Mistress of the Art of Death Audiobook

" This book is filled with strong characters, especially the protagonist Adelia who refuses to be anything than what she is: a 12th century forensic scientist. The writing is unique and clear, leaving much to the reader's imagination and interpolation. However, it is not for anyone squeamish about children's murders and mutilation. If you want a good mystery where the "whodunit" is difficult to pinpoint, then it's worth a read. I'm moving on to the others in the series next. "

" This book was phenomenal. I picked it out on the website where I get a monthly credit to buy an audiobook, and suffice it to say I can't imagine having thoroughly enjoyed this book in any other way. The reader, Rosalind Miles, was just fantastic, and Franklin's story is at once grotesque, disturbing, fascinating, and completely remarkable. To set a book in the 1100s! What wonderful talent it takes to do the necessary research, yet take the creative license needed to create the Character of Adelia - doctor to the dead. I look forward to the rest of the series. A much recommended book, particularly in audio form! "

" You can't help but admire the historical setting, and the writing's not bad. But come on, a liberated woman pathologist in the 12th century . . . I have to say, even as a feminist, I get tired of the plucky-female-private-eye-pulling-against-unfair-social-forces. Try Sarah Dunant's trilogy instead (a few hundred years later but lots more believable women). "

" An excellent start to what promises to be an extraordinarily good series, this novel brings us perhaps the world's earliest fictional forensics expert, and a woman to boot. I don't know how accurately the day-to-day life is described, and certain gritty aspects of life remain undescribed, but the characters are engaging and the action well plotted in a society that differs from ours less than you might expect. And while I am looking forward to the sequel, I find myself a bit dismayed to be following yet another ongoing series, which is all well and good... until I finish the newest entry and have to wait months or longer for the next one. (Yes, I am spoiled. Thank you for noticing.) Fans of historical novels, forensics novels, romance novels will all find something special in Franklin's creation. Highly recommended. "

" My friend has been urging me to read this book for years, so I got it from the library on Friday, and started it this morning. I can't tell my friend that I have read it, because he died this morning. "

" I have a weekness for historical detective fiction... This one is set in the late 12C, and centres on a saracen women doctor who specialises in what you'd now call forensic medicine - can you imagine! Set in Cambridge. So there's a fair amount of culture shock being portrayed, the depiction of the local dialect being particualy harsh. The accuracy was also a little off, but but that's a problem with setting a novel in a period, should it be accurate or just evoke the period? It does the latter, and does it quite well. It works as escapism, kept me guessing who-dun-it until the reveal and then polished the story of nicely. First in the series, and I'd read the second based on this one. "

" I liked it a lot. The story was griping but sometimes I had to think "could they really know that way back then" It was good enough to want to read the next in the series. "

" Loved this series of books! But there will be no more :( the author died according to a bookstore owner "

" 3.5 stars. Highly enjoyable, well drawn characters, decent rendering of Henry II. Recommended for the Schmeg. "

" I liked this book except for the gruesomeness of the murders and the fact that they involved small children. I could not possibly have read this book when my children were small (they're grown now) because it would have been too upsetting. "

" An easy, entertaining read. One of the better historical fiction books I've read in recent times. "

" An interesting point of view and a good murder mystery. "

" Marvellous, 16th century medicine meets European feminism in England, well worth a read. "

" I can't wait to read the other books in this series!! Well written and gripping! "

" A little slow getting into, but very interesting and suspenseful. So glad it didn't deteriorate into a sappy romance. Women power!!! "

" I thought this was one of the most engaging books I have ever read. I could not stop. The language, the characters, the scenery descriptions of this dark land, all of it was super. "

" I think my book club will not like this one, but I ended up really liking it! And there are more! Woo hoo! "

" Franklin puts together an excellent concoction of mystery, historical authenticity and the macabre in her books. "

" Teilweise interessant, mit langatmigen Kapiteln zwischendurch. Ein Buch, dass man zu leicht aus der Hand legen kann. "

" At first I found the main character quite unlikable...but the more I read, the more I ended up really, really liking her. Anyone who can swear in over three languages is great. The book was well written, although the topic was slightly disturbing. "

" I downloaded this book because it got such great reviews - a real page turner. I don't get it .. it was just okay - it was no page turner for me. "

" Number 4 in the series--missed #3 somehow--Adelia and Mansur are deputed to accompany Henry II's daughter Joanna to Sicily for her wedding. There are serious illnesses, deaths, and meetings with a group of holy heretics--oh, and King Arthur's sword Excalibur is stolen along the way. "

" Another series of historical fiction that I've been following. I like her heroine, a woman doctor from the 12th c; apparently there were a few such women trained in the more cosmopolitan city-centers of Asia Minor and Southern Europe. An entertaining escape from the 21st c.! "

" History. Mystery. Intercultural conflict. Women heroes. What more can I say? "

" Loved the way they bring her back to her home and history. Not as dark as her other stories. "

" I love this character and series. Too bad the author passed away and I will never find out what other adventures she has. "

" This was a re-read for me and I continue to feel like none of the subsequent books live up to the first in the series but I enjoy the series anyway. "

" Hated the ending...and the author has now passed away :( so no hope for another in the series to wrap up loose ends. "

" I loved this, in fact I got so caught up in this book that I seriously considered phoning the friend I was meeting to say that something had come up and that I had to cancel. It moves along at a good pace although the identity of the bad guy was to obvious which stops this from being a 5* read. "