A Mortal Bane

Rating:
Summary: Exquisite!
Review: This is a remarkable mystery story. Excellent! I expected a Gellis Romance story and discovered a rich and extremely well told Gellis mystery. Filled with fun and wry situations, the clash between church, state and public (and private) morals are revealed in this story as they revolve around the murder of a Papal Messenger in 1139. The story is superbly told, the plot so well crafted you know not who the guilty part is until the very end. This is a prime example of the writer's craft; a well-structured story that pulls the reader along, making him/her continue to turn the pages, lifting curiosity, and delaying the answers to the curious. The Characters are well drawn and the reader comes to know them well. There are no shallow characters here. This is a good story and well worth the time. I did not know Gellis wrote mysterys, but I know it now and will be looking for more.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful medieval mystery
Review: This is not the type of book I usually read, but I was glad I picked this up. Magdalene and Bell, the women, the Brothers, even Baldassare who appears for only a few pages, are wonderful, very well drawn characters. No pseudo-medieval speak to distract the reader, but very well researched. I love this book and will read Ms. Gellis' other works.