Historical inaccuracies. Dinosaurs. Charlatan.

The Ela of Salisbury stories are generally a fun and light listen. This one started out strong and Ela’s plan to catch the charlatan seemed full of the usual plot pitfalls. The idea of a phony faith healer is a classic. Then - the discovery of dinosaur bones was added. Ela’s sons proclaiming it could be giants like in Jack and the Beanstalk - a story unknown in the 13th Century- was ridiculous and pointless. The coroner’s vast paleontological knowledge was beyond the scope of the known at this time.
Ela continues to be portrayed as more modern than she likely was - with raising up the serfs and lower classes higher than a noblewoman of the 13the Century would do and doting on those she feels an affinity for. Realistically, she probably treated serfs as serfs and didn’t trouble herself with their plights beyond gathering their tribute.
Like others this late in the series, this story is contrived and unbelievable. Characters added late in order to tie loose ends together. Too many characters of little consequence. JG Lewis seems tired of her characters and the writing is uninspired and predictable. The earlier stories are better. Perhaps the pressures of publishing have gotten to Lewis.
The narrator does an admirable job with the voice characterisations and her steady delivery is very good. It’s a shame the material is so mundane.

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