Death Comes As Epiphany [Paperback]

Sharan Newman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1995

Entering the Convent of the Paraclete in order to conquer her natural willfulness, twelfth-century novice Catherine LeVendeur travels to the Great Abby of St. Denis, where she uncovers a plot involving stolen gems, mad monks, and murder. Reprint. AB.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A medievalist breathes life and vigor into the scholastic debates and religious controversies of 12th-century France in this entrancing mystery debut. Catherine LeVendeur, a young novice and scholar at the Convent of the Paraclete, is sent by the Abbess Heloise on a perilous mission to find out who is trying to destroy the reputation of the convent and, through it, that of the abbess's onetime lover and patron, theologian Peter Abelard. A psalter created at the convent and given as a gift to the powerful abbot Suger of Saint-Denis is later rumored to contain heretical statements in its accompanying commentaries. Catherine, in the role of a disgraced novice, must find the book and copy the disputed passages to determine if they are forgeries. Further complicating her search, Saint-Denis's master stonemason, Garnulf, is murdered, a crime which may be tied to the sinister hermit Aleran and the rebuilding of the splendid Abbey of Saint-Denis. Re-entering worldly life, the young novice must face both her sometimes disapproving family and her attraction to Garnulf's mysterious apprentice, Edgar. Newman skillfully depicts historical figures and issues in a very different age, one in which piety and great beauty coexist with cruelty.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

YA-Although knowledge of the Middle Ages is helpful while reading this novel, the dialogue and fast action will appeal to YAs wanting a mystery set in an interesting place and time. Catherine, a young scholar who plans to become a nun, is sent by Heloise, the abbess at the convent where she is studying, to help her old friend, Abelard, when someone fraudulently copies his texts. Little does she realize that Catherine's own life will be in danger as she becomes involved in a murder mystery before the forger is discovered. The reading level is easier than Ellis Peters's "Brother Caedfel" series (Mysterious). Characters are believable, though somewhat predictable. The creative plot, however, has a special twist as unusual family ties become known. The voice of Catherine's conscience is realistically portrayed through the use of italics. Glimpses of many aspects of the time period are woven into the plot.
Claudia Moore, W.T. Woodson High School, Fairfax, VA
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Forge (August 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812522931
• ISBN-13: 978-0812522938
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 3.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,147,827 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars History, July 7, 2000

By 

Edward Alexander Gerster "miamibooks" (South Miami, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Death Comes As Epiphany (Paperback)

As the first volume in the adventures of Catherine LeVendeur, this book is an exceptional escape into medieval France. As a mystery, the plot is very good but not exceptionally sophisticated. The best service is rendered as an introduction to the further mysteries in this series, which gain in sophistication and quality with each new book. The author's later books (The Devil's Door, The Wandering Arm, and Strong As Death) are much enjoyable for having read this volume first. A truly enjoyable series that educates as well as entertains.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Medieval Catherine is Compelling and Quirky!, October 27, 2002

By 

Lori L. Lake "Author of Like Lovers Do, Buyer... (Portland, Oregon, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Death Comes As Epiphany: A Catherine LeVendeur Mystery (Paperback)

Catherine LeVendeur, an 18-year old novice at the French Convent at Paraclete, is enlisted by the famous abbess Heloise to go on a mission to the Abbey in her hometown. A psalter prepared at the convent, which Catherine was largely responsible for, has been altered in a way that accuses the famous scholar Abelard-and Heloise as well-of heresy, and Catherine is to inspect it and possibly retrieve it. To carry out Heloise's plan, Catherine must return home under the guise of being disgraced for being willful and disobedient. Once at home, her mother refuses to acknowledge her out of shame, and her father takes her to task for bad behavior. Luckily, her handsome uncle Roger, her 16-year-old sister, and an old sculptor working on the construction of a new church are sympathetic. Before Catherine can do much reconnaissance concerning the psalter, however, the sculptor dies under suspicious circumstances, and at this point, the story picks up speed as mysterious circumstances start piling up. Not knowing whom to trust, Catherine must keep her own counsel, though she is determined to "kidnap" the psalter from the Abbey to get it to Abelard as well as find out if the sculptor's death was an accident or something more sinister. Two more murders, a possible murder attempt upon Catherine, a mysterious stonemason, various knights, holy men, thieves, and rioters, along with a touch of romance, family politics, and political intrigue all come together in this lively and entertaining medieval mystery.

Set in 1139 France, the story holds true to the gender limitations of the era while at the same time allowing Catherine spunk and forthrightness that surely many women back then possessed. She plans to become a nun, instinctively knowing that the convent is one of the few places where she can read and think and reason about philosophy and ethical matters without censure. But she never counted on what would happen to her in the outside world upon leaving the safety of the cloisters.

This is an excellent mystery adventure, well told, by a writer with considerable skill and a remarkable background in medieval history. The setting, plot and characterizations ring true, and we never get bogged down in the mundane historical recitations to which many other novelists might subject the reader. Instead, like Ellis Peters' fine medieval mysteries, this top-notch novel rolls along toward a satisfying conclusion which left this reviewer wanting more. It is fortunate that this is merely the first in a series of books Newman has written about Catherine LeVendeur. I recommend it highly.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Catherine Le Vendeur, December 25, 2001

By 

stardustraven "stardustraven" (Europe) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Death Comes As Epiphany: A Catherine LeVendeur Mystery (Paperback)

With 'Death comes as Epiphany'' author Sharan Newman launched the medieval Catherine Le Vendeur mystery series. Set in twelfth century France, the reader is introduced to its fictional,strong and engaging heroine Catherine, daughter of merchant Hubert Le Vendeur, she's a novice in the convent of Le Paraclete (and about to take her vows and renounce the world).

When on an assignment for Abbess Heloise, Catherine faces many dark and confusing secrets. Such as for instance: Hubert's Jewish ancestry or the intense feelings of maternal uncle Roger for her own person.

A thoroughly researched, three-dimensional novel, which doesn't shun the grittier and nastier aspects of medieval life. Catherine and her family intermingle effortlessly with historical characters like: Heloise, Abelard or the Abbot Suger. Further the author introduces us to the series other regulars: first of all Edgar, Catherine's future husband (a laird's son hailing from Scotland), with whom Catherine will form a sleuthing partnership, her father Hubert (a converted Jew), her younger sister Agnes, her Jewish aunt, uncle and cousin: Johannah, Eliazar and Solomon.

With Catherine Ms. Newman portrays a strong and highly educated heroine who is nevertheless firmly rooted in her own time. The courtship and eventual marrriage of Catherine and Edgar is realistically and playfully developed. They certainly enjoy a true and wonderful chemistry.

For me Catherine is a truly memorable heroine and everytime I read her adventures with pleasure. Sleuthing with Catherine and Edgar simply never bores.