The Plymouth Cloak: The Second Tale of Roger the Chapman

In her second well-crafted medieval mystery featuring valiant Roger the sic Chapman, Sedley ( Death and the Chapman ) places her strapping 21-year-old peddler in the treacherous duplicity of the War of the Roses. In 1473, a benign Richard of Gloucester (who will become Richard III) picks Roger to guard Philip Underdown, who is carrying a message to Duke Francis of Brittany on behalf of Richard's embattled brother King Edward IV. Underdown's unsavory past has earned him many enemies, so Roger arms himself with a stout cudgel, known as a ``Plymouth cloak.'' Although his dislike of Philip intensifies when he learns that Philip has been a slaver specializing in dwarfs, then all the rage at European courts, Roger successfully foils various attackers. Then they seek shelter in a castle, where Philip, sneaking out on apparently amorous quest, is fatally beaten and stabbed. Roger, acting as detective, sorts through various suspects, wraps up the case and sees that Richard's message is delivered. The story compares well to Ellis Peters's Brother Cadfael tales. (Jan.)