byAriana Franklin
This is the fourth book in the Mistress of the Art of Death series.
In this story, set in 1176, the King of England is sending his 11 year old sister to Palermo as a bride for the King of Sicily. Travelling with the entourage is Adriana, a trained doctor from Sicily and her Arab companion Mansur. Because English society does not accept female doctor's she has to pretend she is the assistant to the Arab.
The King of England has encouraged her support by keeping her daughter in England. Her daughter is the result of a liaison between Adriana and and English Bishop.
As they travel along mysterious deaths occur and some of the party plot against Adriana, in addition, an old enemy -- she killed his liver-- is travelliing with them and doing what he can to bring dissent against her and get her murdered. She and some of the group are captured and accused of being Cathars. They are imprisoned and on the verge of being burned at the stake, but are rescued by one of the king's officers.
The princess becomes ill with appendicitis, the English doctor is not able to save her. The Catholic Church forbids bloodletting and surgery. Adriana is forced to operate and saves the girls life.
As the book ends they all arrive in Palermo but Adriana's enemy is still after her but he is killed during an attack on her.
The historical setting for the story was interesting and included a lot of detail about life at that time. The plot kept you interested. I think I would like to read the first book in the series sometiime.
Friday, 28 June 2013
Sunday, 16 June 2013
Until the Night
by Giles Blunt,
This is the first book I have read by this author. The story involves a police detective John Cardinal and his colleague Lise Delorme. The story has two tales being told alternately, one is about a team of scientists floatiing on an ice island in the arctic. One of the scientists goes beserk and starts to kill his colleagues, then the ice island splits into pieces and others of the team perish because of this. Only two people survive, one scientist and the man who is having an affair with his wife (she perishes in the ordeal).
The other story line is about women being found frozen, some of them shackled, wearing some clothes that are not their own.
The lead police officer on the female deaths is a prima donna and seems to be off track, Cardinal and his partner each go off on their own investigations, she especially is violating police practices.
In the end it is Cardinal's and Delorme's efforts that solve the case.
I kept wondering how the two stories were connected. It turns out that one of the survivors of the arctic incident, wrongfully convicted of murder by the testimony of the jealous husband, is wreaking revenge on people who spotted him and his lover but chose not to rescue them.
It was a very engaging story, I liked the characters but I can't believe the female officer would end up not getting reprimanded after her behaviour even though it did help to solve a crime.
I will read more books in this series.
This is the first book I have read by this author. The story involves a police detective John Cardinal and his colleague Lise Delorme. The story has two tales being told alternately, one is about a team of scientists floatiing on an ice island in the arctic. One of the scientists goes beserk and starts to kill his colleagues, then the ice island splits into pieces and others of the team perish because of this. Only two people survive, one scientist and the man who is having an affair with his wife (she perishes in the ordeal).
The other story line is about women being found frozen, some of them shackled, wearing some clothes that are not their own.
The lead police officer on the female deaths is a prima donna and seems to be off track, Cardinal and his partner each go off on their own investigations, she especially is violating police practices.
In the end it is Cardinal's and Delorme's efforts that solve the case.
I kept wondering how the two stories were connected. It turns out that one of the survivors of the arctic incident, wrongfully convicted of murder by the testimony of the jealous husband, is wreaking revenge on people who spotted him and his lover but chose not to rescue them.
It was a very engaging story, I liked the characters but I can't believe the female officer would end up not getting reprimanded after her behaviour even though it did help to solve a crime.
I will read more books in this series.
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