By Murder's Bright Light (The Sorrowful Mysteries of Brother Athelstan, #5)

It is the winter of 1379 and a sea of trouble is besetting England. French privateers attack the southern coast on a path to threaten London itself. In response an English flotilla of warships, with God's Bright Light in its number, has dropped anchor in the Thames. When the sun rises on their first morning, however, further mysteries are in store. The first mate and two of the crew of God's Bright Light have disappeared without trace. Sir John Cranston, the wine-loving Coroner of the City, and his clerk, the Dominican Monk, Brother Athelstan, are summoned to resolve the mysteries on board the ill-omened warship. In particular, they must search out the truth behind the death of Sir Henry Ospring, who had visited the ship's captain prior to his death only to be viciously stabbed to death in a tavern chamber. Could the events be connected? As Cranston and Brother Athelstan investigate, they find themselves in the thick of a bloody battle on the Thames as scandal, treason and murder rule the day. Scandal, murder and treason Athelstan and Cranston are back with a bang. Winter, 1379. French privateers are attacking the southern coast and threaten London itself, the very heart of the nation. The situation becomes dire when an English flotilla of warships, with the colossal Gods Bright Light among them, drops anchor in the Thames; during the first night, the entire watch of the ship disappears without a trace. The series of murderous and strange incidents leads to Sir John and Brother Athelstan being summoned to resolve the mysteries on board the ill-omened warship. Their investigations uncover some shocking truths and they find themselves in the thick of a bloody battle on the Thames. Coroner of the City of London, Sir John Cranston, and Brother Athelstan are summoned to resolve the mysteries on board an ill-omened warship and search out the truth behind Sir Henry Ospring's death. They discover scandal, sexual misdemeanours, murder and treason. The fifth gripping book in Paul Doherty's acclaimed Sorrowful Mysteries of Brother Athelstan series