REVIEW: ‘Mistress of the Art of Death’ (2007) by Ariana Franklin

Mistress of the Art of Death was yet another great recommendation from Keishon of Avid Book Reader. I thought it fitting to review it for her monthly To Be Read Challenge.

Mistress of the Art of Death is the first in Ariana Franklin’s medieval mystery series featuring a female ‘doctor to the dead’, Adelia Aguilar. Ariana Franklin is a pseudonym for Diana Norman, author of several historical novels and the wife of film critic, Barry Norman. I read and enjoyed a couple of her books written as Diana Norman but this was my first Ariana Franklin novel.

It is the year 1171. A group of pilgrims approach the city of Cambridge. They comprise a medley of characters, including a prior and a prioress, various members of the clergy, returning crusaders, and a tax collector. One of them is a sadistic killer of children…but which one is it?

In Cambridge, four children have been horrifically murdered. The local Jewish community has been accused of the crimes and is currently under the sanctuary of King Henry II. The Catholic mob is baying for blood and the Jews are protesting their innocence. For Henry II, the situation is insufferable. His relations with the Church are still tense following the murder of Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, the previous year. Many clerics owe vast amounts of money to the Jews for their expensive cathedrals and other endeavours. They would be delighted to see these debts die with their creditors. From Henry’s point of view, Jewish tax money is an essential part of his income, and incarcerated Jews are not in a position to earn money with which to pay large sums of money in tax. Recognising the delicacy of the situation, Henry decides to call in impartial outside help and appeals to his friend, the King of Sicily, to send assistance.

This assistance comes in the form of Simon of Naples, a notorious spy and investigator, plus a ‘doctor to the dead’, Adelia Aguilar. Adelia was trained in the art of medicine at the renowned Medical School of Salerno. Salerno was an anomaly in the Middle Ages for not only admitting female students but allowing them to practice as physicians following the completion of their studies. Adelia’s speciality was most unusual: posthumous medicine. Simon has brought her along to examine the remains of the children and glean what information she can from them. In order to avoid suspicion – and to allow Adelia to practice her art without accusations of witchcraft – they disguise themselves as poor travelers. They are also accompanied by Adelia’s manservant, the African eunuch, Mansur.

Simon and Adelia receive unwanted help from Sir Rowley Picot, a man with his own reasons for pursuing the killer. Unfortunately, Sir Rowley also happens to be their prime suspect!

Mistress of the Art of Death is a strong beginning to what I hope will be a compelling historical mystery series. The historical details provide a vivid portrait of the times without overwhelming the story. The characters are satisfyingly complex, especially Sir Rowley. Although it didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment of the book, I correctly guessed the identity of the murderer quite early on, and I would have liked a bit more backstory about this individual once their identity is finally revealed.

Adelia is an interesting heroine and realistically portrayed. She freely admits the limits of her medical skills, which I thought realistic for the times in which she lived. She’s accepting of the limitations placed on her by virtue of her sex, even though she doesn’t like the situation. In contrast to many heroines in historical fiction, she doesn’t spout pseudo feminist beliefs which run contrary to the way the medieval world functioned. I liked Adelia and I look forward to meeting her again in further books.

Mistress of the Art of Death is a wonderful blend of rich historical detail, engaging characters and a compelling mystery. I can highly recommend it. Grade: B+

Tagged as: Ariana Franklin, B Plus Reviews, Medieval Mystery