A murderous procession

In the fourth Mistress of the Art of Death mystery, medieval forensic pathologist Adelia Aguilar has been an enjoying a quiet life in the countryside with her daughter and friends. Then Henry II demands that she accompany his daughter and her formal procession to Italy and offers to keep her daughter with Queen Eleanor until her safe return. But death stalks the procession, and Adelia and her loyal friends soon realize that the killer is someone from her past bent on revenge. As with previous books in the series, historical details are many and add an extra layer of atmosphere. Readers who doubt the likelihood of a female Jewish pathologist in twelfth-century Britain will be reassured by Franklin's detailed historical notes at the end of the book. With some uneven pacing and a plot that relies heavily on previous series knowledge, this book isn't the best place to start for readers new to the series, but it will be enjoyed by series fans.--Moyer, Jessica Copyright 2010 Booklist

In Franklin's well-paced fourth Mistress of the Art of Death novel (after Grave Goods), Henry II of England assigns his trusted doctor friend, Adelia Aguilar, who studied at the School of Medicine in Salerno, Italy, to accompany his 10-year-old daughter, Joanna, on Joanna's wedding procession to Sicily, where the girl is to marry Henry's cousin, William II. Along the way, the clever and brave Adelia has to not only contend with the dangers facing the princess but thwart a diabolical and conniving assassin named Scarry, who bears Adelia a murderous grudge. The suspense rises as members of the royal party start to die unnatural deaths as they journey across Europe. At times, Franklin, who's obviously done a lot of research into the period, in particular into the House of Plantagenet, overexplains or lapses into pedantic description. Still, both fans of historical fiction and mystery readers will be rewarded. (Apr.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

In the fourth installment of Franklin's "Mistress of the Art of Death" series (after Grave Goods), King Henry II orders Adelia Aguila to accompany his ten-year-old daughter -Joanna to Palermo to marry his cousin, the king of Sicily. To make sure Adelia returns to England, Henry holds her daughter as a "ward." Also joining the procession are Mansur, Adelia's Arab protector, and Rowley, the Bishop of St. Albans and father of her daughter. The expedition soon starts to go badly, with deaths, delays, and illness further complicated by the reappearance of the outlaw Scarry seeking vengeance for his lover's death. VERDICT Sprinkled with fascinating historical facts about the medieval period, Franklin's plots always intrigue. For fans of Sharon Kaye Penman and medieval mysteries, this is essential reading. [See Prepub Mystery, LJ 12/09.]-Susan T. Hayes, Chattahoochee Valley Libs., Columbus, GA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

In the fourth Mistress of the Art of Death mystery, medieval forensic pathologist Adelia Aguilar has been an enjoying a quiet life in the countryside with her daughter and friends. Then Henry II demands that she accompany his daughter and her formal procession to Italy and offers to "keep" her daughter with Queen Eleanor until her safe return. But death stalks the procession, and Adelia and her loyal friends soon realize that the killer is someone from her past bent on revenge. As with previous books in the series, historical details are many and add an extra layer of atmosphere. Readers who doubt the likelihood of a female Jewish pathologist in twelfth-century Britain will be reassured by Franklin's detailed historical notes at the end of the book. With some uneven pacing and a plot that relies heavily on previous series knowledge, this book isn't the best place to start for readers new to the series, but it will be enjoyed by series fans. Copyright 2010 Booklist Reviews.

In the fourth installment of Franklin's "Mistress of the Art of Death" series (after Grave Goods), King Henry II orders Adelia Aguila to accompany his ten-year-old daughter Joanna to Palermo to marry his cousin, the king of Sicily. To make sure Adelia returns to England, Henry holds her daughter as a "ward." Also joining the procession are Mansur, Adelia's Arab protector, and Rowley, the Bishop of St. Albans and father of her daughter. The expedition soon starts to go badly, with deaths, delays, and illness further complicated by the reappearance of the outlaw Scarry seeking vengeance for his lover's death. VERDICT Sprinkled with fascinating historical facts about the medieval period, Franklin's plots always intrigue. For fans of Sharon Kaye Penman and medieval mysteries, this is essential reading. [See Prepub Mystery, LJ 12/09.]—Susan T. Hayes, Chattahoochee Valley Libs., Columbus, GA

This best-selling medieval mystery series is going strong, and, in her fourth outing, Adelia is tasked with the safekeeping of King Henry II's daughter. [Available as an ebook.] Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.

In Franklin's well-paced fourth Mistress of the Art of Death novel (after Grave Goods), Henry II of England assigns his trusted doctor friend, Adelia Aguilar, who studied at the School of Medicine in Salerno, Italy, to accompany his 10-year-old daughter, Joanna, on Joanna's wedding procession to Sicily, where the girl is to marry Henry's cousin, William II. Along the way, the clever and brave Adelia has to not only contend with the dangers facing the princess but thwart a diabolical and conniving assassin named Scarry, who bears Adelia a murderous grudge. The suspense rises as members of the royal party start to die unnatural deaths as they journey across Europe. At times, Franklin, who's obviously done a lot of research into the period, in particular into the House of Plantagenet, overexplains or lapses into pedantic description. Still, both fans of historical fiction and mystery readers will be rewarded. (Apr.)