What do You think about Wine Of Violence (2006)?
It is the year 1270 and England is as weary as its aging king with the smell of death hanging like smoke over the land. Even in the priory of Tyndal on the East Anglian coast, the monks and nuns of the Order of Fontevraud long for a return to tranquil routine. Their hopes are dashed when the young and inexperienced Eleanor of Wynethorpe is appointed their new prioress over someone of their own choosing. Only a day after her arrival, a murdered monk is found in the cloister gardens, and Brother Thomas, a young priest with a troubled past, arrives to bring her a more personal grief. Now she must not only struggle to gain the respect of her terrified and resentful flock but also cope with violence, lust and greed in a place dedicated to love and peace. Interesting concept, but lacking in drama.
—Beverly
Historical novels which also double as detective fiction are becoming more common. It's easy enough to accept a Victorian novel treated this way as in the times of Sherlock Holmes there was a professional police force. Reading about Marcus Falco in Silver Pigs about a private detective, mixing it with corrupt officers in the Aedile's office in Imperial Rome is harder to take, but comical in the mixing of Twentieth Century urban America and First Century Rome. I guess there were Crowners in each of the English Counties in Thirteenth Century England but our crowner here with his trigger happy deputy seems less plausible. The observant and intelligent nun and the spy working undercover are more believable and might have been enough.The novel, in the end, is a competent read, which doesn't insult the reader, but delivers an interesting story for the reader's effort. However, it isn't likely to expand its audience beyond the people who have already discovered this genre.
—Malcolm
This novel is readable, with a fair mystery and characters who could be interesting. However, it seems to struggle somewhat in being a mystery novel instead of more general historical fiction. It reads very much like historical fiction that had a mystery tossed in to give it a more specific genre.The saving graces of the novel are its easy-to-read style, interesting if two-dimensional supporting cast, and a decent mystery with an emotionally satisfying outcome. Since the writing is solid and the story well managed, I gave the book three stars. However, I will not be in a hurry to read further stories in the series.The main character, Eleanor, is the sort of slightly-anachronistic historical female I usually enjoy. Unusually well-educated and outgoing, she finds herself as the prioress of an unusual Catholic sect. In this group, a woman is over both the nuns and the monks. At 20, she is much younger than many of the men and women she oversees, and much of the book details her dealing with older nuns and angry monks who resent her appointment as their prioress. Sometimes her calm perfection is a bit grating. Royal chose to deal with this by seemingly randomly injecting "lust" into the character for a complete stranger (lust is a major theme of this novel). The immediate attraction and sudden lust-attack make the novel feel like it's also trying to be an unlikely romance (especially given the sexual preferences of the man for whom she gets the hots). I found this aspect of the novel a significant turn-off, but I say this with the understanding that I am not a fan of "sudden love/lust!" romance.The theme of lust also wears after a while, as the various monks secrets are revealed. Of course people who join celibate religious orders often struggle with earthly desires - I simply found it to be too much of this story.
—Rebecca
