Anger of God

Sir John Cranston has just been to the death bed of a colleague.  He is sure the man was murdered by his young wife, but has no proof other than a letter he had received from the dead man.  He needs his good friend, Friar Athelstan, to help him.  Fortuitously, Athelstan shows up at the public house where he is having a meal.  They discuss a number of things, and as they are leaving, they are accosted by a man who tells them that the sheriff has been murdered in the Guildhall.

Cranston removes the knife, which was used to kill the sheriff.  How could anyone have managed to stab him when his fierce dogs were guarding him?  Inscribed on the knife was “Ira Dei”, The Anger of God, who is the leader of a group fomenting revolution.  They have many suspects to consider and Athelstan is sure that there will be another murder before long.

That evening while at a banquet hosted by the king, a man collapses.  Athelstan is sure that his death is not a natural one.  How could poison have been administered without anyone else noticing or succumbing?  At the same time, money deposited by the guild masters has been robbed from a chest, which had six different padlocks on it, each key held by one of the masters and the Regent.  Notes left by Ira Dei claim responsibility.

The next day, the Regent and the guild masters demand that Athelstan try to infiltrate Ira Dei’s group and gain information.  However, will that be enough to bring the conspiracy to an end?

Author Paul Doherty’s third thriller in this series builds and builds, yet never revealing anything until the final pages, with a surprise for the reader as to who may be behind the troubles that Cranston and Athelstan are investigating.  Quite an enjoyable read.