Graven Images

The Averillan Chronicles #2

by Barbara Reichmuth Geisler

In the year 1141, murder and religious intolerance confound the nuns of the Benedictine Abbey at Shaftesbury. Dame Averilla must bring the truth to light, lest anarchy topple the rule of law.

Genres: Historical Fiction

411 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2005

About the author

Barbara Reichmuth Geisler is a native of San Francisco who holds baccalaureate and master's degrees from the University of California at Berkeley. She was head librarian for the San Francisco Performing Arts Library and Museum.

Reviews

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story and setting about an abbey in Shaftesbury during the time of Matilda and Stephen. A Jewish craftsman is accused of murdering a young local girl. Abbess Emma and Dame Averilla, along with a traveling artist and his assistant, come to the man's defense. The story was not that well crafted, unfortunately. The author's constant use of the device of having a character tell the story by relating events and thoughts to another character after the fact to be overused and distracting. The author was also very careless in her use of quotation marks.

[Susan Prudhomme · Rating 3 out of 5]

About halfway through. This is the second in a ten-book planned series (The Averillan Chronicles), each title based on one of the Ten Commandments. (The first was Other Gods). They are set in 12th Century England at Shaftesbury Abbey, a monastery of nuns. The author does a remarkable job of making the time come alive. The books are meticulously researched and full of historical detail. Thus far, I find this one to be a bit too replete with historical detail. It's fascinating to learn about life in the Middle Ages, but it slows the story 'way down. The story is, however, captivating.