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This page lists novels and non-fiction by Bernard Knight and collaborative novels with a contribution by Bernard Knight.

Bernard Knight published a number of books in the 1960's and 1970's using the pen name Bernard Picton. These books, which were subsequently published as by Bernard Knight, are listed in a separate section of the page.

Bernard Knight was one of a group of writers who published collaborative novels using the pen name The Medieval Murderers. These books are also listed in a separate section.

Cover images are, when possible, of an early UK edition and a more recent digital edition.

By Bernard Knight:
- novels
- non-fiction

By Bernard Picton:
- novels

By Medieval Murderers:
- collaborative novels

Lion Rampant: The Story of Owain and Nest

Bernard Knight

1972

"Lion Rampant is set in medieval Wales and features the tale of Nest, a princess known as 'the Welsh Helen of Troy'. Nest was a lover of King Henry I of England, married the steward of a Pembrokeshire castle (giving rise to the FitzStephen and FitzGerald families, including Gerald of Wales), and was later abducted by a marauding Welsh noble. This is the story of the adventure, intrigue, and warfare in the various kingdoms of Wales during the eleventh century."

Madoc: Prince Of America

Bernard Knight

1977

Recent editions have the shortened title: Madoc

"The epic story of Prince Madoc, son of the ruler of North Wales, who after the death of his wife leaves behind the battles for power and prestige in his homeland and journeys into the unknown, sailing with a small group of companions across the Western Ocean. In this novel, acclaimed author Knight skilfully blends historical fact and the histories of medieval Britain and France with the story of a Welsh prince who, legend says, discovered the continent of North America."

The Sanctuary Seeker

Bernard Knight

1998

A Crowner John novel.

"November, 1194. Appointed by Richard the Lionheart as the first coroner for the county of Devon, Sir John de Wolfe, an ex-Crusader, rides out to the lonely moorland village of Widecombe to hold an inquest on an unidentified body. On his return to Exeter, the coroner is incense to find that his own brother-in-law, Sheriff Richard de Revelle, is intent on thwarting the murder investigation, particularly when it emerges that the dead man is a Crusader and a member of one of Devon's finest and most honourable families."

The Poisoned Chalice

Bernard Knight

1998

A Crowner John novel.

"In December of 1194, the well-born ladies of Exeter are not having a good week. First, Christina Rifford, the daughter of a rich merchant, is raped. Then, just months before her marriage, Lady Adele de Courcy is found dead in one of the poorest areas of the city.The common factor is Godfrey Fitzosbern, the local silversmith. But despite Crowner John's suspicions and the vengeful accusations of the families, it is John's duty to protect Godfrey until he can find definite proof of his guilt. Aided by his mistress Nesta, and hindered by his social-climbing wife Matilda and her power-hungry brother, Sheriff Richard de Revelle, John slowly begins to put the pieces together."

Crowner's Quest

Bernard Knight

1999

A Crowner John novel.

"Christmas Eve, 1194. Sir John de Wolfe gratefully escapes his wife Matilda's party to examine the body of a canon who has been found hanged. Suicide is suspected, but it is soon apparent there's more to this case than meets the eye. As always, John's investigations are hampered by his brother-in-law, Sheriff Richard de Revelle. But when a local lord is killed, John begins to suspect the cases are linked and that Sir Richard's reasons for delaying the investigation may be more serious than his usual acts of petty vengeance. Desperately trying to deflect Sir Richard's plots against him, John is soon at loggerheads with Matilda and even his mistress Nesta. But as he digs deeper, he uncovers a deadly conspiracy that could cost him far more than the women in his life."

The Awful Secret

Bernard Knight

2000

A Crowner John novel.

"Gilbert de Rideford is a Knight of the Temple of Solomon, and an old acquaintance from Crowner John's crusading days. He claims to have come into possession of a secret that could shake Christendom to its foundations - and he desperately needs John's help to escape from the secretive order of warrior monks. Suddenly swept into a world of religious intrigue and dangerous politics, Crowner John finds himself undertaking a life-threatening mission to the Island of Lundy - inhabited solely by notorious pirates - until finally the awful secret itself is revealed."

The Tinner's Corpse

Bernard Knight

2001

A Crowner John novel.

"When Crowner John is summoned to the bleak Devonshire moors to investigate the murder of a tin miner, he has little idea how difficult this new investigation will prove to be. The victim is a trusted and well-loved overman of Devon's most powerful and successful mine owner, Walter Knapman. There seems to be only one possible motive - to sabotage Walter's business. But the tinners have their own laws, and they are none too pleased at Crowner John's interference. Especially as their main experience of officials has been with Sheriff Richard de Revelle, whose notoriously high taxes keep them in a permanent state of fury and near rebellion. And then Walter disappears. Stephen Acland, Walter's business rival wastes no time in comforting Walter's beautiful wife Joan, who appears remarkably unmoved by her husband's disappearance. Meanwhile, Walter's brother is going frantic with worry ... or could it be guilt? A decapitated body, a missing tinner, a disgruntled band of miners and a mad Saxon, intent on the destruction of all things Norman. How on earth can Crowner John sort all this out when his wife hates him, his mistress has spurned him for a younger man, and his clerk is in the grip of a suicidal depression?"

The Grim Reaper

Bernard Knight

2002

A Crowner John novel.

"May 1195, and Sir John de Wolfe is faced with a strange series of serial murders, which begins with the suffocation of a Jewish money-lender and proceeds through that of a London harlot, a dissolute priest and a burgess suspected of abusing young boys. The common factor is that an appropriate Biblical text is left at each murder scene, the mode of which reflects the alleged sin of the victim. This means that a literate and Bible-learned killer is involved - which, in an age where only 1% of the population can read or write - can only be a priest. There are at least twenty-five parish churches in Exeter, so the killer could be any one of more than a hundred clerics. Crowner John sets about to discover the identity of the homicidal priest."

Fear In The Forest

Bernard Knight

2003

A Crowner John novel.

"C12th Devon. Much of the country lies under the iron rule of the Royal Forest laws, with all hunting reserved to the King. The penalty for killing a deer on the King's land is mutilation or death. These harsh laws are rigorously upheld by the King's foresters, notorious for their greed and corruption. June 1195. A tall, brown mare gallops into the sleepy village of Sigford, its rider dragged by the stirrup, the broken shaft of an arrow protruding from his back. The embroidered badge on the dead man's tunic identifies him as a senior officer of the Royal Forest. But, with plenty of money still in the victim's purse, the motive is a mystery. When a second forest officer is violently attacked, Sir John de Wolfe begins to uncover evidence of a sinister conspiracy."

Brennan

Bernard Knight

2003

"Former soldier Brennan was one of only a few thousand British survivors of a horrific series of international disasters. Five years on, he has become leader of the Welsh survivors as their supplies of food and fuel grow ever more precariously low. However, they face violent competition for these scarce resources from other groups of survivors – and to make things worse, those from other countries are raiding the UK for supplies and killing those who resist. To stand any hope of survival, Brennan must unite the remaining Britons and lead them in resistance against those who would see them dead – but does he stand any hope of succeeding in a world already changed beyond all recognition?"

The Witch Hunter

Bernard Knight

2004

A Crowner John novel.

"Exeter, 1195. When a prominent burgess and guild-master falls dead across his horse, Crowner John declines to hold an inquest as the man had been complaining of chest pains and shows no signs of injury. Events take a sinister turn, however, when a straw-dolly is discovered hidden under the man's saddle, a spike driven through its heart. Enlisting the help of her cousin, a cathedral canon with an eye to ecclesiastical advancement, the victim's strident widow begins a campaign in the name of the Church against witchcraft and the so-called 'cunning women' who practise it. This escalates until Exeter is divided into two camps and a climate of fear predominates. Still the coroner refuses to get involved - until his beloved mistress is accused of witchcraft. Can Crowner John unearth the real culprit and save Nesta from the hangman's noose?."

Figure of Hate

Bernard Knight

2005

A Crowner John novel.

"Exeter, 1195: At a local jousting day, there's a serious altercation between Hugh Peverel, lord of Sampford Peverel, near Tiverton, and a stranger by the name of Reginald de Charterai. Two days later, Hugh's body is found in a barn, stabbed in the back. Is de Charterai to blame? The county coroner, Sir John de Wolfe, soon finds plenty of other suspects for the killing of the almost universally hated Hugh Peverel. All three of his brothers had a motive: two for the succession and the third to steal Hugh's attractive young wife, Beatrice. It's no secret that Beatrice herself detested her adulterous husband, as did his mother-in-law, Adelina. Another suspect is Godwin Thatcher, a Saxon villager whose two sons were hanged some months earlier, being arbitrarily sentenced by Hugh at his manorial court. Then there's the manor reeve, Warin Fishacre, who harboured a deep grudge against his master for taking the virginity of his daughter, Maud, just before her marriage. With so many suspects to choose from, Sir John is confronted with one of the most difficult cases of his distinguished career."

The Elixir of Death

Bernard Knight

2006

A Crowner John novel.

"1195. Prince Johnplots to seize the throne from his brother, Richard the Lionheart - and in his wicked schemes he is supported by King Philip of France, who offers to help John financially by sending him a mysterious alchemist, a Mohammedan named Nizam, who claims to be able to transmute base metals into gold. But the ship which was transporting Nizam and his retainers to the Devon tin mines is found wrecked off the south Devon coast, its crew savagely slaughtered. Shortly afterwards, Sir Peter le Calve, a Norman knight living near Exeter, is foully murdered, being part-crucified and beheaded, his head stuck on the rood screen of the cathedral. It's up to Sir John de Wolfe, the county coroner, to find a motive and connection between the killings."

The Noble Outlaw

Bernard Knight

2007

A Crowner John novel.

"Exeter, 1195. Renovations at the new school in Smythen Street are disrupted by the shocking discovery of a partially mummified corpse hidden in the rafters - and Sir John de Wolfe, the county coroner is called to investigate. Richard de Revelle, Sir John's brother-in-law and founder of the school, immediately tries to blame Nicholas de Arundell, a young outlawed knight living rough on Dartmoor. As Sir John discovers, Nicholas has good reason to bear a grudge against the unscrupulous de Revelle. But is he really a killer? With the victim's identity unknown and the motive a mystery, the murder remains unsolved. But then comes news of a second violent death - and Sir John is forced to track down the 'noble outlaw' in order to find the answers."

The Manor of Death

Bernard Knight

2008

A Crowner John novel.

"When an unidentified body is discovered in the harbor town of Axmouth, the county coroner Sir John de Wolfe is summoned to investigate. The manner of the young man's death is a matter of some dispute, but it was clearly no accident. In the ensuing murder investigation, Sir John is frustrated by what appears to be a conspiracy of silence among the seamen and townsfolk. There are many inhabitants of Axmouth who seem willing to go to extreme lengths to ensure that the shocking truth behind the death remains hidden. Sir John will need courage, cunning, and determination if he is to solve the case and escape from the town with his life."

Crowner Royal

Bernard Knight

2009

A Crowner John novel.

"London, 1196. At the command of Richard the Lionheart, Sir John de Wolfe has left his beloved West Country for the Palace of Westminster, where he has been appointed Coroner of the Verge. But with the king overseas, embroiled in a costly war against King Philip of France, Sir John is dismayed to discover that the English court is a hotbed of greed, corruption and petty in-fighting. The murder of one of the palace clerks, stabbed in broad daylight and thrown into the River Thames, leads John to suspect that there's a conspiracy underway to overthrow King Richard. And with the visit of the dowager Queen Eleanor fast approaching, the new Coroner must risk his life to prove his suspicions are right, root out the traitors within and prevent a national catastrophe"

A Plague of Heretics

Bernard Knight

2010

A Crowner John novel.

"With the city of Exeter ravaged by an outbreak of the 'yellow plague', Sir John de Wolfe, the county coroner, must divide his time between visiting his brother Willam who has been struck down by the disease, and dealing with a series of brutal murders which appears to be linked to a revival of heresy in the city. When some of the cathedral canons begin a crusade against this danger to the Church, Sir John is accused of being too sympathetic to the heretics, bringing him into conflict with the ecclesiastical authorities. As the situation worsens, the coroner finds himself having to seek sanctuary in order to save his skin. Can he survive long enough to unmask the real killer?."

Where Death Delights

Bernard Knight

2010

A Dr Richard Pryor novel.

"1955. Forensic pathologist Richard Pryor uses his ‘golden handshake’ to set up in private practice with scientist Angela Bray. A friendly coroner gives them a start, and when two women both claim that human remains found near a reservoir are their relatives, the dilemma is given to them to investigate."

According to the Evidence

Bernard Knight

2010

A Dr Richard Pryor novel.

"After starting their risky venture of a private forensic consultancy, Doctor Richard Pryor - now a Home Office pathologist - and forensic biologist Angela Bray have now become firmly established. An apparent bizarre suicide in a remote Welsh farm starts them on a new investigation, which is followed by an unusual request from the War Office. And when a Cotswold veterinary surgeon is charged with poisoning his ailing wife, can Pryor's expert evidence save him from the gallows?."

Grounds for Appeal

Bernard Knight

2011

A Dr Richard Pryor novel.

"The third in the Dr Richard Pryor forensic mystery series from author of the Crowner John books - "Home Office pathologist Doctor Richard Pryor is pleased when forensic biologist Angela Bray is able to return earlier than expected to their new and thriving private forensic consultancy, following the quick recovery of her mother from a stroke. Together, they are able to persuade locum doctor Priscilla Chambers to stay on a few weeks longer, and Priscilla s flair for anthropology comes in handy when a new case shakes up the quiet resort town of Borth a body, found in the bog, with its hands tied and the head missing."

Crowner's Crusade

Bernard Knight

2012

A Crowner John novel. A prequel to the series.

"1192. Returning from the Holy Land at the end of the Third Crusade with Richard the Lionheart, King of England, Sir John de Wolfe, a Devon knight, finds England simmering with rebellion. Discovering a body washed up on the shores of the River Exe, its throat cut, Sir John deduces that he was a king’s courier. Tasked by Hubert Walter, the Chief Justiciar, to find out why the man died and who killed him, Sir John de Wolfe finds himself drawn unwillingly into affairs of state.  His new career as a king’s coroner is about to begin . . ."

Dead in the Dog

Bernard Knight

2012

"Arriving in Singapore, newly-qualified pathologist Tom Howden is still questioning his decision to sign on for three years in Her Majesty's Far East Land Forces. As he settles in, he discovers that his new home is a hotbed of scandal and intrigue. When an English planter is attacked one night, the finger of suspicion naturally points at local bandits, rather than a fellow Englishman. It soon becomes clear, however, that the situation is rather more complicated and deadly than it first appeared. Tom Howden s newly-acquired forensic skills are about to be put to the ultimate test."

Murder, Suicide, or Accident: The Forensic Pathologist at Work, Bernard Picton (Bernard Knight), Robert Hale / St Martin's Press, 1971

Legal Aspects of Medical Practice, Bernard Knight, C Churchill Livingstone, 1972

Autopsy: The Memoirs of Milton Helpern: The World's Greatest Medical Detective Hardcover, Milton Halpern with Bernard Knight, St. Martin's Press, 1977

Discovering the Human Body, Bernard Knight, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 1980

Forensic Radiology, Bernard Knight and Kenneth Evans, Blackwell, 1981

Lawyer’s Guide to Forensic Medicine, Bernard Knight, Heinemann, 1982

Legal Aspects of Medical Practice, Bernard Knight, Churchill Livingstone, 1982

The Coroner’s Autopsy: A Guide To Non-Criminal Autopsies For The General Pathologist, Bernard Knight, Churchill Livingstone, 1983

Sudden Death in Infancy, Bernard Knight, Faber & Faber, 1983

The Post-Mortem Technician's Handbook: A Manual Of Mortuary Practice, Bernard Knight, Blackwell, 1984

Forensic Medicine, Keith Simpson / Bernard Knight, Edward Arnold, 1985

Pocket Guide to Forensic Medicine, Bernard Knight, Gower, 1985

Medical Jurisprudence and Toxicology, H.W.V. Cox; Bernard Knight; Mohan Lal Singhal; V.B. Sahai, Law Book Company, 1990

Forensic Pathology, Bernard Knight, Edward Arnold, 1991

Estimation of Time of Death in the Early Post-mortem Period, Bernard Knight, Claus Henssge, et al, Edward Arnold, 1995

The Lately Deceased

Bernard Picton

1963

Subsequently published as by Bernard Knight.

"When super-rich Margaret Walker is found dead after a wild party, people assume it was an overdose - until a knife wound, almost invisible, is discovered on her body. But who would have wanted to murder her? As the investigation progresses, it is discovered that some of the party guests may have had a motive to kill Margaret...but were those motives enough to make someone a murderer - or was it a case of mistaken identity?"

The Thread of Evidence

Bernard Picton

1965

Subsequently published as by Bernard Knight.

"When some boys find a human bone in a cave in Cardiganshire, Wales, a case that has gone unresolved for over thirty years suddenly springs back into life. For that grisly find is only the start of things... When the rest of the skeleton is soon discovered, the disappearance of a local woman decades earlier comes back to public attention. The woman’s husband has recently returned to the area after years out of the country, and he has no explanation as to why his wife suddenly went missing. The local gossips consider him guilty of murder, as do some in the police force…but not everyone is convinced. It’s up to Superintendent Pacey to work out which bits of the whole sorry tale are fact and which are fiction – and there are some unpleasant surprises along the way."

Mistress Murder

Bernard Picton

1966

Subsequently published as by Bernard Knight.

"When a beautiful woman is found dead in a wrecked car, it’s assumed that she simply lost control and crashed while drunk – a sad but not unfamiliar story. Soon, though, a series of events makes the police re-examine the facts of the case. It transpires that the woman, a part-time model, was brutally murdered before her body was placed in the car. But why? The trail leads through the sleazy clubs and backstreets of 1960s Soho, complete with drug dealers, bookies, and gangsters…and a tale of murder and mayhem that has its roots in Germany, many years earlier…"

Russian Roulette

Bernard Picton

1968

Subsequently published as by Bernard Knight.

"Simon Smith, an ex-Army man with a gift for languages, is drafted in by a shady businessman to do some ‘work’ in the USSR. Simon thinks it’ll be an easy job with an ample reward…but what with multiple murders, beautiful femmes fatale, and devious master criminals, it’s not as simple as he’d hoped! Meanwhile, the Russian detectives set to trail a suspected thief have all their expectations confounded… A thrilling tale of international politics and police work on the other side of the ‘Iron Curtain’."

Policeman's Progress

Bernard Picton

1969

Subsequently published as by Bernard Knight.

"Jackie Stott, Tyneside boxer turned nightclub owner – and criminal – seeks to evade the Newcastle police as he stumbles from one dodgy deal to another. When Jackie gets involved in a murder, the police have a reason to try to get him locked up for good – and it’s not just the police who are out to get Jackie, for rival gangland figures are soon gunning for him too! A rip-roaring ride through the nightlife and criminal underworld of a bustling British city during the 1960s."

Tiger at Bay

Bernard Picton

1970

Subsequently published as by Bernard Knight.

"Set during the 1960s and featuring dastardly deeds in the infamous Tiger Bay area of Cardiff. Local good-for-nothing Iago Price gets more than he bargains for when he sets himself up as a private detective - he's not used to encountering blackmail, drug dealing, and murder! When a bank worker tries to extricate himself from a spot of bother, he turns to Iago for help, but things don't quite go as planned."

The Expert

Bernard Picton

1977

Subsequently published as by Bernard Knight.

"Renowned pathologist John Hardy is thinking of leaving his job following the death of his wife – but when a series of women are found murdered, leaving police baffled, it's up to Hardy to try and crack one last big case. The odds are against him – a local nightclub owner is the key suspect, but fair means don’t seem to be enough to get a conviction, not when the other side has experts of their own…will Hardy manage to succeed? An insight into the latest scientific crime-fighting techniques available during 1970s investigations."

The Tainted Relic

The Medieval Murderers

2005

Medieval Murderers: Simon Beaufort, Bernard Knight, Ian Morson, Michael Jecks, Susanna Gregory, Philip Gooden

"July, 1100. Jerusalem lies ransacked. Amidst the chaos, an English knight is entrusted with a valuable religious relic: a fragment of the True Cross, allegedly stained with the blood of Christ. The relic is said to be cursed: anyone who touches it will meet an untimely and gruesome end. Several decades later, the Cross turns up in the possession of a dealer, robbed and murdered en route to Glastonbury. Investigating the death, Bernard Knight's protagonist, Crowner John learns of its dark history. In Oxford in 1269, the discovery of a decapitated monk leads Ian Morson's academic sleuth William Falconer to uncover a link to the relic. In 1323, in Exeter, Michael Jecks' Sir Baldwin has reason to suspect its involvement in at least five violent deaths. Thirty years later, several suspicious deaths occur in Cambridge - and, once again, the tainted relic has a crucial part to play. Finally, it's despatched to London, where Philip Gooden's Nick Revill will determine its ultimate fate."

Sword of Shame

The Medieval Murderers

2006

Medieval Murderers: Bernard Knight, Ian Morson, Michael Jecks, Susanna Gregory, Philip Gooden

"From its first arrival in Britain with the Norman forces of William the Conqueror, violence and revenge are the cursed sword's constant companions. From an election-rigging scandal in 13th century Venice to the battlefield of Poitiers in 1356, as the Sword of Shame passes from owner to owner in this compelling collection of interlinked mysteries, it brings nothing but bad luck and disgrace to all who possess it."

House of Shadows

The Medieval Murderers

2007

Medieval Murderers: Bernard Knight, Ian Morson, Michael Jecks, Philip Gooden, Susanna Gregory

"Bermondsey Priory, 1114. A young chaplain succumbs to the temptations of the flesh - and suffers a gruesome punishment. From that moment, the monastery is cursed and over the next five hundred years murder and treachery abound within its hallowed walls. A beautiful young bride found dead two days before her wedding. A ghostly figure that warns of impending doom. A plot to depose King Edward II. Mad monks and errant priests ...even the poet Chaucer finds himself drawn into the dark deeds and violent death which pervade this unhappy place."

The Lost Prophecies

The Medieval Murderers

2008

Medieval Murderers: Bernard Knight, Ian Morson, Michael Jecks, Philip Gooden, Susanna Gregory, C.J. Sansom

"A mysterious book of prophecies written by a 6th century Irish monk has puzzled scholars through the ages. Foretelling wars, plagues and rebellions, the Black Book of Bran is said to have predicted the Black Death and the Gunpowder Plot. But is it the result of divine inspiration or the ravings of a madman? A hidden hoard of Saxon gold. A poisoned priest. A monk skinned alive in Westminster Abbey. Only one thing is certain: whoever comes into possession of the cursed book meets a gruesome and untimely end."

King Arthur’s Bones

The Medieval Murderers

2009

Medieval Murderers: Susanna Gregory, Bernard Knight, Michael Jecks, Philip Gooden, Ian Morson

"1191. During excavation work at Glastonbury Abbey, an ancient leaden cross is discovered buried several feet below ground. Inscribed on the cross are the words: Hic iacet sepultus inclitus rex arturius... Here lies buried the renowned King Arthur. Beneath the cross are skeletal remains. Could these really be the remains of the legendary King Arthur and his queen, Guinevere? As the monks debate the implications of this extraordinary discovery, the bones disappear -- spirited away by the mysterious Guardians, determined to keep the king's remains safe until the ancient legend is fulfilled and Arthur returns to protect his country in the hour of its greatest need. A missing right hand. A gang of ruthless bodysnatchers. Brother accused of killing brother. As the secret of the bones' hiding place is passed from generation to generation, those entrusted to safeguard Arthur's remains must withstand treachery, theft, blackmail and murder in order to keep the legend intact."

The Sacred Stone

The Medieval Murderers

2010

Medieval Murderers: Susanna Gregory, Simon Beaufort, Bernard Knight, Karen Maitland, Ian Morson, Philip Gooden

"1067. In the desolate wastes of Greenland, a group of hunters discover a strangely-shaped meteor which has fallen from the sky. At first, the mysterious 'sky-stone' seems to bring them good luck, healing a lame boy and guaranteeing a good catch of furs. But violence and murder soon follow in fortune's wake, as the villagers fight and struggle amongst themselves to get control of the precious stone. Over the next six hundred years, the Sky-Stone falls into the hands of crusading knights, the wicked Sheriff of Devon, a group of radical young kabalists, the dying King Henry III and a band of travelling players. Each time, the stone brings treachery, discord and violent death to those who seek to possess it."

Hill Of Bones

The Medieval Murderers

2011

Medieval Murderers: Susanna Gregory, Bernard Knight, Karen Maitland, Ian Morson, Philip Gooden

"Bath Abbey, 1199. The monks' peaceful existence is turned upside down when the Abbey's unpopular prior is found dead on Solsbury Hill. But when Sir Symon Cole and his wife, Gwenllian, arrive to investigate, they soon discover hear whisperings that prior has met with divine punishment. For it is said that on Solsbury Hill, only those who are pure in heart can survive a night when the moon is full. Determined to get to the bottom of the suspicious circumstances surrounding the prior's death, Gwenllian launches a daring investigation that puts her in great danger and Sir Symon accepts a challenge to visit the hill at night. Sacred treasures. Dangerous secrets. Plots against church, crown and government. Solsbury Hill continues to be the scene of murder, theft and conspiracy throughout the ages. But what will today's archaeologists make of the mysteries uncovered on this haunted site?"

The First Murder

The Medieval Murderers

2012

Medieval Murderers: Susanna Gregory, Bernard Knight, Karen Maitland, Ian Morson, Philip Gooden

"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."

The False Virgin

The Medieval Murderers

2013

Medieval Murderers: Susanna Gregory, Bernard Knight, Karen Maitland, Ian Morson, Philip Gooden, Simon Beaufort

"AD 848.Bernwyn of Lythe, the young daughter of an ealdorman, spurns marriage and chooses to remain a virgin dedicated to Christ. When she is found murdered in the chapel where she kept her nightly vigils, it is thought that she has fallen victim to the Viking raiders who are ravaging the country and the butterflies found resting on her body are taken to be a sign from God. But what if Bernwyn was not all she seemed? Could the saintly deeds attributed to her have been carried out by someone else and the people have set up a shrine to a false virgin? Throughout the ages, St Bernwyn comes to be regarded as the patron saint of those suffering from skin diseases, and many are drawn on pilgrimage to her shrines. But from a priory in Wales to the Greek island of Sifnos, it seems that anywhere that St Bernwyn is venerated, bitter rivalry breaks out. So when a famous poet is inspired to tell the story of the saint, perhaps it is little wonder that he finds himself writing a satirical piece on the credulity of man."

The Deadliest Sin

The Medieval Murderers

2014

Medieval Murderers: Susanna Gregory, Bernard Knight, Karen Maitland, Ian Morson, Philip Gooden, Michael Jecks, Simon Beaufort

"In the spring of 1348, tales begin arriving in England of poisonous clouds fast approaching, which have overwhelmed whole cities and even countries, with scarcely a human being left. While some pray more earnestly and live yet more devoutly, others vow to enjoy themselves and blot out their remaining days on earth by drinking and gambling. And then there are those who hope that God's wrath might be averted by going on a pilgrimage. But if God was permitting his people to be punished by this plague, then it surely could only be because they had committed terrible sins? So when a group of pilgrims are forced to seek shelter at an inn, their host suggests that the guests should tell their tales. He dares them to tell their stories of sin, so that it might emerge which one is the best. That is, the worst."