Strong As Death [Hardcover]

Sharan Newman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1996

During a pilgrimage to the monastery of Santiago de Compostela, Catherine LeVendeur and her Saxon husband, Edgar, encounter mad monks, unusual and less-than-penitent crusaders, and an enigmatic woman whose past binds them together in a bizarre, potentially deadly game of chance.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Newman (The Wandering Arm, LJ 9/1/95) continues her masterful rendering of 12th-century France. Parisian Catherine LeVendeur and Scottish husband Edgar make pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela to pray for a child in the company of ex-crusaders, monks, repentant prostitutes, Jewish merchants, and sorrowing widows. Murder seems to stalk them. As in previous episodes, the pair notice important details that help them unravel the mystery. Colorful characters and thoroughly researched culture add up to wonderful historical fiction. A necessary purchase.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Newman expertly vivifies twelfth-century Europe in another masterful medieval mystery featuring the indefatigable Catherine Le Vendeur. En route to Santiago de Compostela, Spain, in order to petition for a child at the holy shrine of the apostle Saint James, Catherine and her beloved husband, Edgar, join forces with a curious band of pilgrims. Their fellow wayfarers include four aging knights, a couple of wandering musicians, an imperious gentlewoman, a bitter prostitute, and two zealous monks. As their journey progresses, a series of fatal misfortunes plagues various members of their company, prompting Catherine and Edgar to undertake a quiet investigation. Delving into the sordid pasts of their companions, they uncover a particularly brutal and gruesome crime, a recipe for murder, and a motive for revenge. Extremely intelligent, highly suspenseful, and richly textured historical fiction. Margaret Flanagan

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Forge; 1st edition (August 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312861796
• ISBN-13: 978-0312861797
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.8 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,459,978 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best medieval murder mysteries I've ever read!, July 26, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Strong As Death (Hardcover)

I've read many medieval murder mysteries, and I found this one in particular and all the Catherine LeVendeur novels especially compelling. The detail is so rich that you begin almost to smell the smells and hear the sounds of the middle ages. The protagonists are not just modern-day people plunked into a medieval setting--they think like medievals. And they transport the reader as effectively as any characters can to a very different time and place. Not only is this a must read, it's a must read again and again. Sharan Newman should quit her day job and write full time. Her research is meticulous and pays off in an amazing array of rich and compelling detail. Read this book

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For Love is Strong as Death; jealousy is cruel as the grave., July 7, 2000

By 

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

This review is from: Strong as Death (Catherine Levendeur Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

As fourth in the series of the Catherine LeVendeur mysteries, it is the least typical in setting and theme. The adventures along the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compestela in Spain from Catherine and Edgar's home in France are fascinating historically aside from the 'mystery' of the dying crusaders. The complexity of interpersonal relationships is stronger here than in the first three books, showing both the authors development, and the development of the characters. To fully understand the character's motivations, I would highly recommend reading the first three books in this series first (Death Comes as an Epiphany, The Devil's Door, and The Wandering Arm).

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars a visit to St. James, September 12, 2004

By 

Linda Pagliuco "katknit" (CT, United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Strong as Death (Catherine Levendeur Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

Although this book goes on a bit too long, the finely wrought detail about life in the middle ages makes the read worthwhile. As a murder mystery, Strong as Death is fairly easy to decipher. But as other Amazon reviewers have explained so well, Sharan Newman's forte lies in her ability to convey the atmosphere and ambience of everyday life in the 12th century. Her characterization of myriad individuals, nationalities, religions, professions, and relationships is sensitive and credible. Her treatment of the ever present conflict between Jews, Christians, and Muslims appears fair and balanced. Newman's prose style is flowing and enables the reader to become immersed right from the start. Well-worth a look.