Customer Reviews

Death Comes as Epiphany

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

I happened on the unabridged audio book and was hooked immediately. The medieval French setting of the book, the historical characters of Abelard and Heloise, the delightful Catherine and Edgar, and a well-crafted mystery combine to make this a very satisfying read. The historical and cultural detail of daily life in Paris in that time was especially fasinating. That Ms. Newman is first a historian and second a mystery writer sets this series above the bulk of the genre and has made me a devoted follower. In fact, on our last trip to France I persuaded my husband to detour off our route to visit the Paraclete!

I truely enjoyed reading this first in a series. Mostly because I found it wonderful to have an author who truely knows her history. Newman really takes the time to understand and see the places and people before she uses them as her background. This first book I found to be a bit bumpy with the action and plot, but she does set up a good character line and introduces her main characters and their relationships with each other for her future books. Having read all the books thus far in this series, I've found each one to be better than the last. I suppose some authors do improve with age and are not just "One Hit Wonders."

I am a big mystery reader and I am very picky. I read and later re-read "Death Comes As Epiphany" and loved it. Ms. Newman brings out the complexities and simplicities of medieval France and inspired me to do some of my own source reading. Believable characters, evocative settings, and a mystery that fooled me. What more could you ask for

I'm not necessarily a fan of mysteries but I am fond of the 12th century. The Catherine LeVedneur books are some of the most interesting and well researched fictional accounts of the Middle Ages that I've ever read. For instance, I have researched a great deal about Abbot Suger's chapel but it was only through these novels that it all "clicked" and I felt like I was there.

This is the first book in the Catherine LeVendeur series, and it appears to be a strong entry. I am certainly interested in reading this series further. It is set in 12th century France and Catherine is novice in a nunnery. When the book opens she has not taken her final vows. Catherine is asked by her Mother Superior to retrieve something that has been found near her home so she leaves the convent to do so. She gets embroiled in a nasty conspiracy that forces her to use all her wits to keep herself and an interesting scholar that she meets out of trouble. There's lots of excitement - dead bodies, stolen gems and more plots and counterplots within a great abby. Catherine manages to uncover all the mysteries, and finds love at the same time. This book has a bit more romance in it than I usually go for in mysteries, but it's fun all the same.

This was a great book. I had not heard of the author, but tried the first book in the series because I like medieval mysteries. I was very pleasantly surprised with the book. Ms. Emerson's portrayals of medieval life are well researched.

It's a murder mystery, historical novel (12th Century France), romance and thriller all rolled into one. However, the medieval setting gives the book a mood and tone that will never be found in a modern mystery-romance-thriller novel. It helps for the reader to be familiar with the story of Abélard and Héloïse before reading this book. Otherwise, you'll miss the significance of some things in the book.

One twist to this story I found noteworthy; The body of the murdered victim literally falls down on top of the story's heroine while she's walking across a courtyard at night. Talk about a mystery being thrust upon you! She had no choice but to become a 12th Century sleuth and try to solve the mystery. She has several more narrow escapes before the story finally reaches a conclusion. I think the ending will not be anticipated by most readers.

I noticed that the author has written an errata that acknoledges and explains some historical inaccuracies in the book. (Note, the website where the errata used to be located is no longer active.) Only a well trained scholar of medieval history would care about the level of detail that she explains there. The story is fictional, but what we're talking about here are details contained in the story that don't fit into 12th Century life. No movie producer has ever worried about this sort of problem.

Speaking of historical details, this book has details that the most creative writer of fiction would never dream up. Apparently dried moss was used then (at least by some) for toilet paper. Who would have known such a thing. I can just image the author with this tidbit of historical trivia trying to find a place in the story to mention it.

Here's my favorite quote from the book:
"Catherine Le Vendeur," he asked sententiously, "have you known this man carnally?"
"No father," Catherine answered. "But, with your kind permission, I would very much like to."

Now that is the level of sexual explicitness that I can feel comfortable with.

This book is first in a series of ten books in the Catherine LeVendeur series written by Sharan Newman. List of books in the Catherine LeVendeur series:
1. Death Comes As Epiphany
2. The Devil's Door
3. The Wandering Arm
4. Strong As Death
5. Cursed in the Blood
6. The Difficult Saint
7. To Wear The White Cloak
8. Heresy: A Catherine LeVendeur Mystery
9. The Outcast Dove
10. The Witch in the Well