I received 'A Murderous Procession' for Christmas and I am hooked.
http://www.arianafranklin.com/franklin-reviews-murderous.htm
This one, which is #4 in the series of the adventures of Adelia-A woman Doctor sent by the king of Sicily in response to a request by Henry II for the best forensic scientist he has-is a fictional account of the wedding journey of Joanna (Joan) of England-7th child of Henry II and Eleanore of Aquintaine and younger sister to The Lionheart.
This combines two of my favorite subjects-History and medicine...I am headed out to get the first 3 in this series:
Mistress of the Art of Death
The Serpents Tale
Grave Goods
Oooh! That sounds like something we'd like a lot! Thanks for the heads up!
I LOVE all of her books! Amazing series ;D
I was able to find the 1st and 3rd books-still looking for 'A Serpents' Tale', I may have to order it.
They were $15.00 each in paperback form B&N...
Do you have a half-price bookstore? that's where I picked up the series. you can always try amazon they have some really cheap prices for books too ;D
Bumping this a final time-I finished the series...(between renovating and school there is only so much reading time, and these were hard to find) only to learn that the author has died. There will be no more.
Rats, this woman is one of the best writers I have ever read.
I highly recommend reading the series in order, as each book continues the story. This is one of the rare series that does not romanticize the Briton of Henry II. The often squalid living conditions, prejudices, superstitions, and the all encompassing influence of an often corrupt and contradictory Church.
The series contains very good descriptions of the judiciary system that Henry forced down the throats of his nobles and Clergy: The concept that everyman, no matter his means, could ask for a trial by a jury of his peers. That in front of the judges (one each of the Clergy, Nobleman and Commoner) all men were equal, no matter their rank or whether or not they were connected to the church. This core system is still in use today.