Murder and intrigue in the English countryside When Belinda Lawrence first sees a piece of tapestry on an antique buying expedition, she is instantly curious. Could this be a missing piece of the Bayeux Tapestry? Belinda's friend and colleague Hazel Whitby is not so intrigued. She doesn't understand Belinda's fascination. When the tapestry comes into Belinda's possession through a strange series of events, she still can't arouse Hazel's interest, nor that of her boyfriend Mark. To them it is just a rag. But when two murders seem to be connected to the tapestry and other troubling events start happening around them, the trio realise there is a mystery to be solved.

The tapestry has links to King Harold, who was overthrown at the Battle of Hastings. Curiously, a new religious sect in the area is devoted to King Harry. As Belinda tries to find the link between the tapestry and the sect and solve the dual murders, she is drawn into danger and intrigue. Will she and her friends emerge unscathed? The Embroidered Corpse, the second book for author Brian Kavanagh, is a great blend of gripping mystery with a little humour and a little romance. Whilst set in England it has an unmistakable Aussie touch, with the main character being an expatriate Australian and the English landscape and characters seen though her eyes. Kavanagh's first novel, Capable of Murder also centred around Belinda and Hazel and it is to be hoped there will be more tales of the friends in the future. The Embroidered Corpse, a downloadable ebook or in print form. ___

The Embroidered Corpse by Brian Kavanagh The adventures of Australian Belinda Lawrence continue with the second book in Brian Kavanagh's compelling mystery series.

Belinda now has a close relationship with Mark Sallinger, the handsome realtor she met in Capable of Murder. And she's entered a business partnership with Hazel Whitby, a still handsome middle-aged woman with lusty appetites. Hazel and Belinda travel across England in pursuit of rare antiques. Her share of the antique business profits coupled with funds from tour groups visiting her home and gardens has made Belinda comfortable, financially. And with Mark to share her life, she's more than content.

While on one of their antique-searching trips, the two women stumble on a square of tapestry portraying a king seated on his throne. The material appears quite old. The owner's uncertain as to the age of the tapestry but it's supposed to be William the Conqueror. Hazel dismisses the tapestry as Victorian until the owner's killed. Belinda has a hunch the square may be part of the Bayeaux tapestries created to commemorate William's defeat of the English.

Belinda investigates and finds a religious sect loyal to King Harold whose throne William took at the Battle of Hastings. Putting her life in danger, she searches for the truth as more people are murdered. This is another absorbing mystery well worth the reader's time whether he is an anglophile or simply loves a good read. Let's hope the next book is released soon. Kavanagh's books are addictive. Once you start this mystery series, you want to keep reading. Review- Nancy Madison (Clues to Love, Never Love a Stranger, What the World Needs Now) ___

REVIEWERS CHOICE Review by Amy Brozio-Andrews http://www.absolutewrite.com The Embroidered Corpse By Brian Kavanagh When Belinda Lawrence comes into possession of a piece of aged tapestry through her attendance at an estate auction with her friend Hazel Whitby, neither woman is aware of the significance of the scrap, or the lengths some will go to get their hands on it.

Through her efforts to determine the provenance of the fabric, Belinda finds its roots may be related to the famed Bayeux Tapestry commemorating the coronation of William the Conqueror. Belinda's fascination soon turns to fear as her safety and security and that of her friends are jeopardized. It appears that a religious sect believing that William was improperly crowned and that King Harold was, and remained, the true king of England may be going so far as to commit murder to try and get their hands on that piece of tapestry.

Does the figure of the corpse embroidered into the fabric Belinda holds depict a long-ago death, or a portent of things to come?

Readers with an interest in British antiquities and heritage will find Brian Kavanaghs The Embroidered Corpse an especially interesting mystery. While the book does have a modern setting, British medieval history plays a great role in the development of the plot. Kavanagh does an excellent job of retelling the history of William the Conquerors rise to rule and the affects of Williams rule on his contemporaries throughout the book as the plot moves forward.

With extensive use of highly descriptive terms, its clear that the author spent considerable time and effort in selecting just the right terms to differentiate between subtle shades of meaning. While occasionally the reader notices the word more than the action its describing, overall, Kavanagh demonstrates great command of vocabulary.

Brian Kavanagh has created quite a likeable protagonist in Belinda Lawrence; independent, strong willed and smart, she's more than a match for some of the more unsuspecting adversarial characters in the book. The author does an excellent job of hooking the reader in the very beginning of the book, as the story opens with Belinda and her boyfriend Mark shortly after she's received a phone call from an old boyfriend in Australia. Unfortunately, we never hear any more about the old boyfriend, and the characters personal lives remain on the periphery of the story. Greater development of the personal lives of the characters would have provided a nice balance to the historical and mystery threads of the book. Kavanagh has written into existence some memorable characters, and it would be wonderful to see more of them.

With a nice variety of mystery, mayhem and murder, The Embroidered Corpse delivers a well-written tale to mystery readers, antiquities aficionados and history buffs. ___

Belinda Lawrence wanted the piece of tapestry but the owner of Kidbrooke House refused to consider selling it. He was mysteriously murdered that evening. His right eye was gouged out and his thigh was sliced open. Belinda speculated about the two monks that she had seen arguing with the man as she and Hazel were driving away. Hazel, Belinda's best friend and business partner, purchased a Jacobean cabinet at the estate sale. When they started cleaning the cabinet, they found the tapestry. Hazel gave it to Belinda. They were curious about the strange tapestry. It looked like it might be a corner piece of the Bayeux Tapestry, which records the events of the Battle of Hastings and William the Conqueror's overthrow of King Harold in 1066.

But trouble followed the tapestry. Belinda began seeing the weird monks following her. When a priest offered to help Belinda learn the origins of the tapestry, he turned up mutilated in the same way as the owner of Kidbrooke House. That convinced Belinda that there was a connection between the murders and the tapestry. It also convinced her that it must be authentic if someone was willing to kill over it. The further Belinda searched, the more involved she became in strange happenings. Then, Hazel disappeared.

The author has worked in the film industry for many years. His editing credits include: The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith, Odd Angry Shot, The Devil's Playground, Long Weekend, and Sex is a Four-letter Word. He was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award and an Australian Film Institute Award for Best Editing for Frog Dreaming.

This is the book that you just cannot put down until you have read every page. The characters are believable and will work their way into your heart. The storyline flows smoothly and logically. The action starts immediately and never lets up. It is 231 pages of suspense! The ending brings everything to a logical conclusion and returns the characters to a point of stasis. If you love history or a good mystery, you must read this book! Alicia Karen Elkins, GWN Book Reviewer 12-07-02 http://www.gottawritenetwork.com/Myst1.html

Review of The Embroidered Corpse 11-11-2002 -- Cozy Mystery The Embroidered Corpse By Brian Kavanagh Rating: 3 ½ stars Genre: Murder Mystery Right from the beginning you are lured into this intriguing mystery. Belinda and Mark live in a cottage near Bath. The garden is famous and busloads of tourists come to visit during the summer. Belinda is an antiques expert from Australia. Her friend, Hazel, is an antiques dealer, always looking for an interesting sale. Together, they stumble upon an estate, which houses incredible antiques. The owner, the last of his line, shows them a strange bit of tapestry resembling a part of the Bayeux Tapestry in France - the one depicting William the Conquerors campaign in England and the one where the last panel has been torn off. As the two women leave, Belinda is surprised to see two monks arrive at the estate; monks wearing grey robes belted with rope. How strange.

The next day, she reads that the owner has been murdered. Belinda and Hazel agree to go to the estate sale and Hazel bids on and wins a Jacobean cabinet. Belinda is upset to see that there is no sign of the tapestry. However, she does see a man who looks very much like one of the monks. The puzzle deepens as Hazel discovers the tapestry jammed into the cabinet's drawer. Seeing Belinda's interest in the piece, Hazel gives it to her and Belinda takes it to her cottage in Bath. But she can't seem to shake the idea that the monks had something to do with the estate owner's murder, although Hazel assures her she's daft. But odd things are happening and people start showing up at Belinda's cottage asking questions about the estate sale. And she's sure that she is being followed by one of the monks, now disguised as a chauffeur. And then Hazel's shop is vandalized, and etched into a priceless table are the words Harold Rex Interfectus Est. (King Harold was killed.) Murder seems to follow the small, torn-off bit of tapestry murder most foul- as the victims are mutilated and one eye removed; and no one is safe, as long as the tapestry remains in their hands. Tied into the tale are a strange, manipulative couple, an ambitious historian, a creepy sect with hoodlum monks, and an enigmatic buried treasure - and when Hazel is kidnapped - only the missing panel of the Bayeux Tapestry can help find her.

This story has an incredible cast of characters and Belinda is a beguiling heroine. The mystery encompasses the past and the present, skilfully weaving a tangled tale as Belinda struggles to find the key to an ancient tapestry before its too late. For mystery and history buffs alike, this is a fast, clear read recommended for all ages. Jennifer Macaire, eBook Reviews Weekly. Author of 'Time for Alexander' ___

Antique dealer Belinda Lawrence and her associate, Hazel Whitney, stop at Kidbrooke House to look for antiques. There they see a piece of antique tapestry which depicted a section of the Bayeux Tapestry. Its owner, William deMontfort refuses to sell it. Belinda is fascinated by the tapestry. Shortly after their visit deMontfort is found murdered. At the sale of his estate Hazel buys an antique desk and Belinda finds the tapestry in one of its drawers. She asks her pastor, Rev. Lawson about it as he is knowledgeable about antiques. He in turn seeks further information from his former university mate, Sir Gerald Tayton. On his return from that visit, he is murdered. There are several men trying to find the bit of tapestry which seems to have a hidden message. Belinda together with her lover, Mark, attempts to find the connection between the tapestry and King Harold and the murders. A pleasant fast moving story with much local color, witty dialogue, and much historical background about the Bayeux Tapestry and English history. The characters are portrayed with their eccentricities, their sinister designs and their charm. Barbara Buhrer - Reviewer's Choice ___

Antique Dealers Belinda Lawrence and Hazel Whitby find themselves sidelined on their return trip from an antique fair to take a tour of Kidbrooke House. Here Belinda falls in love with the owners antique tapestry, but Hazel feels it is no more than a copy of the famous Bayeaux Tapestry. However, William de Montfort has no intentions of selling it. When Belinda learns that the elderly man has been murdered, she and Hazel return to his estate sale

There Hazel is thrilled with a few purchases, but Belinda is saddened to learn that the tapestry is not on the auction list. When their goods are delivered, they discover the tapestry in the bottom drawer of a cabinet. Belinda delves into the tapestry's history to discover if it is, in fact, a missing panel to the famed Bayeaux Tapestry, and she comes into contact with the Fellowship Of St. Augustine, a religious sect that devote themselves to King Harold, overthrown in 1066'. Soon, Belinda realizes that this group and their dangerous leader may be willing to do anything to gain possession of this tapestry.

Belinda must discover the significance of the tapestry before harm befalls her. The second Belinda Lawrence mystery contains layers of deception, greed and murder. Readers were introduced to Belinda and Hazel in CAPABLE OF MURDER (9/01), and THE EMBROIDERED CORPSE gives the reader greater insight into their careers.