Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin

Age Level: Adult
Format: Book

Cambridge, England in the 12th century is rocked by a serial killer targeting young children. The people of Cambridge, thinking no one else is to blame, target the Jews of the town, killing the most prominent moneylender and his wife. The other Jewish townspeople are locked up in the castle, guarded from the mob by the sheriff. King Henry II, hearing of the childrens' deaths, asks the King of Sicily to send his best "minister of the art of death," or coroner. Unknown to Henry II, the best "minister" is actually Dr. Vesuvia Adelia Rachel Ortese Aguilar, a doctor from the well-known medical town of Salerno. As tensions mount in Cambridge, Adelia, along with the help of Simon of Naples and Mansur, uses her skills to track down the murderer. She also crosses paths with Sir Rowley Picot, a knight whose demeanor and attention to her every move makes her wonder about his true intentions. Can she discover the murderer's identity before he or she strikes again? Filled with twists and turns, this captivating historical novel will keep the reader guessing until the very end.

I really enjoyed the intriguing mystery of the book. With so many plot twists, I was pretty surprised with the the novel's outcome. The storyline was engaging, with some very unique characters. There are some anachronisms (or using a person, place or thing in a time period when it did not exist) thrown into the storyline. The language at times was a little hard to follow, and I found myself slowed down a bit in the reading. Franklin's research of 12th century England becomes apparent in the novel; if you are not a historical novel reader, you may not like this novel.

For a taste of CSI in the 12th century, read this book!

Reviewed by Jessica