JANE || Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin
Monday, April 14, 2008 // 11:51 PM
In medieval Cambridge, England, Christian children are being brutally murdered and the Christians are blaming their Jewish neighbors. So, to save them from the rioting mob, the Cambridge Jews are placed under the protection of King Henry II. Henry II is no friend of the Jews, but he does believe in law and order and desperately needs the tax revenue he receives from the Jews. In hopes that a scientific approach to the matter will result in the capture of the true killer, Henry turns to his cousin, the King of Sicily -- whose subjects include the finest medical experts in Europe -- for help. He asks for his finest "master of the art of death": the earliest form of medical examiners. The doctor chosen for the task is a young prodigy from the University of Salerno and an expert in the science of anatomy and the art of detection. But Henry is shocked when he meets the prodigy: Dr. Vesuvia Adelia Rachel Ortese Aguilar; not a master of the art of death, but, a mistress of the art of death.
When I first learned the story line, I was immediately intrigued by the idea of a medieval forensics scientist -- and a female one at that! Protagonist Adelia proves herself as the right woman for the job as she takes the reader along an unforgettable journey, expertly deducing suspects and bravely throwing herself into dangerous situations for the sake of the children. She knows that she cannot let another murder happen.
The book is saturated with mystery, science, suspense, horror, and has even a touch of romance. Once I started reading this book, I could not put it down. And even when I wasn't reading it, I found myself anxious for the next time I could. I was enthralled with the characters and the adventure.
History buffs may find themselves nit-picking at some anachronisms (cholera in 12th century Europe anyone?), but Franklin does have an Author's note at the end addressing any changes she has made, such as the usage of modern terms and names. The romance also seemed like an afterthought Franklin added in to open her book to a broader audience.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Science and mystery novels are usually not my niche, but I found that the book was written in such a way that both the plot and science was simple enough to understand and didn't end up retracting from the overall mood of the book.
- Jane
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