Catherine and Edgar, Part Two
This second book in the Catherine LeVendeur mystery series rivals the first in depth, plot complexity and sheer entertainment. Catherine is at the Abbey awaiting Edgar and their marriage when a woman, beaten nearly to death, is brought to the Abbey by her husband, a local Lord. He states that his wife was set upon and beaten by a local rival lord. However, he displays no upset at his wife's condition and abruptly leaves. Edgar appears, he and Catherine wed, but the woman dies. Before death, however, she asks that she be made a sister of the Abbey so her land can pass from her to the Abbey upon her death. Her husband is outraged and accuses Heloise, the Abbess, of stealing the land. Catherine and Edgar set out to solve the mystery of why the woman was murdered and why the land is so important. They soon become entangled in several other mysteries all of which are related. Their lives, as well as the lives of Catherine's Jewish cousins, are at risk. Undaunted, the pair continue towards a shocking climax that not only solves the murder but resolves the unanswered questions. The characters are lively and well developed, with fast-paced action and a complicated yet comprehensible plot. This is a most enjoyable series and I highly recommend it.