It is the juiciest piece of gossip the citizens of Norwich have heard for a long time. The two golden elephants that robber baron Richard de Fontenel was using to lure the beautiful Adelaide into marriage have been stolen. Also missing is de Fontenel's steward Hermer. Desperate to try and ignore this growing crisis are Domesday Commissioners Ralph Delchard and Gervase Bret, who are keen to resolve a land dispute involving de Fontenel and Mauger - a man also trying to woo Adelaide. De Fontenel, however, refuses to co-operate until the thief is found. But is Hermer the steward really missing or has something more sinister happened? In Ralph and Gervase's most baffling case yet, nothing is what it seems and no one is free from suspicion...

Set in the 11^th century just twenty years after William the Conqueror and his Normans invaded and took over England, William’s grand survey of England is the backdrop for this historical mystery.  Domesday Commissioners Ralph Delcahrd is a Norman soldier who fought at the Battle of Hastings while Gervase Bret is a talented lawyer who comes from mixed Saxon and Breton parentage. They have traveled to Norwich to settle several land disputes, the largest of which is a series of disputes between Richard de Fontenel and Mauger Livarot, bitter rivals in both the land disputes and their attempts to woo the beautiful widow lady Adelaide. Before Ralph and Gervase can get to the land disputes they are drawn into solving a theft and a murder. The golden elephants de Fontenel had offered to lady Adelaide as a wedding gift, if she agreed to marry him, have been stolen and the first suspect has shown up brutally murdered just outside the castle walls.  As the investigation continues things take unexpected turns and suspects abound.

These are fascinating historical mysteries set in an unusual time period. Marston is a pseudonym for Keith Miles and the Domesday Mysteries is just one of several historical mystery series he has written. It is great to see these being reprinted. ~~ Stephanie L Bannon