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The Bookseller's Tale

Oxford Medieval Mysteries, Book 1

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The Bookseller's Tale

By: Ann Swinfen
Narrated by: Philip Battley
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Oxford, Spring 1353. When young bookseller Nicholas Elyot discovers the body of student William Farringdon floating in the river Cherwell, it looks like a drowning. Soon, however, Nicholas finds evidence of murder. Who could have wanted to kill this promising student? As Nicholas and his scholar friend Jordain try to unravel what lies behind William's death, they learn that he was innocently caught up in a criminal plot. When their investigations begin to involve town, university, and abbey, Nicholas takes a risky gamble - and puts his family in terrible danger.

©2016 Ann Swinfen (P)2017 Ann Swinfen Historical Mystery Crime Fiction Student
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Oxford is one of my favourite places on the planet. History is a passion. Literature is a calling. Having all three beautifully woven together in a delightful murder mystery is a delight. A lovely listen and I am now looking forward to the rest of the series with relish. If you too love Oxford and or history you will find this exquisitely researched book a delight.

A lovely tale set in a wonderful place

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This was one of those gentle stories that will never challenge you. I do not think less of it for that. Sometimes you don't want great literature; writing that will wrack you with angst and leave you wringing your hands at the the state of the human race. Sometimes you just want to be told a story that will take you on a brief escape somewhere else and lull you back into your real life with as small a jolt as possible. This is one of the latter.

The main character is quaint and endearing. His family situation leaves scope for both a small level of independence and yet he remains bound by responsibility and so the reader won't be wondering if he'll sail off into the horizon at any point. The setting and time frame makes the plot interesting and fairly original - most author's go for historically more documented times. I suppose this means that the author is less likely to be caught out of with the odd historical inaccuracy.

Generally, a relaxing and engaging tale that may have been a bit more lively will a less monotonous narrator.

Simple but satisfying.

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Much fascinating details about life shortly after the Black Death, most of it accurate based on my reading, with an occasional mildly jarring anachronism. The bookseller is likeable & mostly sensible, except when he needs to be stupid to create the necessary plot crisis.

I look forward to seeing how this series develops.

A vivid depiction of the past, with a mystery thrown in

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The book is very easy to listen too and thoroughly enjoyable. Listening to the narrator is addictive. It is one of those books that does not have a complex story line but still draws you in. I will listen to the other books in the series because I now want to know how Nicholas, his family and friends progress in life.

Very enjoyable

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The daily lives of University scholars, tradesmen and families in the years following the Black Death and the greed of one man.

A really enjoyable mystery

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