Mistress Of The Art Of Death

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What to expect

Winner of Best Historical Crime Novel 2007

In Cambridge a child has been hideously murdered and other children have disappeared. The Jews, made scapegoats by the all-powerful Christian clergy, have been forced to retreat into the castle to avoid slaughter by angry townspeople.

Henry, King of England, is displeased. The Jews provide a large part of his revenue and therefore the real killer must be found, and quickly. A renowned investigator, Simon of Naples, is recruited and he arrives in town from the continent accompanied by an Arab and a young woman, Adelia Aguilar.

There are few female doctors in twelth century Europe, but Adelia is one of them, having qualified at the great School of Medicine in Salerno. What's more, her speciality is the study of corpses; she is, in fact, a mistress of the art of death, a skill that must be concealed in case she's accused of witchcraft.

Adelia's investigation takes her deep into Cambridge, its castle and convents and in a medieval city teeming with life, Adelia makes friends and even finds romance. And, fatally, the attention of a murderer who is prepared to kill again...

Critics Review

  • A vigorous evocation of medieval life in all its richness and squalor and an attention-grabbing thriller.

    BBC History magazine
  • Franklin is one of the very best creators of medieval whodunnits writing today

    Guardian
  • Great fun! Franklin succeeds in vividly bringing the 12th century to life with this cracking good story.

    Kate Mosse
  • A morbidly entertaining novel that outdoes the competition.

    New York Times
  • Exhilarating… I want to crown Ariana Franklin Queen of the Historical Mystery!

    Tess Gerritsen

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