1590's and after the death of her family Bess Ellyott has gone to live with her brother Robert Marshall. All is well until the husband of her sister Dorothie, Fulke Crofton, is found hanged. Although the coroner proclaims a suicide Bess is not convinced. With the help of the town constable Christopher Harwoode she hopes to prove and find the murderer.
An enyoyable well-written mystery with some likeable charaters and the growing relationship between Harwoode and Bess. A good start to a new series.
A NetGalley Book ( )

Bess Ellyot flees London after the death of her husband. Martin's cause of death was recorded as the bloody flux, but Bess knows he was murdered. After arriving at the home of her brother, she hopes that she has escaped from whatever evil killed her husband. But when her brother-in-law is found hanged in the woods, she knows that she has not escaped. Who killed the prosperous merchant and made it look like suicide? As she investigates with the help of a local constable, Bess discovers that the plot is much more complex and horrifying than the murders of her two family members. It may even threaten Queen Elizabeth I herself!

What an interesting and entertaining Tudor era mystery story! The descriptions of life and people of the era and the characters themselves really made this book impossible to put down! Bess is an herbalist and an intelligent, strong and determined woman. All of the side characters -- her family, Constable Harwood, etc -- made the plot richer and nicely complex. The mystery moved along at a fast pace, with several twists and suspects. This book is a great start for a new series, and a nice mix of historical fiction and mystery.

Nancy Herriman is the author of several mystery books including the Mystery of Old San Francisco series. I will definitely be eagerly awaiting the next book in this series!

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.** ( )

Suspicions run rife!

Set in Elizabethan England, the customs of the times dictate that a suicide leaves those behind not only emotionally bereft, but they are stripped of all their worldly goods. Widowed herbalist Bess Ellyott's sister's husband is found hanging from a tree and is deemed a suicide by the authorities. Bess is determined to prove his death is murder.
Her search opens herself and others up to close scrutiny by the small village community. In these times of unrest and papist plots, such close observation is not welcome.
Hints of a troubled past for Bess Ellyott, her having to flee London, and the fear of being found keeps being alluded to but we are given very few clues as to what that is about. I am sure all will be revealed as the series progresses.
I found the constable Christopher Harwoode (Kit) an interesting character, as Bess appears to also.
The plot is strewn with red herrings, papist fears and very few clues. Bess' niece Margery seems totally unaware of her danger and the danger she puts her family in. I found that somewhat irritating.
A pleasant enough read but the action was protracted and hence my reading of the novel became so.
I will likely want to read more in the series to see what mystery hangs over Bess's head, and to see more of Kit.

A NetGalley ARC ( )

Searcher of the Dead by Nancy Herriman is the first book A Bess Ellyott Mystery series that is set in the late sixteenth century (1593). Elizabeth “Bess” Ellyott is a widow, herbalist and healer who moved from London to Wiltshire one year ago after the death of her husband. Only Bess and her servant, Joan know that Martin Ellyott was murdered, and Bess hopes that the killer has not followed her to her new home. Bess returns home to where she lives with her brother, Robert Marshall, after attending to a sick child. Waiting for Bess is her sister, Dorothie who is very distraught. Dorothie’s husband, Fulke Crofton failed to return home that evening after his journey to the nearby town of Devizes. She feels that Fulke has come to harm and wants them out searching immediately. Since dark is approaching, they convince her to wait until the morn. The next day Fulke is found suspended from a tree and the coroner’s jury quickly rules the death a suicide. In the dark of night, Bess examines the body to confirm that Fulke was murdered. But she will need tangible proof to get the coroner’s decision reversed. Constable Christopher “Kit” Harwoode joins Bess in the search for the truth. The pair ask discreet questions in their quest to uncover Fulke’s killer. Could it be the person lurking in the old priory? Is Fulke’s murder related to Martin’s? Travel back in time to when Queen Elizabeth I was reigning to pursue a killer in Searcher of the Dead.

Searcher of the Dead is an Elizabethan mystery. Nancy Herriman captured the era with her descriptions of the clothing, housing, people’s attitudes and superstitions, how the characters spoke, and the way of life. The author included many interesting historical details that will fascinate readers. Priest holes, fines for not attending church every week, and Queen Elizabeth’s torturer-Richard Topcliffe and his cruel tactics are just a few of the interesting tidbits. The historical details overwhelm all else at times (heavy handed is the best way to describe it). I found the Searcher of the Dead to have a very slow pace thanks to the writing style and amount of detail included. The writing was stilted. I can understand the dialogue being awkward due to the way people spoke in the sixteenth century. However, the rest of the book needed a less formal writing style (it lacked an ease). It needed to be written in a way that would draw the readers in and keep them engaged (instead of drifting off to sleep until my dog started licking my face). The lack of action does not help matters either. The mystery of Fulke’s murder was compelling, and it contained some good clues along with misdirection. Many readers will be surprised by the identity of the person who committed the reprehensible act. I wish the author had not repeated the same details so many times throughout the book (Bess is obstinate and the details of the case for example). There is a romance blossoming between Bess and Kit that I am sure will progress in future books (they do make a good couple). I was satisfied with how the author wrapped up the storylines at the end of the book. Searcher of the Dead will appeal to those who are fascinated with the Elizabethan era. ( )