An Arnold Landon mysteryWhen Arnold Landon is ordered to assist at the excavations of the mediaeval site at Birley Thore he is angry, since it means he is forced to break a promise to Jane Wilson to help her in her research. At the site he soon becomes aware of ten!sions among the excavation team. More seri!ously, he finds himself involved in an inquiry by Detective Chief Inspector Culpeper into ancient Viking practices - the background to an investigation into a series of murders com!mitted as far apart as France, Switzerland, East Anglia and Northumberland. The horrific nature of these killings is brought home to Arnold when he and Jane discover a member of the excavation team murdered in a similar manner, and he falls foul of Culpeper for what the Chief Inspector sees as interference. While attempting to assist Jane Wilson in her research into Thomas Becket and his supporter William Fitzstephen, and the police in their investigation of the Birley Thore killings, Arnold is drawn deeper into Viking folklore, the role of the berserkers, and the way in which Nordic names can have modern, murderous meanings. Unfortunately for Arnold, his attempts to help end by plunging him into a chilling con!frontation with the vengeful killer whom the police call Bloodeagle.