The Janna Chronicles

Part 1 - Blood Oath Love, revenge, secrets - and murder - in a medieval kingdom at war. A young woman, left alone and destitute after the mysterious death of her mother, plants a sprig of rosemary on her grave and vows, somehow, to bring the murderer to justice. But who can Janna trust with the truth? Even the villein Godric, who wants to marry her, and Hugh, the dashing nobleman, have secrets that threaten her heart and her safety. In a country torn apart by the vicious civil war between King Stephen and the Empress Matilda, Janna needs all her wits and courage to stay alive as she comes closer to those who fear her knowledge and are determined to silence her forever. Part 2 - Forced to flee for her life, Janna sets out in search of her unknown father, hoping that with his help she may avenge the death of her mother and bring a murderer to justice. Disguised as a youth, Janna takes shelter on a manor farm managed by the handsome nobleman, Hugh. There she encounters mysterious acts of sabotage marked by posies of rue. When Hugh's young nephew, Hamo, disappears, Janna can trust no-one in her bid to find out the truth. Godric has turned against her, while Hugh stands to inherit everything if Hamo dies. Can Janna find the child before time runs out - for both of them? Part 3 - Unholy Murder Janna finds sanctuary at Wiltune Abbey where she hopes to learn how to read so that she may gain clues to her father's identity from a letter kept secret by her mother. But even in the house of God there are mysteries to solve. Who is the stranger asking questions about her, and what is his purpose? Who stabbed the lord Hugh at St Edith's fair - and was the knife meant for Janna? Who is stealing and destroying Sister Ursel's illuminated pages depicting the Life of St Edith? And why is someone leaving lilies at the saint's shrine? The bitter civil war between King Stephen and the Empress Matilda brings the empress to the abbey, and results in a meeting that will change Janna's life. Part 4 - Pilgrim of Death 'Death follows you ...' An old woman's prediction haunts Janna as she journeys to Ambresberie Abbey with a group of pilgrims. Along the way she and Bernard, leader of the pilgrims, find a letter on a corpse. The letter contains dangerous information regarding the bitter civil war between King Stephen and the Empress Matilda. Ralph, a charismatic pilgrim, woos Janna, and promises to help her find her father - but can she trust him with her secret after Bernard is murdered at Stonehenge? Several lives hang in the balance as Janna is forced to choose between loyalty to the empress, or love and the success of her quest to avenge her mother's death. Part 5 - Devil's Brew Janna's search for her unknown father has brought her to the heart of the royal court of Winchestre, but her purse has been stolen, she has no proof of her identity, she's working as a drudge in a tavern to support herself, and she can't choose between the two men who love her. Winchestre is set on fire in the deadly battle between King Stephen and the Empress Matilda, but the true danger to Janna comes from the man sent to silence her forever. A chance meeting brings Janna's father to the tavern - but when sabotage threatens the tavern's future, Janna must choose between her duty to save the woman who gave her sanctuary, and her duty to obey her father. Part 6 - Day of Judgment Once Janna and her father are finally reconciled, she realises that she poses a threat to her father's family after there's an attempt on her life. Unwilling to name the culprit, but with a secret plan, Janna accompanies her father to Oxeneford where the Empress Matilda is under siege from King Stephen and in desperate need of help. Janna finally tells her father the truth about her mother's death, and enlists his support in bringing the murderer to justice. But at the same time, and to her dismay, her father asks the king to negotiate a prestigious marriage for her. When the man she truly loves is accused of murder, Janna has one last crime to solve - until the siege of Wiltune turns her life upside down and changes everything.