GRAVE GOODS by Ariana Franklin, 2009.

This novel is Adelia Aguilar's third (and last, as the author has died) outing. Set in England in 1176, Adelia, who is traveling with her companions Mansur and Gyltha and her daughter Allie in the cavalcade of Emma of Wolvercote, who is out to claim her infant son's inheritance. She is called to come to Glastonbury Abbey by King Henry II, to investigate two skeletons (a man's and a woman's) that have been discovered in the grounds of the recently burned abbey. It is thought by the locals that the skeletons are those of the fabled Arthur and Guinevere, but Henry wants proof, in the hopes that it will help him put down a Welsh rebellion. As the king's "mistress of the art of death", Adelia is to examine the bones and provide the proof Henry needs. Investigating the abbey fire is Rowley, the Bishop of St. Albans, the father of Adelia's daughter, who Adelia still has strong feelings for, even though she denies them at every turn. Complicating matters even further are: monks with various secrets; an innkeeper and his strange wife; hidden caves and tunnels; a secret colony of lepers; the seemingly complete disappearance of Emma and her entire party after arriving at Wolvercote Manor, and the fact that there is a dangerous and violent evil lurking in the woods around Glastonbury... Franklin does an excellent job of creating suspense amid everyday life, the historical details are accurate, her characters are involving, the story is always compelling, and she manages to infuse enough humor to relieve the tension at the right times. Her portrayal of Henry II is intriguing and genuine, and the novel on the whole is entertaining and well done. Highly recommended, whether you have read the first two in the series or not.

THE QUEEN'S PAWN by Christy English, 2010.

Well written first novel by this author. In 1169, Princess Alais of France is sent to England at age nine to be brought up in the court of Eleanor of Aquitaine until it is time for Alais' marriage to Richard, son of Eleanor and King Henry II. The innocent Alais is taken in by Eleanor, and they grow to love one another, and Alais falls for Richard as well. She knows that she is a pawn on the political chessboard, and that her marriage to Richard is to keep peace between England and France. The fact that Alais' father, King Louis VII, was once married to Queen Eleanor and divorced her, adds a spicy element. By 1172, Eleanor has taught Alais well, providing her with the skills necessary to play the power game as a woman in a man's world. Suddenly finding herself shockingly betrayed by both Richard and Eleanor, Alais is determined to chart her own future, involving the King and becoming a threat to the Queen herself. Their love for each other could be destroyed by dark secrets, lies, rivalry, political machinations, and revenge. I found this somewhat reminiscent of Goldman's The Lion in Winter in terms of language and politics and general personal loyalties and betrayals. The whole love/hate thing permeates the book.There is more of a romantic element present, but it didn't bother me. I thought the author captured her characters, most of whom were real people, very well, with all their various traits, emotions, and flaws. Set mainly in the castles of Windsor and Winchester, English provides ample historical details that add color to the story. Having the story told by Alais and Eleanor in alternating chapters was an interesting choice, as it enabled the reader to view some events from two different viewpoints, plus allowed the characters to develop more. It is always interesting to me to read a good story about an historical personage that not much has been written about. Recommended.

I just finished reading:

DEVIL'S BROOD by Sharon Kay Penman, 2008.
A dense, but wonderfully researched and written entry in a series of novels based on the lives of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. I had read the two previous books, When Christ and His Saints Slept and Time and Chance, and this book was years in the making. It was worth the wait, IMHO. Penman has a knack with bring the era to life, with description (be it beseiging a castle, fighting a battle, or the foods at a banquet), characterization (even of minor personalities), witty dialogue that can make you chuckle, etc. The whole time I was reading scenes between Henry and Eleanor I kept being reminded of the wonderful film, LION IN WINTER, and how great Peter O'Toole and Katharine Hepburn were in those roles. Anyway, I would highly recommend this to any who are interested in these larger than life people and the time period (late 1100's) in general. This novel ends in 1189, and Penman claims she will continue the story with Richard, John, Constance and others from this novel.

Finished 5/24/09:

THE SERPENT'S TALE by Ariana Franklin, 2008.

Second in the series of novels about Vesuvia Adelia Aguilar, the mistress of the art of death, this time concerning the poisoning of Rosamund Clifford, mistress of Henry II. Adelia is drawn into the mystery by her lover Bishop Rowley, and it falls to her to discover the culprit. Was it Eleanor of Aquitaine, Henry's queen, or someone she hired to do the deed? Or someone else? Snowstorms, assorted odd characters all trapped and isolated inside Godstow Abbey, more murders, spies, and intrigue, make for a bizarre and thrilling story.

Finished 2/7/09:

MISTRESS OF THE ART OF DEATH by Ariana Franklin, 2007.

Great historical fiction thriller. Concerns child murders in Cambridge, England, during the reign of Henry II; Jewish population in town is blamed, revenues to kingdom disrupted. It is King Henry who sends for a "master of the art of death" to come from Sicily to investigate. The master is actually a "mistress", Adelia Ortese Aguilar, a woman doctor who "reads" the dead; she, along with Crusader Sir Rowley Picot, Simon of Naples, and Mansur the Saracen, solve the hideous crimes and unmask the killer. Excellent period detail, well done characters, suspenseful, thrilling story. It was a real page turner for me.