| PRODUCT DETAILS | | Mistress of the Art of Death | | |
Mistress of the Art of Death
Unabridged CDs - 11 CDs, 13 hours
A chilling, mesmerizing novel that combines the best of modern forensic thrillers with the detail and drama of historical fiction.
Manufacturer: Penguin Audio
Price Range: $11.99 - $39.95
 Mistress of the Art of Death
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| User Reviews |  | The title is better than the book
rating: 2
A book with a title such as this one, about a female doctor from Salerno solving mysteries in Britain during the reign of Henry II, certainly tantalizes the imagination. I didn't think it could fail to entertain.
And yet it did. The plot, by turns a history lesson and a mysterious reveal, was erratic and short of compelling. Adelia, the doctor/sleuth masquerading as a the doctor's helper, suspects everyone and her internal dialogue cues the reader to plot developments that consistently fall short of their promise.
I read this book on a plane, and usually, anything to read is better than nothing. Yet time after time, I drowsed off--the narrative would capture my interest momentarily and then meander off on some obscure tangent about primitive medical science or geographic analysis of chalk. (This book mentions chalk more than an essay on the art of teaching with a chalkboard). Despite my good intentions, Ariana Franklin's tale failed to keep my attention. Many of the characters and events seemed to serve as opportunities for Franklin to dazzle us with her historical knowledge or attention to medieval medical detail, rather than to create a tight, well-crafted mystery tale.
Perhaps the biggest disappointment was the 'reveal', where our heroine catches the bad guy. The scene itself, told in an odd combination of clinical and unnecessarily graphic brush strokes, offends without terrifying.
Save your time and money.
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A really enjoyable book
rating: 5
I was turned off by some of the comments shown on the back of the book. The idea of a medieval CSI character really doesn't interest me. The Historical Dagger Award was what convinced me to give this book a chance and I am glad for it.
The characters are likeable and there is a sound plot that will grab on and hold your attention. This read contains the harshness of the medieval period so beware.
Easy to recommend this book.
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12th Century CSI
rating: 4
I really enjoyed this book. Historical fiction is among my favorite genres of fiction and I enjoy a good murder mystery as well, so the two melded together made for interesting reading.
The plot has already been discussed, so no need for me to go into that.
I found the character of Adelia to be very interesting. Never before have I read a book set in this particular time period about what amounts to be a female medical examiner. That's what makes the book so interesting. Adelia using her sharp mind and what 'technology' was available to her nearly 800 years ago to have the dead speak to her.
In fact, all of the characters in the book were fun to read, each with his or own distinct personality.
Everything that makes for good mystery and drama is in this book: a powerful yet imperfect protagonist, a good supporting cast, a barbaric perpetrator of ghoulish crimes and a very unlikely romance, although it doesn't take long to figure out that it's going to happen.
I just noticed that there's a second book in the series so I have that marked down to read in the upcomming weeks. That's the mark of a good book. When you want to read the further adventures of the characters. If the author can hook the reader like that for more than one book, it's more likely to be a great read and Ariana Franklin has succeeded.
The only reason this book didn't get a 5 out of 5 was the very thick old english that was used by many of the local residents. While authenticity was the main focus there, I found it to bog down the pace a little and took me out of the moment.
Highly recommended!
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enjoyable historical fiction
rating: 4
I enjoyed this book, and have recommended & given it to others. I cannot vouch for the historic, or scientific, accuracy, but it seems to have been carefully researched; it explores an interesting time, from an unorthodox perspective.
The central character is fascinating and compelling, if not entirely credible. The supporting cast of eccentrics are also appealing, if broadly drawn.
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Very entertaining read (3.5 stars)
rating: 3
One of the pleasures of Amazon is the reader review. Much like letters to the editor they are written by folks who feel the need to share their opinions about a wide variety of products, books, music, and such. It does bother me sometimes that some of those who write are seemingly angered by those who disagree with their opinions. We are writing about entertainment, after all.
This book hooked me in so firmly that I read it in one night, making work the next day a little difficult. Everyone knows people who cannot watch a film or enjoy a book that requires suspension of disbelief. I have a friend who drives me crazy during films with comments like, "That couldn't happen." The very "anachronisms" which so irritate a few made this story more entertaining to me. Regardless of historical accuracy, almost all of the "liberties" taken by the author were within the realm of scientific possibility. I am a criminal prosecutor, and I assure you that much of what passes for "science" on CSI, for example, is so exaggerated it approaches fiction.
I found the characters compelling, the story suspenseful and believable, and the protagonist, if unlikely, still comfortably a part of the historical time in which she lives. It is not literature, but it is good solid writing. Bottom line is that I was highly entertained, and if you like somewhat dark suspense thrillers by authors such as Dennis Lehane, Patricia Cornwell, or James Lee Burke, you probably will be as well.
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Mistress of the Art of Death
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