The Darkest Red (The Chevalier Galeran Medieval Mysteries)

Rating:
Summary: A Good Read
Review: This is the first book I have read by this author and I was quite impressed. An interesting touch by the author is to include some medieval recipes at the end of the book. Some of them sound very nice and I will probably try one or two.
The book begins in France in 1145, a whale has found its way into the Seine and the Abbott of the local Abbey has ordered its death.
The main character Galeran de Lesneven has unwittingly been cajoled by the Bishop of Lisieux into visiting the Abbey. Galeran thinks he has been sent there to examine the wonderful library. The Bishop has asked him to take a travelling companion with him who also has business at the Abbey. In reality Galeran has been sent to investigate strange events taking place within the walls of the Abbey.
Shortly after his arrival a feast is held in honour of the killing of the whale. The following day a young woman is found dead and the wounds do not look as though they have been made by human hands.
Galeran's companion then confides in him the reason they are there and he is drawn deeper into the mystery and mayhem happening in the Abbey of Jumieges.