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Alys Clare
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Fortune Like the Moon (Hawkenlye Mystery Trilogy Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Alys Clare (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 729 ratings
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It is 1157, and a young nun from Hawkenlye Abbey has been found with her throat slashed. The people of rural Kent are quick to jump to conclusions: Surely the murderer must be one of the felons released by the new king, Richard Plantagenet, as a sign of his goodness and charity. When King Richard dispatches a soldier of fortune, Josse d'Acquin, to investigate the shockingly brutal crime, Josse understands that his true mission is to absolve the king from blame. But neither the king nor Josse has reckoned with the one person who is determined to find the truth at all costs--the remarkable Abbess of Hawkenlye, who ultimately joins with Josse to uncover the menace lurking behind the orderly facade of life in the convent and the surrounding manors. Fortune Like the Moon not only recreates the violence and beauty of medieval times but introduces a truly wonderful new pair of detectives.

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  1. Book 1 of 17
    Hawkenlye Mysteries
  2. Print length
    274 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Minotaur Books
  5. Publication date
    May 21, 2013
  6. File size
    633 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
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  10. See all details
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There are 17 books in this series.
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Hawkenlye Mysteries Book 1 - Book 17
Bundle price: Kindle price
$35.97
Bundle price: Kindle price
$49.95
Bundle price: Kindle price
$92.90
By placing your order, you're purchasing a license to the content and you agree to the Kindle Store Terms of Use.

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The brutal murder of a young nun threatens the peace of the kingdom in this promising first novel by an author who might just be the next Ellis Peters. Richard Plantagenet, at his mother's behest, has released prisoners to signal the start of his enlightened reign in 1189. Fearful the people will rally against him, Richard dispatches knight Josse d'Acquin to Hawkenlye Abbey, headed by the incomparable Abbess Helewise, to make sure a freed felon didn't commit the crime. The abbess tells Josse that the slain novice, Gunnora, while outwardly devout, didn't have the right attitude for convent life. In fact, her only friend was newcomer Elvera, with whom she gossiped and laughed. Delving into Gunnora's past, Josse discovers that she was the older daughter of a dying lord who wanted her to marry a neighbor in order to join their lands. Rather than do so, she entered the convent while her younger sister married the man. But the sister has since died, leaving in question who will inherit the combined estate. Through a jeweled cross left at the scene of the murder, Josse is able to determine that Gunnora was Elvera's cousin. Before he can ask Elvera in detail about her relative's death, however, she drowns. Clare tells a chilling tale of inheritance and love while highlighting the analytic skills of both widowed Helewise and former warrior Josse, whose charming relationship will leave readers for more. (May)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

The medieval era is a popular setting for mysteries these days, as evidenced by these three new titles. Clare introduces a new heroine, the exemplary Abbess of Hawkenlye, who must join forces with an emissary from Richard Plantagenet to solve the murder of first one and then two young nuns. The ending is a little limp, but the writing is fine, and the abbess is an engaging character, one of the few religious in such mysteries (along with Sister Fidelma) actually to be presented in a positive light. Wolf brings back the hero of No Dark Place, Hugh de Leon, who in his first mystery discovered that he was heir to the Earl of Wiltshire. Hugh is determined to marry his feisty beloved despite opposition from the earl and is subsequently caught up in investigating the murder of the father of the bride the earl intends for him. The cool, savvy Hugh is almost too good to be true, and the psychic communication between him and his true love doesn't seem to fit with the otherwise realistically detailed surrounds, but the plot moves along quite nicely and should entertain most fans. Over the last few years. the publisher has been releasing Jecks's series featuring Sir Baldwin Furnshill, Keeper of the King's Peace in 14th-century England, in an attractive little mass-market format. Like all Jecks's tales, this one--concerning the suspicious death of the new master of Throwleigh, a five-year-old boy--is nicely detailed and tightly argued, with involving action and memorable characters. The whole series belongs in any collection where historicals are popular.
-Barbara Hoffert, "Library Journal"
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00CNTSWBK
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Minotaur Books (May 21, 2013)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 21, 2013
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 633 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 274 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 729 ratings

About the author

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Alys Clare

Alys Clare

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Alys Clare writes historical murder mysteries. There are 17 titles in the now-completed Hawkenlye series, set in and around the Wealden Forest during the reigns of Richard I and John: in order they are Fortune like the Moon, Ashes of the Elements, The Tavern in the Morning, The Chatter of the Maidens, The Faithful Dead, A Dark Night Hidden, Whiter than the Lily, Girl in a Red Tunic, Heart of Ice, The Enchanter's Forest, The Paths of the Air, The Joys of my Life, The Rose of the World, The Song of the Nightingale, The Winter King, A Shadowed Evil and The Devil's Cup.

The Aelf Fen books are set in the fenlands of East Anglia in the reign of William Rufus. The 9 titles so far are Out of the Dawn Light, Mist over the Water, Music of the Distant Stars, The Way between the Worlds, Land of the Silver Dragon, Blood of the South, The Night Wanderer, The Rufus Spy and City of Pearl.

The Gabriel Taverner books are set in Devon in the early 1600s. Queen Elizabeth is dead and the throne of England is now occupied by the very different character of James I. The main character in the series is a former ship's physician, and there are three titles so far: A Rustle of Silk, The Angel in the Glass and The Indigo Ghosts.

The World's End Bureau series is set in Victorian London, where a young woman called Lily Raynor is struggling to set up a private enquiry agency. The two titles to date are The Woman who Spoke to Spirits and The Outcast Girls.

Alys has also written books under her own name, Elizabeth Harris, and these include a series of time-slip mysteries and some roughly contemporary stories. These are available in e-book form. The titles are The Herb Gatherers, The Egyptian Years, The Sun Worshippers, Time of the Wolf, The Quiet Earth, The Sacrifice Stone, The Twilight Child, A Good Man's Love, Singing in the Wilderness, The Simple Life and My Turn Now.

Alys has been writing professionally for more than 30 years

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
729 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book easy to read and a great introduction to the series. They appreciate the well-done mystery and historical setting. The characters are described as good, though some feel there is not much suspense.

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ReadabilityMystery contentCharacter development
6 customers mention "Readability"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book readable and a good introduction to the series.

"I'm always on the lookout for a good book, and this is one. It's a good mystery without onscreen violence...." Read more

"Quite a good read. I didn't want to put it down. It did drag in a spot of two, but the pace picked up again and made up for it...." Read more

"If the rest of the books are half as good, this will be a series worth the read. Hope they go on for a long while." Read more

"Loved this book, especially as it made everything clearer about how the main characters met up...." Read more

4 customers mention "Mystery content"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the mystery content. They find it well-done and recommend it for fans of historical mysteries. The story is interesting and great.

"...The two leading characters are intelligent and driven. The mystery is well crafted." Read more

"...like Sister Euphemia and Brother Saul; I also felt the mystery was particularly well-done...." Read more

"Great story...." Read more

"Interesting Medieval Mystery..." Read more

3 customers mention "Character development"3 positive0 negative

Customers like the character development. However, they feel there isn't much suspense or mystery in the book.

"...The two leading characters are intelligent and driven. The mystery is well crafted." Read more

"...Fortunately, this book delivers a good story with characters you'd like to know. The locale is engaging, but not so foreign as to be unrecognizable...." Read more

"Took awhile to move along. Not a lot of suspense. Good characters but not much mystery. I liked the abbess and the knight." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Misi
    5.0 out of 5 stars a great series opener
    Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Josse Daquin is a king’s man, specifically Richard the first. He is sent to England to solve a murder and meets the abbess for the first time. She is a woman in a position of power, who is used to leading. The two leading characters are intelligent and driven. The mystery is well crafted.
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  • Elisabeth Huhn
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great beginning
    Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I'm always on the lookout for a good book, and this is one. It's a good mystery without onscreen violence. I'm also not much of a fan of edge of the seat suspense or terror. Fortunately, this book delivers a good story with characters you'd like to know. The locale is engaging, but not so foreign as to be unrecognizable. Sums up to a good read. And I'll be on the lookout for the next one.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Murder by night
    Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Quite a good read. I didn't want to put it down. It did drag in a spot of two, but the pace picked up again and made up for it.

    King Henry VII died and Richard, his younger brother, inherits the throne. Richard has lived nearly all his life in Aquitaine, which he inherited from his mother, Queen Eleanor. As a beneficent gesture, he released some prisoners from various gaols around England. Shortly thereafter, a young noviate nun is found dead, her throat slashed and her body bloodied.

    Josse d'Acquin has been appointed by King Richard, through his mother, to investigate this horrendous crime. He must travel to the Abbey at Hawkenlye and begin without knowing exactly how it what he has to do. There, he meets Abbess Helewise and an investigative team is formed.

    I was not paid for this review nor was I reimbursed for this recommendation. I have not been compensated for my opinion,but I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys medieval mysteries.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • NC Reader
    4.0 out of 5 stars Successful first outing
    Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I thought I had read this first entry in the Hawkenlye series, but once I started reading it I realized I hadn't; I've since read and enjoyed some of the other books in the series and wanted to reacquaint myself with how the series started. Very well, it turns out, with few of the awkward, contrived tricks an author often uses to start a series - over explaining, too much background of characters and situations, where too much is told instead of shown.

    A novice nun appears to have been brutally raped and murdered after King Richard frees several prisoners in a show of amnesty; worried that his act of benevolence will be blamed for the crime before he has even set foot in his new kingdom, Richard dispatches Sir Josse d'Acquin to investigate the murder. Arriving at Hawkenlye Abbey Josse makes the acquaintance of Abbess Helewise and the two join forces to discover the twisted truth behind the murder.

    I really enjoyed the logical progression of the friendship and growing bond between the two leads, as well as Helewise's and Josse's interactions with supporting players like Sister Euphemia and Brother Saul; I also felt the mystery was particularly well-done. My only slight complaint was the ending; even after loose ends were tied up it dragged on a bit tending to Josse's personal life and getting him back to Hawkenlye in what seemed like a realistic but rather long-winded way. Ah well, small complaint for the start to what has become one of my favorite series! Recommended to fans of historical mysteries.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • elizabeth daily
    3.0 out of 5 stars Ok read
    Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Took awhile to move along. Not a lot of suspense. Good characters but not much mystery. I liked the abbess and the knight.
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  • CM
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great introduction to a series.
    Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    If the rest of the books are half as good, this will be a series worth the read. Hope they go on for a long while.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Bonnie's Awesome Scrubbies
    4.0 out of 5 stars Don't Start this Series if you Listen on Kindle.
    Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Great story. I really like this author - BUT - if you listen to books on your Kindle while performing other activities, as I do, don't start this series. You will get really interested in the characters and story lines only to find that of the 17 books in the series, only the first three and the last few are in Kindle format. The middle ten or so are available ONLY in hard cover or paperback. I do not have time to sit down and read a paperback which is why I listen to books on my Kindle Keyboard. I am so disappointed that the series has a ten book gap for Kindle. In my humble opinion only full series should be put in Kindle format.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Evamay
    5.0 out of 5 stars Evamay
    Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Loved this book, especially as it made everything clearer about how the main characters met up. I recommend all the Hawkenlye books as they make very good reading.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • SARAH ADAMS
    5.0 out of 5 stars I really enjoyed this story
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 27, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I really enjoyed this story! The plot was well thought through and the relationship between the abbess and the knight developed nicely. Although a murder story, it was very pleasing that it did not contain a lot of gruesome content, leaving me to imagine the scene. The characters were well described and I felt, historically correct. This is one f the best books I have read in a while, although I chose it purely by chance! I was really pleased to find the second book in the series, which I am now enjoying equally as much!
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  • Mrs Jones
    4.0 out of 5 stars I'm still in love with the Crowner John series by Sir Bernard Knight ...
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 2, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Handy as a read at bedtime - nothing too complicated or exciting enough to keep me awake, but enough to keep me interested. I'm still in love with the Crowner John series by Sir Bernard Knight and trying to find something as good as those!
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  • Pamela Bramall
    5.0 out of 5 stars Jose d'Aquin
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 12, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    This is a remarkable book. It brings the time of Richard the Lionheart to life beautifully. Aspects of the times become real and understandable. All the people in the book are likeable (or not, as the case may be), and the things they do and say are believable. I thoroughly enjoyed a glimpse of 12th century England and intend to continue with the Hawkenlye series.
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  • Wycarbah
    3.0 out of 5 stars Poor presentation
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 8, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Good story, the first in the series and sets the scene for those books to follow. Excellent story and well written Will follow the series.
    BUT, this was a 'used' book advertised as 'good' condition. When received it had clearly been kept in damp musty conditions as evidenced by the badly discoloured mouldy, though dry, pages. It is not be sitting on my bookshelf!
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  • Mrs C Edwards
    4.0 out of 5 stars good book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 24, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    First book i have read by `Alys Clare and found it an enjoyable read . Looking forward to reading the next one
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