Death and the maiden : Mistress of the Art of Death Series, Book 5

"Superb...an appropriate homage"—Marilyn Stasio, New York Times The much-anticipated final installment in Ariana Franklin's popular Mistress of the Art of Death historical mystery series, finished by the author's daughter after her death. England. 1191. After the death of her friend and patron, King Henry II, Adelia Aguilar, England's vaunted Mistress of the Art of Death, is living comfortably in retirement and training her daughter, Allie, to carry on her craft—sharing the practical knowledge of anatomy, forensics, and sleuthing that catches murderers. Allie is already a skilled healer, with a particular gift for treating animals. But the young woman is nearly twenty, and her father, Rowley, Bishop of Saint Albans, and his patron, the formidable Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, have plans to marry Allie to an influential husband . . . if they can find a man who will appreciate a woman with such unusual gifts. When a friend in Cambridgeshire falls ill, Allie is sent to Ely, where her path will cross with Lord Peverill, a young aristocrat who would be a most suitable match for the young healer. But when Allie arrives, all is chaos. A village girl has disappeared—and she's not the first. Over the past few months, several girls from the villages surrounding Ely have vanished. When the body of one of the missing is discovered, Allie manages to examine the remains before burial. The results lead her to suspect that a monstrous predator is on the loose. Will her training and her stubborn pursuit of the truth help her find the killer...or make her the next victim? A richly detailed, twisty thriller, Death and the Maiden is historical mystery at its finest—and a superb final episode in Ariana Franklin's much-loved, much-acclaimed series. Medieval-mystery Writing At Its Best.--new York Daily News At Long Last, The Much-anticipated Final Installment In Ariana Franklin's Popular Mistress Of The Art Of Death Historical Mystery Series, Set In Norman England. England. 1191. After The Death Of Her Friend And Patron, King Henry Ii, Adelia Aguilar, England's Vaunted Mistress Of The Art Of Death, Is Living Comfortably In Retirement And Training Her Daughter, Allie, To Carry On Her Craft--sharing The Practical Knowledge Of Anatomy, Forensics, And Sleuthing That Catches Murderers. Allie Is Already A Skilled Healer, With A Particular Gift For Treating Animals. But The Young Woman Is Nearly Twenty, And Her Father, Rowley, Bishop Of Saint Albans, And His Patron, The Formidable Queen Eleanor Of Aquitaine, Have Plans To Marry Allie To An Influential Husband . . . If They Can Find A Man Who Will Appreciate A Woman With Such Unusual Gifts. When A Friend In Cambridgeshire Falls Ill, Allie Is Sent To Ely, Where Her Path Will Cross With Lord Peverill, A Young Aristocrat Who Would Be A Most Suitable Match For The Young Healer. But When Allie Arrives, All Is Chaos. A Village Girl Has Disappeared--and She's Not The First. Over The Past Few Months, Several Girls From The Villages Surrounding Ely Have Vanished. When The Body Of One Of The Missing Is Discovered, Allie Manages To Examine The Remains Before Burial. The Results Lead Her To Suspect That A Monstrous Predator Is On The Loose. Will Her Training And Her Stubborn Pursuit Of The Truth Help Her Find The Killer . . . Or Make Her The Next Victim? A Richly Detailed, Twisty Thriller, Death And The Maiden Is Historical Mystery At Its Finest--and A Superb Final Episode In Ariana Franklin's Much-loved, Much-acclaimed Series. "England. 1191. After the death of her friend and patron, King Henry II, Adelia Aguilar is living comfortably in retirement and training her daughter, Allie. Learning the practical knowledge of anatomy, forensics, and sleuthing that catches murderers, Allie is already a skilled healer, with a particular gift for treating animals. Her father, Rowley, Bishop of Saint Albans, and his patron, the formidable Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, have plans to marry Allie to an influential husband. When a friend in Cambridgeshire falls ill, Allie's path crosses with Lord Peverill, a young aristocrat who would be a most suitable match for the young healer. Allie learns a village girl has disappeared-- and over the past few months, several girls from the villages surrounding Ely have vanished. A monstrous predator is on the loose-- will Allie's stubborn pursuit of the truth help her find the killer... or make her the next victim?"--Provided by publisher Allie, the daughter of Adelia Aguilar and a skilled healer with her mother's knowledge of anatomy and sleuthing, is dispatched to the Cambridgeshire village of Ely, where her courtship with a young aristocrat is complicated by her investigation into the disappearances of several local girls