Adelia Aguilar Series

The national bestselling hit hailed by the New York Times as a "vibrant medieval mystery...[it] outdoes the competition."

In medieval Cambridge, England, Adelia, a female forensics expert, is summoned by King Henry II to investigate a series of gruesome murders that has wrongly implicated the Jewish population, yielding even more tragic results. As Adelia's investigation takes her behind the closed doors of the country's churches, the killer prepares to strike again.

Relics of the Dead

by Ariana Franklin

Published 13 August 2009

'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 Death Maze

by Ariana Franklin

Published 5 May 2008

Since solving a particularly nasty case of child murder using her forensic skills, Adelia Aguilar is deemed too valuable to send back to the School of Medicine in Salerno. Instead, King Henry II has decided to keep her in England. This is bad news for Adelia - in twelfth-century England women doctors are regarded with great suspicion. So, with her illegitimate child, Adelia is forced to live and practise in the secrecy of Cambridgeshire's fenland. But at Henry's court, terrible things are happening. Queen Eleanor is not only stirring up revolt against her husband, but rumour has it that she has also poisoned the King's favourite mistress, Rosamund Clifford. In a race against time to prove Eleanor's innocence, Adelia is recruited to help. It isn't easy. An assassin is at large and so is Queen Eleanor with an army of supporters. 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.

The Assassin's Prayer

by Ariana Franklin

Published 8 July 2010

'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' *****