Mistress of the Art of Death
(Libby/OverDrive eAudiobook)

In the twelfth century, the Salerno School of Medicine (in the Norman Kingdom of Sicily) boasted female students among its ranks. When Adelia, one of the university's prodigies, is summoned to considerably less-progressive Cambridge, England, to provide forensic support in the investigation of the murder of four children, she must conceal her identity lest she be labeled a witch. Still, her predicament is far less perilous than that of the Jewish residents of Cambridge, whom the Catholic townspeople have blamed for the quartet of deaths. King Henry II, while ruthless, is no fool; mindful of the tax revenues derived from Jewish merchants, he's vowed his protection until they can be exonerated. Adelia, whose entourage includes a Jewish investigator and a Muslim bodyguard, carefully analyzes the corpses. Her conclusions, alas, are far from definitive: the crimes could be the work of a serial killer, or perhaps one among the latest group of pilgrims who've recently returned from Canterbury. Though her narrative is somewhat uneven, Franklin ( City of Shadows, 2006) delivers rich period detail and a bloody good ending reflecting the savagery of the times. --Allison Block Copyright 2006 Booklist

Had Ellis Peters's Brother Cadfael been born a few decades later, he might have found a worthy associate and friend in Dr. Vesuvia Adelia Rachel Ortese Aguilar of Salerno, a short and short-tempered medieval coroner hired in secret by King Henry II to find out who's behind the horrific murders of Christian children in Cambridge, England. Prominent local Jews stand accused; Henry wants them freed, mostly for the sake of their tax revenue. As Adelia examines the children's bodies and gets to know the people of Cambridge, she has no trouble assembling a long list of suspects, but she encounters considerable difficulty trying to narrow it down, a struggle in which the reader gladly joins her. Not all of the plot twists are surprising and the romantic subplot is an unnecessary afterthought, but Franklin (City of Shadows) has developed a skillful blend of historical fact and gruesome fiction that's more than sufficient to keep readers interested and entertained. (Feb.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

When four children are murdered in medieval Cambridge, King Henry begs help from the king of Sicily, a country famed for medical experts called masters of the art of death. In response, he's sent a prodigy named Adelia. Franklin, the pen name of historical novelist Diana Norman, was lucky enough to have rights sold in 12 countries. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

CSI meets The Canterbury Tales. After an unexceptional debut (City of Shadows, 2006), Franklin hits commercial paydirt with this criminal investigation drama set in 12th-century England. Led by "doctor to the dead" Vesuvia Adelia Rachel Ortese Aguilar--Adelia for short--the trio also includes Simon of Naples ("agent, investigator, go-between, reconnoitrer, spy") and Mansur, Adelia's bodyguard and servant, who is also a Muslim and a eunuch. Trained at the Salerno School of Medicine, Adelia is a brilliant forensic pathologist, but in superstitious England she risks denunciation as a witch. The three are commanded, however--by whom is a mystery--to investigate the brutal murder of four children in Cambridge, deaths that are being blamed on the Jews, whose resultant persecution is disrupting society and business. Adelia's scrutiny of the corpses hints at a serial killer with a taste for mutilation and woven quincunxes. Other clues suggest the culprit may be among the latest group of pilgrims to have returned from Canterbury, although a couple of crusaders, including burly tax collector Sir Rowley Picot, also fall under suspicion. Then Simon is murdered and Adelia finds an unexpected ally in Sir Rowley, who reveals he has been pursuing a child-murderer. Softened by Simon's death, Adelia also realizes she is falling for Sir Rowley. After pestilence at the convent and the kidnapping of Ulf, the housekeeper's son, there's a showdown on Wandlebury Hill and the villain is torn to pieces by a pack of hounds. Patchy pacing and anachronisms aside, Franklin has devised an appealing amalgam of genres. The second Adelia story already has a title and plot. A potentially winning formula, delivered with panache. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

In the twelfth century, the Salerno School of Medicine (in the Norman Kingdom of Sicily) boasted female students among its ranks. When Adelia, one of the university's prodigies, is summoned to considerably less-progressive Cambridge, England, to provide forensic support in the investigation of the murder of four children, she must conceal her identity lest she be labeled a witch. Still, her predicament is far less perilous than that of the Jewish residents of Cambridge, whom the Catholic townspeople have blamed for the quartet of deaths. King Henry II, while ruthless, is no fool; mindful of the tax revenues derived from Jewish merchants, he's vowed his protection until they can be exonerated. Adelia, whose entourage includes a Jewish investigator and a Muslim bodyguard, carefully analyzes the corpses. Her conclusions, alas, are far from definitive: the crimes could be the work of a serial killer, or perhaps one among the latest group of pilgrims who've recently returned from Canterbury. Though her narrative is somewhat uneven, Franklin (City of Shadows, 2006) delivers rich period detail and a bloody good ending reflecting the savagery of the times. ((Reviewed November 15, 2006)) Copyright 2006 Booklist Reviews.

When four children are murdered in medieval Cambridge, King Henry begs help from the king of Sicily, a country famed for medical experts called masters of the art of death. In response, he's sent a prodigy named Adelia. Franklin, the pen name of historical novelist Diana Norman, was lucky enough to have rights sold in 12 countries. Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

It is 1171 in Cambridge, England, and Henry II is beside himself. Four children have been found murdered and mutilated, and the townsfolk of Cambridge are blaming the Jews, who have taken shelter in the castle. King Henry is less concerned about the murderer than the tax revenue he is losing while the Jewish community languishes in the fortress. He appeals to the king of Sicily to send him a master of the art of death—one who can look at the deceased and determine how he or she died. Adelia, a mistress of this art, arrives with a group of returning pilgrims. Along with a eunuch escort named Mansur and Simon of Naples, a Jew with an affinity for detection, she must piece together the mystery of these hideous crimes before the monster kills again. In her second historical novel (after City of Shadows ), Franklin (the pen name of British writer Diana Norman) presents a fascinating character in Adelia, who is odd for her era and profession yet familiar in her flaws and complexity. This novel will surely please mystery fans as well as lovers of historical fiction. Recommended for all libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 10/1/06.]—Anna M. Nelson, Collier Cty. P.L., Naples, FL

The fascinating details of early forensic science and medieval politics combine in Ariana Franklin's Mistress of the Art of Death (Putnam. 2007. ISBN 978-0-399-15414-0. $29.95), selected as the best mystery for its engaging characters, deft use of historic detail, and striking plot. Taking advantage of religious strife and the disarray caused by the Crusades, a serial killer of children is busy counting his victims. Dr. Adelia Aguilar of Salerno, called to solve the crimes, must match wits with a brutal villain, while navigating the rules of the church, the town, and the crown. Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.

Focused as well on politics and methods, and blending historical fiction with procedural mystery, Franklin's first entry in the Adelia Aguilar series makes for great next reading for Ennis fans. In 12th-century England, a serial killer is murdering children and leaving their mutilated bodies to be found by the terrorized residents of Cambridge. Wishing to stop the murders, but mired in the politics of religion and state, King Henry II arranges for a doctor skilled in the nascent science of forensics, Adelia Aguilar, to travel to the city and find the killer. Adelia is a fine companion to Damiata, brave, sure, loving, and relentless. She slowly learns the details of the murders, stalking the killer, surveying the landscape, and becoming entangled with Sir Rowley Picot, a man of many secrets and plans. Suspenseful, engrossing, and richly descriptive of time and place, Franklin's novel offers readers the same mix of immersive storytelling and character development as Ennis. There are three other books in the series, which sadly ended before the full arc was complete when Franklin died in 2011. — "RA Crossroads" LJ Reviews 9/20/12 (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Had Ellis Peters's Brother Cadfael been born a few decades later, he might have found a worthy associate and friend in Dr. Vesuvia Adelia Rachel Ortese Aguilar of Salerno, a short and short-tempered medieval coroner hired in secret by King Henry II to find out who's behind the horrific murders of Christian children in Cambridge, England. Prominent local Jews stand accused; Henry wants them freed, mostly for the sake of their tax revenue. As Adelia examines the children's bodies and gets to know the people of Cambridge, she has no trouble assembling a long list of suspects, but she encounters considerable difficulty trying to narrow it down, a struggle in which the reader gladly joins her. Not all of the plot twists are surprising and the romantic subplot is an unnecessary afterthought, but Franklin (City of Shadows ) has developed a skillful blend of historical fact and gruesome fiction that's more than sufficient to keep readers interested and entertained. (Feb.)