Abbess of Meaux mysteries

York archbishop Alexander Neville taps Abbess Hildegarde to accompany him on a trip to London, where she's to serve as his spy. Before they set out, Neville's saucier is found dead in a wine vat, evidently murdered. Set in 14th century England during the turbulent reign of Richard II.

Late December, 1389. Ordered to undertake a gruelling three-day journey to bleak Whitby Abbey in the far north of England in a bid to purchase the Abbey's priceless Holy Relic - a lock of St Hild's hair, said to be 700 years old - Hildegard of Meaux and her three companion monks arrive to find the Abbey a decidedly unwelcoming place, a place of strange customs and practices very different to their modest lifestyle at Meaux. Nor, as Hildegard discovers,...

"Autumn, 1394. All is not well at Swyne Priory. Dissension has arisen amongst the nuns. The new novices whisper in corners, spreading malicious rumours and sharing dark secrets. The Prioress gives Hildegard an order: search out the cause of this unrest, and put a stop to it. But before Hildegard can investigate, she's forced to deal with a new problem: the arrival of a mysterious stranger in the middle of the night, claiming his life is in danger....