Althea M. (althea) reviewed on 9/16/2008 + 774 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 2

Set in the early 13th century, this book has more of the feeling of a
contemporary mystery/suspense novel. The middle-aged heroine, an obscure
historical figure (Alais Capet, a princess who was engaged to Richard the
Lionheart but whose marriage did not occur), is a smart and feisty woman
who would appeal to many fans of that subset of mystery novels which seem
to favor such women as protagonists - but I didn't find her believable as
a character of her time period. The historical details seem squished into
the story for the sake of having historical details, rather than naturally
stemming from the story.
This aside, the story was entertaining. Alais is blackmailed by her
stepmother, Eleanor of Aquitaine, into trying to retrieve some of her old
correspondence from a hiding place in Canterbury cathedral. Hoping to gain
information of the baby that was stolen from her some 20 years earlier,
Alais agrees - but ends up being violently kidnapped and plunged into a
mystery involving much royal politicking.

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