Inkwell Michelle's 30 Second Book Review

Mistress of the Art of Death
by Ariana Franklin
Become immersed in the scandal and intrigue of Henry II’s England by means of Ariana Franklin’s well-researched historical mystery. Outsider Dr. Vesuvia Adelia Rachel Ortese Aguilar of Salerno is hired in secret by King Henry II to investigate the murders of several children in Cambridge which threaten to become a political nightmare. Adelia’s plight as an educated, independent woman in a repressive society is handled with delicacy, unlike so many historical novels that imbue the characters with modern sensibilities. Adelia is a winning creation - intelligent, prickly, and truly alive on the pages. Mistress of the Art of Death is certain to appeal to fans of Ellis Peters’ Brother Cadfael mysteries.