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5.0 out of 5 stars
It's a really wicked winter for Roger Chapman!, Aug 5 2000
As if one body isn't enough, there's a second, then a third! Will the killing ever stop? In Kate Sedley's sixth Roger the Chapman medieval mystery, the author goes to the very frozen core of her adventures--the "dead" of winter! And it takes every ounce of mental firepower for Roger to sort this one out. Roger, a traveling peddler (or chapman) who has been successful in thwarting out murderers before, finds himself weary of the homelife during one 15th century winter in England. Wanderlust and adventure in his blood soon win out and he's on the road again. This time, he encounters a very popular traveling Dominican friar, Brother Simeon, who is determined to save every soul in his sight with his ultra-conservative sermons. The two are paired together as they approach Cederwell Manor, Roger to sell his wares and Simeon to save their souls. Alas, upon their arrival they discover, at the bottom of the manor tower, the body of Lady Cederwell herself, who had sent for the erstwhile friar. Her death appears an accident but both Roger and Simeon suspect foul play. The next morning, Lady Cederwell's half-brother is found unceremoniously dumped--and very dead--in the well of the manor. Within another 24 hours, a hermit, who had befriended Roger earlier, is found dead among the frozen undergrowth. Roger, of course, knows the murder is among those who are presently in the manor. (And it's a manor that's filled with so much "sin" that the pious Lady Cederwell had summoned the friar for his help--it seems the manor's a real Sodom and Gomorra!) The weather is so bad that no one can come and go. With his usual diligence--coupled with a charming naiveté, good humor, and strong personality--Roger considers all the ingredients to this murderous bouillabaisse and fighting time comes up with the real killer in an exciting climax to a well-written tale. "The Wicked Winter" is probably the most thrilling of Sedley's series, which begins with "Death and the Chapman." As with most of the series in this genre, one doesn't necessarily have to begin with the first-written, but there are a few elements included that not having read the earlier books the reader may miss out upon, but not so much as to ruin a good tale. This series continues, and Sedley and her Chapman are a good combo. Sedley has a good grasp on pacing and nuance and seems completely in control of her plot, her characters, and her theme. "The Wicked Winter" is a good read--stay bundled up and expect the unexpected! (Billyjhobbs@tyler.net)
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