I have just finished the second book of a great historical mystery series by Ariana Franklin. The first book, Mistress of the Art of Death, introduces us to Vesuvia Adelia Rachel Ortese Aguilar, a female pathologist from Salerno who has been sent to twelfth century Cambridge to investigate the gruesome deaths of four children. The king, Henry II (who was responsible for the death of Thomas a Becket) is worried because the townspeople blame the Jews for the deaths which means he isn’t collecting all his usual taxes. Adelia calls herself a death doctor who learned about the effects of death by studying pigs who have been killed and buried in a variety of ways. The story itself is a thriller, but really the best part is learning about life in England during this time period. Book two of the series, The Serpent’s Tale, features Eleanor of Aquitaine, Henry’s wife. Franklin has a website, of course, with discussions about the books.
It’s curious that so many mysteries are set during the 12th century England or Europe. Maybe because you can always throw the plague in to the mix, and the church and state were intriguing against each other.
Here are some other good historical mystery series. I can personally recommend the ones with *.
Molly Murphy: New York, early 1900s by Rhys Bowen
Ursula Blanchard: Elizabethan age, England by Fiona Buckley
Marcus Didius Falco: a “finder” in ancient Rome by Lindsey Davis
Hugh Corbett: England during the twelfth century (Edward I) by P.C. Doherty
Susanna, Lady Appleton: Elizabethan era by Kathy Lynn Emerson
Samurai Mystery: 17th century Japan by Dale Furutani
Katherine Swinbrooke: medieval physician 15th century England by C. L. Grace
Phryne Fisher: early 20th century Australia by Kerry Greenwood*
Ben January: 1830s New Orleans by Barbara Hambly
Hannah Trevor: midwife in 18th century Maine, after Amer. Revolution by Margaret Lawrence *
Catherine LeVendeur: 12th century Europe by Sharan Newman
Abel Jones: Civil War-era United States by Owen Parry
Justin de Quincy: 12th century England/France by Sharon Kay Penman
Thomas and Charlotte Pitt: 19th Century London by Anne Perry*
William Monk: 19th century London, just after the Crimean War by Anne Perry*
Amelia Peabody: early 20th century, all over by Elizabeth Peters
Sano Ichiro: 17th century Japan by Laura Joh Rowland
Roman Sub Rosa: another “finder” in ancient Rome by Steven Saylor
Roger Chapman: 15th century England by Kate Sedley
Sister Fidelma: Irish nun/judge in ancient Ireland by Peter Tremayne
