Sorrow Without End

By: Priscilla Royal

Narrated by: Wanda McCaddon

Length: 7 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

As the autumn storms of 1271 ravage the East Anglian coast, Crowner Ralf finds the corpse of a brutally murdered soldier in the woods near Tyndal Priory. The dagger in the man’s chest is engraved with a strange cursive design, and the body is wrapped in a crusader’s cloak. Was this the act of a member of the Assassin sect, or was the weapon meant to mislead? Ralf’s decision to take the corpse to the priory for advice may be reasonable, but he is soon caught up in a maelstrom of conflict, both personal and political.

The priory is deeply divided over whether to purchase a relic - a decision that endangers both Prioress Eleanor’s leadership and the future of the hospital. Brother Thomas becomes a suspect in the murder, and Ralf must choose between loyalty to a friend and the demands of his brother, the sheriff. Meanwhile, the murderer watches and waits.

Priscilla Royal grew up in British Columbia, earned a degree in world literature from San Francisco State University, and worked for the federal government in various positions. She is a member of the Mystery Writers of America, California Writers Club, and Sisters in Crime. She lives in Crockett, California.

©2006 Priscilla Royal (P)2012 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Terror grips a remote North Sea priory in Royal’s superior medieval thriller, her third to feature Eleanor, prioress of Tyndal. In 1271, tough-minded Ralf the Crowner, who’s trying to bring a brutal serial killer to justice, prevails upon Eleanor to allow the mangled corpse of a lowly foot soldier to be laid in the chapel during his investigation.… Eleanor resists the demands of rival monks who complicate Ralf’s work with their own competing agendas…. Suspense builds amid a vivid backdrop of lepers wearing ‘clappers’, a madman who chatters warnings, venal relic sellers, and the shadowy ‘man from Acre’ haunted by guilt for his wife’s death at the hands of a sadistic crusader. Eleanor’s steadfast faith in a merciful God must contend with the vicious nature of man in a compelling resolution." ( Publishers Weekly)

"Royal continues her excellent medieval mystery series with another haunting whodunit set in the Tyndale Priory situated on the windswept East Anglican coast…. A knight is slain and a young nun brutally attacked.... As Ralf and Eleanor work tirelessly to expose the murderer, the priory and its adjacent infirmary are beset by a series of internal squabbles and political power struggles. Tautly woven, this introspective period piece oozes with suspense and intrigue." ( Booklist)

"The well-developed plot...keeps the reader guessing." ( Mysterious Reviews)

Excellent as alwaysi

Priscilla Royal focuses as much on the everyday life of the inhabitants of the priory as the story she carefully unfolds. The characters stay true to their values although I wish their relationships were a little less stagnant. Worth reading

Really enjoyed this one!

now that there is a continued story line characters are easier to follow and remember like a play in your imagination. I am now familiar with the authors writing style and that is important for story understanding.

Humorous and Mysterious

I am partial to this kind of writing, but the story has bits of humor and lots of drama. I was hesitant at first about the reader, but she is great and really helps to get into the story. Overall good book.

Just so so.

Not that intriguing. Pretty slow. Seems to be trying to copy World Without End. Needs more sex or something.