Thursday, October 16, 2008

Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin



This was just such a fantastic book! I had read wonderful reviews, and I was not disappointed in the least. I used to be a huge Patricia Cornwell fan (back in Kay Scarpetta's good ol' days), and I love historical fiction. This was a combination of both. Best of both worlds!

Someone is killing children in Cambridge, and the Jews are being blamed. As this is inconvenient for Henry II (who depends on the Jew's money), he asks the King of Sicily to send an expert from Salerno, the hotbed of medical knowledge at the time. The King sends Simon of Naples, a renowned investigator and a Jew, and Adelia, a "doctor to the dead," along with their Saracen companion, Mansur, to England to help. 

This book is not for the weakhearted (or weakstomached), but if you enjoy forensic mysteries and/or historical fiction, you are bound to enjoy this book!

This is book 3 of 4 for the RIP III challenge!



7 comments:

Lezlie said...

This was such a great book! I'm glad you liked it!

Lezlie

Debi said...

That definitely sounds like one for me!

Are you read-a-thon-ing, Somer?

Somer said...

Lezlie - Have you read The Serpent's Tale by the same author? I'm hoping it will be just as good!

Debi - Unfortunately, I can't join in on the read-along fun this time, since I have to work both Saturday and Sunday! I may join in for a few hours in the evening, if I'm able to fit it in.

Lezlie said...

I did. The review is on my blog, if you want to check it out --

http://booksnbordercollies.blogspot.com/2008/02/serpents-tale-by-ariana-franklin.html

Lisa said...

Oh, I have to agree with you. This book was fantastic. You're right about the faint of heart, as well. It is quite intense in places. I have the sequel but haven't read it yet.

Marg said...

I am something of a Diana Norman/Ariana Franklin fan girl! Can't wait for her next book to come out!

Jodie Robson said...

I hadn't realised that this was by Diana Norman - love her books, and heard her at the Edinburgh Book Festival a few years ago, where she was great fun. I can't wait to read it!