A Historical Murder Mystery Education. It's That Good.

A Murderous Procession by Ariana Franklin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a wonderful job the author has done with this novel. I'm as impressed as I am entertained.

Set in the time of Henry II, during the procession escorting his daughter Joan to Sicily to marry King William II, this is a historical murder mystery adventure that succeeds on every level. The science and the history are carefully researched and adhered to; the setting, in terms of both landscape and society, is well-drawn and richly developed; the characters are interesting, round, and believable, with motivations that matter; and the plot is complex, realistic, and engaging. I enjoyed the thematic elements, too. The main character's reflection on the misogyny and the anti-scientific effects of religion are on point, but they are also realistic for the setting, coming from a woman raised in a pluralistic Sicily that was accepting of multiple faiths and open to female physicians. When she saw the door closing on such liberal attitudes, from Cathar southern France to increasingly-Catholic Sicily, it is genuinely affecting. We are made spectators to a loss of freedom that endured for hundreds of years.

I was most impressed with the pacing, which is not something I necessarily pay attention to. In fact, I usually only notice pacing if it's uneven or if the novel has long dry patches. That is not what I saw here. Not a chapter, not a scene, not a single conversation dragged or made itself unwelcome. There is no second-act flagging, no filler. Nor did any part feel rushed or abrupt. The reader is tugged along with the action and dialogue so smoothly, so effortlessly, with every passage so expertly crafted to engage the reader, that any pacing flaws are conspicuous by their absence. Excellent writing, and perhaps more to the point, excellent editing.

Very nice. I cared about the characters, I enjoyed the story, I liked learning about the time period, and I connected with the themes. Great job. Excellent novel.

Recommended, of course.

View all my reviews