Death and the Maiden

Written by Samantha Norman and Ariana Franklin

Narrated by Kate Reading

“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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Oct 20, 2020
• ISBN: 9780063035515

Samantha Norman

Samantha Norman is Ariana Franklin’s daughter. A successful feature writer, columnist, and film critic, she lives in London.

Reviews for Death and the Maiden

[cdvicarage · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The final book in the series, jointly written with her daughter, and time has moved on - Allie is grown up and being nudged into marriage. Adelia is off-stage for most of the story and I missed her but it was a good story and it's a shame the series has finished.

[Dave Johnson · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Several possible perpetrators right up until the end.
The book bogged (ahem) down somewhat in the middle, but picked up nicely a little further along.
Perhaps not as strong as the books by Ms Franklin alone, but entertaining nonetheless.

[joe73-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Ariana Franklin carved a nice little niche for herself in the historical mystery corner of the literary world. Sadly she passed away before the last book in her "Mistress of the Art of Death" series was finished. Her daughter Samantha Norman took up the torch and ran with it. The story comes across nicely. Set in that early Plantagenet English atmosphere it may be a little predictable but only to a certain extent. It seems Franklin's daughter knew that readers might expect that, so while she put readers on that path she easily tears them away and says "This is how I am going to do it." Her curveball comes of out nowhere and strikes the skull with a pleasant.."Now you did not see that coming did you?"

[robertalea-223265 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A most excellent series. If you like historical (English) history and murder and mayhem, you would like this series. The last book was written by the daughter of the original author.

[joligula · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Ariana Franklin carved a nice little niche for herself in the historical mystery corner of the literary world. Sadly she passed away before the last book in her "Mistress of the Art of Death" series was finished. Her daughter Samantha Norman took up the torch and ran with it. The story comes across nicely. Set in that early Plantagenet English atmosphere it may be a little predictable but only to a certain extent. It seems Franklin's daughter knew that readers might expect that, so while she put readers on that path she easily tears them away and says "This is how I am going to do it." Her curveball comes of out nowhere and strikes the skull with a pleasant.."Now you did not see that coming did you?"

[eyes92c · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Terror in the Fens of medieval times!

Young maidens are missing and drowned in the Fens of 1191. No one in authority is putting things together. The Fens! Truly some of my favorite medieval mysteries have been set here!
Adelia Aguilar is not the woman I remembered her to be. Admittedly she is now older and retired, but still as oblivious and yet at the same time as frenetic as usual.
Adelia has been training her daughter Allie in her craft, so when the call comes for help with an old friend's illness, she reluctantly sends Allie to Ely. Partly at the urging of Allie's father and her love, Rowley, Bishop of Saint Albans. He is worried about Allie's future and that she won't have the protection of a patron like Adelia did. (Of course the ugly spectre of healers being accused of witchcraft stands in the background)
One of the most interesting characters is Lady Penda of Elsford with her wolf cloak and skill with the bow. What we learn about her towards the end speaks for itself.
One interesting part of the piece was the Interdict imposed by the Bishop and the dire effect that has on innocent communities. As Father Edwards explains to his flock, it's an “order of the bishop of Ely ... that, henceforth, I am no longer allowed to celebrate mass or perform the viaticum, or, I fear, offer sepulture [burial] in this churchyard . . .” This is a massive punishment with all sorts of consequences for the faithful.
I had wondered about the culprit and wasn't surprised when my thoughts bore fruit. Still the getting to who was committing these awful crimes had a few likely contenders tossed in, so I was kept guessing almost to the end.
Ariana Franklin was one of my favorite medieval mystery writers. Unfortunately she died in 2011. I was excited to see this novel by her daughter finishing out the series.
It's an intriguing read, somewhat missing the cut and thrust of personalities I was looking for, or maybe that I had been used to. Despite this, a sterling read!

A HarperCollins ARC via NetGalley
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change