Teresa M. (truthsayer) reviewed on 7/18/2010 + 21 more book reviews

I really liked this book. The protagonist Adelia is like Patricia Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta of the Dark Ages. She even studies decomposing corpses like Scarpetta on "The Body Farm." Ariana Franklin is intimate in her knowledge of the time period. I really enjoyed learning about the training of doctors in Salerno, Italy. I wasn't able to discern how much of this was historical fact other than Salerno did have the first university of medicine in the world. The concept of the kinds of trials and tribulations an intelligent individualistic woman with 21st century ideas about how women should be treated is also fascinating. I must admit that the romance in the book irked me more than it enhanced the story but at least she refuses to marry him--that redeemed the story line. I didn't like how Franklin dips in and out of different characters' thoughts and feelings. In the first chapter alone, she is first person on Adelia's thoughts but never goes 1st person again, goes to third person for King Henry II and Aaron of Lincoln, Gordinus the African, and Lord Mordicai's. I teach creative writing and to do such is considered poor form and discouraged; however, I understand why she did it. She was trying to give the reader enough information about the background, that s/he wouldnot become lost later on when the book begins in ernest. It also serves to build anticipation and curiosity about the story. Perhaps it is a habit that she picked up from being a journalist. She does a wonderful job on character and scene mood development. She artfully drops clues throughout about the murderer. I loved how she makes the murderer seem more like a supernatural mythic beast than a human being. Overall, I really enjoyed the book and recommend it highly if one can overlook a few eccentricities of the author.

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