The Apothecary Rose: A Medieval Mystery [Hardcover]

Candace M. Robb (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1993

Medieval detective Owen Archer must investigate a fatal medicine administered to the English Lord Chancellor by the Master Apothecary and resist loving a prime suspect, the apothecary's wife. A first novel.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The Emerald Isle and the multihued island of Manhattan provide the settings for this uneven debut featuring Brian MacMorrough Donodio, a retired history professor and expert horticulturist. Acting on a note he receives at the Irish Historical Society requesting a meeting, Donodio finds the body of Maureen Sullivan stabbed through the heart; the victim was an Irish cop visiting New York to find her missing sister. Against the wishes of his daughter Dierdre, an INS agent, Donodio probes the death and turns up plenty of immigration problems in the form of secretive Irish usually living in rented apartments under assumed names. The author slides abruptly from green cards to more sinister matters and the body count advances by two, prompting Donodio to take off for Dublin. As love blooms between Donodio's daughter and a cop on the case, abrupt narrative leaps between romantic whimsy and hard-boiled action scenes jar the plot's continuity. Among a tritely characterized cast, Donodio stands out as impossibly pleasant and noble.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

When Irish cop Maureen Sullivan is murdered in New York, where she had gone to search for her lost sister, the case becomes the personal crusade of Brian Donodio, who found the body. Donodio, the father of Maureen's friend Deirdre, a U.S. immigration agent also involved in the case, follows a trail that takes him from New York to Dublin to rural Ireland, where he uncovers a computer-based immigration-fraud scheme. This is a very light, very readable mystery. Brian is a curmudgeonly type, given to temper and a sharp tongue; his wit will wither an adversary and leave readers chuckling. It's clear that a series is planned with Brian as the amateur-sleuth hero. While his bumbling escapades work fine here, it's hard to know if they will strain credibility over time. How many murders can the father of an immigration officer stumble into? For now, this one's lots of fun. Wes Lukowsky

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: St Martins Pr; 1st edition (October 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312097824
• ISBN-13: 978-0312097820
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #389,694 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good read!, August 1, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Apothecary Rose: A Medieval Mystery (Hardcover)

I don't know what the editorial reviews are for, but it's not this book. The Apothecary Rose is set in the latter half of the fourteenth century in England, and is the first of the Owen Archer mysteries. Following two mysterious deaths at an abbey, Owen Archer is sent to investigate by the Archbishop of York. There's also an interesting touch of romance between Owen Archer and Lucie Wilton, which only added to the book. I definitely recommend reading it!

5.0 out of 5 stars Apothecary Rose a winner, November 15, 2003

By 

Lehua of Pacifica "Lehua of Pacifica" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Apothecary Rose: A Medieval Mystery (Hardcover)

I didn't expect such bold writing and characterisation in the medieval genre, and greatly enjoyed the book. I ended up engaged in what happens to the central characters, and very interested in where they might go next.