Review: The Yeoman's Tale by MJ Trow

Synopsis: Poet-sleuth Geoffrey Chaucer is caught up in the chaos of the Peasants' Revolt as he attempts to track down a brutal killer.June, 1381. Embarking on his annual pilgrimage to Canterbury, Geoffrey Chaucer and his fellow travellers are forced to turn back when confronted with a horde of armed and angry peasants, intent on marching to London. Returning to the city to warn the authorities of the approaching danger, the pilgrims hole up at the Tabard Inn and prepare for the coming invasion.

That same night, a woman's body is fished out of the River Thames, her throat cut. When he discovers that the victim was the wife of one of his fellow pilgrims, Chaucer determines to investigate. Could the woman's henpecked husband be responsible for her death? A jealous business rival? Or was she murdered by one of the pilgrims? Does a cold-hearted killer lurk within the Tabard?

As the army of rebellious peasants approaches, Chaucer finds himself in a race against time to uncover the truth before anarchy descends.

The second in Trow's Chaucer series, this time the setting is 1381 and England is in the midst of a uprising among the peasants. There was great unrest at this time due to a highly unpopular poll-tax - also known as head tax or capitation, is a tax levied as a fixed sum on every liable individual (typically every adult), without reference to income or resources. Many impacted were rural works, artisans, and minor, local officials. The mob was led by one Wat Tyler, though how this came about is not entirely known, and their strength grew as they marched towards London. . One of the other leading lights in all this was the preacher John Ball, recently released from prison, who seemed to serve as some sort of spiritual guide.

Once again we find Chaucer preparing to undertake his pilgrimage to Canterbury, led by the proprietor of the Tabard Inn, one Harry Bailey. Chaucer is in fine company - among his fellow pilgrims are a miller, a merchant, a poet, a prioress, a yeoman archer, a franklin, and a priest. En route, the pilgrims have the misfortune to run into the Kentish mob and a robbed before being sent back on their way. The pilgrims return to the Tabard Inn, and here we discover the first murder. As the mob draws ever closer the pilgrims find themselves barricaded at the Inn - and possibly a murderer among them.

The pace is rather languid - there is no real action scenes, the murders are almost committed "off screen" and the investigation is rather sedentary. The only real scene of any urgency we have is when the young King, Richard II confronts the rabble in order to disperse them with whatever promises he deems fit. It is a case of will the rebels take London and sweep all before them - or will the child-King prevail; whether Chaucer finally solves this murders takes a back seat to all else.

It is an at times amusing vignette into the life of Chaucer, set against prominent historical backdrops, with a little murder and mystery thrown in for good measure. It is an enjoyable series.