Headstrong Catherine LeVendeur chooses love over churchly devotion when she marries the Saxon nobleman, Edgar, but when the mummified arm of St. Aldhelm is stolen, Catherine and Edgar must race to find the lost reliquary to save the honor and lives of those they love. Reprint.
The Wandering Arm: A Catherine LeVendeur Mystery
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From Publishers Weekly
In 12th-century France, religion suffuses society. Relics, attributed with great power, are (almost) universally venerated and trade in religious objects is a lucrative, often dangerous business. After losing their first child at birth, ex-novice Catherine Le Vendeur and her English husband, Edgar, last encountered in The Devil's Door, are drawn into this perilous world when Edgar agrees to pose as a masterless craftsman and infiltrate the group suspected of refashioning stolen religious goods. Also at stake is the future of Catherine's relatives, Jews living near the Abbey of St. Denis on sufferance of King Louis VII. Natan ben Judah, whose unsavory reputation may endanger his people, has been murdered; and the relic of the arm of Saint Aldhelm of England, which figures in the dynastic struggles between England's King Stephen and his cousin Matilda, widow of the Holy Roman Emperor, has disappeared. Newman displays a sure hand with the period and her affecting cast in this deftly crafted tale.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Library Journal
Newman (The Devil's Door, Forge, 1994) offers lively and credible historical fiction as she depicts 12th-century Paris and environs. She centers her tale around 19-year-old Catherine Le Vendeur, a Christian of Jewish blood, and her Saxon husband, Edgar. Edgar, posing as an out-of-luck metalworker, and Catherine, portraying his wife, attempt to discover who has been stealing English church objects, melting them down, and reworking them?a practice blamed in part on a murdered Jew. Intriguing plot, realistic depictions of contemporary culture, and a spunky young heroine. Highly recommended.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
By S. Schwartz
Format:Hardcover
Sharan Newman writes a very good medieval mystery. She does her homework on the historical facts for the time that she writes in (12th century France), and the authenticity of these facts, combined with her compelling character development make for a "page-turner" of a read. Catherine and her Edgar are the liveliest set of sleuths out their in the historical genre. In this outing Catherine's father have asked Edgar and Catherine to find a religious relic that has been stolen from Edgar's home country of England. Those following the relic's progress think it has made its way into France. Not only do we get to follow our protaganists in their search, but we get a clear picture of what relations were like between the Christians and the Jews in Paris in the 12 century. Ms. Newman's plotting is as good as her characterization, and this is a very enjoyable medieval.
Format:Mass Market Paperback
This is possibly the best of the first four books written by Sharan Newman in her Catherine LeVendeur Mysteries. It is a complex tale of murder and deceit in the realm of Paris in the 12th century, and reflects upon a true problem of the time--stolen reliquaries. If you have read and enjoyed Sheri Holman's "A Stolen Tongue" or Umberto Eco's "The Name of the Rose," you may find yourself finishing this tale in one sitting. It a quick but fascinating read, highly entertaining, and showing the author's ever increasing level of mastery of the genre. Highly Recommended.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
3.7 out of 5 stars
3 reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
In the spirit of "A Stolen Tongue" or "The Name of the Rose"
July 7 2000
By Edward Alexander Gerster
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Mass Market Paperback
This is possibly the best of the first four books written by Sharan Newman in her Catherine LeVendeur Mysteries. It is a complex tale of murder and deceit in the realm of Paris in the 12th century, and reflects upon a true problem of the time--stolen reliquaries. If you have read and enjoyed Sheri Holman's "A Stolen Tongue" or Umberto Eco's "The Name of the Rose," you may find yourself finishing this tale in one sitting. It a quick but fascinating read, highly entertaining, and showing the author's ever increasing level of mastery of the genre. Highly Recommended.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Very Good Historical Mystery!
Nov 20 2003
By S. Schwartz
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
Sharan Newman writes a very good medieval mystery. She does her homework on the historical facts for the time that she writes in (12th century France), and the authenticity of these facts, combined with her compelling character development make for a "page-turner" of a read. Catherine and her Edgar are the liveliest set of sleuths out their in the historical genre. In this outing Catherine's father have asked Edgar and Catherine to find a religious relic that has been stolen from Edgar's home country of England. Those following the relic's progress think it has made its way into France. Not only do we get to follow our protaganists in their search, but we get a clear picture of what relations were like between the Christians and the Jews in Paris in the 12 century. Ms. Newman's plotting is as good as her characterization, and this is a very enjoyable medieval.
0 of 3 people found the following review helpful
2.0 out of 5 stars
Pretty bad
May 11 2008
By Sammi-K
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I had to read this book for my history class but I found I couldn't even finish it. My professor warned us that it was "cheesy." Personally, I thought it was more unbelievable thus a boring waste of time. Sort of female sherlock holmes in 12th century France, I just didn't buy it. Definitely start at the beginning of the series if you're going to attempt this. I don't think I'll bother, since there are plenty more historical novels out there that are way more enjoyable than this.
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Go to Amazon.com to see all 3 reviews
3.7 out of 5 stars
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