Cursed In The Blood [Paperback]

Sharan Newman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2008

After giving birth to a son, Catherine LeVendeur is looking forward to an idyllic life with her husband, Edgar, in Paris. Yet her contentment is shattered when she and Edgar receive tragic news from Scotland: Edgar's two oldest brothers have been ambushed and murdered, and Edgar must return home to help avenge their deaths.

Once in Scotland, Catherine is surprised to learn that Edgar's family is not what she imagined. His father, Waldeve, is a cold tyrant, and his remaining siblings are strange and secretive.

Separated from Edgar in their efforts to uncover the truth, Catherine becomes a stranger in a strange land, searching for refuge in a war-torn country at the same time she searches for her husband. Yet she knows that any haven she finds will only be temporary until she answers this question: Who among Waldeve's enemies hates him passionately enough to destroy his whole family—including, she fears, his new infant grandson?

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In the fifth book of the Catherine LeVendeur series (after Strong as Death, 1996), Newman once again brings medieval times to life. Catherine, Edgar and their baby, James, leave France for Scotland after receiving news that Edgar's two oldest brothers and his nephew have recently been ambushed and murdered. Meeting her in-laws for the first time, Catherine learns that Edgar's harsh father is hated by all his subjects and feared by his family, especially his second wife. The patriarch is worried not only about his family troubles but also about the disputed bishopric of Durham. After the men ride off to help William Cumin win the see and also find the killer of Edgar's brothers, Catherine befriends her husband's stepmother and the woman's daughter. She also discovers an emaciated anonymous prisoner on the estate whom no one knows about. When the manor burns to the ground, she, James, the stepmother, the stepmother's daughter and the prisoner save themselves and seek asylum on an island cloister. While Edgar becomes more embroiled in the religious war and Catherine fights to keep her surrogate family alive, they come to realize that someone is trying to wipe out Edgar's family and, separately, they both slowly hone in on the culprit. If the pace is slow and the language sometimes anachronistically modern, Newman nevertheless manages to render the complicated matters of state and church interesting and comprehensible.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"A brilliant series, sparkling with historical tidbits and insights..a totally absorbing adventure."--Chicago Sun-Times

"A tale about duty, honor, family, and the healing power of love, as fortunes--and even lives--turn on the extent of commitment to these virtues...An appealing portrait of the mid-twelfth century, painted with warmth, humor, and love."--Historical Mystery Appreciation Society

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 350 pages
• Publisher: Bella Rosa Books (June 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1933523301
• ISBN-13: 978-1933523309
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 8.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,533,494 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Keeps getting better, October 18, 1998

By 

Olivia - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cursed in the Blood: A Catherine LeVendeur Mystery (Hardcover)

In this 5th of series, we learn why Edgar was able to leave his home and family for Catherine - and why he could love and respect her even though she is but a woman. I love this historical period, and enjoy glimpses of Abelard and Heloise in the earlier novel and, in this one, seeing more of E. Peters' Brother Cadfael's world. Edgar is so much more than a beautiful face. I want to know him and Catherine even better. I hope there will be more. I want Solomon to find a kosher wife and I want Catherine's son to grow up. I want to hear more talks with their Parisian friends. I am deeply satisfied with the characters in these five books - and I hope to meet the again.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Read, July 18, 1999

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Cursed in the Blood: A Catherine LeVendeur Mystery (Hardcover)

Edgar and Catherine - what a pair. I really enjoyed finding out more about Edgar's past. I wondered how he could leave his home, seemingly cut the ties with his relatives and move so far away.

This is an excellent time period and now that Ellis Peters can no longer reveal Cadfael and his times to us, Catherine and Edgar can pick up the slack.

Go back and find them all and enjoy, enjoy, enjoy.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A darker story, October 3, 2000

By 

Deborah Terrill "DebbieT" (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cursed in the Blood: A Catherine LeVendeur Mystery (Mass Market Paperback)

I have been eagerly following the adventures of Catherine and Edgar. This book takes them to Scotland, where Edgar has been summoned to avenge the death of his two older brothers. This is a more complex story than the others, with lots of clerical and political wrangling. And yes, I did find the ending a little weak. But the characterizations, and the surprise ending compensate a bit, I think.

Catherine and Edgar both continue to change and to mature as they struggle to meet the challenges life presents them. No, this story isn't as humorous as the first one, for example, but it allows us another glimpse into the relationships between the main characters, and also into life in 12th century Scotland.