ASHES OF THE ELEMENTS: A Hawkenlye Mystery de Clare, Alys - 2001

N.Y.: Saint Martin's Press, 2001. 1st US edition, April 2001with complete number line beginning with 1. Page edges lightly soiled else near fine in unclipped dust jacket. Complete with map of Hawkenlye Abbey. The 2nd book in the series. Cover illustrated by David Bowers. Hidden in the depths of Wealden Forest, a man hacks at the thick roots of a fallen oak tree. Drawn to a clearing by a strange and eerie song, he witnesses an incredible sight that sends a sudden, agonizing fear through his body. As he stumbles out of the forest into the bright light of a full moon, he hears a whistling noise close by. As if some ancient curse is reawakened, the man meets with a violent end, killed instantly by a flint-headed spear. -- The Sheriff of Tonbridge is happy to assume the Forest People did it, but Abbess Helewise believes a supernatural solution is too easy an answer. Fortunately, with King Richard Plantagenet halfway to Jerusalem on his latest crusade, Josse d'Acquin has returned to his new manor house in the Weald. Eager to investigate, Josse enters the forest himself-and finds something that terrifies even him. -- Another death soon follows, and Abbess Helewise, concerned about the involvement of two girls from Hawklenlye Abbey, joins Josse to discover what forces really lie in the mysterious darkness of the ancient forest. Abbess Helewise and soldier of fortune Josse d'Aquin investigate murderous, and possibly supernatural, doings in the Wealken forest.. First Edition. Hard Cover. Near Fine/Near Fine. Illus. by Bowers, David. Book.