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Product Description
Review
Franklin is one of the very best creators of medieval whodunits writing today. --Guardian
Review
Highly entertaining...Franklin is an adept storyteller who disseminates her research into the period with clarity and lightness of touch
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
First Sentence: The two men's voices carried down the tunnels with a reverberation that made them indistinguishable but, even so, gave the impression of a business meeting.
King Henry II refused to let Adelia Aguilar return to her home at the School of Medicine in Sicily so she is living in the fens with her baby daughter Allie, companion and baby's nursemain Gyltha, the Saracan Mansur, who poses as the doctor allowing Adelia to treat patients without being named a witch, and her new dog Ward.
King Henry's mistress, Rosemund, has been poisoned and his wife, Queen Eleanor is being accused. Adelia, recruited by Rowley, must prove Eleanor's innocence before the country is brought to civil war.
In some ways, this seemed a much bigger story than Franklin's first book (Mistress of the Art of Death) because of the themes.
Franklin presents a very real, unromanticized look at the time and the people in it, including Thomas Beckett and Queen Eleanor. She clearly illustrates how difficult it was to be a woman during the time as well as what life was like during civil war for those not of the ruling class.
Her descriptions are extremely visual and sometimes quite unpleasant but very effective. Although I had read the first book, I appreciated the way Franklin provided a recapitulation of the plot and the character's backgrounds sufficient to bring readers up to current to this book. It's not all politics and description.
The plot is fascinating with good intrigue and suspense with bits of romance and humor. Yes, there are anachronisms, but they are small and I've willing to forgive them when viewed against the strengths of the story. In all, it was a fascinating book and a thoroughly good read.
King Henry II refused to let Adelia Aguilar return to her home at the School of Medicine in Sicily so she is living in the fens with her baby daughter Allie, companion and baby's nursemain Gyltha, the Saracan Mansur, who poses as the doctor allowing Adelia to treat patients without being named a witch, and her new dog Ward.
King Henry's mistress, Rosemund, has been poisoned and his wife, Queen Eleanor is being accused. Adelia, recruited by Rowley, must prove Eleanor's innocence before the country is brought to civil war.
In some ways, this seemed a much bigger story than Franklin's first book (Mistress of the Art of Death) because of the themes.
Franklin presents a very real, unromanticized look at the time and the people in it, including Thomas Beckett and Queen Eleanor. She clearly illustrates how difficult it was to be a woman during the time as well as what life was like during civil war for those not of the ruling class.
Her descriptions are extremely visual and sometimes quite unpleasant but very effective. Although I had read the first book, I appreciated the way Franklin provided a recapitulation of the plot and the character's backgrounds sufficient to bring readers up to current to this book. It's not all politics and description.
The plot is fascinating with good intrigue and suspense with bits of romance and humor. Yes, there are anachronisms, but they are small and I've willing to forgive them when viewed against the strengths of the story. In all, it was a fascinating book and a thoroughly good read.
26 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
First, let me warn the reader that this book is also published under the title The Serpent's Tale.
Ariana Franklin is the pseudonym of a well-known author of historical novels, Diana Norman, wife of the film critic Barry Norman. She is a former Fleet Street Reporter and lives in Hertfordshire.
I thoroughly enjoyed the author's first book The Mistress of the Art of Death, finding it well researched and very well written, so of course I was delighted when I saw the Serpent's tale in the bookshop. Sometimes in these circumstances the reader feels let down, either because the second book is not as good as the first or more likely the reader's expectations are too high. No such thing with this book, it is equally as good if not better than the first, particularly as the main character of Adelia Aguilar is now familiar to those who have read the first book.
In the first novel, Adelia initially came to England at the request of Henry I who asked his cousin the king of Sicily to send him a "Master of Death" an early version of our present medical examiner in the hope that a scientific examination would be able to exonerate the Jewish community and save them from the rioting mob who believe that the Jews sacrifice Christian children. The Italian doctor chosen for the task is a young prodigy from the University of Salerno. But her name is Adelia, the king has been sent a mistress of the art of death.
In the Serpent's Tale Henry II is now on the throne and his mistress Rosamund Clifford has died a painful death by poisoning. Henry's wife Eleanor of Aquitaine is the number one suspect. Henry feels that this could well be the start of a campaign by Eleanor to discredit him and take the throne either for herself or her son's. Civil war could soon break out and Henry needs an answer to the crime and quickly. Henry immediately sends for Adelia is Mistrress of the Art of Death, who is less than pleased to be brought from retirement in the country where she is spending a carefree life attending to the needs of her little daughter.
Ariana Franklin is the pseudonym of a well-known author of historical novels, Diana Norman, wife of the film critic Barry Norman. She is a former Fleet Street Reporter and lives in Hertfordshire.
I thoroughly enjoyed the author's first book The Mistress of the Art of Death, finding it well researched and very well written, so of course I was delighted when I saw the Serpent's tale in the bookshop. Sometimes in these circumstances the reader feels let down, either because the second book is not as good as the first or more likely the reader's expectations are too high. No such thing with this book, it is equally as good if not better than the first, particularly as the main character of Adelia Aguilar is now familiar to those who have read the first book.
In the first novel, Adelia initially came to England at the request of Henry I who asked his cousin the king of Sicily to send him a "Master of Death" an early version of our present medical examiner in the hope that a scientific examination would be able to exonerate the Jewish community and save them from the rioting mob who believe that the Jews sacrifice Christian children. The Italian doctor chosen for the task is a young prodigy from the University of Salerno. But her name is Adelia, the king has been sent a mistress of the art of death.
In the Serpent's Tale Henry II is now on the throne and his mistress Rosamund Clifford has died a painful death by poisoning. Henry's wife Eleanor of Aquitaine is the number one suspect. Henry feels that this could well be the start of a campaign by Eleanor to discredit him and take the throne either for herself or her son's. Civil war could soon break out and Henry needs an answer to the crime and quickly. Henry immediately sends for Adelia is Mistrress of the Art of Death, who is less than pleased to be brought from retirement in the country where she is spending a carefree life attending to the needs of her little daughter.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Dark events surround the courts of Henry II and Queen Eleanor as jealousy accompanied with murder threatens to spark a civil war!
The unusual female protagonist was a refreshing change in a genre where male detectives tend to dominate an author's attention. In this book the author has skilfully woven a twisting tale where an independent forward thinking woman utilises her skills and education in a society where women were definitely seen as second class citizens by men and the established Church.
Such is the appeal of this unusual combination of characteristics surrounding Adelia, that you can't help willing her to succeed and strongly empathise with her at key moments of the story.
The plot is certainly deceptive! Just when you think you have learnt all there is to know about the crimes and expect the author to wrap the story up, along comes a massive surprise - throwing a proverbial spanner in the works!
Unique, appealing and engrossing are labels that best describe this book. If you enjoy books set during the early medieval period and with a `fictional crime thriller flavour'; then buy this one and delve in!
Be aware however, that this is book two and there is an initial instalment in the series.
The unusual female protagonist was a refreshing change in a genre where male detectives tend to dominate an author's attention. In this book the author has skilfully woven a twisting tale where an independent forward thinking woman utilises her skills and education in a society where women were definitely seen as second class citizens by men and the established Church.
Such is the appeal of this unusual combination of characteristics surrounding Adelia, that you can't help willing her to succeed and strongly empathise with her at key moments of the story.
The plot is certainly deceptive! Just when you think you have learnt all there is to know about the crimes and expect the author to wrap the story up, along comes a massive surprise - throwing a proverbial spanner in the works!
Unique, appealing and engrossing are labels that best describe this book. If you enjoy books set during the early medieval period and with a `fictional crime thriller flavour'; then buy this one and delve in!
Be aware however, that this is book two and there is an initial instalment in the series.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Good Yarn
This is a nice, atmospheric historical whodunnit. Particularly refreshing in that the main protaganist is female. I did find my concentration wandering throughout this read. Read more
Published 6 months ago by pigsmayfly
Watered down historical novel
I came across this book on a boat, so having finished my own book, I was looking for something pleasant to read. Read more
Published 7 months ago by F. S. Carr
Excellent on period detail, but sadly unsatisfying
I love historical thrillers and good writing, and they're best represented - for me and I think many others - by CJ Sansom's Shardlake books. Read more
Published 8 months ago by utility dog
A clever and highly original page-turner
Set during the reign of Henry II, we are introduced to Adelia Aguilar, a doctor and anatomist from Sicily but now living in the fenlands of Cambridgeshire with her baby daughter,... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Petra Bryce
The Serpent's Tale
Magnificently written, as are all Ariana Franklin's books, and
Kate Reading's performance as reader did full credit to the text.
Kate Reading's performance as reader did full credit to the text.
Published 14 months ago by Catherine George
whodunnit?
This book arrrive in very good quality despite being used. Not read yet but I look forward to the new adventures having greatly enjoyed the first book in the series.
Published 16 months ago by M. Buchan
A good sequel to "Mistress of the Art of Death"
The sequel to "Mistress of the Art of Death" is a surprising novel with a convincing story and powerful portraits of both historical figures (Henry II, Alienor of Aquitaine) and... Read more
Published 22 months ago by RamiMC
BEWARE OF DUPLICATION
BEWARE OF DUPLICATION when you order Ariana Franklin books. Sometimes Amazon can indicate "US edition" but it can only go on information supplied by publishers who are very sneaky. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Mrs. P. L. Hare
The Death Maze
A very good book, the author brings all the characters to life. I couldn't put it down!
Published 23 months ago by Mrs. Lorna Davis
So disappointing
This was a real disappointment after Mistress of the Art of Death, which I thought was a promising start to a new series. Read more
Published on 4 May 2010 by Slow Lorris
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