I received a copy of this title from the publisher for an honest review. Searcher of the Dead is an Elizabethan era historical mystery featuring Bess Ellyott who has moved in with her brother following the death of her husband. There is a mystery surrounding the death of Bess's husband that is hinted at but not fully resolved in this title; she fled London after his death and is afraid that her current location will be found out. Bess fills her days tending to those unable to afford the care of a doctor or midwife; when the book opens, she is helping to treat the daughter of a local family who burned herself and the burn has begun to show signs of infection. Upon Bess's return home, she finds her sister very upset after her husband Fulke failed to return home on time. Bess and her brother Robert are sure that Fulke has just been delayed; early the next morning Dorothie returns with news that Fulke's horse has returned without his rider. Bess and Robert begin to search, but Bess quickly discovers her brother-in-law hanging in a wooded area. Local officials quickly determine suicide to be the cause of death, but it doesn't sit right with Bess. She works to convince the local constable, Kit Harwoode. Nominated for the job by his cousin Wat as a joke due to his wilder younger years, Kit accepted the position and does his best to carryout the duties of his job. The mystery is well done with twists and turns to keep the reader guessing, but for me, the strength of the story is the historical detail that the author imparts to the reader without making it feel like a history lesson. I'm not as familiar with the Elizabethan era, but I loved the details of how the justice system worked, the attitude toward Catholics, what medicine was like, and what life in a village was like. There is an interesting cast of secondary characters including Bess's maid Joan who previously lived on the streets in London before Bess befriended her, Bess's brother Robert, and Kit's cousin Gibb. Kit and Bess have the beginnings of a romance by the end of the book; I'm hoping this is the first in a new series. I can't wait to find out more of the circumstances of Bess's life in London in future installments.

Searcher Of The Dead
by Nancy Herriman
#NetGalley #SearcherOfTheDead #Bookreview #Goodreads
#maggiesdaisy start 10/29/2017 end 11/00/2017

A Recent widow and herbalist Bess Ellycott are one step away from finding the actual killer of her brother-in-law, who was found hanging from a tree. If her brother-in-law's death is ruled to be a suicide, then all his possessions will become the property of the Duke, leaving her sister and her two children penniless and without a home. Bess searches for clues in all the wrong and right places. Upon meeting the elected Constable, where there seems to be some mutual attraction between them, but she has her doubts as to whether he can complete the task at hand without her continued help. This book was fun, witty, a dash of good historical subject matter, substantial characters to relate with encouragement or hostility in a land where men are considered superior to women.

In 1593 Queen Elizabeth enacted a new bill named the "Act Against Puritans. In this bill, she requires that all individuals over the age of sixteen be responsible in attending church services on a weekly basis or face fines, imprisonment, and other such judicial penalties that were popular at that time.

Repression, no freedom of religion.

Act Against Puritans By Queen Elizabeth in 1593; "conform themselves to the obedience of the laws and statutes of this realm, in coming to the church to hear divine service," https://history.hanover.edu/texts/ENGref/er86.html

Bess Ellyott is a widowed herbalist living in Tudor England. After her husband was murdered, she left London for the country, hoping to find peace and safety, but all she finds is more death. Her brother-in-law is found hanging in a tree, Bess knows this is no suicide and believes the same man responsible for her husband’s death has no killed again. IS the killer out to make sure he has the corner on the lucrative wool market, or is he really after Bess and her family? With the help of a local constable, Bess will try to track the killer whose next victim may be the queen herself. Historical mysteries are hard to pull off, too much attention to historical detail can slow the mystery down, not enough and the authenticity of the plot stumbles. Herriman does a good job keeping the history and the mystery equally balanced and equally interesting