eyes.2c Reviews

The Devil's Cup: A Medieval mystery (A Hawkenlye Mystery #17 )   by  Alys Clare "The treasure had been above ground for under an hour and already it had claimed three lives. This was how it began." 1216. King John seeks to combine his forces against the invading army of Prince Louis of France supported by disloyal barons. John calls on his loyal supporters, amongst them Sir Josse d’Acquin. Joss sets off with his brother Yves and his son Geoffroi to join the King. Meggie his daughter, a healer has been called by Abbess Caliste to Hawkenlye Abbey. When the message comes Meggie is deep in the forest. She finds strength and knowing here, descended as she is from the Forest People.  At the same time Meggie is concerned about her partner"s absence, Jehan, the smithy.  She's troubled about their relationship and what she wants for her future. At the Abbey, Meggie becomes involved with a distressed woman and her son, strangers to England and...

A Rustle of Silk: A new forensic mystery series set in Stuart England (A Gabriel Taverner Mystery #1)   by  Alys Clare                                 An exciting new protagonist for solving murders and mysteries set in early Stuart England times of the 17th century! Dr Gabriel Taverner is a navy surgeon now turned doctor who hails from Devon. He is endeavouring to set up practice back near his childhood neighbourhood. The people we meet are fascinating. These are not surface figures. That these characters have a depth that will add to this and future stories is obvious from the get go. Black Carlotta, a wise woman and healer, midwife Judyth Penwarden, the coroner Theophilus Davey, and the local vicar Jonathan Carew are my special likes. A man has killed himself and the coroner Theophilus, fetches Gabriel to assist him. Something about the  unknown dead man troubles Gabriel, b...

The Night Wanderer (An Aelf Fen Mystery #7)  by  Alys Clare I must admit to confusion as I first entered the Aelf Fens world, but no more than that of the inhabitants of 11th century Cambridge. It seems a mythical figure had arisen from the dark past and this figure of horror is randomly gouging out the throats of its victims. There appears no rhyme or reason to the deaths, except perhaps the waterfront. Lassair and Jack  Chevestrier  are thrown together (the quiet, effecient and handsome lawman  and the winsome healer apprentice who is more than she seems) as the situation escalates, both politically, and as reflected in the panic of Cambridge's inhabitants. Together they unlock the mystery, discover the looting perfidy of the sheriff's grasping nephew and find the terrible answers to the ravaged bodies, not without cost to them both. The  nature of Gurdyman and Lassaire's mentor-mentored relationship, and the mystical works that stretches beyond...