The Riverwoman's Dragon

September 13, 2021
A pestilence looms over 14th-century York, England, in Robb’s craftily plotted 13th Owen Archer mystery (after 2020’s A Choir of Crows). When Sam Toller, the trade agent for merchant Guthlac Woolcott, is found dead in the Ouse River with his skull cracked open, suspicion falls on Magda Digby, a healer some locals believe to be a witch. Sam’s widow claims he angrily confronted Magda shortly before his death and accused the healer of causing Guthlac to become ill. Owen, now captain of the city bailiffs, investigates. Meanwhile, he must also find out who stabbed Matthew Brown, one of Guthlac’s employees, in the back three times and left the body in the ruins of Matthew’s burnt home. A possible link between the two murders emerges. The stakes rise as Owen struggles to maintain order in a city wracked by fear over the devastating illness. Robb effortlessly integrates details about the state of medical knowledge at the time through the characters of Magda and Owen’s apothecary wife. This is a highlight in a solid series. Agent: Jennifer Weltz, Jean V. Naggar Agency.

September 1, 2021
The year 1375 brings the plague and lesser killers back to York with a vengeance. Owen Archer and his wife, apothecary Lucie Wilton, have returned from London, where they were on royal business, only to find York boiling with fear of the plague and the church inciting people to take action against healers, including their friend Magda. Magda's bitter daughter, Asa, has suddenly appeared along with Einar, another relative, who seeks to learn and imitate Magda's mystical powers. A new healer calling himself Bernard has come to York and is stirring resentment against Magda. Owen's first concern, however, is investigating the death of Sam Toller, whose body was found in the river. Sam was employed by the merchant Guthlac Wolcott, who didn't entirely trust his son to run their business and whose health is deteriorating under Bernard's care. Both put the blame on Magda. Asa, whose past with Bernard she refuses to discuss, resents her mother's talents, which she thinks she should have inherited. The arrival of the plague causes many to blame people like Magda; even midwives are under attack in a society that doesn't value women. Magda goes about her business without fear, helping the poor and sick while under the protection of her mystical dragon, while Owen tries to make sense of the murder, a fire at Guthlac's warehouse, and the puzzling relationship between Guthlac's son and his father's young wife. Magda, who's appeared in many of Owen's adventures, is the rightful star of this tale of murder, betrayal, and superstition.

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June 1, 2021

It's 1375, and long-standing Robb protagonist Owen Archer returns home from London to find York upended by a new physician who is dead-set against wise woman Magda Digby, who has helped so many people in the intervening years. Then Magda is accused of murder after she discovers a body floating in the river. A lovely series for medieval fans, and I am one.

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