The Harwood Mysteries Book 5
Antony Barone Kolenc
Loyola Press
ISBN 9780829455540
eISBN 9780829455557
ASIN B0CBWFWQBK
This is the penultimate book in the Harwood Mysteries. I have really enjoyed the 5 novels so far, I have also read the three short stories in the same world published as the Lucy Mysteries. The author has indicated the series will conclude with a sixth volume due out in 2024. This story is historical fiction set in medieval England in the middle of April 1187 A.D., about 7 months after the previous story. The description of the volume is:
“Xan and Christina embark on a journey to Harwood Abbey, where they reunite with their old friends, Lucy and Joshua. When a brutal murder occurs at nearby Penwood Manor, all evidence points to Laurence, a Crusader recently returned from the Holy Land. Unconvinced of the man’s guilt, Xan and his friends must act swiftly to solve the crime.
Who could have committed such a horrible killing, and is anyone safe?
Is Laurence tormented by demons, or is he haunted by some other secret?
And will Xan be forever changed by the choice Lucy and Christina present to him?”
This particular novel has won numerous awards including:
2024 Independent Press Award Winner, Childrens: Religion Fiction
2024 Illumination Book Awards Silver Medalist, Juvenile/Young Adult Fiction
2024 ACP Excellence in Publishing Awards, First Place: Children's Books: Teens
If you have already read the other Harwood Mysteries you will be familiar with many of the characters. This volume is not as dark as the previous, but it does deal with murder, and the sins of pride and envy. Envy is a theme running throughout the story and some learn to turn away from it and some do not. The challenges Xan faces are very different, including physical confrontations, serious threats against him and his friends, and a mystery that even at times he doubts he can solve.
I has some suspicions by the midpoint of the story, but was not proven correct until much later. Watching Xan struggle to put the pieces together and even to figure out his own future was a greatly entertaining read. Though the consequences for others especially Lucy are very surprising.
The author in the historic note at the end of the volume states:
“For Murder at Penwood Manor (Book 5), I wanted to write a medieval murder mystery, with a focus on the little-understood and rarely discussed vice of envy.
I’ve also tried to build key historical focal points into each novel. In Book 1, I set the medieval stage with a demonstration of feudalism and monastic life in the twelfth century. In Book 2, I illustrated the Norman Conquest of England by William the Conqueror, as well as the amazing history behind the real-life Lincoln Cathedral. In Book 3, I introduced the political intrigue and politics that led to so many problems in the medieval Church in its struggle with secular powers. In Book 4, I set forth the dysfunction in King Henry II’s personal life, including the many rebellions of his sons against him. All the while, I have been planting seeds about one of the most important events in medieval history: the Crusades.
In Murder at Penwood Manor, I wanted to explore the mentality of the average medieval crusader. Laurence represents those men who vowed to keep Jerusalem and the Holy Land in Christian hands, and who would sacrifice much to fulfill their vow. While there are notions of feudalism and monastic life throughout Book 5, the new ingredient is the Crusades generally, and the specific historical depiction of the events that led to the Third Crusade.”
Tony again has done a masterful job of finding balance between telling a new tale and staying true to historical fact and places. This volume is well researched and the author’s historical note at the end is worth the reading. The characters are very well written, it is a solid plot with a few twists and interesting subplots woven well into the story. It also contains a huge surprising cliff hanger ending. The story moves at a great pace. It was a terribly hard book to put down.
It was great to watch Xan’s and Christina’s growth in this story and their interactions with and others at the Abbey and Convent. This story and the main Harwood series is marketed for Middle grade readers but are great for tweens and teens. I am in my fifties and I loved them. This is another well written story and one that will leave you desperate for the next volume. Antony ‘Tony’ Barone Kolenc is a retired Lieutenant Colonel from the U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps. He currently teaches law. In this story and series, he has shown that he has great skill as a story teller in both long and short form fiction. It is a historical fiction story guaranteed to entertain, readers young and old alike. It is a great story in a wonderful series. I can easily recommend the book and the series.
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2024 Catholic Reading Plan!
Books by Antony Barone Kolenc:
The Harwood Mysteries:
Shadow in the Dark
The Haunted Cathedral
The Chronicles of Xan:
Shadow in the Dark
The Haunted Cathedral
The Fire of Eden
…
Books by Antony Barone Kolenc:
The Harwood Mysteries:
Shadow in the Dark
The Haunted Cathedral
Harwood Short Stories:
The Lucy Mysteries:
…
The Chronicles of Xan:
Shadow in the Dark
The Haunted Cathedral
The Fire of Eden
…
Other Books:
Penny and the Stolen Chalice
…
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