Mistress of the Art of Death - Adelia Aguilar series 4

In this fourth installment of the Mistress of the Art of Death series of medieval mysteries, King Henry II of England commands Adelia to accompany his ten year old daughter, Princess Joanna, on her trip to Sicily to marry it's king, William II. He trusts both her medical knowledge and her skill at mysteries to keep his daughter safe from harm. At first elated to be returning to the country where she was raised, her elation turns to despair when Henry tells her that he will be keeping her daughter Allie in England to insure Adelia's return. At best, the trip will take months and Adelia has no wish to be separated from her daughter for so long. There is no denying a king his wishes, however, and Allie and her nurse Glytha are left in care of Queen Eleanor. But Joanna is not the only treasure to be kept safe on this journey; Henry is secretly sending the sword Excalibur to William. Not just valuable for its jewels, it represents England and the possessor would have a strong rallying point. Given how Henry's sons kept trying to take the throne from him, that even could be fatal for him. And what no one realizes is that also on this trip is Adelia's sworn enemy, one who wishes her both disgraced and dead.

Odd, unpleasant events begin to happen before the group even sets out. At first they seem like accidents, but things get more suspicious. And as the group starts to think of the events as deliberate, they also find that the only one with known motive is Adelia... and they could have only been done by witchcraft. With the Inquisition just getting started, this could lead to a very bad end for Adelia- and it almost does. No one- except nature- makes an attempt on Joanna's life, but Adelia is in constant peril right up to the end.

This novel is darker in tone than the first three. Europe is falling under the Inquisition and the Christian Crusaders are trying to elimate Moslims. Even Sicily, where Adelia was raised and educated, is falling to prejudice. Women will no longer be allowed to be doctors. Mixed marriages will no longer be allowed. This is as horrifying to Adelia as her own flesh and blood enemy is, and it's something that she cannot cure. Franklin backs up her mystery stories with solid historical research.The action in the book never lets up, and the cliffhanger ending leaves us screaming "No, no, no!!!" and hoping that book five comes out very soon.

Adelia from Sicily is sent back there by King Henry, mostly overland, but her little daughter is kept in England. Henry trusts Adelia to guard his princess daughter until she is married in a political alliance. The characters are many and varied, and you would do well to have read at least one previous book. Also if you've read Kate Mosse's books about Carcassonne you'll be able to picture the landscape and persecution of Cathars by the Church, though Mosse is not referenced by Franklin at the back.
Not all characters make it through the tale and frankly I thought Adelia had herself to blame. If you've been in danger for months you stick with bodyguards and safety. The tale of the journey would be interesting enough but the author has added a madman who hides among the group and causes occasional ruin to someone. Now we can't account for all, but this man is supposed to be acting in revenge, and really at that time people died so frequently and for so little reason that the idea was a nonsense to me. Everyone accepted that women died in childbirth and men died of violence, accident or sepsis.
The attitudes of churchmen to medical procedures and cleanliness are well highlighted and racial intolerance is spreading. Ariana has to hide the fact of being a female doctor and that she can carry out autopsies to determine causes of death. As always this is well researched and entertaining but I found it less good than the first in the series.

Fourth in the Mistress of the Art of Death series. Also published as “The Assassin’s Prayer.” The procession of the title is the journey of Eleanor & King Henry II’s 10-year old daughter Joanna to Salerno for her marriage to King William of Sicily. Adelia is sent by Henry to look after her safety and to deliver Excalibur to William as Henry’s gift. The trip over the Alps proves murderous indeed, with Adelia’s stalker from Grave Goods killing those whose deaths might be attributed to Adelia. She escapes death once again but the book closes with her lover Rowley dying of stab wounds. Fans of the series will find much to like in Franklin’s historical side-trips, but the storyline is not as strong as in previous books, so this is not the book to start with. [Franklin’s last book; she died in 2010.]

Adelia Aguilar's relationships are nothing if not complicated. She's in love with the father of her daughter, but he's a bishop and she can't stomach being his "kept woman," so they keep their distance (except when their passion overflows and they can't remain apart). She adores the medical profession but must keep her expertise under wraps, posing as the translator for her Arabic-speaking companion, the eunuch Mansur, whom (almost) everyone else believes is the real doctor. And she is loyal to Henry II, King of England, her employer and benefactor --- but he also drives her crazy.

Take the opening of A MURDEROUS PROCESSION, for example. At the beginning of this fourth mystery starring Adelia, our heroine is informed that she will be allowed, even encouraged, to return to her native Sicily for the first time since moving to England to serve the King. But she'll have to leave her beloved daughter behind as an assurance that she will return to England and not simply relocate back to Europe. Bitter and resentful at leaving her young child, Adelia nevertheless agrees to act as the king's daughter's private physician, accompanying her to her marriage in Europe. After all, what choice does she have?

At least she will be accompanied on the trip by her good friend, Mansur (of course), and her lover, Bishop Rowley. She'll also be joined by their young friend, Ulf, who has his own top-secret mission --- he's been entrusted to secretly carry a sword rumored to be King Arthur's Excalibur as a gift to the bridegroom. Hidden inside a crucifix, the fabled sword would certainly be a prize for any of the many bandits and thieves who haunt the highways and byways traveled by the princess's entourage.

Little do the travelers know, however, that there is an even more diabolical presence traveling among them in secret, an almost-forgotten nemesis who is now bent on destroying Adelia one way or another. Out of vengeance and pure malice, this shadowy figure stalks Adelia, gradually turning her fellow travelers against her and making her the prime suspect in a number of mysterious deaths that mount up as the miles pass.

A MURDEROUS PROCESSION is perhaps not the most suspenseful of Ariana Franklin's superb Mistress of the Art of Death novels --- astute readers will discern the true murderer very early on --- but it is certainly a worthy continuation of what has become a "must-read" series for historical mystery fans. Adelia continues to exhibit a powerful blend of capability and vulnerability, and the interactions among various classes and cultures on the roads through Europe offer plenty of opportunities for both humor and genuine insight into medieval mores.

And, to top it all off, A MURDEROUS PROCESSION is the most romantic of Franklin's novels to date, complete with a devastating closing that will leave readers both sighing in satisfaction and gasping in anticipation of what might come next.

I discovered this medieval CSI series only last year, and have been avidly awaiting this follow up. I am not disappointed at all. Basically, the book continues with the story of Adelia Aguilar, a physician from Salerno, as she embarks upon a journey to accompany Henry's daughter to her marriage to the King of Sicily. She is accompanied by many of the familiar characters in the other books, including Mansur, her lover Rowley, and unfortunately, a character from the previous novel who is bent upon vengeance. New and interesting characters are introduced along the way, as Adelia has to not only battle her stalker, but the overwhelming prejudice of those unenlightened times, set against the backdrop of the Crusades and religious persecution. I felt that Franklin did a good job of drawing a picture of the character of her stalker as one of a mentally unhinged, fanatical individual as he descends into complete madness. She threw a red herring or two into the mix as well. These books continue to demonstrate excellent characterization and witty writing, as well as provide a nice look into the world of The Crusades and the deep religious fervor and corruption of the times. I particularly enjoyed her portrayal of Sicily as a more progressive and tolerant state that was being rocked by change, not all good.Without giving anything away, the ending is not completely that, but a suspenseful segue into the next installment that certainly left me upset and anxious-not just for the fate of the protagonists, but because I will have to wait again for the next book!

This series of books gets better with each installment. they are fairly closely bound together, in that the action of one book begins shortly after the end of the previous one.

In the last book, two depraved outlaws attempt to murder our heroine, but she kills one with the fabled sword Excaliber, and the other escapes, vowing revenge. Even though everyone believes that this second person is dead, he is not and he stalks our heroine across Western Europe.

Our female doctor is dragooned by King Henry II to accompany his young daughter Joanna from England to Sicily for her wedding. She is reluctant to go, but the king uses her young daughter as a hostage, and there is no choice. The usual group of friends accompany her, and she is once again compelled to struggle against the prejudices of the Church toward women, and particularly women who practice the healing arts. After all, they say, most illness can be cured by the placing of a relic on the troubling body part!

There is much action, many murders, and lots of friends and foes, as the identity of the stalker is attempted to be discovered in time to prevent him from carrying out his threat to murder our heroine. The end, as usual, gives inklings of the plot of the next book, at least of its beginning. I'm looking forward to the next one, for this is quite an enjoyable series.

#4 "Mistress of the Art of Death" mystery featuring female physician Adelia Aguilar in 12th C. England. This time, after a two-year hiatus, Adelia is sent to France by King Henry II--who is essentially keeping her daughter Allie hostage with his wife Eleanor to ensure that Adelia does as she is asked--to accompany his daughter Joanna and her wedding party. Of course, he has a secret motive aside from sending a physician to look after Joanna's health--he wants her to keep an eye on Excalibur, the sword they rescued from Glastonbury Tor in the last book. He's hidden it in a plain looking relic but knows that any number of people seek it and the power they believe it wields, including his brothers.

So Adelia, Monsur (her Moorish assistant, who must pose as the doctor because women aren't allowed to practice medicine in medieval England) her lover and Ally's father (Bishop Rowley) and a host of others cross the channel. What Adelia doesn't realize is that Scarry, an evil man from a previous book who is stark raving mad and bent on revenge, travels with her and seeks nothing more than her downfall and death.

Skillfully read by Jill Tanner with a variety of accents and a good pace and tone, the audio version was quite enjoyable to listen to, although I think this one meandered a bit more than the others have. and I found myself getting impatient at the detours, some of which seemed totally unnecessary. I'm also a little dismayed at the romance hum that's kicking up in the background. Adelia also seems to me to be more whiney and 'weaker' in this one. *sigh*

This is the fifth outing for Adelia Aguilar, a physician trained in Sicily and "guest" of King Henry II. Here, Adelia is ordered by Henry to accompany his eleven-year-old daughter to Palermo where she will be given to her husband, William. To ensure that Adelia returns to England, Henry orders Adelia's daughter be given to Queen Eleanor for safekeeping. As they travel from England to Palermo, it becomes evident that someone is trying to ensure that Adelia will die on this trip.

This is one of the three finest historical mystery series (along with Charles Todd's Ian Rutledge) being published today. Franklin develops her story slowly and introduces her regular characters to new readers without boring her "old" readers. There are no slips into modern vernacular like other writers have done. Her historical research seems rock solid, too.

I found this book much more interesting than the earlier books because she introduces new characters as well as bringing back familiar ones. The new characters are diverse and interesting. They range from a seafaring captain to a down and out Countess.

If you have just found Franklin, I suggest you start with the first book to get to know Adelia from her arrival in England. However, if you can't wait, you won't regret this read and I'm sure you'll pick up the other fine books in this series.

In 1176, King Henry II of England orders his most trusted friend and adviser, his Mistress of the Art of Death, Dr. Adelia Aguilar to escort his ten year old daughter Joanna to Sicily where she will marry her second cousin King William. Adelia knows the area quite well having studied medicine in Salerno, Italy.

The trek proves dangerous as there are several assassins who want to strike at King Henry by killing his daughter and by one insidious killer Scarry, who wants Adelia dead. Some members of the wedding party are murdered as they journey across the continent. However though seeking the killers, Adelia never loses sight that keeping Princess Joanna safe is all that counts.

The fourth Mistress of the Art of Death historical mystery (see Grave Goods) is an entertaining tale based on the real wedding journey of Princess Joan. The deadly trek hooks the audience although the historical aspects overwhelm the whodunit. Still readers who enjoy a late twelve century tale will want to join Adelia, Joanna and their companions on they travel from England to Sicily.

Harriet Klausner

Another great addition to the Adelia Aquilar, Mistress of the Art of Death series. This is a sumptuous and exciting addition to a fantastic series, and a great read for someone interested in the lives of women in Medieval Western Europe.

In this novel, Adelia is once again conscripted into service by Henry Plantagenet, which takes her on a journey through 12th century Europe where she finds herself being pursued by an old terror and becomes embroiled in the religious and social issues of the day. It is harrowing to read of the violence engendered by the religious intolerance of the period and Franklin is not afraid to show this intolerance in all its ugliness. Although there are a number of returning characters, they remain fresh and vibrant, there are new adventures for Adelia to embark upon, and we are shown more of Adelia's vulnerabilities and passions.

It is so hard to find historical fiction, particularly of the middle ages, that does not read like a romance novel. This latest addition to the Adelia Aquilar mystery series is as fresh and interesting as any of the previous books and may be as good as the first. I do recommend that readers begin with the first book in the series as the relationships are further developed with each novel.

In "A Murderous Procession," by Ariana Franklin, Vesuvia Adelia Rachel Ortese Aguilar is content practicing medicine in Somerset, England, and enjoying the company of her six-year-old daughter, Allie. Adelia's attendant, Mansur, has been with her for seven years, since Henry II "plucked the two of them away from Sicily and dropped them down in his realm." Adelia, a trained physician and a "mistress in the art of death," is skilled at performing autopsies and determining why someone met his or her end. She is uninterested in fine clothes and the traditional feminine arts. Since women healers were considered witches by the church, Mansur pretends to be the doctor and Adelia acts as his "translator." Rowley, the Bishop of Saint Albans, is Adelia's occasional lover and father of her child, but they can never be together openly. For the past two years, King Henry has allowed Adelia a bit of peace and quiet.

This blessed interval comes to an end when Adelia and Mansur are ordered to join a large procession to Sicily, where Henry's ten-year-old daughter, Joanna Plantagenet, will be given in marriage to King William II. Henry wants Adelia to keep an eye on Joanna and deliver her in good health to her future husband. The king also wants Adelia to use her wits to make sure that Excalibur, King Arthur's legendary sword, is delivered safely to William. Allie will not accompany her mother on the journey, much to her Adelia's consternation. She would be even more distressed if she knew that a bitter enemy intends to join the procession in disguise and attack her when she least expects it. Adelia's pursuer is a devious villain, whose insanity and bloodlust intensify as the book progresses and he closes in for the kill.

As she did in the first three installments of this engrossing series, Franklin enlivens her story with fascinating allusions to historical events. Although the dialogue occasionally sounds more fitting for modern speakers than for those living in the 12th century, the historical information is generally accurate. We learn about Henry and his family; the corruption and dissension in the church; the persecution of women and heretics; the ferocious infighting among warring political factions; and the ways in which the sick and injured were treated during the Middle Ages. Whether the author is depicting the glorious architecture of an ornate castle, a sumptuous banquet, or the brutal execution of a heretic, her detailed descriptive writing is wonderfully evocative. There is a great deal of humor, some of it bawdy, and more than enough action to hold the reader's attention. Franklin adds several colorful characters to the story, among them a foulmouthed Irishman named Admiral O'Donnell--he is a skilled sailor who looks like a pirate and takes a particular fancy to Adelia--and a clumsy maid named Boggart, whom Adelia takes under her wing. As always, Adelia is fiercely independent, blunt, and courageous. She may not be conventionally beautiful, but her brilliance, kind heart, and determination to help the oppressed earn her quite a few devoted friends. "A Murderous Procession" has romance, intrigue, danger, and a few inspired twists and turns. It concludes with a cliffhanger, so fans will be forced to wait for book number five to see what further troubles befall our spunky heroine.

I enjoy this series; I like historical fiction, I like mysteries, and the series has both. This episode was a little more bloodthirsty than I like, but the story was both interesting and complicated enough to keep your interest.

I am very much enjoying this series, A Murderous Procession is a wonderful part of that. This book is more of an adventure than the others, a trip through medieval Europe on land and sea. There are many of the same characters, which I welcome and some interesting new ones. As always, I loved the internal dialogue Adelia has with herself when she is faced with stupidity and most of all, the far reaching arm of the Church.

I don't think I would have made it, as a woman, in medieval Europe.

I also loved the ending, I can hardly wait for the next book. It already promises to be another great part of this series.

I didn't like all the non-translated Latin. I have read many a book with a dictionary by my side, but that is not possible with Latin. I don't think I should have to have my laptop on, if you are going to give us Latin, PLEASE translate it.

Also, I missed having the audio-book/CD version of this book. The reader of the series is just wonderful!!

Perhaps seven years in the service of Henry II have weakened the resolve of Adelia Aguilar, Mistress of the Art of Death and graduate of the Palermo School of Medicine. When she was first sent to England to aid Henry in solving a number of troubling murders, the fiery physician was uncompromising and headstrong, only restricted by the necessity of subterfuge, willing to use her friend Mansur, a Moor, as the putative doctor who speaks only Arabic while Adelia serves as translator. Over the years, this constant falsity proves grinding, Adelia longing to return to her homeland. But in the interim she has fallen in love, given birth to a daughter and turned away from Sir Rowley Picot, who becomes an archbishop at Henry's behest. Now Adelia remains in England at the king's pleasure, still in love with Rowley and forced to entertain yet another charade in order to spend time with the man she loves.

When Henry offers Adelia a chance to travel to Palermo, escorting his young daughter Joanna to a marriage with King William II of Sicily, Adelia is overjoyed- until Henry announces that he intends to keep Adelia's daughter as surety of her return. The wily Henry has no intention of losing his forensic expert, a woman adept at physical examination and unraveling the specific cause of death long before scientific inquiry is practiced at crime scenes. Now the journey is bittersweet, with little Allie left behind in the care of Queen Eleanor. But Franklin, with her precise attention to period detail, has prepared the usual smorgasbord of danger, thrills, threats and murders along the way, including the return of Scarry, an evil man with murder in his heart who travels incognito with Joanna's entourage. When every suspicious death points somehow to Adelia, Scarry is behind it, planning an elaborate revenge for the murder of his lover at Adelia's hands.

Arthur's famous sword, Excalibur, is hidden with the travelers, to be delivered to William of Sicily, inciting the curiosity of those who recognize the value of possessing such a powerful cultural icon. It doesn't help that the normally perceptive and astute Adelia is distracted during the journey, ignoring Rowley's warnings of grave danger, giving into increasingly petulant behavior at her own risk. For the first time, Adelia displays the foolish actions of her female contemporaries, denying her intuition, putting everyone in danger. But Franklin is a skillful writer who manipulates plot and characters as adeptly as Adelia performs forensic examinations, the sub-plots building to a climax that results in a cliffhanger and scant hope for a successful resolution. From the crafty assassin to an Irish sea captain who falls in love with the woman who loves another, this novel is filled with the vibrancy of the era, the ignorance and superstition of witch-burners and the encroaching fingers of the Catholic Church with its dreaded penchant for inquisition. Luan Gaines/2010.

Just tore through this fourth book in the Mistress of the Art of Death series. Adelia smarter and tougher than ever, the plot well-crafted and well-researched, and the author's notes at the end a wonderful look into her careful preparation for the book. And now I find she's died--in bed with her reading glasses on! What a blessed way to go--and that, as they say, is all she wrote. Godspeed, Diana Norman, and thanks for the books.

I love this entire series and am still very upset that the author (Ariana Franklin/Diana Norman) sadly passed away in 2011. I understand her daughter, Samantha Norman, has finished up a final manuscript that her mother was working on when she died and it is being released soon as a stand alone book called "The Siege Winter". Maybe Samantha Norman will take pity on us and write a final book to conclude the series.

Excellent read. A Murderous Procession has a well-conceived mystery plot with ample suspects and enough subplots to keep it entertaining. I am giving this book to the five-stars for the depth of characters, particularly in the portrayal of the headstrong Adelia. She is not so strong will as in the first book of the series (A Murderous Procession is #4 in the Mistress of the Art of Death series). It is difficult to make twelfth century come alive in the mind of readers so far removed from the time. Ariana Franklin (a pseudonym of author Diana Norman) has crafted a mystery that is well-grounded in its historical era - its politics, beliefs, prejudices, social customs. I have enjoyed the entire series and am looking forward to the next book.

Gwen Mayo, Author CIRCLE OF DISHONOR

i hope that there is another book laying around . i loved the players i the books and im sad that another writer i really liked died before i discovered them . she had true talent and if she had written a sequel to this i hope you release it . it was wonderful

Once again Franklin proves that she is a master at the art of historical fiction. As before, this 4th book in the series is well researched and rings authentic throughout. She mixes an enticing story with enough historical details to make it convincing. Increasingly the historical interest is sounder than the plot which has become more and more stretched since the first masterful novel in the series. I find arch enemies such as Scarry more caricature than convincing. This is especially so in an ongoing series of fiction where it is understood that the hero always lives on. Nonetheless Franklin combines elements of historical detail, medical practices, and women's rights into a plea for human and religious tolerance which is inspiring to read.

This book exceded my expectations. I loved it from beginning to end. This book leaves you hanging in such a way that you are dying for the next one in the series. ( I am crossing my fingers that there will be one, and it will come out soon!)

Ariana Franklin has such a gift with description and just creating such powerful images. I love her writing style and the way she describes people and places.

Each "Mistress of the Art of Death" book makes me wish for the story of Adelia to just continue on and on forever.

Another great novel by Ariana Franklin. If you love who done its and history this is a great read. Love the information on early practice of medicine and the conflict with the church. Couldn't put the book down.

As many reviewers have already stated, the book was much anticipated but, sadly disappointing. The main character, Adelia, is "supposed" to be highly intelligent however, she constantly makes really dumb mistakes and spends most of the story in this weird denial that subsequently gets people killed. I, like a previous reviewer, also ended up skimming through parts of the book (enough with the recaps of previous books already). Sigh - wanted to like it, but just couldn't. If this had been the first book in her series it would have been a flop.

Ms. Franklin doesn't disappoint ! She's given us another breathtaking chapter in the saga of Adelia Aguilar. Wonderfully developed characters and a spell binding plot. Can't wait to get to the next book !

Ms. Franklin doesn't disappoint ! She's given us another breathtaking chapter in the saga of Adelia Aguilar. Wonderfully developed characters and a spell binding plot. Can't wait to get to the next book !

Once again, Ariana Franklin, creates an unlikely world in which an 11th century woman can become not only a physician but a foresenic pathlologist. This book, in my mind, is the best in the series, and I've read them all. Ms. Franklin, AKA Diana Norman, is a master story teller.

I've read that Diana Norman (Ariana Franklin) died on 27 January 2011, but at that time her family said her last manuscript will be published later on, so I was hoping for a sequel to A Murderous Procession. So sad that it wasn't published yet, I just loved Adelia Aquilar.

So relieved another book is out; what a wonderful surprise. Can't wait for the next one. THIS IS A MUST READ. You will not be disappointed. Ariana Franklin is the best medieval mystery writer on the market, and her heroine just ROCKS!