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Ebook394 pages6 hours
The Riddle of St. Leonard's
By Candace Robb
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
4/5
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About this ebook
“Gripping and believable . . . You can almost smell the streets of 14th-century York as you delve deeper into an engrossing plot” (Prima).
In the year of our Lord 1369, the much-loved Queen Phillippa lies dying in Windsor Castle, the harvest has failed, and the pestilence has returned. In York, the atmosphere of fear and superstition is heightened by a series of thefts and violent deaths at St. Leonard’s Hospital—as well as rumors that these crimes are connected to the hospital’s dwindling funds.
The Master of St. Leonard’s, Sir Richard de Ravenser, hurries north from the queen’s deathbed to summon Owen Archer, the soldier-spy, to investigate the scandal before it ruins him. Now, while Owen’s wife, Lucie, faces the plague-panicked townsfolk at the apothecary, he encounters a seemingly random series of clues: a riddle posed by one of the victims at the hospital, a lay sister with a scandalous past, the kidnapping of a child from the hospital orphanage, and a case of arson.
The answer to the riddle of St. Leonard’s lies in the past, and as Owen’s family is caught up in the sweep of pestilence, he must abandon them to race across the countryside to save the next victim, in this “well-crafted and interesting” tale of suspense (Chicago Tribune).
“An engrossing historical mystery.” —The Seattle Times
In the year of our Lord 1369, the much-loved Queen Phillippa lies dying in Windsor Castle, the harvest has failed, and the pestilence has returned. In York, the atmosphere of fear and superstition is heightened by a series of thefts and violent deaths at St. Leonard’s Hospital—as well as rumors that these crimes are connected to the hospital’s dwindling funds.
The Master of St. Leonard’s, Sir Richard de Ravenser, hurries north from the queen’s deathbed to summon Owen Archer, the soldier-spy, to investigate the scandal before it ruins him. Now, while Owen’s wife, Lucie, faces the plague-panicked townsfolk at the apothecary, he encounters a seemingly random series of clues: a riddle posed by one of the victims at the hospital, a lay sister with a scandalous past, the kidnapping of a child from the hospital orphanage, and a case of arson.
The answer to the riddle of St. Leonard’s lies in the past, and as Owen’s family is caught up in the sweep of pestilence, he must abandon them to race across the countryside to save the next victim, in this “well-crafted and interesting” tale of suspense (Chicago Tribune).
“An engrossing historical mystery.” —The Seattle Times
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Author
Candace Robb
Candace Robb has read and researched medieval history for many years, having studied for a Ph.D. in Medieval & Anglo-Saxon Literature. She divides her time between Seattle and the UK, frequently visiting York to research the series. She is the author of eleven previous Owen Archer mysteries and three Kate Clifford medieval mysteries.
Read more from Candace Robb
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Reviews for The Riddle of St. Leonard's
Rating: 3.9571428571428573 out of 5 stars
4/5
70 ratings5 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I can't believe I have waited for over a year to try and review this book. I am trying to remember the story, I gave it 4.5 stars so I must have thought it was very good, so I want to do it justice!There was some interesting murders, some bad pestilence running a muck and a lay sister that was accused of prostitution all getting mixed together. As I remember more, it really was a very good episode in the series, maybe one of the best to this point. If you've liked any of the previous ones, this one should be a must read.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5I found the ending disappointing.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This is the fifth Owen Archer book and this one has our intrepid mystery solver dealing with a problem that he won’t be able to fix no matter what he does – the plague has returned. Owen can do all he can but there will be no effort he can put forth to stop it from its path. But that is not the only issue facing Owen in this tale.St. Leonard’s is the medieval version of a long term care facility but it seems that people who have paid for their care are dying ahead of their time. If this got out it could mean problems that are just not needed in a time a plague. People count on the hospital and scandal could be devastating.This volume brings back some old characters and introduces some new ones and I have to admit losing track in places. I’ve been enjoying the series immensely but this one wasn’t as good as the last one. I don’t know if I can put my finger on why – maybe the mystery wasn’t as intriguing, maybe the new characters weren’t as noteworthy. It was still a solid book and I’m looking forward to Owen’s next adventure and mystery.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This is the fifth Owen Archer book and this one has our intrepid mystery solver dealing with a problem that he won’t be able to fix no matter what he does – the plague has returned. Owen can do all he can but there will be no effort he can put forth to stop it from its path. But that is not the only issue facing Owen in this tale.St. Leonard’s is the medieval version of a long term care facility but it seems that people who have paid for their care are dying ahead of their time. If this got out it could mean problems that are just not needed in a time a plague. People count on the hospital and scandal could be devastating.This volume brings back some old characters and introduces some new ones and I have to admit losing track in places. I’ve been enjoying the series immensely but this one wasn’t as good as the last one. I don’t know if I can put my finger on why – maybe the mystery wasn’t as intriguing, maybe the new characters weren’t as noteworthy. It was still a solid book and I’m looking forward to Owen’s next adventure and mystery.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/51369 York St Leonard’s hospital is suffering from thefts, and the death of some of their corridians. Are the deaths connected to the lack of hospital funds. The Master of the hospital, Sir Richard Ravenser, summons Owen Archer, the soldier-spy, to investigate the scandal before it ruins him.
Meanwhile the plague seems to be sweeping through the area of York.
Another entertaining and well-written book in this series, with its likeable characters.