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Roberta Gellis

Roberta Gellis, acclaimed author of The Roselynde Chronicles, brings medieval London to life—and death—with this tale of splendor and squalor.

Magdalene la Batarde is the madam of the Old Priory Guesthouse in Southwark. She and her women are expected to engage in a number of sinful activities, but bloody murder isn’t one of them—until Baldassare, the messenger, dies. Magdalene and her women refuse to allow his death to go unavenged, aware that if they don't find the killer, they will be assumed guilty, because they are whores.

Into this sea of intrigue steps the handsome Sir Bellamy of Itchen. The bishop of Winchester, who was served for many years by Baldassare, has put Bellamy, his most trusted knight, in charge of the murder investigation. Bellamy is convinced that Magdalene is involved right up to her beautiful eyebrows, but he is unable to believe that his captivating chief suspect is a killer. Now, he must find out how and why Baldassare died—or watch the mysterious Magdalene meet her fate on the gallows.

Wanda McCaddon

Blackstone Publishing

Magdalene la Bâtarde Mysteries

A Mortal Bane

Roberta Gellis, the acclaimed author of The Roselynde Chronicles, is in top medieval form with this second tale of life—and death—in twelfth-century London.

Magdalene la B├ótarde is the madam of the Old Priory Guesthouse in Southwark. Together with the handsome Sir Bellamy of Itchen, she solved the murder of Baldassare the Messenger, but this time the murder victim is none of Magdalene's business.

She is not in the least bit sorry to learn that Bertrild, the unpleasant wife of Master Mainard, is dead. Bertrild once accused Magdalene of corrupting her father and causing his death. In fact, Bertrild was insulting to most people, making threats and using terrible revelations as a weapon against those who would not bow down to her demanding ways. However, when it seems that Mainard will be charged with Bertrild's murder—because no one accepts the oath of a whore that he is innocent—Magdalene decides to investigate.

Fortunately, Sir Bellamy is back in London doing his master's business. Unable to refuse Magdalene, he agrees to help her, and the two set out to solve the murder.

A Personal Devil: A Magdalene la Bâtarde Mystery

Magdalene la Bâtarde obeys William of Ypres, her great patron, as a vassal obeys his overlord—even though William would laugh if he knew how she felt. However, when King Stephen summons his barons to a great council in Oxford, William can smell the stink of treason—and he has enemies who might spread that stink over him. He needs a safe place to talk to friends and cajole enemies, so he summons Magdalene.

When Magdalene is called, she knows there must be trouble brewing in Oxford. Indeed, one of William’s own men, Niall Arvagh of Murcot, has been accused of murder. Ordinarily, nobody would believe Niall capable of violence, even upon so gross a creature as Aimery St. Cyr. But St. Cyr claimed to be betrothed to the pretty heiress whom Niall sought for himself. Another rumor claims that Niall committed the act on the order of his master, William of Ypres, for political reasons.

While the debate rages in Oxford, Magdalene teams up with her old friend, Sir Itchen of Bellamy, to clear up the mess that threatens to create a political scandal. Though Bell is willing to investigate the case, can Magdalene trust him completely this time? Has Bell become so jealous of William that his sense of justice could be overwhelmed?

Fortunately for Magdalene, she still has friends in town. Her former coworkers, the whores and barmaids of Oxford, may be able to bring her the necessary information—and help her pick the strands of romance apart from the rope of treason, reweaving them into a net to entangle a murderer.

Bone of Contention: A Magdalene la Bâtarde Mystery