bookcraft's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed the mystery and the setting quite a bit, but the protagonist being so beautiful that she causes riots and gets assaulted if she goes out in public without being veiled felt a little over the top.
gifflesnooks's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
jillyfae's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This is a series than lingers, an unusual historical setting, an interesting main character, a solid and interesting mystery.
staceylynn42's review against another edition
4.0
Magdalene runs a high class whorehouse in the Old Priory Guesthouse, owned by the bishop of Winchester. It backs up to the priory next door & shares a gated wall with them. She doesn't usually take strangers for clients, but one evening a man came with a reference from a former client. He chose her bind whore Sabina as his companion for the evening, but at one point stepped out to have a quick meeting at the priory. He ended up murdered on the church porch & turned out to be a papal messenger. For their own safety, because they know they will be blamed if the murderer isn't found, the women decide to look for him.
Magdalene takes what she knows to the bishop, seeking his help and Winchester appoints one of his knights, Bellamy of Itchen, to look into it. Bell doesn't trust the whores entirely but doesn't believe they are guilty of murder. However the messenger's pouch has gone missing & he's fairly sure the women know something about it.
A very entertaining story.
Magdalene takes what she knows to the bishop, seeking his help and Winchester appoints one of his knights, Bellamy of Itchen, to look into it. Bell doesn't trust the whores entirely but doesn't believe they are guilty of murder. However the messenger's pouch has gone missing & he's fairly sure the women know something about it.
A very entertaining story.
stacey42's review
4.0
Magdalene runs a high class whorehouse in the Old Priory Guesthouse, owned by the bishop of Winchester. It backs up to the priory next door & shares a gated wall with them. She doesn't usually take strangers for clients, but one evening a man came with a reference from a former client. He chose her bind whore Sabina as his companion for the evening, but at one point stepped out to have a quick meeting at the priory. He ended up murdered on the church porch & turned out to be a papal messenger. For their own safety, because they know they will be blamed if the murderer isn't found, the women decide to look for him.
Magdalene takes what she knows to the bishop, seeking his help and Winchester appoints one of his knights, Bellamy of Itchen, to look into it. Bell doesn't trust the whores entirely but doesn't believe they are guilty of murder. However the messenger's pouch has gone missing & he's fairly sure the women know something about it.
A very entertaining story.
Magdalene takes what she knows to the bishop, seeking his help and Winchester appoints one of his knights, Bellamy of Itchen, to look into it. Bell doesn't trust the whores entirely but doesn't believe they are guilty of murder. However the messenger's pouch has gone missing & he's fairly sure the women know something about it.
A very entertaining story.
kristi_asleep_dreaming's review against another edition
4.0
Mystery historical about prostitutes. Not as charming as some of her other books, I think the Rosalynde books and the early Greek fantasy are my favourites. But quite a gritty-feeling depiction of medieval life and religion, for her. I didn't know whores were excommunicate.
Lots of good oldfashioned words for sex. Futtering. I like that. But I didn't quite buy the House of Handicapped Whores. Needs more backstory.
Lots of good oldfashioned words for sex. Futtering. I like that. But I didn't quite buy the House of Handicapped Whores. Needs more backstory.
lsneal's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed this book. The medieval setting was convincingly portrayed, and the layers of political intrigue were a fascinating backdrop to the story. I also enjoyed the main character, Magdalene...I found her very compelling and interesting, and I thought the author provided a very plausible reason for her to interest herself in the mystery and its solution.
kbc's review
4.0
So close to the trope-y murder mystery of my heart if ONLY IT WAS MURDER SOLVING NUNS. But other than that, I quite enjoyed it.