Elizabeth Eyre Books In Order

Publication Order of Italian Renaissance Whodunit Books

Elizabeth Eyre

Jill Staynes and Margaret Storey wrote together as a team. They published their work under a pen name, Elizabeth Eyre. That name appears on a series of novels featuring a character named Sigismondo.

As Elizabeth Eyre, the two writers showed a strong talent for building characters who feel believable. Sigismondo, the main figure in these stories, comes across as clever but not flawless. This keeps readers interested because he does not solve every problem in an obvious or boring way. The writers also knew how to shape scenes so that action and quieter moments balance each other out. Their stories never feel slow or overly packed.

Another clear strength of this writing pair is how they made complicated plots easy to follow. Dialogue sounds like the way people actually talk. Settings feel real without long lists of description. A reader can start any book in the series and get pulled in right away. That straightforward skill is why the Elizabeth Eyre name continues to get mentioned by people who enjoy well made mysteries.

This approach has kept the books enjoyable for a wide range of people over time. The writers do not try to sound smarter than the reader or add unnecessary drama. They simply build a solid story and let it speak for itself. That honest and straightforward style is what makes the work feel both personal to them and welcoming to anyone who picks up a book.

The Sigismondo books are likely to stay enjoyable for a long time because they are not tied to any one trend or time period. Jill Staynes and Margaret Storey wrote stories based on solid characters and clear plots, which tend to age well. A reader twenty years from now can still appreciate the same clever dialogue and steady pacing. That kind of straightforward craft does not go out of style.

Early and Personal Life

Jill Staynes, born in 1927, and Margaret Storey, also born around 1927, first met as students at the same school. Even back then, the two shared a love for making up odd characters and trading serial style episodes about those characters between themselves. That early habit of writing just for fun laid a quiet but strong foundation for their later work as a team.

At the age of fifteen, they wrote a complete book together called ‘Bungho, or why we went to Aleppo’. They never sent that book out to be published, but the act of finishing it mattered more than selling it. That early project helped them learn how to build a story from start to finish without outside pressure.

Over time, both women wrote stories for children on their own. Later, they came back together to create two different sets of mystery novels. One was a modern day series featuring a detective named Superintendent Bone, which received high praise. The other was the Sigismondo series set in the Italian Renaissance, published under the pen name Elizabeth Eyre. Each new project grew naturally from the last, showing how two school friends turned a private game into a lasting writing partnership.

Writing Career

Jill Staynes and Margaret Storey wrote six novels together under the pen name Elizabeth Eyre. These books are all set in the Italian Renaissance and are often whodunits. Starting in 1991, the series includes titles such as Death of the Duchess (1991), Curtains for the Cardinal (1992), Poison for the Prince (1993), Bravo for the Bride (1994), Axe for an Abbott (1995), and Dirge for a Doge (1996).

The stories are known for their colorful characters and a strong sense of place. Some figures in the books bring a lighter touch, but the humor stays dry and never feels too loud. The plots are put together with care, and the writing should not be mixed up with Margaret Storey’s solo work, which includes children’s books and the Tim and Melinda series.

Poison for the Prince

Poison for the Prince was written by Elizabeth Eyre, the pen name shared by Jill Staynes and Margaret Storey. Headline published that book on January first, 1993. It stands as the fourth entry in the Sigismondo series of historical mysteries.

In this third story set in Renaissance Italy, the main character Sigismondo returns. He is a courtier, a hired soldier, and a solver of mysteries who uses his mind as well as a weapon. Prince Scipione of Viverra faces several problems at once. One vassal has taken a city, the Pope may give away land, and the Prince needs a way to make gold.

Sigismondo brings news that the Prince’s army has won back the city. But the Prince still finds himself in danger from the people around him. Questions arise about his wife, a hostage, a commander, a holy friar, and an alchemist. A poisoning happens, and Sigismondo must work through each suspect with the help of a clever halfwit named Benno and a dog named Biondello.

Anyone who picks up this book can expect a smart main character and a well built Renaissance setting. The story keeps a person guessing without ever feeling confusing or slow. Sigismondo proves to be an enjoyable lead, and his two companions add a nice touch. This is a solid pick for anyone who likes a good historical mystery.

Axe for an Abbot

Axe for an Abbot was written by Elizabeth Eyre, the shared pen name of Jill Staynes and Margaret Storey. Headline published that book on January first, 1996. It is the fifth title in the Sigismondo series of historical mysteries.

In this fifth Renaissance mystery, the knight Sigismondo and his helper Benno return. Sigismondo gets tricked into taking part in a killing, which puts him in the middle of a fight over a jeweled cross called La Feconda. An abbot turns up dead with Sigismondo’s axe in his back, and powerful people like dukes and the Pope get involved. Sigismondo tries to put the cross back where it belongs, which means he has to work with a disguised killer, a thief, a dangerous woman, and an old love interest.

Readers new to this series will find a fast moving plot and a likable main character in Sigismondo. The mix of political tricks and a stolen relic keeps things interesting without getting too complicated. Benno adds a nice touch as a steady companion. This is a solid choice for anyone who enjoys a smart and straightforward mystery.