Riveting!

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The Monastery Murders (A Stanton and Barling Mystery #2) 
by E.M. Powell  
Fascinating medieval murder mystery featuring Aelred Barling and Hugo Stanton. It's 1177, Barling, a senior clerk of King Henry's court and his assistant Stanton will find themselves trekking through the wilds of North Yorkshire to a puritanical Cistercian community at Fairmore Abbey, rather than spending the new year ensconced in the celebrations of London (much to Hugo's dismay!)
A White Monk has been found foully murdered. The community has no idea of how such a thing could happen. Barling, as the King's man  has been requested by Ranaulf de Glanville, the King's Justice, to investigate the murder at the instigation of Abbot Nicholas from the great Cistercian house of Linwood Abbey. Abbot Philip of Fairmore Abbey had mentioned a preference for Barling as an astute investigator. He had been struck by Barling's fine handling of a previous incident.
What Barling and Stanton find is just the beginning of a gruesome tale where a murderer is loose. The Abbey, situated in an inhospitable location, becomes cut off by deep snows and biting cold.  An unholy pall of death and fear encompasses all. 
The cut and thrust of the situation and the investigation of potential culprits mesh together as the King's men find themselves flummoxed at every turn. The body count continues to rise, accompanied by sinister, half guessed at clues. Grim indeed is the outlook!
I really liked the way Barling and Stanton grow in their interactions with each other. Powell paints a vivid, rather despairing picture of the Abbey and its surrounds, and the picture of the Abbey community is one that can't hep but show man's frailties. 
The medieval flavour of the times, the daily occurrences, indeed the overall picture is masterfully presented.

 A NetGalley ARC

*****

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