House of Crows (The sorrowful mysteries of Brother Athelstan) [signed] [first edition]

It is 1380 and the British King's parliament is debating on whether to grant money and supplies to the Regent John of Gaunt for his war against the French. Following the assassination of the Shrewsbury representatives, John orders Sir John Cranston?London?s coroner?to investigate lest the parliament suspect the Regent himself of committing the crime. Meanwhile both Cranston and his ally Brother Athelstan have their own problems: the coroner is puzzled by a thief stealing cats from Cheapside, and Athelstan is concerned by claims that a devil is prowling his parish. Against the colorful pageantry of medieval court life and the dark slums of London, Cranston and Brother Athelstan must pit their wits against an assassin in the House of Crows.