Instruct: Classify the given Amazon review as either positive or negative.
Query: A bloody, but wonderfully crafted story.

This book shows Paul Doherty at the peak of his powers as a novelist. The plot is tight and the characterizations are wonderful. The setting is limited to in and around an abbey where it appears that a murderous plot is afoot. Hugh and his two henchmen are asked by their King to go to the Abbey to determine what happened to his old friend who was the Abbot in this abbey. He is found dead in his locked chamber with a dagger through his chest. Hugh, Ranulf and their groom, Chanson arrive only to find an abbey that is cloaked in mystery and in blood. While Hugh is there, many more murders occur, and he needs to find out what is going on in order to stop the carnage. This book is a real page-turner, and as always we read a lot of historical fact in amongst Mr. Doherty's fiction.