A Murderous Procession (Mistress of the Art of Death #4)

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A Murderous Procession (Mistress of the Art of Death #4)

4.07 of 5 stars 4.07 · rating details · 3,085 ratings · 474 reviews

Tess Garritsen calls this one "my favorite book of the year!"

In 1176, King Henry II sends his daughter Joanna to Palermo to marry his cousin, the king of Sicily. Henry chooses Adelia Aguilar to travel with the princess and safeguard her health. But when people in the wedding procession are murdered, Adelia and Rowley must discover the killer's identity, and whether he is...more

Paperback, 385 pages

Published March 1st 2011 by Berkley Trade (first published 2010)

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Jul 07, 2010 LJ rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 1100s, europe, female_author, historical, middle_ages_5th_cent-1558, mystery

First Sentence: Between the parishes of Shepfold and Martlake in Somerset existed an area of no-man’s-land and a lot of ill feeling.

Dr. Adelia Aguilar is thrilled to learn Henry II wants to send her to accompany his daughter Joanna’s wedding procession to her home of Sicily. Her feelings change to anger when she learns Henry is keeping Adelia’s daughter in England to ensure Adelia’s return. With them, and well concealed, will be Arthur’s sword, Excaliaber, as a gift to the bridegroom. Danger a r...more First Sentence: Between the parishes of Shepfold and Martlake in Somerset existed an area of no-man’s-land and a lot of ill feeling.

Dr. Adelia Aguilar is thrilled to learn Henry II wants to send her to accompany his daughter Joanna’s wedding procession to her home of Sicily. Her feelings change to anger when she learns Henry is keeping Adelia’s daughter in England to ensure Adelia’s return. With them, and well concealed, will be Arthur’s sword, Excaliaber, as a gift to the bridegroom. Danger a rises from an old foe out to steal the sword and looking for revenge against Ariana.

There was a different feel to this book than those previous. Whereas before, Adelia seemed very much in control and strong, here she was in situations completely beyond her control and, at times, in great peril. While some readers might not care the change this wrought in the character, I liked that it showed her vulnerability and weaknesses, as well as the human failing that when the truth is too frightening to accept, it is denied.

There is a progression in the lives of the characters with each book, which is important to me. Some readers have criticized the coup de foudre felt by the O’Donnell for Adelia. Having personally experienced it—although it didn’t last—I didn’t find it unrealistic. I did enjoy that we meet Adelia’s parents in this book.

As always with Franklin’s book, I learn so much history. Henry’s daughter, Joan, was known to me, but not in any detail nor her role in history. Of late, I’ve read more books that deal with the Cathers, and I find them fascinating. I certainly knew nothing of the history of Sicily and found it significant that she shows it to us at a turning point in its history.

Perhaps I’m obtuse, but I did not figure out the identity taken by the villain until it was revealed. What I did not like, was the ending. It seems more authors are doing cliff-hanger endings and it’s a trend I dearly hope will end almost immediately. Write a good book, I promise to read the next one without being tricked into so doing.

I very much enjoyed the story and only the ending prevented my rating it as “excellent.” For readers new to the series, I recommend starting at the beginning. For me, I am ready for the next book.

A MURDEROUS PROCESSION (The Assassin’s Prayer) (Hist. Mys-Adelia Aguilar-England/France/Italy-Middle Ages/1179) – VG+
Franklin, Ariana – 4th in series
G.P. Putnam’s Sons, ©2010, US Hardcover – ISBN: 9780399156281

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Feb 01, 2011 MB rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: wishlist, mysteries, read-in-2010, historical-fiction

Wow! That was an intense book! I had to stop and take a break mid-way because the suspense was getting to me. The book ends on somewhat of a cliff-hanger with lots of loose ends for the next book, or books. I'm not sure how I feel about the way the story was left. But it certainly builds my anticipation for the next Adelia story.

I found myself thinking throughout how Adelia's troubles and interactions with the male-dominated Catholic church of that time were so pertinent to what I've been readin...more

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May 06, 2012 Lori (Hellian) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I've read a whole bunch of books over the last few months and this series is the only one I remember enough to rate, so that says something. Nothing brilliant here, but intelligent fun in the medieval world. King Richard! I love her take on this king, how he's been pretty besmirched in history and yet he is responsible for bringing some of the earliest laws of justice for all. And a different take on Eleanor of Aquitaine, and all their pesky children. The characters are great. It has a modern ou...more

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Jan 16, 2012 Jamie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: medieval, historical-mystery, historical-fiction

I liked this very much, even though the book ends with a wrenching cliffhanger and the author has died, so there will be no resolution. We are left with some of our characters achingly separated from the others, and with one character in the process of bleeding to death. I'm sure the author didn't intend to die before she could write another book, but I dislike such cliffhangers in general.

Otherwise, this is an odd story, but enjoyable. Adelia accompanies the king's young daughter Joanna to her...more

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Nov 19, 2012 Matt Schiariti rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I admit that I was a little disappointed in this novel. I'd been really looking forward to it since I heard it was coming out so I got my hands on it ASAP.

The story goes as follows: King Henry II sends his daughter Joanna off to Palermo to wed king William II of Sicily. This is historical fact. Being the trip will be rife with warfare and dangers he sends his mistress of the art of death, and our very own favorite 12th century doctor cum medical examiner, Adelia Aguilar along with her to guarant...more I admit that I was a little disappointed in this novel. I'd been really looking forward to it since I heard it was coming out so I got my hands on it ASAP.

The story goes as follows: King Henry II sends his daughter Joanna off to Palermo to wed king William II of Sicily. This is historical fact. Being the trip will be rife with warfare and dangers he sends his mistress of the art of death, and our very own favorite 12th century doctor cum medical examiner, Adelia Aguilar along with her to guarantee her health and well being upon her arrival. This is, obviously, fiction. Adelia doesn't want to go. Why? Because King Henry is sending Adelia and Bishop Rowley's daughter to stay with his wife, Elanor of Aquitaine. Why? He considers it 'incentive' for Adelia to come back to England because the King finds her services to be quite beneficial to his kingdom. Of course Rowley is along for the ride.

Some familiar faces take the journey with them, some stay home in England. I wouldn't want to give too much away ;) There are two major players in this story that are also along for the ride. One you're sure to remember from a previous novel, one who's brand new to the series. The return character is hell bent on ruining the procession to Palermo. Why? Are they out to ruin the wedding plans or does it go much deeper, much more personal than that? The new character, shipmaster O'donnell is equally interested in the journey as well as our favorite mistress of the art of death but for altogether different reasons.

Franklin always meshes historical fact with her own dramatic characters and machinations very well. This book is no exception but there's two things that sort of felt out of place or rushed to me. The addition of the O'Donnell character, while refreshing to see a new and interesting face, has an impact on the story that I felt to be a little rushed and not explored nearly well enough. Obviously I won't give away what happens, but his motivations seem to be a little shoe-horned in and not much time is spent on him. If it were otherwise I don't think I'd have quite the same opinion.

The ending. Also seemed a little rushed. It's as if the book just ends. It builds and builds and builds, then almost seems to hit a brick wall. Will there be a 5th book in the series? I think the ending lends itself to that and I'm sure there's more great stories that can be told about Adelia and her retinue of friends. But insofar as the ending of this book? It's not quite as satisfying as I'd hoped. Not really a cliff hanger, but not really a series ending last passage either. We'll see what happens if Franklin should write another. Maybe we'll see some ramifications of certain characters' actions and motivations if there should be another book in the series, which I very much hope there is.

So, those two minor (or maybe not so minor? you'll have to decide upon reading it for yourself) quibbles aside, I found the book to be a good addition to the series. The characters read like they always have, and in this little quasi-historical universe Ariana Franklin has created for us, that's a very good thing. A definite read for fans of the series. If you're new to the series? Go pick up the first three books! (less)

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Sep 08, 2012 Ashland Mystery Oregon rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-historical

To read any of Ariana Franklin's Mistress of the Art of Death mysteries, is to enter another time. A Murderous Procession is another example of Franklin's extraordinary talent to set the scene of another world.

Adelia and Rowley are happily ensconced in England with their various friends and family when Henry commands they accompany his 10 year old daughter Joanna to Palermo where she will marry William II of Sicily. The journey through England, France and Italy is the story, and what a story it...more

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Jul 27, 2012 Carrie-anne rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I did like this book but feel I could have liked it more. The random Latin and French and who knows what else only frustrated me. I understand the way it was written: regular for one point of view and Italicized for another, but something about it was poorly done in my mind. Perhaps reading the others in the series would have helped matters. I didn't realize it was part of a series until finding it on here. I liked the fact that there is complaint that people are not kind to one another.

I am co...more

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Mar 06, 2012 Ravin Maurice rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The fourth installment of the Mistress of the Art of Death series did not disappoint.
Ariana Franklin (may she rest in peace, the world lost a brilliant voice) has a way of turning the medieval world into a place that you feel like you know really well, like you've lived there your entire life. Her characters are well rounded, even the ones that have small parts (I'm speaking of Fabrisse in this particular book), and her plotting is brilliant, a true mystery that keeps you up at night so you can...more

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Dec 16, 2011 Richard rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Rating: 3.75* of five

The fourth "Mistress of the Art of Death" mystery in the ongoing series, this book was a grave (!) disappointment. To my *intense* irritation, Franklin chose to reveal the identity of the murderer for sure and certain on p19.

I ask you...page nineteen...what in Satan's name (appropriate to the case, here, as Scarry-the-Satanist is the killer) possessed her to do that?! And what addlepated editor thought it was a good idea?!

One whole star off for that.

I was still reeling from...more Rating: 3.75* of five

The fourth "Mistress of the Art of Death" mystery in the ongoing series, this book was a grave (!) disappointment. To my *intense* irritation, Franklin chose to reveal the identity of the murderer for sure and certain on p19.

I ask you...page nineteen...what in Satan's name (appropriate to the case, here, as Scarry-the-Satanist is the killer) possessed her to do that?! And what addlepated editor thought it was a good idea?!

One whole star off for that.

I was still reeling from that blow when I got the next one: Road trip! Another outing for the Mistress of the Art of Death, traipsing off to do Henry's bidding, only this time it's to Sicily. Yes, that Sicily, the true home of Vesuvia Adelia Rachel Ortese Aguilar, and the home of her beloved parents! Only Henry, not being any sort of a fool, keeps Adelia's and Rowley's daughter in the care of Eleanor as a hostage for Adelia's safe return to England and his service.

Now the last time there was a road trip, remember, was Adelia sloshing to and fro in frozen fenlands, to not much purpose. Now we have her on an international trip. My spirits sank into my sandals. Another half star off.

So I trudge on through the book, depressed because I already know who killed all the dead folk that keep appearing, and irked every time I see italics because that's Scarry-the-killer being shoved at me, and only keeping on with the reading because I like the story...the factual wedding procession of Henry and Eleanor's daughter Joanna to William d'Hautville's Kingdom of Sicily.

The adventures of Adelia, Ulf, Mansur, and some new characters who will feature prominently in future books, as they encounter Cathars, Catholics, and Countesses who help, hinder, and attempt to murder them, kept me turning pages. I wasn't happy about it, but I was doing it. "Every series has its duds," I explained to my dog as she demanded that I put the book down and pet her at 2a last night. "Just have to power through this one." The dog was unimpressed. She bit the dust jacket.

Then we get to Sicily. The wedding of resolute little Joanna and feckless, pretty William was nicely rendered, and the descriptions of Palermo were a joy. Then came the last chapter, a chase scene like the one that climaxes the movie "Charade", which is an all-time favorite of mine. Events unspool, there is a shocking, shocking attempted murder, and the end of the book is just dazzlingly exciting. I put back a tenth of a star. But damn the woman! This could have been a four-and-a-half star read, if she'd just left the whole Scarry-talks-to-us thing in the bin where it belonged!

*aaargh* read the damned thing if you're already in the series, but otherwise save yourself from the agonies of the immersion into the twelfth century, so complete and so fully absorbing...read Agatha Christie instead, she never even feints at fairness to her readers.(less)

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Sep 27, 2011 Susan rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

While worth reading, this is not the strongest entry in the series. Adelia Aguilar, mistress of the art of death, has been an enjoying a quiet life in the countryside with her daughter, Allie, although she wants nothing more than to return to her native Sicily. Then King Henry II demands that she accompany his daughter Joanna to Sicily for her marriage, but he keeps Allie with Queen Eleanor to ensure that Adelia returns. However, a series of murders in the procession soon point to a killer who i...more

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Sep 07, 2011 Kim Ryser rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011booksread

I really like this series and the characters, but I really didn't like this book. It's a pet peeve of mine when there are snippets of villain POV interspersed throughout the book. Even more so when authors attempt to write POV of someone who's "insane." Just trust me, this is not how severely mentally ill people actually think or write. Just, really, don't do that.

So the whole point of the mystery plot is to figure out who in the group of travelers is the person whose POV you get throughout. And...more

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Aug 31, 2011 Layla rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Disappointing.

The character of Adelia has not grown at all in the years since the first novel. The characteristics that made her an attractive protagonist in "Mistress of the Art of Death" are now irritating. The young doctor struggling to get used to the English way of life in the first novel, has become difficult, arrogant and supercilious. Self confidence has become arrogance, curiosity is not tempered with good judgement. An example is the final scenes of the book when she knows she is being...more

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Aug 09, 2011 bookczuk rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to bookczuk by: pat

Shelves: bookcrossing, favorite-author, taught-me-something

I was so caught up in reading Grave Goods by this author that I immediately went on to read this next book in the series. And when I finished it last night, I sprang to the internet to find the next so as not to be left hanging on that proverbial cliff. I actually wailed out loud when I read that Ariana Franklin, the pen name for author Diana Norman, died in January 2011. Now we'll never know what happens to Adelia and Rowley, and all the other wonderful characters in this book. Worse yet, it's...more

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Jul 05, 2011 Gena rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is the fourth in Ms. Franklin’s “Mistress of the Art of Death” series and sadly, due to her passing away, it is the last. In this book King Henry II forces Adelia Aguilar to accompany the Princess Joanna to Sicily for her wedding. Adelia is the only real medical authority he trusts to watch over his ten year old daughter on the long and arduous journey.

Adelia is slightly reluctant about making the trip even though it is to her homeland but after nearly ten years in England she has grown to...more

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Jun 27, 2011 Maya rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: britlit, europe, france, historical, multicultural, mystery, unusual-protagonist

For some reason, picked this up despite not having read #2 or #3 of the series, and proceeded to be utterly sucked in to the next slice of Adelia's most unusual life.

This author makes history truly come alive for me like few others; as I read about the latest developments in Adelia's personal life and those of her close companions, I felt desperately sad that it seems that with the author's recent passing, readers will learn no more about this unique cast of characters.

Perhaps because of that...more

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May 06, 2011 J.M. Cornwell rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Mystery, intrigue and a knack for trouble illuminate a dark corner of history.

In England, where women doctors are anathema and burned at the stake as witches, Adelia Aguilar has made a reluctant home. She is under the protection—and the command—of King Henry II as his mistress of death. Once again, King Henry commands Adelia from her quiet life with her young daughter to accompany his daughter Joanna to Palermo where she will marry the King of Sicily and cement yet another European alliance. To...more Mystery, intrigue and a knack for trouble illuminate a dark corner of history.

In England, where women doctors are anathema and burned at the stake as witches, Adelia Aguilar has made a reluctant home. She is under the protection—and the command—of King Henry II as his mistress of death. Once again, King Henry commands Adelia from her quiet life with her young daughter to accompany his daughter Joanna to Palermo where she will marry the King of Sicily and cement yet another European alliance. To make sure Adelia returns to England when her task is finished, King Henry sends Adelia’s daughter to be tutored in the more ladylike arts by Queen Eleanor in her prison.

The task is simple: bring Joanna safely to Sicily and return. What Adelia finds is terror and an old enemy determined to bring her down—and anyone else who gets in his way.

King Henry II of England was a strong and progressive monarch in a time when the world was under the control of the Holy Roman Church. Cathars were persecuted and the first stirrings of the Spanish Inquisition were felt. Into this world of repression and suspicion, Ariana Franklin brings Adelia Aguilar, an orphan found on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius and raised by unlikely parents: a Jewish father and a Catholic mother, both of whom were doctors and teachers of medicine. To make things even more complicated, in A Murderous Procession, the latest entry in Franklin’s Mistress of the Art of Death novels, Adelia is in love with a priest, who is also the father of her child, and accompanied everywhere by a black Moor posing as the doctor to protect Adelia from charges of witchcraft. This heady mix of fate and circumstance provides fertile ground for Franklin’s imaginative situation.

There is little detail about Joanna or her procession to Sicily, although Franklin does provide comment on King Henry’s two oldest sons, Henry and Richard, and their recent rebellion against him in concert with Queen Eleanor. The focus is on Adelia, the Cathar purge and very briefly about the weakness of the King of Sicily in the changing political climate. While the details add reality to the fiction, they provide little more than negative comment on the Catholic church.

Next to Adelia and Mansur, most of the characters are mere shadows. Princess Joanna, who should have been more clearly realized, was pale and insubstantial and Franklin does not warm to the task of providing a believable situation until Adelia and her friends await their death as Cathars. More detail would have been good for the story, but the details are lacking. There are moments when Franklin allows glimpses of solid characterization and then they quickly disappear. It is difficult to see how Adelia could be in love with the archbishop when there is so little of him visible. He is there, drops his bomb and is quickly gone, appearing at the last moment to save Adelia and earn his spurs—and a scar.

A Murderous Procession is rich in background details and history and Franklin does an admirable job of sustaining the mystery of Adelia’s would-be murderer until the end. The story is believable and the plot straightforward at first glance. What Franklin does well—history and political intrigue—adds depth to an interesting chapter in Adelia’s life. Though lacking in well-rounded characters, especially of the O’Donnell, A Murderous Procession is an engrossing and fast-paced story. I look forward to comparing this with previous adventures.
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Sep 05, 2010 Laurie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

In this fourth installment of the Mistress of the Art of Death series of medieval mysteries, King Henry II of England commands Adelia to accompany his ten year old daughter, Princess Joanna, on her trip to Sicily to marry it’s king, William II. He trusts both her medical knowledge and her skill at mysteries to keep his daughter safe from harm. At first elated to be returning to the country where she was raised, her elation turns to despair when Henry tells her that he will be keeping her daughte...more In this fourth installment of the Mistress of the Art of Death series of medieval mysteries, King Henry II of England commands Adelia to accompany his ten year old daughter, Princess Joanna, on her trip to Sicily to marry it’s king, William II. He trusts both her medical knowledge and her skill at mysteries to keep his daughter safe from harm. At first elated to be returning to the country where she was raised, her elation turns to despair when Henry tells her that he will be keeping her daughter Allie in England to insure Adelia’s return. At best, the trip will take months and Adelia has no wish to be separated from her daughter for so long. There is no denying a king his wishes, however, and Allie and her nurse Glytha are left in care of Queen Eleanor. But Joanna is not the only treasure to be kept safe on this journey; Henry is secretly sending the sword Excalibur to William. Not just valuable for its jewels, it represents England and the possessor would have a strong rallying point. Given how Henry’s sons kept trying to take the throne from him, that even could be fatal for him. And what no one realizes is that also on this trip is Adelia’s sworn enemy, one who wishes her both disgraced and dead.

Odd, unpleasant events begin to happen before the group even sets out. At first they seem like accidents, but things get more suspicious. And as the group starts to think of the events as deliberate, they also find that the only one with known motive is Adelia… and they could have only been done by witchcraft. With the Inquisition just getting started, this could lead to a very bad end for Adelia- and it almost does. No one- except nature- makes an attempt on Joanna’s life, but Adelia is in constant peril right up to the end.

This novel is darker in tone than the first three. Europe is falling under the Inquisition and the Christian Crusaders are trying to elimate Moslims. Even Sicily, where Adelia was raised and educated, is falling to prejudice. Women will no longer be allowed to be doctors. Mixed marriages will no longer be allowed. This is as horrifying to Adelia as her own flesh and blood enemy is, and it’s something that she cannot cure. Franklin backs up her mystery stories with solid historical research.The action in the book never lets up, and the cliffhanger ending leaves us screaming “No, no, no!!!” and hoping that book five comes out very soon.
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Aug 14, 2010 California Bookworm rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Love this series, and really enjoy the history interwoven in the tale. However, in this book, it's too much to ask the reader to buy into the main plot device: that the Scarry figure [antagonist in this story:] is unrecognizable to Adelia either by voice or by sight even though he stood next to her in the forest when his partner, Wolf, was about to kill her in book three. In book three, Adelia even watches for a few momemts while Scarry crys over Wolf's body and actually leans down to check if t...more

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Aug 01, 2010 Mrsgaskell rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: library, 8-star

This is the fourth installment in the Mistress of the Art of Death series and it may just be my favourite although I have thoroughly enjoyed all the books. A few years have passed since the events of the previous novel and Adelia Aguilar has been living fairly content on the Somerset estate of her friend Lady Emma with her daughter, Allie, now six years old, Gyltha, and Mansur. And her relationship with Rowley, the Bishop of St. Albans has continued. But King Henry II hasn’t forgotten Adelia and...more

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May 08, 2010 Libby rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, great-historical-fiction

This series of books started well and has just gotten better. Our heroine, a lady doctor,(yes they had them) is charged by Henry II of England to accompany his daughter Joanna on her wedding journey to Sicily. On the way, it becomes apparent that a vicious killer from the past adventures of our heroine is stalking her once more. He is picking off those around her in such a fashion as to cause the superstitious to lay blame upon her. This book has it all, adventure in fabulous places, heretics bu...more

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May 03, 2010 Nancy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-or-something-akin-to-it

The 4th book and I was hoping to see some character development but it seems that the main characters are trapped by the plot demands including more personal danger for Adelia. However, Ulf was a pleasure and Boggart as well, but no Gyltha, although I am glad that someone is willing to teach her daughter some social skills. There was a lot of religion which got a bit slow and draggy in the middle, with lots of travelling side trips that didn't really move the main story along.

Personally, I think...more

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Feb 11, 2010 Jacqie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I enjoy Ariana Franklin's historical fiction books under this pen name and her other, Diana Norman.
The Adelia Aguilar series has been holding my interest ever since it appeared on the scene with its fresh look at Chaucer. This book examines the travels of Princess Joanna to Sicily to be married to its prince. This event really happened, but it is only the backdrop for Adelia finding herself in more trouble. An old enemy is stalking her, her lover is constantly being taken from her by his duties...more

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Aug 24, 2011 Feathzzz rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: british-historical-fiction, gender-issues, historical-fiction, religion-fiction, mystery, middle-ages, favorites

Not bad.

I really like these books as historical fiction, the setting is always very strong. Franklin doesn't over due the history but makes it plausible and interesting. Great use of the Cather movement in the plot, I found it particular interesting. And it's fascinating to think that their really were woman doctors in 12th century. The blend of fact and fiction in this series is superb.

The series’ weakness I think is the characters. Adelia is massively incohesive and contradictory. Were shown...more

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Jul 19, 2010 Debbie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical

This series of Ariana Franklin's just gets better and better.

King Henry orders Adelia to accompany his daughter Joanna to Palermo for her marriage to William II of Sicily. Adelia's joy at the prospect of returning to her home town and seeing her parents again is dashed when she learns that her daughter Allie will not be accompanying her but will be kept in Queen Eleanor's household to ensure that Adelia returns to England.

Adelia sets out on the long journey with a heart full of resentment and u...more

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Jun 25, 2010 Joyce Lagow rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, kindle-edition, police-procedural

Fourth in the Adelia Aguilar, medieval pathologist ("mistress of death") series. And it's a fast-paced, well-written work.

Adelia has been living rather peacefully without Henry II's interference in her life for some years, but of course that can't last. About to marry his 10 year old daughter Joanna to the King of Sicily, Henry has decided that only Adelia can be trusted with safeguarding Joanna's health. Understanding full well that once Adelia is in Sicily, she might not want to return to Engl...more

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Apr 18, 2010 Barbara rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, mystery-thriller-goodies

This 4th book featuring Adelia Aguilar is a very mixed bag. Henry II insists that Adelia(and most of her household) accompany his young daughter Joanna on Joanna's bridal journey to Sicily. Henry wants someone who really knows medicine along to keep his daughter healthy. And to insure Adelia comes back to England, Henry arranges for Adelia's daughter to "stay" with Eleanor of Aquitaine while Adelia is away.
So the bulk of the story involves the trek from England to Sicily. And it looks like someo...more

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Oct 01, 2011 Lauren Fidler rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: a-lioness-in-winter, abusive-relationships, authority-problems, books-i-can-read-in-under-3-hours, chaucer-esque, close-your-eyes-do-it-for-england, creepy-medieval-sex-scenes, first-person-plural-narration, guilty-pleasure, makes-me-wish-i-had-a-map, medieval-anti-semites, medieval-italian-mafia, medieval-sort-of, mother-daughter-drama, mystery, predictable-villain, rape, religious-overtones, reluctant-hero

ok, i love this series, but overall, i felt very...conflicted...after this installment.

i have NEVER loved rowley, he is not my first choice for adelia. he's sort of like "mr. big" to adelia's medieval carrie. only, in the case of the television show, i LIKED mr. big.

i don't know. the premise here is that scarry (whose name i agonized over pronouncing. i have some bizarre totally connotation-created mental picture of him as a cross between one of richard scarry's plucky animal-people and simba'...more

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Apr 23, 2013 Peisenberg rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This series has been one of my favorites, and I was so sorry to read that the author has died. Although this is not the best in the series, still there are some fascinating things to learn about life in the early middle ages. The main character in this series is a female forensic medical examiner who has to pretend that her manservent is actually the doctor, lest she be killed as a witch. In this book, she is to accompany the King of England's daughter to Sicily, where she is to marry the king o...more

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Jul 23, 2011 Ruth rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

"c2010. Unusually, I was very late in getting this book. At least 7 people got in before me...damn. I felt this book was the best since the first one. I wasn't so concerned about where Adelia was getting money from (odd, I know) and the plot was great. I kind of worked out who the dastardly assasin was but then managed to fall for the red herrings! However, this is more than a medieval whodunnit (as classified by the Guardian) - it also deals with the influence of the growth of Roman Catholicism...more "c2010. Unusually, I was very late in getting this book. At least 7 people got in before me...damn. I felt this book was the best since the first one. I wasn't so concerned about where Adelia was getting money from (odd, I know) and the plot was great. I kind of worked out who the dastardly assasin was but then managed to fall for the red herrings! However, this is more than a medieval whodunnit (as classified by the Guardian) - it also deals with the influence of the growth of Roman Catholicism and the effects that the various internecine politics had on the lives of the ""plebs"". """"Sicily was the most liberal, forward thinking realm in Christendom, treating its Arabs, Greeks, Jews and Normans as equal citizens"". ""The wedding had been taken over by the Latin Church; she saw few jewish rabbis among the congregation, fewer Greek clergy, while Mansur was among the only a select number of Muslims wearing Islamic robes."" Franklin is a pen name of Diana Norman who has published a few other historical novels and this particular book has also been published under the title ""A Murderous Procession."" Blurb on the book from the authors website is as follows ""In 1176, King Henry II sends his ten-year-old daughter, Joanna, to Palermo to marry William II of Sicily. War on the Continent and outbreaks of plague make it an especially dangerous journey, so the king selects as his daughterâ€™s companion the woman he trusts most: Adelia Aguilar, his mistress of the art of death. As a medical doctor and native of Sicily, it will be Adeliaâ€™s job to travel with the princess and safeguarding her health until the wedding. Adelia wants to refuseâ€”accompanying the royal procession means leaving behind her nine-year-old daughter. Unfortunately, Henry has arranged for the girl to live at court, both as a royal ward and as a hostage to ensure that Adelia will return to the kingâ€™s service. So Adelia sets off for a yearlong royal procession. Accompanying her on the journey are her Arab companion, Mansur, her lover, Rowley, and an unusual newcomer: the Irish sea captain Oâ€™Donnell, who may prove more useful to Adelia than Rowley would like. But another man has joined the processionâ€”a murderer bent on the worst kind of revenge. When people in the princessâ€™s household begin to die, Adelia and Rowley suspect that the killer is hiding in plain sight. Is his intended victim the princess . . . or Adelia herself?"" I love the character of Rowley but he certainly comes across as a more of a peripheral character than in the previous novels - and is there a new interest in the dashing Irishman of O'Donnell - a thoroughly dashing character. Is there more to this than meets the eye? """"It is grief for me to tell you, my child, but you would not be allowed to study in Salerno's school now."" / Adelia turned to stare at him. ""No women.""/""No women. No autopsy, eitherâ€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦How can we mend the human body if we do not how it works?"""" As at postscript, a couple of months after having read this book, I have just read (12/02/11) of the sad demise of the author today. Reportedly, she had not been well for the past year and has finally succumbed. MHDSRIP.

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Jun 23, 2010 Diane added it · review of another edition

In this fourth book in the Mistress of the Art of Death series, Adelia, the 13th century Sicilian woman is sent from England by Henry II to accompany his ten-year old daughter Joanna to Sicily. There Joanna will marry King William, thus cementing the political bonds between the two kingdoms. Ariana Franklin once again has brought to life the people of this time period, many of who lived by superstition and fear of an all-powerful church. Adelia, trained as a doctor in Sicily, travels with the Sa...more

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About Ariana Franklin

Ariana Franklin was the pen name of British writer Diana Norman. A former journalist, Norman had written several critically acclaimed biographies and historical novels. She lived in Hertfordshire, England, with her husband, the film critic Barry Norman.

Note:
The Death Maze (UK) is published as The Serpent's Tale in the US.
Relics of the Dead (UK) is published as Grave Goods in the US.
The Assassin'...more

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Books by Ariana Franklin

Mistress of the Art of Death (Mistress of the Art of Death, #1)

The Serpent's Tale (Mistress of the Art of Death, #2)

Grave Goods (Mistress of the Art of Death, #3)

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A Murderous Procession (Mistress of the Art of Death #4)

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