Here there be Humans

kw: book reviews, fiction, mysteries

I have a gaggle of cousins who have been very active in SCA, or the Society for Creative Anachronism, nearly from its beginning. It started out as a bunch of people curious about pre-industrial technologies, particularly weapons, such as catapults, swords and chain mail. It has developed into a motley association of societies whose most public face is seen at Renaissance Faires, presided over by a local "king" and usually a "queen", featuring mostly medieval foodstuffs and playacting battles and jousting. However, it is not limited to the medieval European milieu, and one fellow I once knew specialized in Neandertal portrayal. The phenomenon is primarily American.

A Renaissance Faire held in England, in the Cotswolds, is the backdrop for Aunt Dimity Slays the Dragon, a delightful mystery by Nancy Atherton. This is her fourteenth Aunt Dimity mystery. To one such as I, new to the series, it soon becomes evident that Aunt Dimity is dead, but certainly not inactive. She has bequeathed to Lori, the series' protagonist, a magical journal that is a bit like the self-writing newspapers in the Harry Potter books. Aunt Dimity responds to Lori by conversing in blue lettering with a fine Copperplate hand. She is part confidante, part conscience, and part mentor to Lori, a woman in early middle age with an active imagination and a penchant for getting caught up in the midst of the action.

In Dragon, the little village of Finch becomes the half-willing host to a gaggle of tourists when a Ren Faire is set up on a nearby farmer's land. The farmer's nephew Calvin, as Good King Wilfred, funds and manages the Faire for several summer weekends. The first day of the event, while a success for Calvin and his troupe, is a disaster for Finch. Tourists always include a number of hooligans, and the town is ill-used. However, the Good King has anticipated this, and sends over a clean-up crew composed of most of his "army", and regains some favor with the townsfolk.

The day at the Faire was not all good, however. Two serious accidents have threatened Wilfred/Calvin's life, though he brushes them off as harmless mishaps. Lori sees evidence of sabotage in both. She soon discerns a love triangle and a disgruntled worker at the Faire, and determines to keep the king from harm. First Aunt Dimity, then her husband Bill, confirm her suspicions. However, where the magical book encourages her to learn more, her husband points out that authorities are already involved and she must calm down and refrain from interference.

Well, all her suspicions prove true, but she has some of the players wrong. The twists in the plot turn out a story of disgrace and forgiveness. Happily, nobody gets killed, though when Calvin turns over the kinging duties to a hired hand, the "courtiers" all cheer, "The King is dead, long live the King!"

I find it hard to locate mysteries that do not center on murder. I prefer clever thefts and other kinds of malfeasance. Happily, here is one more author who caters to tastes such as mine. Oh, and the Dragon? As Aunt Dimity knows, our dragons reside within.