Murder Most Holy

In the early summer of 1379 in London, Sir John Cranston, Coroner of the city, is trapped into a wager with Signior Gian Galeazzo, Lord of Cremona, who challenges him to resolve a certain murder mystery within two weeks. Men have been found dead in the scarlet chamber of one of Cremona's manors. They have no mark upon them; they have neither drunk nor eaten poison; there are no secret passageways or entrances to the room. And they all have awful expressions of terror upon their faces.

Cranston seeks Athelstan's help to solve the mystery little realising that Athelstan has problems of his own. A skeleton has been unearthed during the renovation of St. Erconwald's and it is believed to have healing powers. Athelstan must now contend with the pilgrims and religious hucksters flocking around.

Then a friar dies in mysterious circumstances and another disappears. Cranston and Athelstan must put all other matters aside and investigate before further problems occur.