Ebook Grave Goods Mistress of the Art of Death Ariana Franklin Books
Ebook Grave Goods Mistress of the Art of Death Ariana Franklin Books
Download As PDF : Grave Goods Mistress of the Art of Death Ariana Franklin Books
The "richly detailed, almost indecently thrilling" (New York Times) follow up to The Serpent's Tale
When a fire at Glastonbury Abbey reveals two skeletons, rumor has it they may belong to King Arthur and Queen Guinevere. King Henry II hopes so, for it would help him put down a rebellion in Wales, where the legend of Celtic savior Arthur is strong. To make certain, he sends Adelia Aguilar, his Mistress of the Art of Death, to Glastonbury to examine the skeletons.
At the same time, the investigation into the abbey fire will be overseen by the Bishop of St. Albans, father of Adelia's daughter. Trouble is, someone at Glastonbury doesn't want either mystery solved, and is prepared to kill to prevent it...
Ebook Grave Goods Mistress of the Art of Death Ariana Franklin Books
"I think the book will be good IF I ever receive it. I ordered the book on March 29 and was notified that it would be shipped around April 1 and should receive it between April 5 - 20. It is now May 1, and I STILL HAVE NOT received it. I will not order another product through "pbshop" ever again."
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Tags : Grave Goods (Mistress of the Art of Death) (9780425232330) Ariana Franklin Books,Ariana Franklin,Grave Goods (Mistress of the Art of Death),Berkley,0425232336,FIC014000,Historical - General,Aguilar, Adelia (Fictitious character);Fiction.,Detective and mystery fiction,Fiction,Glastonbury Abbey,Henry,Historical fiction.,Women forensic pathologists,Women forensic pathologists;Fiction.,Aguilar, Adelia (Fictitious character),ENGLISH HISTORICAL FICTION,ENGLISH MYSTERY SUSPENSE FICTION,FICTION / Historical / General,FICTION / Mystery Detective / Historical,FICTION / Romance / Historical / Medieval,FICTION / Thrillers / Historical,Fiction - Historical,Fiction-Historical,GENERAL,General Adult,Historical fiction,historical fiction; mystery books; detective novels; murder mystery books; mystery and thrillers; crime books; thrillers; thriller; suspense; romance; mystery; romance novels; historical romance; fiction; fiction books; mysteries; thriller books; romance books; historical mysteries; historical fiction books; mysteries and thrillers; mystery novels; historical fiction novels; mystery and suspense; medieval romance; suspense thriller books; historical; alternate history; love; suspense books; police; novels; historical novels,mystery;historical;romance;thriller;historical romance;thrillers;historical fiction books;mystery books;historical mysteries;thriller books;historical fiction novels;suspense;alternate history;love;crime books;mystery and thrillers;murder mystery books;romance novels;suspense books;detective novels;romance books;police;mystery and suspense;mysteries and thrillers;medieval romance;suspense thriller books;mystery novels;historical fiction;fiction;novels;mysteries;fiction books;historical novels,FICTION / Historical / General,FICTION / Mystery Detective / Historical,FICTION / Romance / Historical / Medieval,FICTION / Thrillers / Historical,Fiction - Historical,Aguilar, Adelia (Fictitious character),English Historical Fiction,English Mystery Suspense Fiction,Historical fiction
Grave Goods Mistress of the Art of Death Ariana Franklin Books Reviews :
Grave Goods Mistress of the Art of Death Ariana Franklin Books Reviews
- I think the book will be good IF I ever receive it. I ordered the book on March 29 and was notified that it would be shipped around April 1 and should receive it between April 5 - 20. It is now May 1, and I STILL HAVE NOT received it. I will not order another product through "pbshop" ever again.
- This book was also published with the title "Relics of the Dead".
England of 1176 under the rule of King Henry II was not a time when a woman was accepted as a doctor. Consequently Adelia Aguilar kept up the pretense that her Arab attendant, Mansur, was the doctor and she was his translator. Fortunately for Adelia the King had already accepted her knowledge and her vocation and had no problems with calling her in to help solve the mystery of two skeletons found buried in the same coffin. Was it possible that King Arthur and Guinevere had been buried at Glastonbury Abbey? Henry needed for these bones to belong to Arthur and Quinevere to help quiet the Welsh uprisings he was having to fight. Although the king wanted the truth to be found, he certainly would have been pleased to have the truth become a weapon for his political use.
I enjoyed Adelia with her passion for using science and truth to solve mysteries. Even having to hide her abilities because she was a woman did not slow her down for very long and she was adept at turning situations to her favor with her insight into human nature. People wanted to believe that Mansur was the doctor simply because of his gender. Then let them believe that, Adelia would just work around that problem. Perhaps her character was written with just a touch too much "modern" woman for me, but I do understand that she could not possibly perform the functions of the novel's main character without stepping outside her time period in many situations. And besides, how else were we as readers supposed to feel sympathy for this woman while also remaining interested in the perils she was encountering?
I especially enjoyed this novel from the standpoint of watching the legal system of England undergo significant changes through the forward thinking of this monarch. We begin with legal rights being determined by mortal combat. The champion remaining alive after the battle represents the winner of the legal case. By the end of the story Henry II was instituting sweeping changes by introducing judges, juries, and traveling courts to hear cases from the lowliest peasant to the loftiest nobleman. The story also weaves in the legend of King Arthur and how he might have died, where he might be buried and what happened to his magic sword, Excalibur. All of these things figure extremely prominently in this novel and I enjoyed reading how a man who was already a legend at this time was still having an effect on political and personal lives throughout this country.
After becoming acquainted with the characters in this novel I will actively look for the other books in the series . I think the writing of Ariana Franklin was very good and I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent reading this story. Not only did it keep me entertained, but I also learned many things regarding law and order in the twelfth century. - This third book in the 'Mistress of the Art of Death' series finds the Salerno trained forensic physician Adelia Aguilar dispatched to the newly destroyed Glastonbury Abbey by Henry II to investigate a pair of skeletons that Henry hopes will turn out to be King Arthur and his queen. Once there, Adelia becomes entangled with a most charming, if odorous, group of rogues who are attempting to prove the innocence of one of their deceased brethren. Add to this her friend Emma who has gone missing, a saintly abbot, an innkeeper who faints from fright when meeting Adelia, an isle of lepers, haunting dreams, and, of course, Rowly, bishop of St. Albans and father of Adelia's daughter, Allie.
If there are more delightful literary characters than Franklin's Adelia, Rowly, and King Henry II, I can't think who they are. I would say that characterization is her strong point; however, her historical research is meticulous (though it never burdens the reader) and her plotting is expert. So what's not to like?
If you haven't read Franklin, by all means start with the first book in the series; the characters actually develop and their relationships change. And keep in mind that Franklin is Diana Norman; the books written under the Norman name are worth a look too. - Just to add my 2-cents worth. I have read all 3 Adelia Aguilar mysteries by Ariana Franklin now and have enjoyed all three. Whether they are completely historically accurate, I could not say. The author has notes at the end to indicate when she has fudged a bit to move her story along. But the books are fiction and a fun read, kind of like a medieval CSI. Interesting to see Adelia's investigative process in a time lacking even rudimentary tools similar to those of today. This particular story ends with a bit of a cliffhanger and that's something I don't usually like, but it's not a biggie. We just know that one of the bad guys not caught in GRAVE GOODS will figure in the next book of the series. The reason I don't give this book 5 stars is that I did not find it so riveting that I was reluctant to put it down to continue reading later on. And, although others have commented favorably on the well-developed characters, I do not find this to be the case. I don't feel I know the main characters any better after reading this third book than I knew them after the first.
- I had read 2 of this series, then forgot who the author was - glad I was able to find her again! I love the way the threads of the clues weave together but not enough to guess the ending! Glad I have one more left to read.
- Ariana Franklin's series about Adelia Aguilar is a triumph of historical fiction. Adelia is a 12th century doctor trained in the art of autopsy at Salerno, the only place in Europe where a woman can be educated as a physician. In the first book of the series, Mistress of the Art of Death, she comes to Henry II's England to investigate a murder. In this third book she is still there, becoming more attached to the country (against her will) by virtue of friendships, a lover and a child. Henry has asked her to look at a pair of skeletons found in Glastonbury in hopes that they will be identified as Arthur and Guinevere. Along the way Adelia encounters brigands, monks, outlaws and odd innkeepers. Incidentally we learn a bit more about the legal reforms put in place by Henry Plantagenet. These characters are terrific and the writing flows as Franklin's delightful story unfolds.
It's not necessary to read the books in order, but I think it's more enjoyable.
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