"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.

A cultured city scarred by war. . . . An eastern emigre with scars and secrets of her own. . . . A young woman claiming to be a Russian grand duchess. . . . A brazen killer, as vicious as he is clever. . . . A detective driven by decency and the desire for justice.

. . . A nightmare political movement steadily gaining power. . . .

This is 1922 Berlin.

One of the troubled city's growing number of refugees, Esther Solomonova survives by working as secretary to the charming, unscrupulous cabaret owner "Prince" Nick, and she's being drawn against her will into his scheme to pass a young asylum patient off as Anastasia, the last surviving heir to the murdered czar of all Russia. But their found "princess," Anna Anderson, fears that she's being hunted--and this may turn out to be more than paranoia when innocent people all around her begin to die.

Winner of the CWA Best Historical Crime Novel of the Year 'Great fun! Franklin succeeds in vividly bringing the 12th century to life with this cracking good story' KATE MOSSE Medieval England. A hideous murder. Enter the first female anatomist... Adelia Aguilar is a rare thing in medieval Europe - a woman who has trained as a doctor. Her speciality is the study of corpses, a skill that must be concealed if she is to avoid accusations of witchcraft. But in Cambridge a child has been murdered, others are disappearing, and King Henry has called upon a renowned Italian investigator to find the killer - fast. What the king gets is Adelia, his very own Mistress of the Art of Death. The investigation takes Adelia deep into Cambridge; its castle and convents, and streets teeming with life. And it is here that she attracts the attention of a murderer who is prepared to kill again... 'Exhilarating... I want to crown Ariana Franklin Queen of the Historical Mystery!' TESS GERRITSEN ________ Readers are gripped by Mistress of the Art of Death: 'Unputdownable . . . Her characters are beguiling' ***** 'Utterly enthralling' ***** 'JUST what I want from a historical detective novel . . . The storytelling is phenomenal' *****

'Wonderfully atmospheric, fast-paced and intelligent' GUARDIAN Twelfth-century anatomist Adelia Aguilar must once again examine the dead as gruesome events are beginning to unfold... Henry II's favourite mistress, Rosamund Clifford, has been poisoned - and, rumour says, by his jealous wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine. If Henry believes the stories, England will be torn apart as King battles Queen. In a race against time to prove Eleanor's innocence, and with a dangerous assassin on the loose, Adelia has never faced greater danger. The armies that might cause civil war lie behind her. The icy winds of a dreadful winter blow around her. And ahead she must brave the thorns of the impenetrable labyrinth that surrounds Fair Rosamund's tower, and decipher the mystery of the dead woman who lies frozen within. 'Highly entertaining . . . Franklin is an adept storyteller who disseminates her research into the period with clarity and lightness of touch' THE TIMES ________ Readers are gripped by The Death Maze: 'The pace of the narrative kept the candle burning in a page turning frenzy!' ***** 'A brilliant, feisty female lead, highlighting the perils for women in medieval times.' ***** 'The author conjures up the lives and customs of the middle ages . . . an utter joy to read.' *****

Tess Garritsen calls this one "my favorite book of the year "
In 1176, King Henry II sends his daughter Joanna to Palermo to marry his cousin, the king of Sicily. Henry chooses Adelia Aguilar to travel with the princess and safeguard her health. But when people in the wedding procession are murdered, Adelia and Rowley must discover the killer's identity, and whether he is stalking the princess or Adelia herself.

'Original, atmospheric and genuinely moving . . . captures the imagination and does not let go' Giles Kristian It's 1141 and freezing cold. Gwil, a battle-hardened mercenary, is horrified to stumble across a little girl close to death. She has been attacked, just one more victim in a winter of atrocities. Clutching a sliver of parchment, she is terrified - but Gwil knows what he must do. He will bring her back to life. He will train her to fight. And together, they will hunt down the man who did this to her. But danger looms wherever they turn. As castle after castle falls victim to siege, the icy Fens ring with rumours of a madman, of murder - and of a small piece of parchment with a terrible secret to tell, the cost of which none of them could have imagined . . . 'An absorbing re-creation of the 12th Century . . . this is a fast-moving story of humbler folk caught up in cruel battles' Independent ________ Readers are gripped by Winter Siege: 'Unputdownable . . . The characters were brought to life in seconds. Superb!' ***** 'Mediaeval mystery at its best . . . Loved it' ***** 'A rip-roaring, swash-buckling romp of a book' *****

'I'd like to crown Ariana Franklin Queen of the Historical Mystery!' TESS GERRITSEN The King of England has called upon his Mistress of the Art of Death - anatomist and doctor Adelia Aguilar - to accompany 10-year-old Princess Joanna on her thousand-mile journey to marry the King of Sicily. They must take with them the legendary sword Excalibur. And so Adelia sets sail with the golden princess and her lavish party of nobles, musicians, servants, laundresses, grooms, luggage and treasure. But when members of the procession begin to die and it looks as though Adelia is to blame, there are dangerous accusations of witchcraft. Meanwhile one traveller, armed with a brilliant disguise and a personal vendetta, has been watching Adelia all too closely. This secret assassin wants her dead . . . but he wants her to suffer first. 'An excellent medieval mystery, full of colour and tension' CHOICE ________ Readers are enthralled by The Assassin's Prayer: 'Great characters and a gripping plot packed full of historical detail' ***** 'Masterly . . . A mixture of history, mystery, a poignant romance and a gripping plot' ***** 'A totally engrossing medieval tale' *****

'An exhilarating whodunit and my favourite book of the year.' TESS GERRITSEN 1176- The monks of Glastonbury have discovered two skeletons buried in their graveyard - one is tall, like that of a warrior, the other small and delicate. Are these the remains of King Arthur and Guinevere? On hearing of the discovery, King Henry II demands evidence that the legendary Arthur is dead - he needs to stop his belligerent Welsh subjects believing that their Once and Future King will return to lead them against him. So, he calls upon his Mistress of the Art of Death, the anatomist Adelia Aguilar, to examine the bones. But someone doesn't want the skeletons identified - and is prepared to kill in order to prevent it... 'Franklin is one of the very best creators of medieval whodunits.' GUARDIAN ________ Readers are captivated by Relics of the Dead: 'Brilliantly executed and with edge-of-your-seat suspense' ***** 'The history is skilfully woven into the racing story . . . Thoroughly enjoyable' ***** 'The attention to detail is superb, and will certainly keep you enthralled and entertained' *****

The "richly detailed, almost indecently thrilling" ("New York Times") follow up to "The Serpent's Tale"
When a fire at Glastonbury Abbey reveals two skeletons, rumor has it they may belong to King Arthur and Queen Guinevere. King Henry II hopes so, for it would help him put down a rebellion in Wales, where the legend of Celtic savior Arthur is strong. To make certain, he sends Adelia Aguilar, his Mistress of the Art of Death, to Glastonbury to examine the skeletons.
At the same time, the investigation into the abbey fire will be overseen by the Bishop of St. Albans, father of Adelia's daughter. Trouble is, someone at Glastonbury doesn't want either mystery solved, and is prepared to kill to prevent it...

The follow-up to "Mistress of the Art of Death"- in the national bestselling series hailed as "the medieval answer to Kay Scarpetta and the "CSI" detectives."
When King Henry II's mistress is found poisoned, suspicion falls on his estranged queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine. The king orders Adelia Aguilar, expert in the science of death, to investigate-and hopefully stave off civil war. A reluctant Adelia finds herself once again in the company of Rowley Picot, the new Bishop of St. Albans...and her baby's father. Their discoveries into the crime are shocking- and omens of greater danger to come.