by Ariana Franklin

****~ (4/5)

Fiction / Murder Mystery / Thriller

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Book Synopsis:

Cambridge, England, 1171.

A gruesome murder has taken place. The victim is a child and other children have disappeared. King Henry wants the killer found, as it is the Jews, who supply the King with much of his revenue, who have been accused by enraged townspeople for the child murders.

Simon of Naples a well-known investigator has been recruited, along with a young woman and an Arab. The young woman, Adelia Aguilar, is one of the rare female doctors of the 12^th Century. She specializes in the examination of dead bodies. As a mistress in the art of death, she must keep her skill a secret for fear of being charged as witch.

The inquiry takes Adelia from castle to convent, and into the heart of medieval Cambridge. She makes friends and even chances upon love. However, her investigation attracts the attention of a killer who is willing to strike again.

My Book Review:

I enjoyed reading this murder mystery. The plot is made more interesting because it is set in the 12th Century and because it won a historical award, I trusted its accuracy. The author does note however that she was somewhat anachronistic in her writing to make it more accessible for readers. For example, she used the present name Cambridge, though it was called Grantebridge until the 14th Century.

So if you’re worried about this novel set way back in the 12th Century being archaic and difficult to read, you’ll be in for a neat surprise. Ariana Franklin has done a marvelous job in making this book extremely accessible to modern readers, whilst still keeping the time period vivid.

In this novel we follow our ‘mistress of death’, Adelia (a very down to earth and intelligent lady), to uncover a brutal and elusive killer of children. The plot is a tad slow for a short while in the middle, but once you get past that, much happens that is both exciting and frightening. .

Adelia’s job is to root out the killer, but she is hindered by being female, even worse, she is a foreign female doctor. She has to tread carefully, because the killer could be anyone – the prior, the prioress, the tax collector, the crusader, the merchant, the hunter, the list goes on….

Whodunnit?

x Julie

Book Shop and Book Reviews

-Reading Like Rabbits-

New Moon

Eclipse

Breaking Dawn

by Stephenie Meyer

****~ (4/5)

Fiction

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Book cover Synopsis:

When Isabella Swan moves to the gloomy town of Forks and meets the mysterious, alluring Edward Cullen, her life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. With his porcelain skin, golden eyes, mesmerizing voice, and supernatural gifts, Edward is both irresistible and impenetrable. Up until now, he has managed to keep his true identity hidden, but Bella is determined to uncover his dark secret.

What Bella doesn’t realize is the closer she gets to him, the more she is putting herself and those around her at risk. And, it might be too late to turn back. . . .

Deeply seductive and extraordinarily suspenseful, Twilight will have readers riveted right until the very last page is turned.

Why I love these books:

I have to admit I was hooked on the Twilight series. I read book after book after book. I would pass them onto my mother and she gobbled them up like candy too.

Stephenie Meyer is not the best writer in the world, she writes popcorn. But the popcorn she writes is so buttery and thrilling to swallow that before you know it you’ve read all four books and seen the movie twice.

Meyer’s writing got much better as she developed the series. The first book was rather infuriating with the repetitiveness of how gorgeous and amazing Edward was and how Bella didn’t deserve his beauty and did I mention his amazing body? Blah blah blah on and on for a few hundred pages of the same gaga drooling. It’s the plot that draws you in. The world of vampire culture that Meyer creates is thrilling, dangerous and utterly addictive. It’s a fantasy world filled with vulnerable magic powers and deathly enemies. It roams from fighting inner demons to significant battles.

I think the most compelling aspect of the Twilight series is the fact that it is set in our world. Bella is a normal, slightly awkward teenage girl who goes to a regular high school. The only difference is, vampires in disguise are also on the attendance sheet. It’s the world that you always knew was lurking round the corner, just past the corners of your eye.

x Julie

Book Reviews

- Reading Like Rabbits