B Reviews / Book ReviewsEngland / family relationships / Historical fiction / medieval / Mistress of the Art of Death / murder mystery / murder-investigation4 Comments
England. 1191. After the death of her friend and patron, King Henry II, Adelia Aguilar, England’s vaunted Mistress of the Art of Death, is living comfortably in retirement and training her daughter, Allie, to carry on her craft—sharing the practical knowledge of anatomy, forensics, and sleuthing that catches murderers. Allie ... more >
A Reviews / B Reviews / Book Reviews / Recommended ReadsEngland / Historical / medieval / War / Military4 Comments
1141. England is engulfed in war as King Stephen and his cousin, the Empress Matilda, vie for the crown. In this dangerous world, not even Emma, an eleven-year-old peasant, is safe. A depraved monk obsessed with redheads kidnaps the ginger-haired girl from her village and leaves her for dead. When ... more >
B+ Reviews / Book Reviewsmedieval / non-romance5 Comments
Like many readers, I was saddened to hear of Diana Norman’s passing in 2011. I’d enjoyed both her historical fiction The Vizard Mask and her medieval mystery series (written as Ariana Franklin) featuring Adelia Aguilar, an unusual 12th century heroine who is both a doctor and a medical examiner (the ... more >
B+ Reviews / Book Reviews / Recommended Reads18th-century / Africa / class-difference / England / Georgian / Historical / Jacobite rebellion / lawyer / law related / POC / working class8 Comments
Forced by Sir Robert Walpole into a distasteful marriage and then ruined by her husband’s speculation in the South Sea Bubble, Lady Cecily Fitzhenry vows revenge on the Prime Minister and all his myrmidons – including the creaking Hanoverian court and an obscure Scottish lawyer, Archibald Cameron.Nothing if not spirited, ... more >
B+ Reviews / Book Reviews / Recommended ReadsAriana-Franklin / Diana-Norman / France / medieval / Mistress of the Art of Death / murder-investigation / mystery / Penguin9 Comments
Dear Ms. Franklin, I knew there’s a reason why I love doing this blog. It’s so I can get my hands on the copy of your latest book, “A Murderous Procession” before it hits market shelves. Even though it’s book 4 of the “Mistress of the Art of Death” series, ... more >
B Reviews Category / B+ Reviews / Book Reviews / Ebooks / Recommended ReadsAriana-Franklin / Diana-Norman / Historical Romances / lawyer / law related / medieval / Mistress of the Art of Death / mystery18 Comments
Note: Risk of spoilers for the series. Dear Ms. Franklin, Those who have fallen under the spell of Vesuvia Adelia Rachel Ortese Aguilar, the "Mistress of the Art of Death," will get all excited over book three of this historical mystery series. I know I squeed with glee when my ... more >