Review: The Whispering Dead of Rewley Abbey by Peter Stephenson

Synopsis: "The Whispering Dead of Rewley Abbey" is the first in a series of murder mysteries following the sinister deaths in Rewley Abbey (Cistercian monks) and Godstow Abbey (Benedictine nuns) from the end of the 13th century to King Henry VIII's dissolution of the convents and monasteries in the 16th century.

Intrigue and secrets abound as a determined nun deciphers the clues in this timeless historical thriller for both young adults and seasoned readers.

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Fairly basic cosy historical mystery fiction set in 13th Century England with an investigating Nun and Lady of the Manor as the main characters.

An up and coming lecturer at Balliol College, Oxford is murdered; a drunken violent student is a suspect; will what lies beneath the surface of the "town and gown" battles reveal the secret to the mystery that Sister Agnes must solve. 

The author uses quick, easy to read chapters to push the narrative along, however, we get no real sense of the characters (which are a little too modern for my liking). Using poetic license, the author loosely represents the period of the 13th century.

As the first in a series, this is adequate though I would hope to see more development as the series progresses.