1399: Superstition, madness and politics.

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Murder in the Cloister (Christine de Pizan Mystery #4) by Tania Bayard            

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️



Murder and more in an ancient French priory near Paris. A Religious House supported by the King of France.
An interesting medieval mystery read in terms of the history of the times and the widespread beliefs about sorcery.
Christine de Pizan is tasked by King Charles VI, upon the request of the Dominican Prioress, to journey to the Royal Priory of Saint-Louis at Poissy, ostensibly to to copy an important manuscript and visit her daughter who has taken orders there. Christine knows there's more to the matter. The Priory has no need of her expertise, having plenty in house. She will be accompanied by Brother Michel from the Abbey of Saint-Denis and Henri de Picart. 
Christine is warned by a member of Queen Isabeau's retinue that, ‘Something is wrong at Poissy, and they’re willing to do what the prioress asks because they’re concerned for their daughter.’ Politics and power play a part in Kingdoms and religious communities.
The Illuminated manuscripts, the nuns singing constantly for France and King Charles the Sixth, who is suffering from melancholia and madness form part of the background. The priory' mission, their 'chief function is to sing the divine office perpetually, to offer prayers to God for the royal family, and for all of France.'
The story flowed easily, the untimely death of a nun becoming an itch in Christine's mind. The characters are well rounded, although the antipathy between Henri and Christina seems to have a long history. Maybe to do with Henri's seeming disparagement about women’s abilities. (I’m not privy to what's gone before). Or does Henri challenge Christine to inflame her? His last efforts makes me think he’s more kindly inclined towards her than she thinks.
Introductions to each chapter with excerpts from various commentaries of the time including Christine's L’advision and Hildegard of Bingen are a fascinating way to illuminate the next episode of the tale.
I really enjoyed descriptions of the nuns singing, the feeling of various listeners being carried away to another dimension by their voices was well portrayed.
This is my first Christine de Pizan Mystery and I'm fascinated to find out about her life before now.

A Severn House (Canongate Books) ARC via NetGalley 
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change

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