Customer Reviews

A Gift of Sanctuary: An Owen Archer Mystery

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A dramatis personae would go a long way toward making this book easier to follow. I'm sure there's a historical or literary reason for many of the character names, but for a modern reader, especially one like me who is interrupted frequently by small children, simple names would be better. An editor could have helped Robb more than the Mediev-L listserv. Examples of confusion: Dafydd, Dyfrig and St. David's all introduced in one paragraph on page 23. (I had forgotten that Dafydd had been mysteriously introduced in the prologue because I'd read it on the previous day - oh, the life of a mom). Dafydd surely must be Welsh for David anyway. So what's the point? Then we have Nest & Cadwy, Dafydd's 2 dogs (who didn't need to be named at all) and Madog & Cadwal, Dafydd's 2 servants. I thought Madog & Cadwal were the dogs through the entire book. Well, you get my point about the names. By the way, I did thoroughly enjoy her earlier mysteries.

I have yet to be disappointed by one of Robb's books. She knows her subject perfectly, and uses her knowledge so that the story has just the right amount of the historical in it, along with the rest. Owen Archer is as "real" as ever, though I was a bit sorry not to see more of his life with Lucie and children. I also find the details referring to herbs, the apothecary etc, interesting and was sorry not to have more. Let's hope that Owen stays home in the next one!

Although I missed Lucie and the apothecary motif, Owen's excursion into Wales was extremely interesting, particularly since it allowed Robb to give us the lovely contrast between the traditional Welsh bard and the courtly poet (Chaucer). As usual, Robb does her research and gives a source or two for those interested in delving into the actual history. The mystery itself in satisfyingly complex, and the soul-searching that Owen must do enriches an already sympathetic character. Highly recommended.

In 1370 Owen Archer has mixed feelings about returning to his birthplace Wales, a land he has not visited in years. Owen is not returning for a pleasure visit. Instead, he has been assigned to select forty archers to make up two vintaines to help fight off the expected French invasion. He also escorts his father-in-law on a pilgrimage to the Welsh St. David's Cathedral.

John the Gaunt assigns Geoffrey Chaucer to accompany Owen on his quest. While in Wales, they need to determine whether the Duke of Lancaster can stop an invasion. However, even before they arrive, things go wrong. Treachery is everywhere and murders have occurred, leaving it up to Owen to uncover the culprit's identity in order to ascertain who remains loyal to John.

A GIFT OF SANCTUARY, the sixth Archer Medieval mystery, is a great and complex who-done-it. The mystery elements and the feel of the era are brilliantly described. The characters add much realism and having Chaucer as a major player blended into story line is a gift that makes the novel seem even more genuine. However, what makes this one of the top tales in this superb series is the incredible execution by Candace Robb is the in depth personalities of Archer's family. This novel is right on target.

Harriet Klausner

I think this is my favorite so far of the Owen Archer series. It certainly gives one much to think about. Although A Gift of Sanctuary takes place in Wales and lacks the Archbishop's Spy Owen's charismatic wife, Lucy, the apothecary, it does expand on the characters of her father Sir Robert D'Arby and of the Archbishop's secretary, the mercurial Brother Michaelo. These are characters with which the reader has become familiar in earlier works. When the elderly knight and the irritating brother are thrown together as companions on pilgrimage to a sacred site in Wales and travel with Owen who is on a mission for the Duke of Lancaster, the reader has the opportunity to know them better. Both individuals grown in depth throughout the story, adding human interest to the story of murder and love betrayed. Indeeed, the story focuses as much on the development of these two people as it does on the mystery itself.

Haunting too is the tale of Owen's long separation from his family and of the many changes that are wrought by time in one's absence from home. In the years during which the action takes place, travel is a dangerous pursuit undertaken only rarely and then usually for religious or commercial reasons. Most people had not travelled more than a few miles from their home. For Owen, who left home years before to become an archer for the Duke of Lancaster, returning home to Wales is a bitter sweet experience at best.

Interesting too is the reintroduction of the poet Chauce--he appeared in an earlier story as well--and of a Welsh bard (with whose name I am unfamiliar). Both add some comic relief to the story, especially Dafydd ap Gwilym who plays a wise fool throughout. I took a class in Middle English, reading Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, when I was working on my MA in history, and although I struggled through the unfamiliar and vaguely familiar words of the poetry, I never learned much about the man himself. Robb's recreation of his personality, while it may not be perfectly accurate is probably not far from the truth.

Again the author provides an interesting summation of the history of the period, including the political climate of the Welsh-English frontier of the 14th Century.

I had a bit of trouble at first sorting out all the characters and relationships, but after that, I really enjoyed the Welsh history and the intricate plot, its twists and the development of Owen Archer as a character. I already had a week's vacation to the UK planned, and this novel inspired me to spend part of it in west Wales, checking out some of the sites in the plot (St. David's Cathedral, the Bishops Palace, Whitesands Bay, Kidwelly). Incredibly beautiful country, and the travelling would indeed be rough going without benefit of modern roads and vehicles. Having read the book helped me imagine life in the earlier times of Wales. It's good historical fiction as well as an engrossing mystery.

Spring 1369, Owen Archer, one-time soldier and spy is out recruiting archers for the Duke of Lancaster, but he is also on a mission to find out whether the Duke's own steward is betraying him to the Welsh rebels. Trouble goes before them and a body in the Duke's livery is left at the city gates.
All of Candace Robb's novels have great appeal to those interested in the medieval period and this one is no exception. Owen Archer is a believable hero and the area of York in which he lived is not too far from my own home which lends a extra dimension to the novels from me.

This series is a wonderful one with vividly drawn and sympathetic characters, interesting plots, and plenty of intrigue. It's just a shame that the U.S. publisher does not keep up with Robb's U.K. publisher. I'm such a big Candace Robb fan, I order her books from Amazon.com.uk and am presently completing The Cross-Legged Knight--the eighth in the series, in case anyone wants to pick it up used before U.S. publication.

I was a little disappointed in Candace Robb's latest. I have always thought that the relationship between Owen and Lucie is what makes the series special, but in A Gift of Sanctuary, Owen is in Wales the whole time, Lucie doesn't appear at all, and Owen hardly even refers to her. The great female characters (Lucie, Magda, Bess) are wholly absent, as is the rivetingly good/evil Archbishop Thoresby. It's nice to spend more time with Geoffrey Chaucer and Sir Robert D'Arby, however, and Michaelo is more complex in the book than is his wont. It was nice to learn more of Owen's family, too, though it would have been nicer to see more of them. My biggest disappointment with the book is that it doesn't really seem to be part of the series. Altogether, A Gift of Sanctuary seems to be a transition of some sort, as if, when we return with Owen to York, it will somehow be completely different.

I love these books and have read everyone now. This one is as a good as the others. I am glad that Owen has finally returned to Wales for a time. Brother Michelo's growth is fascinating.