Margie P. reviewed A Murderous Procession (Mistress of the Art of Death, Bk 4) on + 256 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
This is Book 4 (and unfortunately the last) in the series of The Mistress of the Art of Death. Diane Norman, the author, passed away. This saddens me a lot and frustrates me a little, since it is obvious from the cliff-hanger ending that another book was planned. It is 1178 and King Henry II is sending his daughter Joanne to Sicily to marry his cousin. He sends Adelia to ensure Joanne's health and keeps Adelia's nine-year old daughter in England to ensure Adelia's return. This is more twisted that the previous books. So the long journey begins which includes Knights, Dukes, Bishops, Clerks, Servants and one man that is determined to have his revenge on the Mistress of the Art of Death.
Joan W. (justreadingabook) reviewed A Murderous Procession (Mistress of the Art of Death, Bk 4) on + 1726 more book reviews
I enjoyed this book, the storyline and plot were well done and kept my interest. The secondary voice was kinda weird to get used to but went with the story. What a ending! A good read. Nice to meet her parents too!
Alice J. (ASJ) -
Awesome. I love this series. This may be the best on yet. Characters are becoming fuller and more interesting with each book. The weaving if history Henry II and wife and sons is fascinating too. Good description of medicine in that era. The only reason I give it a 4 star rather than 5 is I think the mystery could have been a bit better. CAn't wait for book 5.
Roberta H. (Bobbe) reviewed A Murderous Procession (Mistress of the Art of Death, Bk 4) on + 3 more book reviews
The first in the series is still the best. This one was better than the Book 2 and 3.
Cheryl R. (Spuddie) -
This review applies to the audio version.
#4 "Mistress of the Art of Death" mystery featuring female physician Adelia Aguilar in 12th C. England. This time, after a two-year hiatus, Adelia is sent to France by King Henry II--who is essentially keeping her daughter Ally hostage with his wife Eleanor to ensure that Adelia does as she is asked--to accompany his daughter Joanna and her wedding party. Of course, he has a secret motive aside from sending a physician to look after Joanna's health--he wants her to keep an eye on Excalibur, the sword they rescued from Glastonbury Tor in the last book.
He's hidden it in a plain looking relic but knows that any number of people seek it and the power they believe it wields, including his brothers. So Adelia, Monsur (her Moorish assistant, who must pose as the doctor because women aren't allowed to practice medicine in medieval England) her lover and Ally's father (Bishop Rowley) and a host of others cross the channel. What Adelia doesn't realize is that Scarry, an evil man from a previous book who is stark raving mad and bent on revenge, travels with her and seeks nothing more than her downfall and death.
Skillfully read by Jill Tanner with a variety of accents and a good pace and tone, the audio version was quite enjoyable to listen to, although I think this one meandered a bit more than the others have. and I found myself getting impatient at the detours, some of which seemed totally unnecessary. I'm also a little dismayed at the romance hum that's kicking up in the background. *sigh*
#4 "Mistress of the Art of Death" mystery featuring female physician Adelia Aguilar in 12th C. England. This time, after a two-year hiatus, Adelia is sent to France by King Henry II--who is essentially keeping her daughter Ally hostage with his wife Eleanor to ensure that Adelia does as she is asked--to accompany his daughter Joanna and her wedding party. Of course, he has a secret motive aside from sending a physician to look after Joanna's health--he wants her to keep an eye on Excalibur, the sword they rescued from Glastonbury Tor in the last book.
He's hidden it in a plain looking relic but knows that any number of people seek it and the power they believe it wields, including his brothers. So Adelia, Monsur (her Moorish assistant, who must pose as the doctor because women aren't allowed to practice medicine in medieval England) her lover and Ally's father (Bishop Rowley) and a host of others cross the channel. What Adelia doesn't realize is that Scarry, an evil man from a previous book who is stark raving mad and bent on revenge, travels with her and seeks nothing more than her downfall and death.
Skillfully read by Jill Tanner with a variety of accents and a good pace and tone, the audio version was quite enjoyable to listen to, although I think this one meandered a bit more than the others have. and I found myself getting impatient at the detours, some of which seemed totally unnecessary. I'm also a little dismayed at the romance hum that's kicking up in the background. *sigh*
Amy B. (BaileysBooks) reviewed A Murderous Procession (Mistress of the Art of Death, Bk 4) on + 491 more book reviews
This is Book 4 in The Mistress of the Art of Death series.
In my opinion, this book has redeemed the series from the slightly disappointing offering of Grave Goods. This story brings to life so many of the elements that made this series so enjoyable in the first place: murder, subterfuge, the ever-present threat of being accused of witchcraft, the desire for friendship and acceptance, the struggles between politics and the church, and the constant tension between Adeilia and Rowley.
Ms. Franklin did an excellent job of creating a mystery that left me guessing until the very end. New characters are introduced with a rich attention to personality, detail, and more than a little mystery. While I like the new additions, I must confess that there was something about the character of the Captian that I found to be surprising and slightly unrealistic for reasons that I cannot explain without ruining the plot.
This is also the first time that Ms. Franklin has ended a book with a true cliffhanger ending. The final chapters are written as a mad dash towards resolution. Then, when you most want to know what is going to happen next, you turn the page and run face-first into nothing. Blank pages. It's not so much a cliffhanger ending as the author practically tosses you over the edge.
I almost threw my book across the room in frustration. So consider yourself fairly warned. The book is very good. Ms. Franklin simply decided not to inlude the ending. I assume that it will be found at the start of book 5.
In my opinion, this book has redeemed the series from the slightly disappointing offering of Grave Goods. This story brings to life so many of the elements that made this series so enjoyable in the first place: murder, subterfuge, the ever-present threat of being accused of witchcraft, the desire for friendship and acceptance, the struggles between politics and the church, and the constant tension between Adeilia and Rowley.
Ms. Franklin did an excellent job of creating a mystery that left me guessing until the very end. New characters are introduced with a rich attention to personality, detail, and more than a little mystery. While I like the new additions, I must confess that there was something about the character of the Captian that I found to be surprising and slightly unrealistic for reasons that I cannot explain without ruining the plot.
This is also the first time that Ms. Franklin has ended a book with a true cliffhanger ending. The final chapters are written as a mad dash towards resolution. Then, when you most want to know what is going to happen next, you turn the page and run face-first into nothing. Blank pages. It's not so much a cliffhanger ending as the author practically tosses you over the edge.
I almost threw my book across the room in frustration. So consider yourself fairly warned. The book is very good. Ms. Franklin simply decided not to inlude the ending. I assume that it will be found at the start of book 5.
R E K. (bigstone) - , reviewed A Murderous Procession (Mistress of the Art of Death, Bk 4) on + 1452 more book reviews
It is well to read Grave Goods before reading this one to understand the culprit who is trying to murder Adelia. She has been commissioned by King Henry to accompany his daughter, Joanna, to Sicily as she is to marry William II of Sicily. To assure that she will return to England he has sent Adelia's daughter to live with the queen. Now someone is setting Adelia up to destroy her reputation, murdering as he goes.
Adelia finds herself once again in deep trouble as she travels with Joanna's company. Her friends believe that someone is out to kill her but she has yet to find out who and why. Her mule is poisoned, a man is killed, and a woman murdered - all of whom have felt Adelia's outspoken frustration and anger. Now she is locked up with four others and all are deemed heretics. It may mean being burned at the stake. Will she ever see Rowley or Allie again?
Escaping from imprisonment, the group travels quickly by night and little used pathways to Spain where they stay with a lovely Spanish woman named Fabrisse and Adelia forms a friendship as close as sisters. When the rescuer returns he brings gravely ill Joanna. Adelia performs a risky operation saving her life and Joanna continues her trip. Adelia's group travels quietly to Italy to attend Joanna's wedding and Adelia has a reunion with her parents. Following the wedding, she flees for her life with assassin and friends close behind. It's an exciting ending that leaves us wondering what will happen next.
Adelia finds herself once again in deep trouble as she travels with Joanna's company. Her friends believe that someone is out to kill her but she has yet to find out who and why. Her mule is poisoned, a man is killed, and a woman murdered - all of whom have felt Adelia's outspoken frustration and anger. Now she is locked up with four others and all are deemed heretics. It may mean being burned at the stake. Will she ever see Rowley or Allie again?
Escaping from imprisonment, the group travels quickly by night and little used pathways to Spain where they stay with a lovely Spanish woman named Fabrisse and Adelia forms a friendship as close as sisters. When the rescuer returns he brings gravely ill Joanna. Adelia performs a risky operation saving her life and Joanna continues her trip. Adelia's group travels quietly to Italy to attend Joanna's wedding and Adelia has a reunion with her parents. Following the wedding, she flees for her life with assassin and friends close behind. It's an exciting ending that leaves us wondering what will happen next.
Melanie M. (melmck2) reviewed A Murderous Procession (Mistress of the Art of Death, Bk 4) on + 6 more book reviews
Great ending to Adelia Aguilar's story. Most intense plot of all four books. Abrupt ending but resolves everything well. The Mistress of the Art of Death is a must read series if you like historical mystery. Fascinating.
Margaret T. (megt) reviewed A Murderous Procession (Mistress of the Art of Death, Bk 4) on + 179 more book reviews
These books are great, always a great historical mystery. But this was my least favorite of the four books.
Really enjoyable series with compelling characters.
