The Canterbury Papers: A Novel of Suspense [Hardcover]

Judith Koll Healey (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 23, 2003

Set in lavishly described medieval England and France, The Canterbury Papers is an enthralling and suspenseful debut novel combining dark family secrets, duplicity, and a missing heir to the throne.

The wily Eleanor of Aquitaine, queen of France and then of England, sends her former ward, Alaïs, the sister of the king of France, to retrieve a cache of letters hidden in Canterbury Cathedral. Letters that, in the wrong hands, could bring down the English king. In return, Eleanor promises to reveal a long-held and dangerous secret involving Alaïs -- a bargain the French princess is powerless to resist.

Within the fortnight the letters would be delivered to Fontrevault Abbey. Then Eleanor would be happy, and I would finally get the information she had promised.

So engaged was I in the arduous task of rising that I failed to hear the slight sound behind me that would have signaled my fate. Instead I was taken completely by surprise. The only thing I felt was a strong hand around my neck, another around my waist, and -- before I could cry out -- I smelled the thick, sweet scent of a mandrake-soaked cloth. Unforgiving hands clapped it against my face, and all went dark.

Before Alaïs can complete her mission, she is abducted, an event that sets in motion a dangerous plot. It will require all of Alaïs's considerable strengths, along with help from the very intriguing leader of the Knights Templar, to unravel dark secrets, unmask evil villains, and escape with her life.

A vividly rendered, spine-tingling historical novel filled with intrigue and peopled with compelling legendary figures, The Canterbury Papers is an extraordinary tale from a brilliant new writer.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This engaging medieval suspense debut is alternately playful and sober in its exploration of the power maneuvers and backstabbing of the royal families of England and France. The story, set in the early 1200s, is narrated by Princess Alais Capet, a bored and somewhat bitter member of the French nobility, long passed over for both matrimony and higher status. Ala‹s is approached by Queen Eleanor, who asks her to retrieve a secret and highly personal cache of letters hidden in England's Canterbury Cathedral. Eleanor won't explain the importance of the letters, but in return for salvaging them, she promises to divulge family secrets that Ala‹s could use to her advantage. Alais, frustrated by the slow and tiresome life at the French court, agrees to run the errand, but when she reaches Canterbury, she finds not only the letters missing but a trail of dead bodies in her wake. Just as she is about to depart for home, she's abducted and taken prisoner by King John, an inept and insecure leader who views Alais as an important pawn in his attempts to strengthen his tenuous grip on the throne. Healey's well-researched historical drama many of the characters and circumstances are based on real-life models delights in poking fun at the stuffiness and misbehavior that characterized the royal families of the time. The pace may be a little too leisurely for some readers, but Alais's tart, wry perspective makes this age-old story fresh and absorbing.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Debut novelist Healey brings medieval history to life in magnificent fashion as she adds a new twist to an old legend. An elderly Eleanor of Aquitaine requests that her former ward, Alais Capet, the sister of the king of France, travel to Canterbury and retrieve a cache of letters Eleanor had hidden in the cathedral there years earlier. Alais is reluctant, but Eleanor dangles an irresistible carrot in front of her: a promise of information about the whereabouts of Alais' illegitimate child. The French princess undertakes the dangerous task, only to be kidnapped by a desperate King John. Alais must unravel an intricately tangled web of family intrigue and deception that could lead either to a reunion with her lost son or to her own destruction. Plagued by infidelity and mistrust, petty jealousy and political rivalry, the infamously dysfunctional Plantagenets plot and scheme against one another in this electrifying journey into the past. Margaret Flanagan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow; 1 edition (December 23, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060525355
• ISBN-13: 978-0060525354
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,023,001 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Medieval Adventure, July 1, 2004

By 

J. Vilches (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Canterbury Papers: A Novel of Suspense (Hardcover)

Princess Alais is bored and disillusioned with life in the court of her brother the King of France. When Eleanor of Aquitaine dangles the promise of information that Alais desperately wants, Alais agrees to travel to Canterbury to retrieve a packet of Eleanor's potentially embarrassing letters. Her simple quest turns into something more dangerous as her rooms are ransacked and she is snatched away from the protection of her attendant knights.

How can she gain possession of the elusive letters and why are so many people suddenly interested in her jeweled pendant? Alais has to figure out whom she can trust as her path collides with King John, mysterious monks, and the Knights of Templar. Dangerous secrets about her stormy past with the royal family of England just might hold the key.

You don't have to be an expert on medieval times to appreciate The Canterbury Papers, but Healey thoughtfully includes a brief overview of royal politics of the time and a summary at the end separating the fiction from the facts. The book has a historically accurate feel, and it is obvious that Healey put a lot of time into her settings and characterizations. This charming mystery surprised me - I didn't expect to be as captivated as I was. Alais is a strong character with wit and passion. Healey throws in a charming romance, which does a great job of lightening the tone set by endless court intrigue and family betrayals.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Engaging Suspense Novel from a Promising New Writer, February 15, 2004

By 

Bookreporter (New York, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Canterbury Papers: A Novel of Suspense (Hardcover)

At first glance, THE CANTERBURY PAPERS is slightly intimidating. It opens with a whirlwind two-page summary of twelfth-century French and English political history and then launches headfirst into the politics and betrayals of the royal Plantagenet family. Don't worry, though --- even if you flunked medieval history, there's still plenty to enjoy in this engaging suspense novel.

Alais Capet, a member of France's royal family, was, in her youth, betrothed to Richard the Lionheart. However, her engagement was mysteriously broken off, and now, years later, Alais is lonely, bored with French court life and tired of constantly bickering with her brother, the king of France. When Richard's aged mother, the legendary and powerful Eleanor of Aquitaine, summons Alais to perform a mysterious errand at Canterbury Abbey, Alais jumps at the chance to have a bit of an adventure.

As Alais learns more about the letters she's been asked to retrieve from the altar, she is forced to examine some of the less savory parts of her own personal history. She herself admits, "God knows there were plenty of those [sins] strung out like dark pearls in the years behind me." Through flashbacks, readers learn about these old sins, gaining insight into family dynamics and Alais's own bitterness.

Alais also gets more of an adventure than what she bargained for, as she is quickly drawn into the personal and political intrigues of the Plantagenet family, particularly the tyrannical King John. As she conducts her mission, Alais begins to question everything about her assignment. What are Eleanor's true motives? Whom, if anyone, can Alais trust? And why is everyone so intrigued by the pendant that Alais wears around her neck?

From a historical figure who is usually little more than a footnote in history books, Judith Koll Healey has managed to create a flesh-and-blood woman with a vibrant personality. Although some sections, particularly those dealing with lengthy dinner conversations, can seem a bit too leisurely, and although it can be hard to keep all those nobles straight, Alais's tart tongue and the mystery story will keep readers guessing. Medieval history and literature buffs, of course, will eat this one up, as some of the most intriguing historical characters come to life in the pages of THE CANTERBURY PAPERS. For the rest of us, the author includes an afterword that helps sort out fact from fiction and provides some suggestions for further reading about the dysfunctional Plantagenet clan.

--- Reviewed by Norah Piehl

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A pleasant read, July 28, 2004

By 

R. Boadway "HF Buff" (Flagsaff, AZ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Canterbury Papers: A Novel of Suspense (Hardcover)

I am not one for mysteries, but immensely enjoy historical fiction. I especially enjoy British history and knowing little about its medieval times, I thought this book would be worth a try. Alittle slow at first, it finally picked up about halfway through and then I couldn't put it down. I found myself often confused about the many names being dropped and had to reread passages to clarify their roles. I also had to read the facts behind the unraveled mystery over and over to understand the connections-maybe it's just my lack of understanding and that's why I stay away from mysteries in the first place. Once I took the time to slow down, I understood the plot alittle more clearly. I was able to figure out the mystery of Alais' son right off the bat; way before it was divulged by the author.
The reading was easy and fast. I enjoyed the first person narration and the main character, Alais, was likeable, even if sometimes she was alittle too brash and brave. I was alittle disappointed that some sex had to be thrown in near the end to cheapen the story.
All in all, I would recommend this book to anyone interested in historical fiction (I did learn a lot about the Plantagenet era)and anyone who enjoys a good mystery.
By the way, did anyone else notice the discrepancy on the cover? The main character repeatedly refers to her malformed left hand (I'm not giving away any big secrets); yet, the hand holding the letters on the cover is a beautifully formed woman's left hand. Just thought it was interesting.