The Elephants of Norwich by Edward Marston - Domesday Series - Fiction - Paperback

Condition: BRAND NEW. Format: Paperback. ISBN: 9780749026905. Publisher: Allison & Busby. Series: Domesday Series, Book 11. Overview:. Step into Norman England with Edward Marston's gripping historical mystery, The Elephants of Norwich. Two Domesday Commissioners, sent to settle a land dispute between rival barons, are pulled into a far darker affair when a pair of priceless golden elephants vanish and a steward disappears without trace. Blending courtroom wit with a tightly plotted whodunit, this eleventh instalment in the acclaimed Domesday series delivers atmosphere, intrigue, and a satisfying puzzle for lovers of medieval crime fiction.. About the Book:. Edward Marston's The Elephants of Norwich transports readers to the turbulent years following the Norman Conquest, where Ralph Delchard and Gervase Bret, two Domesday Commissioners, arrive in Norwich expecting a routine adjudication between two quarrelling landowners, Richard de Fontenel and Mauger Livarot. Both men are vying for the hand of the wealthy widow Adelaide, and de Fontenel has gifted her two exquisite solid-gold elephant miniatures to win her favour. When the elephants are stolen and de Fontenel's steward, Hermer, disappears at the same time, the commissioners find their legal mission overtaken by a criminal one. As accusations fly between the two rival suitors, Delchard and Bret must sift through lies, rivalries, and old grudges to uncover what really happened to the treasure and the missing steward. Marston weaves in the resentments of Norman conquerors and displaced Saxon landholders, giving the mystery real historical texture, while four distinct female characters offer a window into the social position of women in this period. The investigation moves through markets, manor halls, and courtrooms, with clues hidden in everyday exchanges and courtly manoeuvring. Though part of a long-running series, the novel stands on its own as a complete mystery, rewarding both newcomers and long-time fans of Ma