Customer Reviews

Grave Goods (Mistress of the Art of Death)

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This third book in the 'Mistress of the Art of Death' series finds the Salerno trained forensic physician Adelia Aguilar dispatched to the newly destroyed Glastonbury Abbey by Henry II to investigate a pair of skeletons that Henry hopes will turn out to be King Arthur and his queen. Once there, Adelia becomes entangled with a most charming, if odorous, group of rogues who are attempting to prove the innocence of one of their deceased brethren. Add to this her friend Emma who has gone missing, a saintly abbot, an innkeeper who faints from fright when meeting Adelia, an isle of lepers, haunting dreams, and, of course, Rowly, bishop of St. Albans and father of Adelia's daughter, Allie.

If there are more delightful literary characters than Franklin's Adelia, Rowly, and King Henry II, I can't think who they are. I would say that characterization is her strong point; however, her historical research is meticulous (though it never burdens the reader) and her plotting is expert. So what's not to like?

If you haven't read Franklin, by all means start with the first book in the series; the characters actually develop and their relationships change. And keep in mind that Franklin is Diana Norman; the books written under the Norman name are worth a look too.

I read "The Serpent's Tale" before reading the first book in the series and I was impressed that "Serpent" was linked to "Mistress of the Art of Death," but not dependent on it. This third book is not as strong in that respect. Further, the first two books presented realistically drawn characters with both Adelia and Rowley defying the physical attributes of most fictional heroes. (She's no great beauty; neither does he look like Fabio.) So, I expected the writer to more forcefully develop the lead characters - and to see more of Mansur and Glytha, the supporting cast. While "Grave Goods" continues with the complicated relationship between the medical detective and the bishop, it just doesn't hit the high notes like in the earlier books. Still, Franklin tells a good, history-based tale with interesting twists to the several related mysteries. Another good touch: Again, the Author's Note at the end explains the areas where the writer took liberties with historical record to advance the story. I just hope that as we see in too many fiction series, that the writer isn't running out of steam.

[ The Mistress of the Art of Death series recounts the adventures in medieval England of Adelia Vesuvia Rachel Aguilar, a rare woman trained as a medical doctor in the famous schools of Salerno. Under the summons of King Henry II, in Book I, Adelia arrives in England to solve a mystery concerning the murders of many children. Though disgusted by him at first, she meets and falls in love with Sir Rowley Picot, but chooses to undergo an unofficial relationship with him in order to maintain her independence. In Book II (The Serpent's Tale), the King's favorite concubine Rosamund is found dead, and Adelia is summoned to solve the mystery. Adelia has settled into a home in the fens with Glytha--and Rowley's child, whom she is determined to raise without him. (After Adelia had spurned married life with him, Rowley had taken the King's offer to become Bishop Rowley.) Book III in this historical fiction saga (with its own quirky dose of forensics) puts Adelia in the midst of the uncovering of truth in legend. ]

The story begins in the year 1154 A.D., when a cathedral-destroying earthquake strikes Glastonbury, England, creating a fissure in the earth--where the alleged remains of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere's bodies would be found. Twenty years later, King Henry II fights to gain his lands in Wales--against a people who don't recognize him as King, believing that King Arthur (who lived in the 6th century) is still alive. Henry thus summons Adelia away from her otherwise normal life to investigate the truth of Arthur's bones--and, he hopes, to prove to the Welsch that their so-called King had long ago died.

Adelia is traveling with Lady Emma Wolvercote (the abbey choirgirl in Book II, raped by the late Lord Wolvercote), when the King's men arrive to take her off course. Arriving in Glastonbury, she and her manservant Mansur (officially, the "doctor," to save Adelia from ignorant accusations of witchcraft), are greeted by the abbot, whom, with suspicious openness, allows them to inspect the remains of the alleged bones that are believed to be Arthur and Guinevere's. As expected, there would be those resistant to the discovery of the truth behind the bones, and our heroes thus narrowly escape death several times from attempts to put them off.

Although once a woman baffled and embarassed by how others could sacrifice their life for the love of a man, Adelia--on the brinks of death by aphyxiation with Rowley in a sealed tunnel--finds that she would be ready to do that for Rowley. Our heroine and her beloved survive, of course, but the incident would set about a course of confessions and revelations that would explain both Arthur's bones and the relations between several unlikely parties in this small town.

Ripe with both historical and forensics details, the novel entertains and educates without detracting much from the story. Most memorable is a touching conversation in a rose-garden in summer between Adelia and Emma on love and circumstances, wherein Adelia, in her pedantic nature, goes off a tangent discussing historical contraceptions, notably venerable pessaries soaked in vinegar. Another interesting fact revealed in the story is that preserves or Worcestershire sauce are the best means to clean historic swords preserved in muck--this was used to reveal that a rusted sword that had saved Adelia's life was, in fact, Excaliber. But, though the story is lovely at times, it is a work of fiction. Although Henry II was reportedly its owner at one point during his reign, no one now knows where Excaliber is; the author admits in the endnote that the dates of certain events are shifted to render them in accords with other events. Nevertheless, who's to say things didn't happen as they did? Even the study of history in academia is prone to changes, as new findings challenge existing notions.

Interestingly, unlike its predecessors, Book III ends in suspense--as one of the villains Adelia narrowly escapes in the woods looks on at her passing in menace... I await Book IV!

This book was also published with the title "Relics of the Dead".

England of 1176 under the rule of King Henry II was not a time when a woman was accepted as a doctor. Consequently Adelia Aguilar kept up the pretense that her Arab attendant, Mansur, was the doctor and she was his translator. Fortunately for Adelia the King had already accepted her knowledge and her vocation and had no problems with calling her in to help solve the mystery of two skeletons found buried in the same coffin. Was it possible that King Arthur and Guinevere had been buried at Glastonbury Abbey? Henry needed for these bones to belong to Arthur and Quinevere to help quiet the Welsh uprisings he was having to fight. Although the king wanted the truth to be found, he certainly would have been pleased to have the truth become a weapon for his political use.

I enjoyed Adelia with her passion for using science and truth to solve mysteries. Even having to hide her abilities because she was a woman did not slow her down for very long and she was adept at turning situations to her favor with her insight into human nature. People wanted to believe that Mansur was the doctor simply because of his gender. Then let them believe that, Adelia would just work around that problem. Perhaps her character was written with just a touch too much "modern" woman for me, but I do understand that she could not possibly perform the functions of the novel's main character without stepping outside her time period in many situations. And besides, how else were we as readers supposed to feel sympathy for this woman while also remaining interested in the perils she was encountering?

I especially enjoyed this novel from the standpoint of watching the legal system of England undergo significant changes through the forward thinking of this monarch. We begin with legal rights being determined by mortal combat. The champion remaining alive after the battle represents the winner of the legal case. By the end of the story Henry II was instituting sweeping changes by introducing judges, juries, and traveling courts to hear cases from the lowliest peasant to the loftiest nobleman. The story also weaves in the legend of King Arthur and how he might have died, where he might be buried and what happened to his magic sword, Excalibur. All of these things figure extremely prominently in this novel and I enjoyed reading how a man who was already a legend at this time was still having an effect on political and personal lives throughout this country.

After becoming acquainted with the characters in this novel I will actively look for the other books in the series . I think the writing of Ariana Franklin was very good and I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent reading this story. Not only did it keep me entertained, but I also learned many things regarding law and order in the twelfth century.

"Grave Goods" is the weakest of the three entries in the `Mistress of the Art of Death" series. The characters are not strongly drawn, and the secondary characters are essentially cardboard stereotypes. Even the villains here are much less vivid than in the other books, although there are two outlaw types who seem hardly human. Even Dr. Adelia, the main character, seems far less lively than before, as if her years in 12th century England, far from her home in Salerno, have wearied her.

The mystery part of the story is also rather lackluster. Henry II once again dispatches Adelia on an investigatory mission, this time having to do with the possible discovery by the monks of the recently fire-destroyed Glastonbury Abbey of the supposed bodies of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere, the latter badly mutilated. This leads to further mysteries for Adelia, including who set the Glastonbury fire and what had happened to Adelia's friend, Lady Emma, who disappeared along with her entire party while traveling to one of her manors near Glastonbury. Adelia is soon in peril for reasons that become fully clear only toward the end of the book. Who are (and are not) the villains in the various mysteries nonetheless quickly becomes pretty clear.

The book has a number of anachronisms, as all three of them have had. In particular, Adelia continues to be too 21st century in her feminist attitudes Some of the warriors are also more concerned about the deaths caused in war than such men are likely to have been.

The whole book seems a bit tired. Lackluster characters, dull mystery, repeated use of the same "Perils of Pauline" device (also used elsewhere in the series) to endanger Adelia. Maybe it was the novelist who was tired. If I came first to this I would not be interested in the other books.

I am throwing out a 5 star review to balance the 1 star givers who don't seem to realize that novels published in Britain often get a new name when published here in the states. It is easy to figure this out if you read the plot summaries. This is also to balance out the people who blame the book and the writer for not getting their order in a timely manner, or getting a bad copy of the book. <shakes head> I just can't ever figure out some people.

Ariana Franklin's "Grave Goods" opens in the year 1154 during a devastating earthquake in Glastonbury, England. A dying monk named Brother Caradoc witnesses an amazing sight during the devastation: three cowled figures lowering a coffin into the earth. He is awed to witness what he presumes to be the interment of King Arthur. Two decades pass, and Henry Plantagenet is king. Caradoc's nephew, Rhys (who has an annoying tendency to break out into song at every opportunity), tells Henry about his uncle's vision "of Arthur in his coffin being buried and lamented." Henry, for political reason, wants Arthur's bones identified, and he sends for his "mistress of the art of death," "Vesuvia Adelia Rachel Ortese Aguilar, qualified doctor from the School of Medicine in Salerno," to verify or disprove Rhys's claim.

Although Adelia has been in love with Rowley, now the bishop of Saint Albans, for years, their duties and responsibilities have kept them apart. "Rowley must serve God, I must serve medicine, and the two are incompatible," she insists. After leaving her fenland home in Cambridgeshire (along with her Arab attendant, Mansur, her precocious young daughter Allie, and the child's nurse, Glytha) Adelia goes to Glastonbury on the king's orders to identify two skeletons that have been recovered from the graveyard there. Could these be the remains of Arthur and Guinevere? If Adelia can somehow prove that this is so, the evidence may quell the Welsh legend that Arthur is only sleeping and will awaken and lead his people to freedom. Another bonus would be that the abbey, which has been devastated by fire, would become a holy site for pilgrims, and money would flow into Glastonbury's coffers once again. Although she does not want to get involved in this messy business, the king leaves Adelia no choice.

"Grave Goods" is an amalgam of history, folk tales, dreams, battles, intrigue, murder and romance. Our heroine and her entourage endure emotional and physical torment, and as the narrative progresses, it grows more complex. Adelia's friend, Emma, goes missing along with her young son, and it appears that they may have been abducted and possibly killed. Rowley, Adelia's erstwhile lover, makes an appearance, and although he is exasperated by Adelia's willfulness, he cannot hide his strong feelings for her. The author makes the most of her colorful setting and varied cast of characters, and she enlivens her story with gentle humor and a liberal dose of English history. Franklin introduces us to such exotic words as "frankpledge" and "tithing" (a group of ten males each of whom is "responsible for a misdemeanor or felony committed by any of the others.")

The book is not without its flaws: Adelia's daughter is ridiculously advanced for her tender age, speaking more like a professor than a child. Mansur and Glytha have very little to do; they serve mostly as window dressing. In addition, the book's plot twists soon become a little tiresome. Just when we think that all has been revealed, Franklin comes up with another startling disclosure. To her credit, the author keeps the pace moving with non-stop action and danger at every turn. "Grave Goods" will appeal to admirers of historical fiction featuring a strong and independent heroine with a compassionate nature. It is easy to understand why so many fans have fallen in love with the brilliant and courageous Adelia and are eager follow her wherever she goes.

Adelia Aguilar, Mistress of the Art of Death, has been summoned by King Henry II to perform what seems an impossible task. A dying monk at Glastonbury Abbey has seen a vision during a horrendous earthquake and fire, a sight which he believes is the burial of King Arthur and his Queen Guinevere. A drunken, womanizing ex-monk and bard holds the secret for many years before he saves his life by revealing it to King Henry. For this King such a vision spells disaster as his Welsh enemy believe that King Arthur is not dead but awaiting the perfect time to return and heal England and Wales. Indeed, as Adelia is to discover, vestiges of the Dark Ages loom large at Glastonbury and its neighbor and competitor Wells. Her examination of the burial remains will determine the future of the abbey, its occupants, the town to be rebuilt to support the abbey, the welfare of an inn and most of all the dreams of a nation!

Adelia was traveling in that direction anyway with her good friend, Emma, whose bastard son is the legitimate heir of the Wolvercote estate. Both women have something in common, giving birth to a child whose father refuses to acknowledge his paternity because of the call of church and state respectively. It's a hard world for such women and children, in a feudal age when class distinctions rule the day and only the word of a King can change the fortunes and future of all concerned.

Adelia, torn by the disappearance of Emma who proceeded her into the area, arrives and begins to find numerous bodies, secrets galore about residents who have committed unspeakable crimes for supposedly innocent and well-intentioned reasons. The pages fly for the reader as Adelia and her Arab helper, Mansur, find inexplicable evidence of more than just the Arthurian legend and become the target of numerous criminals who seek to murder Adelia. But criminals in this world know the high price of faithfulness, and Adelia's sense of honor, truth and justice help her transcend the most fearful and life-threatening debacles within homes, the gloomy forest and a leper's island.

Grave Goods is a well-written, thrilling read that is well-researched and tautly plotted with fascinating characters and events!

Kudos to Ms. Franklin on this splendid read!

Reviewed by Viviane Crystal on March 28, 2009

I love Ariana Franklin's series. If you are looking for books in this series that you haven't yet read please note that this is the same book as "Grave Goods".

Just to add my 2-cents worth. I have read all 3 Adelia Aguilar mysteries by Ariana Franklin now and have enjoyed all three. Whether they are completely historically accurate, I could not say. The author has notes at the end to indicate when she has fudged a bit to move her story along. But the books are fiction and a fun read, kind of like a medieval CSI. Interesting to see Adelia's investigative process in a time lacking even rudimentary tools similar to those of today. This particular story ends with a bit of a cliffhanger and that's something I don't usually like, but it's not a biggie. We just know that one of the bad guys not caught in GRAVE GOODS will figure in the next book of the series. The reason I don't give this book 5 stars is that I did not find it so riveting that I was reluctant to put it down to continue reading later on. And, although others have commented favorably on the well-developed characters, I do not find this to be the case. I don't feel I know the main characters any better after reading this third book than I knew them after the first.