A Poultice for a Healer

Chronicles Of Isaac Of Girona #7

by Caroline Roe

Summoned to assist the Bishop of Girona during his illness, Isaac of Girona is forced to put his sleuthing talents to work when a messenger arrives at the palace with an urgent message for the Bishop, but dies before he can deliver it. Reprint.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Medieval, Spain, Fiction, Historical

320 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Caroline Medora Sale Roe AKA Medora Sale

As Medora Sale, Caroline Roe has written six police procedurals, including an Arthur Ellis Award winner. These books are set in and about Toronto and feature homicide detective John Sanders and architectural photographer Harriet Jeffries. As Caroline Roe, Medora used her PhD research on religious diversity in medieval times to re-create the character of the Bishop of Girona's Jewish physician, a 14th-century doctor with important patients and a nose for wrong-doing.

Medora is a past president of both Crime Writers of Canada and the international board of Sisters in Crime.

Series:
* Chronicles of Isaac of Girona

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another well-plotted look into mysteries of medieval Spain with great characters and interesting settings. The penultimate book in the series.

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, bought for a dollar some years ago and put on my "to-read" shelf, started me on a most enjoyable reading adventure.

I loved this book and its characters so much that I went out and bought the 7 other books in the series, and have just finished reading them all. Roe creates a world in a most interesting historic period of time, before the Jews were expelled from Spain, when Christians, Jews and Arabs co-existed (not without some tension, mind you). Her primary character, a blind physician named Isaac of Girona, is based on a historical figure. He is physician to the Bishop of Girona, as well as many of the city's residents. None of the characters are idolized; they are all very human, with flaws and foibles that any of us might have, which makes the all the more believable.

These books (unfortunately) are not available as ebooks. Used book stores have them, and some library systems may also have copies.

Highly recommended if you like historical fiction set in the Middle Ages (my favorite period of history).

[Dennis Fischman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the plot hard to follow and had to rely on the trial scene at the end to understand all the details. The insights into the time and place, and how medieval Spanish Jews dealt with circumcisions and weddings (on the one hand) and the threat of anti-Jewish riots (on the other) made the book well worth reading.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Construction of these books is a bit like changing channels as story counters story until they meet in conclusion. I have liked both books. It had been a while since I had read the book that preceded this one so I checked it out with this one and read through it again. I'm glad I did that since it added greatly to my enjoyment. If a person has the opportunity, I would think reading from book one and onward would be best.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite an interesting mystery in this story, with several young men claiming to be relations of the local Jewish cabinet maker.
I really like Isaac's daughter and was happy to see her with a large role in this book. Her fiance David also figures largely in the solution to this story.

[Rosemary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A historical mystery set in Girona, Spain. Convincingly authentic, and a good story. Comparable to the Cadfael series for its non-clunky historical details. For once, a historical mystery writer I'd like to read more of.

[Jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful series!

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved this book.

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like books set in this period, but wasn't as enamored with this one as one of hers I'd read previously. It's likely because I'm reading them out of sequence.