The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco

It cannot be overstated that this novel, published in 1980 and set in 1327, was both utterly enthralling and intellectually demanding in the best way. Set over the course of about a week in a wealthy Italian abbey, Eco's mastery of the time period, coupled with his decision to graft a Sherlock Holmes-like character onto a medieval monk, makes for an absolutely brilliant novel.

Franciscan friar William of Baskerville and his young assistant Adso of Melk travel to a Benedictine abbey in northern Italy to participate in a theological debate. The abbey, chosen as neutral ground amidst a conflict between Pope John XXII and the Franciscans over apostolic poverty, has been troubled by the recent mysterious death of one of its monks. The abbot, concerned about the incident, asks William, a former inquisitor, to investigate, and is especially anxious for this to be resolved before the arrival of the papal legation.

Told from the perspective of an aging Adso of Melk, Eco gives Adso space to reflect on his time as the young assistant to William of Baskerville during this tumultuous week. Through his recollections, structured by the canonical hours, the narrative unfolds from the initial death to six more over the course of the week.

References to homosexuality and women, offensive and outdated, do reflect the era's mindset. This allows William's more progressive views to expand plausibly within the story, positioning him as a bridge to the Renaissance.

The deaths seem linked to the abbey’s library, which William and Adso are forbidden to enter—but they do. Inside, they find a labyrinth meant to confuse. They soon hear of a strange book in a monk’s possession, which they believe holds the key to the mysterious deaths. William methodically works through the clues to solve the case, while heresy, poverty conflicts, and the arrival of the papal envoy add layers of depth to the larger story.