wo nuns are attacked on their way back to their priory in Maldon. Fortunately the commissioners arrive on the scene in time for Ralph and Gervase to fight off the attackers. But how is the attack related to the irregularities detected by the first Domesday Book commission and the murder of a local magnate's son?

For the side mystery, my guess was that Humphrey was a pawnbroker but the author's explanation was more fun. ( )

The Edward Marston Domesday series is a great series about life in England just after William the Conqueror had taken over England. The returning characters are great, and the evil ones that are in each book are very well drawn. This book is about the evil Fitzcorbucion family. Hamo, the father is a true villain, and it gives Gervase Bret and Ralph Delchard great joy to be able to give him and his family their well-deserved comeuppance. Fen and Delchard are carrying the King's writ and it is their job along with the Hugo and Simon the Monks to look into irregularities in land deeds and property, and to return disputed holdings to their proper owner. But they also come into Maldon after a particularly brutal murder has been committed to one of the Fitzcorbucion family, and they have to solve this murder in order to get to the bottom of everything else. I highly recommend this colourful series to those who love historical mysteries. ( )