There once was a time when the words Canterbury Tales would cause profuse sweating and an overlying sense of dread in me. Saying the name Geoffrey Chaucer would send me straight back to 12th grade where I was once forced to analyze "The Tales."
Now, a decade or so later, I merely get a little jumpy. I may never be cured, totally, but I can function in normal society without the fear of this famous work coming back to haunt me.
They say time heals all wounds, which is why I was able to read and enjoy Murder on the Canterbury Pilgrimage, by Mary Devlin without reliving high school English hell.
The year is 1382. A religious pilgrimage to Canterbury is planned. Geoffrey Chaucer, poet and respected friend, is invited to join the group. He gladly accepts, planning to record the tales the pilgrims tell during the trip.
The crowd is diverse, ranging from members of The Church, to knights, to a beautiful pagan gypsy named Sophia who turns heads with her flirtatious actions.
The pilgrims don't realize that a murder has already been committed on the very road they are travelling. In fact, the murderer is hiding within the group.
The theft of various silver items raises suspicions among the pilgrims. However, when Sophia the gypsy is murdered, the finger pointing begins. A tarot card belonging to Chaucer is found on the body and the poet rises to the top of the suspect list.
Can Geoffrey Chaucer solve the murder before he is accused himself and killed for the crime? Murder on the Canterbury Pilgrimage details the events that lead to the identity of the homicidal crusader.
This is such a fun book! Using the Canterbury pilgrimage as a backdrop and placing Geoffrey Chaucer in the role of detective is an interesting idea. Author Mary Devlin is to be commended for providing such a unique plot. I've grown weary of some of today's suspense authors and their cookie-cutter story lines. Murder on the Canterbury Pilgrimage is a welcome sight on the book shelf.
Readers need not be familiar with Chaucer or his most famous work to enjoy this mystery. Devlin sets up her story by giving basic background information on the would-be sleuth and the origin of the famous Canterbury Tales.
As the pilgrimage begins, we learn about the different travelers (and suspects). Thankfully, the author has written the dialogue in modern English. We can enjoy the story without having to translate it (as is the case with the original tales).
Devlin's background in medieval poetry and various topics has paid off with this novel. She provides a realistic setting and plausible characters. The author admits that use of tarot cards may not have been the rage back in the 1380's. However, Chaucer's reliance on astrology and translation of the cards to solve the crimes seems to work here.
I had my doubts that an interesting mystery could arise from a medieval pilgrimage, but Devlin pulls it off successfully. There's even a sub-plot relating to the corruption of The Church. This interesting branch of the story adds even more suspects and motives.
Along with this novel, Mary Devlin has a modern-day Parisian art mystery under her belt titled Portrait of Victorine. Both of these works benefit from the author's extensive educational background and make small bits of history fun.
I recommend Murder on the Canterbury Pilgrimage to all mystery lovers. If this Devlin work had been around when I was in high school, I may have had a deeper appreciation for Chaucer.
Now if only someone could spruce up Moby Dick...
Enjoy!
