The Beloved Dead

Starred review from February 14, 2011
Hayes merges a suspenseful serial killer story line with a persuasive recreation of fifth-century Britain in his superior third Arthurian mystery (after 2010's The Divine Sacrifice). Arthur ap Uther, "the Rigotamos, the High King of all Britannia," who's preparing for a politically expedient marriage, dispatches his chief adviser, Malgwyn ap Cuneglas, to escort his bride-to-be, Gwyneira, and her father, Aircol, back to Arthur's stronghold. On the way, Malgwyn gets caught up in the search for a savage murderer, who sexually abuses young girls before slitting their throats. The investigator has to wonder whether the killings, which reawaken painful memories from his own past, are aimed at destabilizing Arthur's authority, perpetually under threat from envious rivals. That Arthur remains in love with Malgwyn's admirable cousin, Guinevere, only exacerbates tension between Malgwyn and the legendary king, who emerges as a plausible flesh-and-blood ruler. Both Arthur fans and historical whodunit devotees will be more than satisfied.

January 1, 2011

In fifth-century Britain, King Arthur makes a difficult choice, little knowing that it will move his kingdom to the brink of war.

King Arthur's old friend and trusted counselor Malgwyn is also cousin to Arthur's lover, the fallen nun Guinevere. Malgwyn understands but cannot approve of Arthur's decision to seek the hand of Lady Gwyneira, daughter of the powerful Lord Aircol. Their marriage would strengthen the Northern borders and cement Arthur's position as Rigotamos, head of the council of powerful lords, many of whom have their own ambitions. On a visit to Londinium, the Christian Arthur runs afoul of the Druid Wynn, who curses him on the very site of what proves to be one in a series of vicious murders and rapes. Malgwyn, who's had success in the past solving mysteries (The Divine Sacrifice, 2010, etc.), adds finding the killer to his list of things to do for Arthur. Sent to bring Gwyneira and Aircol to Arthur's court for the marriage, Malgwyn deals along the way with spying, intrigue and more murders. When Gwyneira is killed on her wedding night, Guinevere and Malgwyn's lover Ygerne are the chief suspects. Malgwyn must use all his powers to find the real killer and prevent Arthur's rule from ending abruptly and ignominiously.

Forget those romantic portraits of Camelot. Hays' third Arthurian tale paints a bleak picture of post-Roman Britain that pleases as a mystery and intrigues as history.

(COPYRIGHT (2011) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

Starred review from February 1, 2011

In his third outing (after The Killing Way and The Divine Sacrifice) Malgwyn, Arthur's one-armed scribe and most trusted adviser, is to escort Arthur's intended bride to Castellum Arturius, where the royal wedding will take place. On the eve of departure, a young woman is brutally raped and murdered, but Malgwyn has no time for an investigation. On the way, two more women are killed. Upon his return, Malgwyn finds that his cousin Guinevere, who has had a long-standing relationship with Arthur and is not dealing with the impending marriage very well, has sought sanctuary in a monastery and is the prime murder suspect. VERDICT Hayes has captured the Arthurian legend and made it his own. Many complex plot threads and believable characters make this a series to be savored by historical mystery and Arthurian fiction fans.

Copyright 2011 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2011
Hays (The Killing Way, 2009; The Divine Sacrifice, 2010) merges legend and intrigue in his third Arthurian-inspired mystery featuring King Arthurs maimed and embittered counselor, Malgwyn ap Cuneglas. Despite the fact that the man holds a well-known grudge against him, Arthur chooses one-armed Malgwyn to escort his royal bride-to-be on a journey fraught with violence and peril. After the gruesome murder of several young virgins and the new queen, suspicion falls on Guinevere, Arthurs true love and Malgwyns cousin. As Britain teeters on the brink of civil war, it is up to Malgwyn to unmask the true culprit before a disastrous religious conflict between the Druids and the Christians permanently ruptures Arthurs fledgling reign and tears the kingdom apart. Hays continues to excel at refashioning well-worn Arthurian mythology into highly suspenseful whodunits.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)