Nicholas Penta Penta itibaren Dubrivka, Zakarpats'ka oblast, Ukraina itibaren Dubrivka, Zakarpats'ka oblast, Ukraina

The third and latest in the "Mistress of the Art of Death" series, historical mysteries by Ariana Franklin (aka Diana Norman) set in late 12th century England, is the best of the lot. Mistress of the Art of Death, the first book, was well done. The author stumbled a bit with the second, The Serpent's Tale, but she has found her stride with the current offering. Set in Glastonbury and wrapped in the mists of Avalon, the work is a must for anyone besotted with the Matter of Britain. Adelia, the mistress of the art of death (a kind of medieval forensic pathologist trained at Salerno), is a worthy successor to the Brother Cadfael of Ellis Peters, who pursued his forensic investigations earlier in the 12th century during the wars of King Stephen and the Empress Maud. Adelia works in the time of Henry II and at his command. Like Elizabeth Peters in her Amelia Peabody series (at least in the earlier and better of those), Ariana Franklin is not afraid of humor. Suspense, humor, romance, and interesting historical interpretations -- not a bad combination. I eagerly await Relics of the Dead, the next of Adelia's adventures. Can a PBS miniseries be far behind?