Free (DRM-free iTunes/K) Wine of Violence by Priscilla Royal [Medieval Murder Mystery

[ATDrake]

Wine of Violence by Priscilla Royal is the 1st in her Medieval Mystery series of well-researched 13th-century England-set historical murder mysteries which star a prioress and her assisting monks and nuns as the amateur sleuths, each of whom contribute to finding out whodunnit. This is free courtesy of publisher Poisoned Pen Press, who are offering several tie-in sale deals on further volumes in the series.

I read this when it was 99 cents from PPP's rotating monthly 1st-in-series introductory sales, and found it very good indeed. Just a couple of days ago I finished the 2nd in series which I bought during Books on Board's 40% off sale for not quite twice the price they ask you to pay now, but still consider it well worth the money, although I do kind of wish I'd waited that extra week or so considering I still have several more to read.

Ah well, at least you can benefit from the discount pricing on what I consider to be a rather good and enjoyable (thus far) series of historical sleuthy mysteries.

Currently free without DRM @ iTunes (available to Canadians). PPP's infopage for this seems to indicate a multi-store freebieization is intended, so you can keep checking the store links on their site to see if it's dropped at your preferred venue yet.

#2 Tyrant of the Mind and #3 Sorrow Without End are discounted to $2.99 directly from the publisher (DRM-free ePub/Mobi bundle, but no cloud and you'll have to make your own backups) and at participating venues.

These two can be found cheapest via Books on Board (DRM-free ePub), which additionally sale prices them at $2.34 each and gives you $0.24 in Reward Bucks store credit, and also at Kobo which has them for $2.88 CAD and couponable (but DRM ePub).

More volumes in the series are sale-priced at $4.99 (regularly $6.99) and again are cheapest at BoB, for $2.90 + $0.40 Reward Bucks, which works out to $2.50 per book. I paid $4.21 each for mine, by the way, but I still consider the 2nd which I've read to be worth it at that price.

Series order numbering and buy-links to other bookstores as well as direct from the publisher can be found at Royal's author page on the PPP website, which incidentally mentions that she grew up in British Columbia, making her at least partially Canadian, for extra bonus cool points.

Description
It is late summer in the year 1270. Although the Simon de Montfort rebellion is over, the smell of death still hangs over the land. In the small priory of Tyndal, the monks and nuns of the Order of Fontevraud long for a return to routine.

Their hopes are dashed, however, when the young and inexperienced Eleanor of Wynethorpe is appointed their new prioress. Only a day after her arrival, a brutally murdered monk is found in the cloister gardens, and Brother Thomas, a young priest with a troubled past, arrives to bring her a more personal grief.

Now Eleanor must not only struggle to gain the respect of her terrified and resentful flock but also cope with violence, lust, and greed.

[murraypaul]

This seems to have two versions on Amazon.
Searching by title gives this, which costs $8.99. But the link from the publishers website gives this which has a different (correct) publisher than the first link, and costs $0.99.

#2 and #3 are $2.99

[rhadin]

Again, according to PPP this is supposed to be free at B&N but the PP link to B&N shows the book with the 99 cents price. I've e-mailed PPP about this book and Artifacts by Mary Anna Evans, which has the same problem.

[sunnysmiles]

Not available in UK for free . A Shame.

[murraypaul]

Wine of Violence is now free on Amazon US.

[koland]

Finally!

One I hadn't already purchased...

[ATDrake]

For extra entertainment, note that the Amazon listing has the description for a completely different PPP book. I kind of wonder how many potential purchasers who are bright enough to be able to tell that 91 AD Roman Britain is hardly "medieval" have been turned off by that in the past.

Incidentally, I just finished reading #3 in the series (available for $2.99 or less in several venues as described above) and it was another nifty read.

These things come with interesting historical background/culture notes and discussion + suggested bibliography/further reading for people like me who find such bonuses doubleplusgood, by the way.

[Synamon]

Originally Posted by ATDrake

For extra entertainment, note that the Amazon listing has the description for a completely different PPP book. I kind of wonder how many potential purchasers who are bright enough to be able to tell that 91 AD Roman Britain is hardly "medieval" have been turned off by that in the past.

Actually when I realized that the Roman description wasn't for this book I didn't buy it. I did grab it for free though.

[ATDrake]

If you're still interested in it, the described Roman book is this one by Jane Finnis, which was one of the PPP 99 cent introductory specials in Feb/March or so. I bought and started it. Only a few chapters in before I got interrupted and drifted toward other stuff, but seemed pretty promising so far.

[koland]

Originally Posted by murraypaul

This seems to have two versions on Amazon.
Searching by title gives this, which costs $8.99. But the link from the publishers website gives this which has a different (correct) publisher than the first link, and costs $0.99.

The higher cost one is from "ReadHowYouWant", which seems to be connected with PPP, in that they scan books for them (and other publishers). Or, at least, they claim to do so.