Ariana Franklin was shortlisted for the CWA Dagger in the Library 2009 - the prize awarded for an author's body of work.

A very special historical murder mystery and a wonderful follow-up to her prize-winning Mistress of the Art of Death.  Featuring the same sleuth who here needs to discover whether Eleanor of Aquitaine ordered the murder of her husband, Henry II’s mistress.  This is glorious stuff both in historical detail and classic whodunit genre.

Comparison: C J Sansom, Cora Harrison, Cassandra Clark.

Mistress of the Art of Death series:
1. The Mistress of the Art of Death
2. The Death Maze
3. Relics of the Dead
4. The Assassin's Prayer

Synopsis

Twelfth-century anatomist, Adelia Aguilar must once again examine the dead as gruesome events are beginning to unfold…

Henry II’s favourite mistress, Rosamund Clifford, has been poisoned – and, rumour says, by his jealous wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine. If Henry believes the stories, England will be torn apart as King battles Queen.

In a race against time to prove Eleanor’s innocence, and with a dangerous assassin on the loose, Adelia has never faced greater danger. The armies that might cause civil war lie behind her. The icy winds of a dreadful winter blow around her. And ahead she must brave the thorns of the impenetrable labyrinth that surrounds Fair Rosamund’s tower, and decipher the mystery of the dead woman who lies frozen within.

Reviews

'Highly entertaining...Franklin is an adept storyteller who disseminates her research into the period with clarity and lightness of touch' The Times

'Captivating...this excellent adventure delivers high drama.' New York Times

'It's as original as its prize-winning predecessor: a real treat.' The Literary Review

'A rich banquet of a book.' Guardian

About the Author

Ariana Franklin was born in Devon and, like her father, became a journalist. Having invaded Wales dressed in combat uniform with the Royal Marines for one of their military exercises, accompanied the Queen on a royal visit, missed her own twenty-first birthday party because she had to cover a murder, she married, almost inevitably, another journalist. At this point she decided that staying married was a good idea so she abandoned her career in national newspapers and settled down in the country to bring up two daughters, study medieval history and write. Ariana was the author of the acclaimed, award-winning Mistress of the Art of Death series. She passed away in 2011.   Author photo © Mary Jane Russell More books by this author Author 'Like for Like' recommendation