This was an exciting episode in Hildegard's story! More mystery and fewer political intrigue, although that's not entirely gone. Enjoyable! ( )

Hildegard has returned from her pilgrimage to Compostela and arrives at Swyne to find her welcome a little cold. The prioress suggests that she may like to visit Handle Priory in the far north of Yorkshire to contemplate her future. Arriving at Handale, Hildegard discovers a lot of secrets and mistrust, a priory punishing penitents harshly and where novices disappear regularly. Then both a mason working on the Prioress' new quarters and then the Priory priest are killed and there is revolt amongst the local nobility with the scent of rebellion against the king in the air. How does the fearsome Dragon of Handle fit into this?

This is the fifth book in Clark's series and I had read the first two only so, whilst familiar with Hildegard, I had to piece together some of the backstory. Not that this was a problem as Clark is an engaging writer whose balancing of plot and historical detail is excellent. The story is clever, mixing the horrors experienced by some young women forced into becoming nuns, the vulnerability of young heiresses without protection, the superstition of ordinary people in the middle ages and politics of revolt against an anointed king. ( )

This was my first book by Cassandra Clark, and I had a bit of trepidation seeing that it was fifth in a series. However, I was in the mood for a medieval mystery...

I needn't have worried. Clark introduces the characters and their backgrounds with smooth grace, 'catching up' the reader without ever giving you that 'info-dump' feeling. Well done. And then, the drama starts...

Hildegard of York is a former nun, clearly used to being in a position of authority, who's currently ambivalent about whether she should re-enter a convent or continue on in secular life. Her former prioress suggests that she stay a while at remote Handale Priory while she makes her decision.

However, once ensconced at Handale, Hildegard begins to wonder if there was a hidden agenda involved in sending her there. Handale is a place for penitents - in practice, a kind of prison for sinning nuns. Life there is harsh.

Everywhere she looks, Hildegard's sharp and inquiring mind sees suspicious activity. There's a strange rumor of a vicious 'dragon' outside the priory walls. Without question, a mason, one of a group hired to do work for the abbey, has been brutally murdered. The woman in charge seems venal and cruel. Young novices are desperate to escape. And what is a wealthy merchant doing within the walls?

Hildegard realizes that there could be a reasonable explanation for all the strange incidents she's encountering... but she feels like it's her job to get to the bottom of what's going on at Handale. Her investigation will range from small and personal injustices right up to high affairs of state and the politics of the realm.

Well-crafted and highly entertaining. I'd recommend this to all fans of the medieval mystery genre.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read. As always, my opinion is solely my own. ( )