Murder at the War by Mary Monica Pulver Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Murder at the War
Book Review: Excellent but not new
Summary: 5 Stars
This is an excellent book, and part of one of my favorite series. However, for anyone hoping for a new mystery, prepare to be disappointed. Murder at the War is the original title of Knight Fall.Book Review: Excellent fictional look at the SCA, with a mystery added
Summary: 4 Stars
Mary Monica Pulver's a longtime member of the SCA, and is well-qualified to write a mystery set in and among the Society's members at our largest gathering, the Pennsic War (upwards of 10,000 people onsite). Unlike _Bimbos of the Death Sun_ et seq., there's no attitude of "oh, look at the freaky weirdos who should get a life," instead, we get a sympathetic look at the SCA's subculture and how it meshes and clashes with the surrounding "mundane" world. The various groups within the SCA are presented fairly faithfully, although things now are not quite as they were when she wrote this book. The mystery element is honestly puzzling, and hinges on a bit of SCA lore that's in front of the reader's face from the beginning. A good first mystery novel, with an unusual setting.Book Review: Great Bedtime Reading
Summary: 4 Stars
This book was purchased due to the recommendation of a fellow Scadian and tribal Chieftain, Siobhann. She could not stop talking about it, and I frankly needed something a bit more entertaining than my usual research books to end my day on a relaxing and enjoyable note. I have been pleasantly surprised by the very engaging story and characters, and to anyone that currently spends a major portion of their "leisure" time living in the Current Middle Ages, the ancillary dilemmas of our anachronistic lifestyle will draw you in quickly and you will feel very much at home with the setting. The book captures so many of the tensions between the SCA and "mundanes", as well as internal SCA conflicts between strict reconstructionists and those who prefer modern conveniences with a Medieval disguise. If anything, it portrays the typical Scadian as being much less eccentric than we probably are. There are things that aren't strictly speaking SCA authentic; the main one that I noticed was the personal devices/heraldry as described would probably not pass muster. However, the descriptions of regulations for Western Martial Arts seemed to me to be very accurate. The story was absorbing, with a murder victim that you don't really grieve over too much, even as you agree that the perpetrator must be brought to justice. The bonds of honor and loyalty are admirably portrayed, balanced well with a protagonist who segues well between his mundane and his SCA lives.
I've really enjoyed trying to figure out "who done it". Was it the annoying Chirurgeon whose position as a mundane surgeon allows him the means to afford very authentic Medieval pretensions? Was it the King's best friend, who had a well-known but undefined feud with the victim? Was it the King, himself, who went missing during the time of the murder? It obviously isn't the suspect that the mundane law officers focus on initially, but how can she prove her innocence to the victim's suspicious Horde Brothers?
One can read Medieval mysteries, and modern mysteries, but for those of us who live in both worlds and recognize that the SCA is a world unto itself that blends aspects of both, there aren't many opportunities to read fiction based on OUR world. And good fiction? Even better.
Buy this book and make it your bedtime reading at the next War or Tourney.
Book Review: Great fictional take on the SCA
Summary: 3 Stars
I grew up in the SCA, dragged to event after event (my first event was Pennsic 13!) by my father, who joined shortly after he divorced my mother. Twenty-one years later, he's still in the SCA and even serves on its Board of Directors.
Although it's been more than fifteen years since I was an active SCA member, I do remember fondly some of the time I spent as an adolescent in the Society, and I read this book as a means to reminiscence. This little book is a terrific mystery yarn that is also a very accurate portrayal of the nuances of SCA society and culture. I don't know if a non-SCA person would want to read it, though---it might be too confusing. But to current and former SCA folk, this is a terrific read, and it also shows that SCA folk on whole are just "regular people" with a rather unusual hobby.
Book Review: Great fun, and a great way to learn about the SCA
Summary: 5 Stars
I know many of the people in this book. I grew up with them in the SCA, have laughed and cried with them, given them a guest home (at times 20 or so at a time), made garb, cooked, served and honored them as friends, my "children," and, unfortunately, sometimes my enemies. Now, naturally, I don't mean that I personally know these folks (although I do know a great number of the people who served as models, as well as those who agreed to be portrayed as real people in this novel), but I know the archtypes. Besides, I'm proud to say, I was able to be a tiny, tiny bit of help to her.
Now, what do I think of this book?
This is the author's first novel. She slaved over it for a long time. However, I can't say that the writing is really good (sorry, Mary) -- in this case it is the storytelling that stands out. What she did do, however, is create a crime mystery (her favorite story style), and set it into a situation that she knows and loves.
Given that she has written a number of books since Murder at the War came out (each of them better than the last), consider this a good start to her career, forget about the writing errors and read it as a ripping story told around a campfire.
Hmmm. Just before I saw the book's web page, I was thinking it might be time to find my copy to read again.