her hand at crafting such stories herself?Later on, she faced a serious illness that forced her into early retirement. With ample time on her hands, she unearthed the long-neglected orange notebook and resurrected "Belvoir's Promise" as the first murder mystery set in Savernake Forest, nestled within the Marlborough Downs of Wiltshire. Extensive research consumed much of her time, one book led to another, and thus, the Savernake Novels were born.Today, Susanna resides quietly in a cozy Northamptonshire town, accompanied by her husband and a wire fox terrier named Tabor. Together with Tabor, she undertakes regular expeditions into the woods and delves into extensive research on the nearby town of Marlborough, which was cherished by King John and received its charter from him in 1204. While Tabor explores the terrain, she diligently crafts plots involving sinister murders.