The First Murder (The Medieval Murderers, #8)

1154, Oseney Priory, Oxford. When the first performance of The Play of Adam ends in tragedy, the author is compelled to pen a grim warning for the generations that follow: 'BEWARE THE SINS OF ENVY AND VAINGLORY, ELSE FOUL MURDER ENDS YOUR STORY' But his words are not heeded, and as the play is performed in many guises throughout the ages, bad luck seems to follow after those involved in its production. When a snow storm diverts two disparate parties of travellers to the busy market town of Carmarthen in the winter of 1199, an enigmatic stranger appears and requests to stage the play to alleviate tensions, but on the eve of the performance the actor chosen to play Cain is found dead. When the play is performed in the city of Ely in 1361, the townspeople fear the play has unleashed a demon upon the town after a gruesome discovery is made in the Cathedral. And from Shakespeare's London to war-time Surrey, no matter the time or the place, each production always seems to end in disaster. Perhaps it is simply the curse of thespian rivalry that is to blame. Or does the story of man's first murder somehow infect all who re-enact it' Crime And Detective. Carmarthen, 1199. A Sudden Snowstorm In Late December Means That Two Parties Of Travellers Are Forced To Abandon Their Journeys And Take Refuge In The Bustling Market Town Of Carmarthen. Unfortunately, The Two Groups, One Representing The Archbishop Of Canterbury And One Comprising Canons From St David's Cathedral, Are Bitter Opponents In A Dispute That Has Been Raging For Several Months. When An Enigmatic Stranger Appears, And Requests Permission To Stage A Play, Which He Claims Will Alleviate Tensions And Engender An Atmosphere Of Seasonal Harmony, The Castle's Constable, Sir Symon Cole, Refuses On The Grounds That Encouraging Large Gatherings Of Angry People Is Likely To End In Trouble, But His Wife Gwenllian Urges Him To Reconsider. At First, It Appears She Is Right, And Differences Of Opinions And Resentments Do Seem To Have Been Forgotten In The Sudden Anticipation Of What Promises To Be Some Unique Entertainment. Unfortunately, One Of The Archbishop's Envoys, The One Chosen To Play The Role Of Cain, Dies Inexplicably On The Eve Of The Performance, And There Is Another 'accident' At The Castle, Which Claims The Life Of A Mason. Throughout The Ages, The Play Is Performed In Many Guises, But Each Time Bad Luck Seems To Follow After All Those Involved In Its Production. A sudden snowstorm in late December 1199 means that two parties of travellers are forced to abandon their journeys and take refuge in the bustling market town of Carmarthen. Unfortunately, the two groups, one representing the Archbishop of Canterbury and one comprising canons from St David's Cathedral, are bitter opponents in a dispute that has been raging for several months. When an enigmatic stranger appears, and requests permission to stage The Play of Adam, which he claims will alleviate tensions and engender an atmosphere of seasonal harmony, the castle's constable, Sir Symon Cole, refuses on the grounds that encouraging large gatherings of angry people is likely to end in trouble, but his wife Gwenllian urges him to reconsider. At first, it appears she is right, and differences of opinions and resentments do seem to have been forgotten in the sudden anticipation of what promises to be some unique entertainment. Unfortunately, one of the Archbishop's envoys, the one chosen to play the role of Cain, dies inexplicably on the eve of the performance, and there is another 'accident' at the castle, which claims the life of a mason. Throughout the ages, the play is performed in many guises, but each time bad luck seems to follow after all those involved in its production. 1154, Oseney Priory, Oxford. When the first performance of The Play of Adam ends in tragedy, the author pens a grim warning for the generations that follow: 'Beware the sins of envy and vainglory, else foul murder ends your story' But his words are not heeded, and throughout the ages, bad luck follows all those involved in the play's production. 1199. A snow storm diverts two parties of travellers to the market town of Carmarthen, where an enigmatic stranger suggests a staging of the play. But on the eve of the performance, the actor chosen to play Cain is found dead. 1361. When the play is performed in the city of Ely, the townspeople fear the play has unleashed a demon after a gruesome discovery is made in the Cathedral. From Shakepeare's London to war-time Surrey, no matter the time or the place, each production always ends in disaster. Perhaps it is simply the curse of thespian rivalry that is to blame. Or does the story of man's first murder somehow infect all who re-enact it?