The Rose of the World

June 27, 2011
Medieval politics overshadow the crime-solving in Clare's solid 13th Hawkenlye mystery (after 2009's The Joys of My Life). In 1210, England is struggling to adjust to the consequences of Pope Innocent's interdict prohibiting christenings, marriages, and Christian burials, imposed because King John refused to accept the papal choice for the archbishop of Canterbury. The residents of Hawkenlye Abbey, a mixed community of nuns and monks, are doing the best they can under these oppressive circumstances when the disappearance of the former abbess's granddaughter, 11-year-old Rosamund, throws the abbey into turmoil. A desperate and fruitless search for Rosamund through the dense woods turns up the corpse of a man, whose shattered skull could have been the result of an accident or foul play. Clare has done the whodunit aspect better in earlier entries, but her portrayal of the tense mood of the times more than compensates.

July 15, 2011

In a battle between King and Pope, the people are the losers.

England, 1210. Now that King John has been excommunicated, his men are collecting ruinous amounts from religious orders, churches are closing and people everywhere are feeling the withdrawal of charity. Certain that Hawkenlye Abbey is on the King's hit list, Abbess Caliste fears for the future. Helewise, the former abbess, has moved to Josse d'Acquin's manor, where he lives with Meggie, Geoffroi, and his adopted son Ninian, all offspring of his former love Joanna, the mystical follower of the old religion. When Helewise's granddaughter Rosamund disappears, an intensive search eventually discloses that she has been taken by one of the King's men. Even worse, another man is found dead in the course of the search. Although King John returns Rosamund to Hawkenlye, Josse's troubles have only begun, for Ninian is suspected of the killing and must flee to France. Once more, Josse and Helewise, with help from Meggie, must put their talents to solving the crime so that Ninian can return home.

Not the best Hawkenlye mystery (The Joys of My Life, 2009, etc.), but the well-conceived story and historical detail continue to please.

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August 1, 2011

Pulses race and intrigue abounds when former abbess Helewise's beloved grandchild Rosamund is abducted. The seventh entry in Clare's medieval series (The Joys of My Life) will have an entrancing hold on readers whether they are new to the series or devoted followers. It's 1210 England, and times are tough with King John's interdict against the Catholic Church making it nearly impossible for regular folks to live fully: no marriages or baptisms are allowed. Helewise and her detecting partner, Josse D'Acquin, put their heads together and hatch a plan in this most difficult and treacherous time. VERDICT There were no Amber Alerts or negotiating teams back in the day. Imagine the anguish of a missing child and then compound it with the inherent dangers of rescuing her. The family drama components make a strong case for sharing this title with readers who don't necessarily gravitate toward historical mysteries.

Copyright 2011 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2011
The newest in Clare's Hawkenlye series is thoroughly entertaining for historical mystery fans. Set in thirteenth-century Britain, the story gives a good sense of the political and social issues of the time but also offers a readable mystery. Josse d'Aquin's longtime love, Helewise, has left her post as abbess of Hawkenlye Abbey and come to live with Josse. Although Josse fears Helewise will never give up her nunnish ways, he is content to have her in his house, especially since it takes her out of danger from King John's campaign to plunder and destroy the church. Even this deadly threat pales to insignificance when Helewise's 11-year-old granddaughter, Rosamund, disappears. Fearing the worst, Josse, his adopted son Ninian, and Rosamund's father, Sheriff Gervase de Gifford, set off to find the missing child. Although there is an at least partly happy ending, Josse's life may be changed forever. Appealing characters, an unusual plot, authentic period detail, and plenty of unexpected twists make this Hawkenlye novel a sure thing for fans of medieval mysteries.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)