Deadly Inheritance (Sir Geoffrey Mappestone Series) - Tapa dura

Murder, intrigue and marriage in the Welsh Marches of old. When Sir Geoffrey's unpopular brother, Henry, is murdered, he unwillingly inherits Goodrich Castle in the Welsh Marches. Immediately, his sister pushes him toward a marriage that will provide an heir and stability for the family. But when Geoffrey survives attempts on his own life, he wonders whether they are linked to Henry's death, to his potential brides or even to the rumoured murder of the Duchess of Normandy, as a Welsh revolt against the English looms.

This is the long-awaited new 'Sir Geoffrey Mappestone' mystery. When the highly unpopular Henry Mappestone is found killed by a mysterious 'Black Knife' in the stables at Goodrich Castle, his last-surviving brother, the former crusader knight Sir Geoffrey, unwillingly inherits the castle and the rest of the family's estates in the Welsh Marches. Geoffrey has hardly arrived before his sister attempts to push him into a marriage that will ultimately provide an heir and, therefore, long-term stability for their family in a tense and troubled region. But while visiting his friend Bishop Giffard at a nearby estate, attempts are made on Geoffrey's life, and several other guests are killed. Are these deaths related to Henry's murder, to his potential brides, or to the rumoured murder of the Duchess of Normandy by Giffard's family, which Geoffrey has been asked to investigate? As Geoffrey tries to make sense of a maze of intrigue, further killings begin to destabilize the area, and threaten to lead to a Welsh revolt against the west of England.