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Based on an enigmatic entry in the records of Clementhorpe Nunnery, this authentic, gripping mystery conjures a fourteenth century ripe with forbidden passions and political intrigue. When young nun Joanna Calverley dies of a fever in the town of Beverley in the summer of 1365, she is buried quickly for fear of the plague. But a year later, Archbishop Thoresby learns of a woman who has arrived in York claiming to be the resurrected nun, talking of relic-trading and miracles. And death seems to ride in her wake. The archbishop sends Owen Archer to retrace the woman's journey, an investigation that leads him across the north from Leeds to Beverley to Scarborough. Along the way he encounters Geoffrey Chaucer, a spy for the king of England, who believes there is a connection between the nun's troubles, renegade mercenaries, and the powerful Percy family. Back in York, however, Owen's wife Lucie, pregnant with their first child, has won the confidence of the mysterious nun and realizes that there are secrets hidden in the woman's seemingly mad ramblings . . .… (more)
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The story itself is slightly more grim than those in her other books; not just murder is at stake here, but something more sinister. There’s very little suspense to the mystery, but Candace Robb excels at portraying the relationships between her characters, developing them more and more with each book in the series. I liked how the author developed the tenuous relationship between Lucie and her father, Sir Robert, too. Jasper Melton, who features in the previous entry of the series, The Lady Chapel, appears here, but his presence in this book is merely incidental; I would have liked to have seen more of him.
Historical figures such as John of Gaunt and Geoffrey Chaucer even make brief cameos in The Nun’s Tale. The historical detail of the book is quite good, and another one of Robb’s strengths is tying the mystery—at first, it seems as though it’s simply a domestic affair—to larger events. It’s an enjoyable addition to the Owen Archer series, and I look forward to reading the next.
Owen and his lady wife Lucie are dispatched to try to get to the bottom of this woman’s story – she is the titular nun. What is her tale. Is she telling the truth or is she trying to cheat someone or something. As her story unfolds others involved in her tale start turning up…dead. So what started out as only a mystery now has become a murderous problem for Owen.
Ms. Robb continues the development of her core characters while still giving adequate attention to the new ones that inhabit this mystery. Historical figures make appearances in this tale much like the other books as the author likes to tie her fictional figures and stories to real people an events.
This was another excellent tale from the talented pen of Candace Robb. This has been my favorite of the three I have read so far. I do want to mention how much I appreciate the author’s note at the end. I so love having the facts to read to understand the times the fictional folk are wandering through.
Here a nun who was supposed to be dead and buried, miraculously returns from the grave a year later, raving about repentance and ‘our lady’s cloak’ which performs miracles, including raising her from the dead. The nun, Dame Joanna, is a bit strange and her story seems to wander. Lucie is dragged into questioning the nun, since she seems to be the only one who gets any sense out of her. Even though it seems pretty disjointed to Lucie.
Owen on the other hand is tasked by the Archbishop to find out where Joanna has been and corroborate as much of her story as has been deciphered. One item Owen went to check on was Joanna’s grave, which was occupied, by more recent death, and much more gruesome. He also visited Joanna’s family, and discovered she came from one that was a bit dysfunctional. One of the reasons Owen was chasing these stories was that they might be linked into a treasonous plot to the crown, and Thorsby considers it worthwhile to collect some gratitude should Owen be successful.
Lucie is nearing the end of her pregnancy with Owen’s first child and he is unhappy that she has been involved with this woman. Quite a few people have been found dead in her wake and Owen does not want Lucie to be one of the next victims.
He sends Owen Archer to investigate.
An enjoyable and well-written mystery story