I love a good historical mystery with a central character that is someone I know from history, but I've never really considered as an individual. Murder in the Cloister features just such a "detective": Christine de Pizan, 14th Century feminist, scribe, and writer. Under the cover of copying a valuable book for the Prioress, Christine is sent to the Priory of Poissy. Her real responsibility is uncovering the events and people behind the death of a novice—and Christine needs to act quickly as the priory faces threats from those who object to women directing their own lives, even when they are cloistered.

The mystery is solid, though the revelation when it comes isn't completely unexpected. Readers can see the finger of guilt pointing in a particular direction, but don't know exactly what has transpired to point it that way. What makes this mystery successful isn't that plot line so much as its cast of characters, strong, intelligent women and men with very different views of how the world should be ordered, but who nonetheless must work together to arrive at justice for the victim.

This is the first book in this series I've read, though it is the fourth volume, and I had no trouble following the plot line or grasping the relationships among the characters. I want to go back and read the earlier volumes not to clarify any back-story specifics, but just because I like those characters as depicted by Tania Bayard and want to spend more time with them. I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own. ( )

1399: Superstition, madness and politics.

Murder and more in an ancient French priory near Paris. A Religious House supported by the King of France.
An interesting medieval mystery read in terms of the history of the times and the widespread beliefs about sorcery.
Christine de Pizan is tasked by King Charles VI, upon the request of the Dominican Prioress, to journey to the Royal Priory of Saint-Louis at Poissy, ostensibly to to copy an important manuscript and visit her daughter who has taken orders there. Christine knows there's more to the matter. The Priory has no need of her expertise, having plenty in house. She will be accompanied by Brother Michel from the Abbey of Saint-Denis and Henri de Picart.
Christine is warned by a member of Queen Isabeau's retinue that, ‘Something is wrong at Poissy, and they’re willing to do what the prioress asks because they’re concerned for their daughter.’ Politics and power play a part in Kingdoms and religious communities.
The Illuminated manuscripts, the nuns singing constantly for France and King Charles the Sixth, who is suffering from melancholia and madness form part of the background. The priory' mission, their 'chief function is to sing the divine office perpetually, to offer prayers to God for the royal family, and for all of France.'
The story flowed easily, the untimely death of a nun becoming an itch in Christine's mind. The characters are well rounded, although the antipathy between Henri and Christina seems to have a long history. Maybe to do with Henri's seeming disparagement about women’s abilities. (I’m not privy to what's gone before). Or does Henri challenge Christine to inflame her? His last efforts makes me think he’s more kindly inclined towards her than she thinks.
Introductions to each chapter with excerpts from various commentaries of the time including Christine's L’advision and Hildegard of Bingen are a fascinating way to illuminate the next episode of the tale.
I really enjoyed descriptions of the nuns singing, the feeling of various listeners being carried away to another dimension by their voices was well portrayed.
This is my first Christine de Pizan Mystery and I'm fascinated to find out about her life before now.

A Severn House (Canongate Books) ARC via NetGalley
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change ( )