Grave Goods

I was completely shocked to learn that Ariana Franklin, author of my beloved "Mistress of the Art of Death" series, was actually Diana Norman, with whom I had a more complicated reading relationship. But in spite of her extremely favorable view of Henry II and the one book she wrote I kind of hated, there was no way I was missing out on this novel. "Grave Goods" the third Mistress of the art of death novel.King Henry is having some issues with Celts. Specifically rebellions Celts who use the semi-sacred name of King Arthur as a reason to fight. So when a Welsh bared tells him of a vision his uncle the monk had of Arthur's burial on the monastery grounds at Glastonbury (Avalon) Henry is eager to give a reason to the Celts to stop fighting. But only person he knows can tell him anything about the two skeletons in the single grave (presumed to be Arthur and his queen) that was dug up. And she's not happy about it.After four years of living in the Cambridge fens Vesuvia Adelia Rachel Ortese Aguilar, qualified Doctor of the medical school of Salerno-known as Adelia, is getting chased out. The fiction she and her Arab protector Mansur maintained that allowed her to practice as a Doctor and help the English has made them popular with the townspeople. So popular the other doctors want them out. And an accusation against an Arab and a woman in the twelfth century was easy to do.So Adelia leaves her beloved fens and strikes out with Emma (The young girl forced into marriage in the last book "The Serpent's Tale") Lady Wolvercote as she travels her dead husbands lands and claims them for her baby son. But Adelia is soon snatched off the road with Emma and taken to the King. Given her assignment, she is sent to Glastonbury.Adelia may be a mistress of the art of the death but even she can't tell much about skeletons. And being on the magical grounds of Avalon is making everything strange-Adelia is having vivid dreams of the long lost to legend king and queen and strange happenings are afoot at the burned down Abby. And most troubling of all-Emma and her entourage have vanished into thin air.Adelia is very good at her job-but with more mysteries pilling up by the minute and a less than helpful (and more and more pompously religious in the face of his old lover) Rowley Picot, Bishop of Saint Albans hanging around and distracting her it just may be more than even she can handle. Can she solve the mystery of the two skeletons, make King Henry happy, find her friends and unearth what is so secret about the Abbey all while keeping her daughter and friends safe?I'm not sure I would call this the best book in the series so far, because I see them as all pretty equal (after re-reading the first two books in preparation for this new novel I take back much of my earlier view on the second novel-it needed a much more careful reading than I gave it the first time), maybe with the first one leading the pack because of its excellent adrenalin producing ending. But there is no doubt that this book will grab you and pull you in, forcing you to finish it as fast as you can read.Five stars. And based on the ending I expect the next book to be completely amazing.

This book was also published with the title "Relics of the Dead".England of 1176 under the rule of King Henry II was not a time when a woman was accepted as a doctor. Consequently Adelia Aguilar kept up the pretense that her Arab attendant, Mansur, was the doctor and she was his translator. Fortunately for Adelia the King had already accepted her knowledge and her vocation and had no problems with calling her in to help solve the mystery of two skeletons found buried in the same coffin. Was it possible that King Arthur and Guinevere had been buried at Glastonbury Abbey? Henry needed for these bones to belong to Arthur and Quinevere to help quiet the Welsh uprisings he was having to fight. Although the king wanted the truth to be found, he certainly would have been pleased to have the truth become a weapon for his political use.I enjoyed Adelia with her passion for using science and truth to solve mysteries. Even having to hide her abilities because she was a woman did not slow her down for very long and she was adept at turning situations to her favor with her insight into human nature. People wanted to believe that Mansur was the doctor simply because of his gender. Then let them believe that, Adelia would just work around that problem. Perhaps her character was written with just a touch too much "modern" woman for me, but I do understand that she could not possibly perform the functions of the novel's main character without stepping outside her time period in many situations. And besides, how else were we as readers supposed to feel sympathy for this woman while also remaining interested in the perils she was encountering?I especially enjoyed this novel from the standpoint of watching the legal system of England undergo significant changes through the forward thinking of this monarch. We begin with legal rights being determined by mortal combat. The champion remaining alive after the battle represents the winner of the legal case. By the end of the story Henry II was instituting sweeping changes by introducing judges, juries, and traveling courts to hear cases from the lowliest peasant to the loftiest nobleman. The story also weaves in the legend of King Arthur and how he might have died, where he might be buried and what happened to his magic sword, Excalibur. All of these things figure extremely prominently in this novel and I enjoyed reading how a man who was already a legend at this time was still having an effect on political and personal lives throughout this country.After becoming acquainted with the characters in this novel I will actively look for the other books in the series . I think the writing of Ariana Franklin was very good and I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent reading this story. Not only did it keep me entertained, but I also learned many things regarding law and order in the twelfth century.

Loved the use of Historical background & characters fusion with the fictional characters of Adelia Aguliar & her associates. For me this was a fascinating insight into how the study of medicine was crushed by the bias, prejudice & bigotry of the church. However, it was also a fascinating insight into early forensics, as Adelia uses her skills as detective throughout the series to identify really nasty villains who have committed the most henious crimes, while constantly battling against the prejudices of medieval England.My only gripe was that if you read them out of sequence the author gives away too many 'plot spoilers'and the extremely smart heroine occasionally makes some extremely stupid decisions which imperils those who are closest to her a little too often! However, having said that I did enjoy the series & would certainly read more of her adventures if any come along!

A hugely talented author who finally found her much deserved fame with this crime series, her death has left a big hole in the world of historical crime fiction. They can be read as stand alone novels but it’s much better to read them in order beginning with Mistress of the Art of Death. Fabulous characters, well plotted crime and excellent historical detail.

charming excursion into a fantasy time and land...great characters, great settings, intricate plot, abrupt ending, promising more adventures...magical mists, legends and myths, with an attempt to give henry two an honourable reputation...ms norman really appreciated him, did she not?fun for all...a fairy tale for adults...

Another great medieval page Turner. The history is skilfully woven into the racing story. We view Henry Plantagenet in a favourable light by the end, and learn the intricacies of the Law as it was then, and as, it started to develop. Ancient myths and legends run side by side with human nature's cunning and greed. Thoroughly enjoyable :)

If you like murder mystery this book is for you. Add in medieval timeline, religious unrest and a great female lead and it was one of the best books I've read. Ariana Franklin writes with such description you feel like you could almost be there. I would love to see this made into a series or film!