Someone is killing off the clerks at the Chancery of the Green Wax; someone has stolen a
fortune in silver from the Crown, committing murder at the same time. In addition, there
a crucifix that bleeds; and the Bishop is thinking of transferring Brother Athelstan to
Oxford. Thus, Paul Harding presents us with the “puzzles and problems” of this episode
involving our venerable Dominican friar. In “The Assassin's Riddle,” it takes all the
intellectual powers and cunning of Athelstan and the King's Coroner Sir John Cranston to
solve this case. But who better
than Brother Athelstan, parish priest and secretarius to Cranston! Of course, knowning
that Athelstan is involved means that the entire parish of St. Erconwald's is also involved,
one way or another, for better or worse!
"
Bill Hobbs, Resident Scholar
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Review Analysis of The Assassin's Riddle
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Tone of story
- very upbeat
How difficult to spot villain?
- Difficult, but some clues given
Time/era of story:
- middle ages
What % of story relates directly
to the mystery, not the subplot?
- nearly 100%
Special suspect?
- chronically deranged person
Kind of investigator
- amateur citizen investigator
- british mystery (I say!)
Kid or adult book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Crime Thriller
Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown)
Yes
Main Character
Gender
- Male
Profession/status:
- religious figure
Age:
- 40's-50's
How much violence does he/she use?
- none
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 40's-50's
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a moderate amount
Motive of antagonist
- revenge
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Setting
Europe
Yes
European country:
- England/UK
Style
Part of a series?
Yes
Person
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
How many deaths?
- 3-4
Unusual forms of death
- poisoning
- perforation--swords/knives
Unusual form of death?
Yes
Amount of dialog
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
