The Poisoned Serpent - Hardcover

Wolf, Joan

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0060192399 ISBN 13: 9780060192396

Publisher: Harper, 2000

Synopsis

Bestselling author Joan Wolf is back with her eagerly anticipated second novel of murder and mystery in medieval times.

It is the winter of 1140 in Norman England, and the country is embroiled in a bitter civil war, with cousin against cousing in a battle for the crown.

Caught in the midst of this is Hugh de Leon, heir to an earldom. In addition to the political turbulence, Hugh has problems closer to home. The Lady Cristen, who holds Hugh's heart, is not highborn enough to be his wife. Instead, Hugh's uncle, Guy, has arranged a marriage with the comely but spoiled heiress, Elizabeth de Beaute, whose father has just been granted the earldom of Lincoln. The two fortunes combined would give the de Leons unparalleled power.

Scant days after Guy's announcement, the new earl is murdered, and Hugh's friend Bernard stands accused of the deadly deed. Therein lies Hugh's dilemma. He must elope with Cristen before Guy can stop them from marrying. Yet, while his happiness hangs in the balance, Hugh cannot let his friend die a wrongful death.

It is up to Hugh to expos the real killer, someone so calculating and brutal, someone so chillingly smart, that he has silenced all witnesses and covered his tracks. And Hugh must be careful, for both his sake and Cristen's, that when he grabs the serpent by its tail, he, too, does not get bitten.

About this title

About the Author

Joan Wolf lives in Milford, Connecticut, with her husband and two children. In her spare time she rides her horse, walks her dog, and roots fanatically for the New York Yankees and UConn Huskies.

Reviews

YA-First introduced in No Dark Place (HarperCollins, 1999), Hugh de Leon, nephew of the Earl of Wiltshire, once again deduces clues, interviews suspects, makes connections, and analyzes evidence to solve a mystery. He delays plans to elope with Cristen, daughter of the Lord of Somerford, when he receives word that his friend Bernard has been accused of murder. Eventually he helps his friend and finds the villain, but not before others die. Set in early Norman England, the story includes details of everyday life, from politics to the garderobe. Major and minor characters are well drawn. The opening list of participants helps to keep titles and last names separated. Although this novel is simpler to read than most in Ellis Peters's "Brother Cadfael" series (Mysterious), set in the same time period, the relationships, court intrigue, and power struggles among the earls are not easy to follow. Those willing to do so will find themselves absorbed into the story as they watch a clever detective at work without modern devices to provide clues and evidence.
Claudia Moore, W. T. Woodson High School, Fairfax, VA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Twelfth-century England provides the setting for Wolf's second medieval mystery (following No Dark Place), which serves up history and intrigue in equal measure. Stephen is the English king, but his crown and his kingdom are prey to shifting allegiances. Hugh de Leon, heir to the earl of Wiltshire, has given his heart and pledge to lovely Cristen Haslin, daughter of Lord Sommerford. But such a marriage does nothing to benefit Guy de Leon, earl of Wiltshire. Instead, the earl has arranged for Hugh to marry the lovely Elizabeth de Beaut?, heiress to the earl of Lincoln. Elizabeth, in turn, is determined to refuse Hugh in favor of another. The murder of Gilbert de Beaut?, earl of Lincoln, casts suspicion directly on one of Hugh's supporters, and indirectly on Hugh himself. As Hugh strives to prove the innocence of that supporter, he finds himself at odds with the sheriff of Lincoln's son, a foe since childhood. Handsome knights and strong, beautiful ladies perform here against some absorbing set pieces, including a game that resembles a huge rugby scrum and a trial as held by England's chief justiciar. Bold and bright characters, plenty of romance and a healthy dash of mystery and murder enliven this engaging novel. (May)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Sir Hugh de Leon, introduced in No Dark Place (1999), returns to solve another mystery in twelfth-century England. The murder of Gilbert de Beaute, the earl of Lincoln, takes center stage, but there is much more going on in Hugh's life than crime-solving. Hugh, who has only recently learned his real identity, continues to juggle his former self--a sheriff's foster son--against his recently elevated position as the heir to the earl of Wiltshire. Helping him in all things is his love, Lady Cristen, but even his relationship with her may be in jeopardy, as various powerful people now have opinions on whom Hugh should marry. Wolf knows how to string together the clues of a mystery, but her great strength is her characterizations. Hugh and the others are full-bodied characters, true to their times, but timeless in their emotions and reactions. This well-constructed, well-set, and very satisfying tale will please anyone who likes their mysteries medieval. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

The medieval era is a popular setting for mysteries these days, as evidenced by these three new titles. Clare introduces a new heroine, the exemplary Abbess of Hawkenlye, who must join forces with an emissary from Richard Plantagenet to solve the murder of first one and then two young nuns. The ending is a little limp, but the writing is fine, and the abbess is an engaging character, one of the few religious in such mysteries (along with Sister Fidelma) actually to be presented in a positive light. Wolf brings back the hero of No Dark Place, Hugh de Leon, who in his first mystery discovered that he was heir to the Earl of Wiltshire. Hugh is determined to marry his feisty beloved despite opposition from the earl and is subsequently caught up in investigating the murder of the father of the bride the earl intends for him. The cool, savvy Hugh is almost too good to be true, and the psychic communication between him and his true love doesn't seem to fit with the otherwise realistically detailed surrounds, but the plot moves along quite nicely and should entertain most fans. Over the last few years. the publisher has been releasing Jecks's series featuring Sir Baldwin Furnshill, Keeper of the King's Peace in 14th-century England, in an attractive little mass-market format. Like all Jecks's tales, this one--concerning the suspicious death of the new master of Throwleigh, a five-year-old boy--is nicely detailed and tightly argued, with involving action and memorable characters. The whole series belongs in any collection where historicals are popular.
-Barbara Hoffert, "Library Journal"
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Harper
• Publication date: 2000
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0060192399
• ISBN 13: 9780060192396
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 304