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Owen Archer #1
The Apothecary Rose
Once the king's captain of archers, now he must penetrate a poisoner's secrets...
Christmastide, 1363-and, at an abbey in York, two pilgrims die mysteriously dead of an herbal remedy. Suspicious, the Archbishop sends for Owen Archer, a Welshman with the charm of the devil, who's lost one eye to the wars in France and must make a new career as an honest spy.
Masquerading as an apprentice to Apothecary Nicholas Wilton, whose shop dispensed the fatal potion, Owen's dark curls, leather eyepatch and gold earring intrigue Wilton's wife. But is this lovely woman a murderess? and what links the Wiltons to bumbling Brother Wulfstan, ascetic Archdeacon Anselm and his weaselly agent Potter Digby, and the ragged midwife Magda the Riverwoman? Answers as slippery as the frozen cobblestones draw Owen into a dangerous drama of old scandals and tragedies, obsession and unholy love...
The Apothecary Rose marks the arrival of a bold and quick-witted detective in this expertly detailed, engrossing tale of medieval life-and death.
Once the king's captain of archers, now he must penetrate a poisoner's secrets...
Christmastide, 1363-and, at an abbey in York, two pilgrims die mysteriously dead of an herbal remedy. Suspicious, the Archbishop sends for Owen Archer, a Welshman with the charm of the devil, who's lost one eye to the wars in France and must make a new career as an honest spy.
Masquerading as an apprentice to Apothecary Nicholas Wilton, whose shop dispensed the fatal potion, Owen's dark curls, leather eyepatch and gold earring intrigue Wilton's wife. But is this lovely woman a murderess? and what links the Wiltons to bumbling Brother Wulfstan, ascetic Archdeacon Anselm and his weaselly agent Potter Digby, and the ragged midwife Magda the Riverwoman? Answers as slippery as the frozen cobblestones draw Owen into a dangerous drama of old scandals and tragedies, obsession and unholy love...
The Apothecary Rose marks the arrival of a bold and quick-witted detective in this expertly detailed, engrossing tale of medieval life-and death.
Christmastide, 1363-and, at an abbey in York, two pilgrims die mysteriously dead of an herbal remedy. Suspicious, the Archbishop sends for Owen Archer, a Welshman with the charm of the devil, who's lost one eye to the wars in France and must make a new career as an honest spy.
Masquerading as an apprentice to Apothecary Nicholas Wilton, whose shop dispensed the fatal potion, Owen's dark curls, leather eyepatch and gold earring intrigue Wilton's wife. But is this lovely woman a murderess? and what links the Wiltons to bumbling Brother Wulfstan, ascetic Archdeacon Anselm and his weaselly agent Potter Digby, and the ragged midwife Magda the Riverwoman? Answers as slippery as the frozen cobblestones draw Owen into a dangerous drama of old scandals and tragedies, obsession and unholy love...
The Apothecary Rose marks the arrival of a bold and quick-witted detective in this expertly detailed, engrossing tale of medieval life-and death.
Once the king's captain of archers, now he must penetrate a poisoner's secrets...
Christmastide, 1363-and, at an abbey in York, two pilgrims die mysteriously dead of an herbal remedy. Suspicious, the Archbishop sends for Owen Archer, a Welshman with the charm of the devil, who's lost one eye to the wars in France and must make a new career as an honest spy.
Masquerading as an apprentice to Apothecary Nicholas Wilton, whose shop dispensed the fatal potion, Owen's dark curls, leather eyepatch and gold earring intrigue Wilton's wife. But is this lovely woman a murderess? and what links the Wiltons to bumbling Brother Wulfstan, ascetic Archdeacon Anselm and his weaselly agent Potter Digby, and the ragged midwife Magda the Riverwoman? Answers as slippery as the frozen cobblestones draw Owen into a dangerous drama of old scandals and tragedies, obsession and unholy love...
The Apothecary Rose marks the arrival of a bold and quick-witted detective in this expertly detailed, engrossing tale of medieval life-and death.
319 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
689 people are currently reading
5415 people want to read
About the author
Candace Robb
49 books509 followersStoryteller, mythweaver, author of the Owen Archer, Kate Clifford, & Margaret Kerr mysteries. Primary residence, medieval York.
I blog about writing, medieval history, writing women's stories, and feature new scholarship in my field at candacerobbbooks.com, and share loads of medieval news, folklore, and whimsy on my facebook page, Candace Robb
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 355 reviews
April 5, 2021
I have not read a really good mediaeval period mystery for ages and I enjoyed this one from Candace Robb very much. I see it is quite a long series and she is still writing them so I have lots to look forward to.
Owen Archer is employed basically as a spy and investigator by the Archbishop of York, and his job is to discover the truth behind the deaths of two men at the same monastery. Owen is an engaging character and although he makes a few mistakes on his first outing as a 'detective' he obviously has the brains to do better as he goes along.
The author knows her mediaeval stuff and the book sends the reader right into the sights, sounds and smells of the time. Medicine was rudimentary and people suffered despite everything the Apothecary could do. There was a very fine line between herbs being used as medicine and being misused as poison. Quite a few people die as a result.
I enjoyed this trip back in time and I am planning to read the rest of this series.
Owen Archer is employed basically as a spy and investigator by the Archbishop of York, and his job is to discover the truth behind the deaths of two men at the same monastery. Owen is an engaging character and although he makes a few mistakes on his first outing as a 'detective' he obviously has the brains to do better as he goes along.
The author knows her mediaeval stuff and the book sends the reader right into the sights, sounds and smells of the time. Medicine was rudimentary and people suffered despite everything the Apothecary could do. There was a very fine line between herbs being used as medicine and being misused as poison. Quite a few people die as a result.
I enjoyed this trip back in time and I am planning to read the rest of this series.
November 23, 2015
I found The Apothecary Rose interesting to read since it I'm not that used to read historical mystery books that take place in the 14th century. This mystery was especially interesting since it involves the church. John Thoresby, Lord Chancellor of England and Archbishop of York sends out one-eyed spy Owen Archer to find out if the two suspicious death at the infirmary of St. Mary's Abbeys are murders and if so who's behind it. Could it be the Master Apothecary Nicholas Wilton or his wife? Or someone that works at St. Mary's Abbeys? Owen Archer takes a job at the Wilton's apothecary in a way to learn more, but the soon finds himself both in danger and in love.
It was a good book, but there were two things that just didn't work for me. First, the love thing, I was just not that interested in reading about Owen falling in love with Lucie, Master Apothecary Nicholas Wilton wife. I would have preferred a slower approach to their growing fondness for each other, instead of dreaming about each other, and thinking about each other, looking longing at each other. Perhaps something growing more over time than during a book. I just didn't find that interesting and every scene that in any way was about their feeling just made me mentally sigh and hope the story would return to the crime instead. Sometimes love stories work for me in historical fiction/mystery and sometimes they don't. This time, it didn't.
The second thing was that it took forever to get somewhere in the book, at last it felt like that. It just didn't happen that much in the middle of the book after the interesting beginning and frankly I was not that surprising to learn who the culprit was. But I found the last part of the book interesting when everything started to come together and the truth about the deaths were revealed.
I would like to read more books in this series. Owen Archer was an interesting character and I enjoyed reading about crimes in the 14th century.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher for a blog tour at TLC Book Tours.
It was a good book, but there were two things that just didn't work for me. First, the love thing, I was just not that interested in reading about Owen falling in love with Lucie, Master Apothecary Nicholas Wilton wife. I would have preferred a slower approach to their growing fondness for each other, instead of dreaming about each other, and thinking about each other, looking longing at each other. Perhaps something growing more over time than during a book. I just didn't find that interesting and every scene that in any way was about their feeling just made me mentally sigh and hope the story would return to the crime instead. Sometimes love stories work for me in historical fiction/mystery and sometimes they don't. This time, it didn't.
The second thing was that it took forever to get somewhere in the book, at last it felt like that. It just didn't happen that much in the middle of the book after the interesting beginning and frankly I was not that surprising to learn who the culprit was. But I found the last part of the book interesting when everything started to come together and the truth about the deaths were revealed.
I would like to read more books in this series. Owen Archer was an interesting character and I enjoyed reading about crimes in the 14th century.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher for a blog tour at TLC Book Tours.
December 9, 2020
**4.25 STARS**
This first instalment of, for me a new series, has been a very pleasant experience, in so far that the book has given me great joy reading it.
The reason for my pleasure is quite simple; the story-telling is of a superb quality, all characters, whether real historical or wonderful fictional, come all vividly to life within this mystery, while the atmosphere of medieval York in AD 1363, under the reign of King Edward III, comes very realistically off the pages.
At the front of the book you'll find a short excerpt from Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Parlement of Foules", and a very well-drawn map of York, England, in the 14th Century, as well as a short Glossary.
At the back of the book you'll notice an Author's Note, where the historical details concerning this period of history are superbly documented and explained, and these details are wonderfully implemented within this historical mystery.
The book starts off with a prologue in which we find Brother Wulfstan, Infirmarian of St Mary's Abbey, fretting about the deaths of first his friend, the kind Pilgrim, and secondly about the death of the Archbishop's Ward, Sir Oswald Fitzwilliam, both by some kind of poison, and also involved are his dear friends the Apothecary, Nicholas Wilton and his wife, Lucie.
Right from chapter one comes our protagonist, Owen Archer, former Welsh Captain of Archers, into the picture to make his presence felt, after having been sent to York in disguise, as the Apothecary's apprentice, to investigate these murders for his employer, the Archbishop and Lord Chancellor of England, John Thoresby, and unravel the political and ecclesiastical implications.
What follows is an intriguing medieval mystery, where personal secrets will play an important part, although the mystery side of the story is somewhat to easy to solve, but on the other hand the sickly misconduct of a certain pervert cleric is very well brought forward here, in a sense that instead the culprit is condemned he will be revered as a saint within the mighty Church, all in effort the keep the Peace from between the mighty High till very Low within the Church, and the living outside world.
Highly recommended, although this series is not yet up to the same standard, but I hope it will be soon, as Paul Doherty's "Brother Athelstan" series which are set in London, while this series is set in medieval York, but what they do have in common is that they are both set somewhat around the same time of history, and to come back to this episode I like to call it: "A Very Promising Owen Archer Opener"!
This first instalment of, for me a new series, has been a very pleasant experience, in so far that the book has given me great joy reading it.
The reason for my pleasure is quite simple; the story-telling is of a superb quality, all characters, whether real historical or wonderful fictional, come all vividly to life within this mystery, while the atmosphere of medieval York in AD 1363, under the reign of King Edward III, comes very realistically off the pages.
At the front of the book you'll find a short excerpt from Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Parlement of Foules", and a very well-drawn map of York, England, in the 14th Century, as well as a short Glossary.
At the back of the book you'll notice an Author's Note, where the historical details concerning this period of history are superbly documented and explained, and these details are wonderfully implemented within this historical mystery.
The book starts off with a prologue in which we find Brother Wulfstan, Infirmarian of St Mary's Abbey, fretting about the deaths of first his friend, the kind Pilgrim, and secondly about the death of the Archbishop's Ward, Sir Oswald Fitzwilliam, both by some kind of poison, and also involved are his dear friends the Apothecary, Nicholas Wilton and his wife, Lucie.
Right from chapter one comes our protagonist, Owen Archer, former Welsh Captain of Archers, into the picture to make his presence felt, after having been sent to York in disguise, as the Apothecary's apprentice, to investigate these murders for his employer, the Archbishop and Lord Chancellor of England, John Thoresby, and unravel the political and ecclesiastical implications.
What follows is an intriguing medieval mystery, where personal secrets will play an important part, although the mystery side of the story is somewhat to easy to solve, but on the other hand the sickly misconduct of a certain pervert cleric is very well brought forward here, in a sense that instead the culprit is condemned he will be revered as a saint within the mighty Church, all in effort the keep the Peace from between the mighty High till very Low within the Church, and the living outside world.
Highly recommended, although this series is not yet up to the same standard, but I hope it will be soon, as Paul Doherty's "Brother Athelstan" series which are set in London, while this series is set in medieval York, but what they do have in common is that they are both set somewhat around the same time of history, and to come back to this episode I like to call it: "A Very Promising Owen Archer Opener"!
September 15, 2022
DNF at page 155
Let's see...
- awkward writing
- jerky pacing
- a clumsy fish-out-of-water detective
- super "goodies" and super "baddies" among the suspects
- lots of Lords of Somewhere who are not adequately placed in the narrative (feels like name dropping)
- standard romance bubbles
- and a lack of any real historical "feel" to the setting beyond the standard medieval city vibe
Ah, I can't be bothered anymore.
This is the start of the series and I do remember having read the 2nd installment ages ago and not finding it too bad. Perhaps the series improves as it goes on and just this first one has teething problems.
Let's see...
- awkward writing
- jerky pacing
- a clumsy fish-out-of-water detective
- super "goodies" and super "baddies" among the suspects
- lots of Lords of Somewhere who are not adequately placed in the narrative (feels like name dropping)
- standard romance bubbles
- and a lack of any real historical "feel" to the setting beyond the standard medieval city vibe
Ah, I can't be bothered anymore.
This is the start of the series and I do remember having read the 2nd installment ages ago and not finding it too bad. Perhaps the series improves as it goes on and just this first one has teething problems.
August 3, 2018
The author says: 'writing a historical mystery requires the author to wear three hats, novelist, historian and mystery writer.' I felt the last hat was a bit lacking. To me it wasn't much of a mystery, everything was so well explained along the way that I needn't think for myself.
January 17, 2013
Much of the drama in this book would have been averted if the actors in it had taken the time to determine whether or not the people they tried to kill did, in fact, die. Check your work, people.
February 9, 2017
I enjoyed this book very much. I love historical mysteries, but this one was a bit different for me. It is not a who done it, but a why. The reader knows from the first chapter who, what, and how. The reader is taken along on a journey as the mc meanders through York trying to discover who committed two murders.
The book is set in the year 1363. The author has done much research and does an excellent job of bringing life in the medieval city of York, and some real historical characters to life. Owen Archer is a retired Welsh bowman who was injured while Captain of the Archers for The Duke of Lancaster. He is offered a job by the Archbishop of York to discover who was guilty of poisoning two pilgrims in York. Owen is never comfortable about digging into peoples lives and lying about himself. On his first day in York, he meets Lucie Wilton the apprentice apothecary. He is attracted to her although she is married and quickly on his list of suspects. I also lie the fact thatnLucie Wilto is a strong, smart, and independent woman in medieval times.And so the story begins! The characters are relatable and even quirky. Even knowing who did the poisoning, there is enough suspense that builds up around why, and waiting for Owen to put all of the pieces together.
I highly recommend this book to lovers of historical fiction and mysteries.
The book is set in the year 1363. The author has done much research and does an excellent job of bringing life in the medieval city of York, and some real historical characters to life. Owen Archer is a retired Welsh bowman who was injured while Captain of the Archers for The Duke of Lancaster. He is offered a job by the Archbishop of York to discover who was guilty of poisoning two pilgrims in York. Owen is never comfortable about digging into peoples lives and lying about himself. On his first day in York, he meets Lucie Wilton the apprentice apothecary. He is attracted to her although she is married and quickly on his list of suspects. I also lie the fact thatnLucie Wilto is a strong, smart, and independent woman in medieval times.And so the story begins! The characters are relatable and even quirky. Even knowing who did the poisoning, there is enough suspense that builds up around why, and waiting for Owen to put all of the pieces together.
I highly recommend this book to lovers of historical fiction and mysteries.
September 13, 2016
Terrific, and a total surprise. I bought this book because I like mysteries set in the medieval/middle ages time period. I saw it advertised on Amazon as a recommendation based on the fact that I read the Ellis Peters Brother Cadfael books. It was also free, so I figured what the heck, if it is terrible no big loss. Well, not only was it not terrible, but it was a really great read. I put it right up there with the first Cadfael book and the Doomsday Book by Connie Willis. Ms. Robb captured the time period in such a tangible way that I felt transported into that small village in York every time I picked up the book. It has been a long time since I was this engrossed in a story. Candace Robb should be more well-known because her writing is vivid, crisp, and intelligent. I absolutely loved this book and now plan on reading the entire series. Owen Archer is a former soldier turned spy/sleuth. When a mysterious soldier shows up badly wounded at the local Apothecary, and then suddenly dies after seeming to be on the road to recovery, it is up to Owen to find out the circumstances behind his inexplicable death. Was it the Apothecary himself or was it someone else in the village who may have a motive to see that the soldier does not ever get to speak of his identity. I felt that the mystery was expertly handled but what stuck out as the true strong point of the book is the imagery and vivid setting. Candace Robb can weave a great story and also deliver the goods when it comes to the history of the time period. We get to see majestic medieval abbeys as well as poor villages devastated by the black plague, both written with equal description and attention to detail. The Apothecary Rose is an excellent mystery that I highly recommend to anyone who enjoys medieval mysteries or just stories set in the medieval period.
July 25, 2011
There were aspects of this book that I found very enjoyable...the way the city of York was brought to life as almost another character in the book, for example. Also, this is one of those mysteries where you know immediately WHO did it, but the hero does not, and must work at discovering both who and why. Those types of mysteries are often tricky, because there is a danger the reader will grow bored waiting for the detective to catch on. I wasn't terribly bored with this one, but I found the hero to be a little dense and clumsy in his efforts...most of the interest came from the other characters involved, frankly. I also didn't care for the romance element to the story. It was a classic "hero and heroine fight constantly but secretly love each other" kind of thing. The fighting was constant and not particularly balanced by anything else, though, so I was left wondering what in the world these people saw in each other aside from their respective hotness. Hotness is fine, of course, but it's hardly going to serve as a basis for me to become emotionally invested in those two crazy kids working things out and getting together.
August 14, 2007
I marked the read date as July, however, I've read this one several times. The entire Owen Archer series is phenomenal, excellent stories from beginning to end, with characters who are neither all bad nor all good, just a perfect blend of both to make them human and real.
The attention to historical detail is wonderful, although their ideas of 'cures' can sometimes make one cringe in the modern world. Unlike many other mystery books, you aren't kept in suspense as to who did it, for you know right off. Instead, you get to follow Owen as he unravels the many threads to discover the why.
A wonderful book to kick off a wonderful series.
The attention to historical detail is wonderful, although their ideas of 'cures' can sometimes make one cringe in the modern world. Unlike many other mystery books, you aren't kept in suspense as to who did it, for you know right off. Instead, you get to follow Owen as he unravels the many threads to discover the why.
A wonderful book to kick off a wonderful series.
February 14, 2023
1363-ieji, Jorkas. Vienas po kito gana mįslingomis aplinkybėmis vienuolyne miršta du piligrimai. Vienas iš jų – niekam tikęs, niekšelis, bet šiaip ar taip – arkivyskupo žmogus. Tad kažkam reikėtų pavesti išsiaiškinti, kas gi iš tikrųjų nutiko. Ir tam, arkivyskupo nuomone, geriausiai tiktų Owenas Archeris, buvęs lankininkų (ir kas galėtų pagalvoti?) kapitonas, netekęs vienos akies ir ieškantis sau naujo užsiėmimo gyvenime.
Galėjo būti labai neblogas istorinis detektyvas. Jei ne vienas „bet“. Ir tas „bet“ toks riebus, kad ignoruoti jo niekaip nepavyksta. Prologe autorė mums paslaugiai papasakoja, kas įvykdė nusikaltimą, kaip tai padarė, ir iš esmės netgi išdėsto motyvą. Taip, su motyvu ten ne viskas taip skaidru, lieka niuansų. Bet kaip gerai viskas galėjo būti, jei to prologo nebūtų – o dabar mįslės beveik nelieka. Va tau ir detektyvas.
Tiesa, skaitosi smagiai, sklandžiai. Tai gelbėja. Na, bet kokio velnio reikėjo taip pasielgti, a?
Būtų keturi iš penkių. Ir net labai tvirti. O dabar negaliu duoti daugiau trijų. Nuoširdžiai tikiuosi, kad tai nėra firminis autorės ženklas ir daugiau ji taip nedarys.
Galėjo būti labai neblogas istorinis detektyvas. Jei ne vienas „bet“. Ir tas „bet“ toks riebus, kad ignoruoti jo niekaip nepavyksta. Prologe autorė mums paslaugiai papasakoja, kas įvykdė nusikaltimą, kaip tai padarė, ir iš esmės netgi išdėsto motyvą. Taip, su motyvu ten ne viskas taip skaidru, lieka niuansų. Bet kaip gerai viskas galėjo būti, jei to prologo nebūtų – o dabar mįslės beveik nelieka. Va tau ir detektyvas.
Tiesa, skaitosi smagiai, sklandžiai. Tai gelbėja. Na, bet kokio velnio reikėjo taip pasielgti, a?
Būtų keturi iš penkių. Ir net labai tvirti. O dabar negaliu duoti daugiau trijų. Nuoširdžiai tikiuosi, kad tai nėra firminis autorės ženklas ir daugiau ji taip nedarys.
August 21, 2009
I like historical novels as you can see if you search my reviews. Some of the best are series by authors such as Forster, O'Brian and Cornwell. Historical mystery writers have a particular challenge and some, such as Pargeter and Saylor, have mastered it. Candace Robb recognizes that and articulates it as follows: "Writing a historical mystery novel requires the author to wear three hats, novelist, historian and mystery writer. The novelist guards the integrity of the form, the growth of the main character, and glories in the creation of the character's world, freely using the imagination. But the historian groans at anachronisms, agonizes over chronologies, and corrects descriptions according to archeological studies, from city plans to the heights of the people. The mystery writer doesn't want too much superfluous historical description to confuse the clues, has to maintain suspense, and yearns to move things around in time and place to serve the mystery. Compromises must be made in order to finish the book in one's lifetime."
I believe Robb gets it just about right with authentic characters and a plot that is, at most times, compelling. Several murders in the medieval city of York, England. A wounded archer who is tapped by the Lord Chancellor and Archbishop to investigate. The apothecary is at the center of suspicion and understanding how cures and remedies are prepared makes this mystery more unique and fascinating. The fact that women seem well-characterized with a full set of skills, insights and motives also adds to the pleasure.
I believe Robb gets it just about right with authentic characters and a plot that is, at most times, compelling. Several murders in the medieval city of York, England. A wounded archer who is tapped by the Lord Chancellor and Archbishop to investigate. The apothecary is at the center of suspicion and understanding how cures and remedies are prepared makes this mystery more unique and fascinating. The fact that women seem well-characterized with a full set of skills, insights and motives also adds to the pleasure.
October 10, 2015
I will start by noting that I have a weakness for series type books. I enjoy getting to know a character or characters and then following them along in their lives. When presented with the opportunity to review this series it was actually pretty cool because I didn’t have to wait for the next volume to come out – I was going to have almost all of the books at once to read over a two month period. (One of the books is not being re-released. I’m going to try and find it so I can complete the set.)
This is the first book so it introduces the reader to all of the players including our hero – Owen Archer. He’s a spy in the 14th century; an ex-warrior with a real knowledge of herbal healing. An unusual skill set for a man of the time, eh? This book is mostly setting up characters to create the world for the books to come. There is a mystery – of course – but the who isn’t as much a focus as the why which makes this a more interesting read in a way.
The characters are well developed and diverse. The historical details are well integrated into the story without being intrusive. I felt like I was part of the story and I love that in a book. When an author can make you feel like are in another century and part of a totally different world it leaves you with the desire to keep reading. I’m looking forward to the second book in the series.
4.5
This is the first book so it introduces the reader to all of the players including our hero – Owen Archer. He’s a spy in the 14th century; an ex-warrior with a real knowledge of herbal healing. An unusual skill set for a man of the time, eh? This book is mostly setting up characters to create the world for the books to come. There is a mystery – of course – but the who isn’t as much a focus as the why which makes this a more interesting read in a way.
The characters are well developed and diverse. The historical details are well integrated into the story without being intrusive. I felt like I was part of the story and I love that in a book. When an author can make you feel like are in another century and part of a totally different world it leaves you with the desire to keep reading. I’m looking forward to the second book in the series.
4.5
October 2, 2019
I read this book to fill the Read by Candlelight square of my 2019 Halloween Bingo Card.
What an excellent way to spend a cold, snowy evening. And yes, we had snow in late September, quite a bit of it and I was happy to hide at home.
I can’t give this novel marks as high as the Brother Cadfael mysteries. I certainly enjoyed it, but would have to rate it from 3 to 3.5 stars. For me, the last chapter just whipped together too quickly, with too little effort on the part of the main characters. I would have found it more to my taste if Owen & Lucie were to remain in limbo until some point in the next book. But I am not a fan of the neatly tied up ending, I much prefer something more ambiguous.
Nevertheless, I have picked up books 2 and 3 of the series at my favourite used book store and I will likely read them before returning them for credit. Although I don’t love Owen Archer as much as I am obviously supposed to, he isn’t the worst mystery character on the market and I’ll give him another chance or two before I abandon the series.
What an excellent way to spend a cold, snowy evening. And yes, we had snow in late September, quite a bit of it and I was happy to hide at home.
I can’t give this novel marks as high as the Brother Cadfael mysteries. I certainly enjoyed it, but would have to rate it from 3 to 3.5 stars. For me, the last chapter just whipped together too quickly, with too little effort on the part of the main characters. I would have found it more to my taste if Owen & Lucie were to remain in limbo until some point in the next book. But I am not a fan of the neatly tied up ending, I much prefer something more ambiguous.
Nevertheless, I have picked up books 2 and 3 of the series at my favourite used book store and I will likely read them before returning them for credit. Although I don’t love Owen Archer as much as I am obviously supposed to, he isn’t the worst mystery character on the market and I’ll give him another chance or two before I abandon the series.
October 23, 2022
Интересното е, че послесловът от авторката успя да вдигне оценката ми с една звезда, а винаги съм смятал, че щом е нужно един автор директно да се обяснява на читаятеля, значи не прави нещо както трябва. Все пак в историческия роман не всички сме на равна нога с подробностите, та явно е необходимо.
Най-вече ми направи впечатление, че тук всичко беше някак изчистеничко, за разлика от романите на Дохърти, където се набляга много на мизерията в градовете, но Роб твърди, че един средновековен жител ще забелязва мършата и помията точно толкова, колкото един съвременен жител обръща внимание на градския смог и това звучи правдоподобно.
Както и да е. Един бивш капитан на стрелците от армията на негово величество е изгубил едното си око и контузил лошо едната си ръка. Понеже не искат да го изпуснат като кадър, той става шпионин на Архиепископа и е изпратен в малко градче да разследва убийство. Там трябва да се цани за чирак на аптекар, който явно е замесен в престъплението.
От криминална гледна точка, сцената беше прекалено камерна и на читателя бързо му става ясно какви са били взаимодействията между малкото герои.
От историческа гледна точка, като тук пак трябва да се отчете силнияв послеслов, нещата са си бомба и представената Англия от 14 век звучи правдоподобно.
От гледна точка на романса – благодаря на авторката, че ми е спестила тръпнещите вагини и червеномастити... както и да е. Историята е почти по детски невинна и чиста, което е добре.
Героите са готини, макар лошият да е много лош, направо луд, а добрата е много добра до изтръпване. За сметка на това Оуен Арчър е най-симпатично смотания шпионин на който можете да попаднете и прави книгата.
Като цяло бих прочел още някоя книга от поредицата, определено е леко и развлекателно четиво и му липсват повечето неща, които ме дразнят в подобни книги.
Най-вече ми направи впечатление, че тук всичко беше някак изчистеничко, за разлика от романите на Дохърти, където се набляга много на мизерията в градовете, но Роб твърди, че един средновековен жител ще забелязва мършата и помията точно толкова, колкото един съвременен жител обръща внимание на градския смог и това звучи правдоподобно.
Както и да е. Един бивш капитан на стрелците от армията на негово величество е изгубил едното си око и контузил лошо едната си ръка. Понеже не искат да го изпуснат като кадър, той става шпионин на Архиепископа и е изпратен в малко градче да разследва убийство. Там трябва да се цани за чирак на аптекар, който явно е замесен в престъплението.
От криминална гледна точка, сцената беше прекалено камерна и на читателя бързо му става ясно какви са били взаимодействията между малкото герои.
От историческа гледна точка, като тук пак трябва да се отчете силнияв послеслов, нещата са си бомба и представената Англия от 14 век звучи правдоподобно.
От гледна точка на романса – благодаря на авторката, че ми е спестила тръпнещите вагини и червеномастити... както и да е. Историята е почти по детски невинна и чиста, което е добре.
Героите са готини, макар лошият да е много лош, направо луд, а добрата е много добра до изтръпване. За сметка на това Оуен Арчър е най-симпатично смотания шпионин на който можете да попаднете и прави книгата.
Като цяло бих прочел още някоя книга от поредицата, определено е леко и развлекателно четиво и му липсват повечето неща, които ме дразнят в подобни книги.
October 28, 2015
I read this book expecting a mystery/crime story and as a representative of that group it must be said that it kind of sucked. The story itself was predictable, and didn't even pretend very hard at being either a puzzle or even a psychological view of a crime (not that I like those). So really, the story was a romance novel featuring a crime. The romance itself irritated me, while I liked the character of Mistress Wilton (I don;t remember her name and NONE of the reviewers mention it which is telling), while I liked her as a journeyman and as someone who was capable and brave, I didn;t like her irrational confrontations with Owen- both he and she irritated me in them. It was supposed to be part of the romance/chemistry I realise. The chemistry entirely was wasted on me (and not just because I am queer, occasionally...very rarely I can appreciate a boy/girl romance where it doesnt rely on stereotypes and the man "saving" the woman). Owen's acceptance of his inferior/obedient status as Mistress Wilton's apprantice is an anachronism, but a charming one (and lets be honest historical novels are full of anachronisms because there is just not enough information to really get into the mind of a person from a time before ordinary people could write and leave lots of information about how they thought).
I thought much of the historical setting, and possibly the political intrigues (though ugly and dehumanising) were accurate. I was unhappy with the many steroypes (Magda for one and the lecherous archdeacon for another but also the "tart with a heart" innkeeper that I encountered. Stereotypes are on the whole offensive, certainly these were. There were flashes of an awareness of how class and gender are constituted by society and even a beginning of complex understanding of intersectionality (which is the sort of analysis that makes history interesting) but every time I started paying attention to that Owen and his friend would have a childish, sexually frustrated squabble and the book would degenerate to a drawn out, convoluted and unsatisfying romance novel once more.
Despite a lively, capable and intelligent (some of the time) girl/love-interest the book falls back into essentialised and patriarchal portrayals of gender (and contains oblique homophobia disguised as a sort of squeamish compassion). These elements kept intruding on parts of the book that would have been interesting otherwise (though the plot itself lacked something).
People have compared Robb to Ellis Peters which is why I was interested. The comparison does Peters/Pargeter a huge disservice!
I thought much of the historical setting, and possibly the political intrigues (though ugly and dehumanising) were accurate. I was unhappy with the many steroypes (Magda for one and the lecherous archdeacon for another but also the "tart with a heart" innkeeper that I encountered. Stereotypes are on the whole offensive, certainly these were. There were flashes of an awareness of how class and gender are constituted by society and even a beginning of complex understanding of intersectionality (which is the sort of analysis that makes history interesting) but every time I started paying attention to that Owen and his friend would have a childish, sexually frustrated squabble and the book would degenerate to a drawn out, convoluted and unsatisfying romance novel once more.
Despite a lively, capable and intelligent (some of the time) girl/love-interest the book falls back into essentialised and patriarchal portrayals of gender (and contains oblique homophobia disguised as a sort of squeamish compassion). These elements kept intruding on parts of the book that would have been interesting otherwise (though the plot itself lacked something).
People have compared Robb to Ellis Peters which is why I was interested. The comparison does Peters/Pargeter a huge disservice!
January 21, 2019
Wow! Another author I had never heard of until Early Bird Offers came my way. My local library does not have these books so for $1.99 I felt it was worth the gamble and it paid off in Diamonds! Do not let this e-book cover fool you, it is not a romance novel, yes there is some romance but this is really a wonderful Medieval history fiction mystery. Owen Archer was the Captain of the Duke of Lancaster's Archers and losses the sight in his one eye. What to do? He becomes a spy for the Archbishop and as such is sent to York to get to the bottom of two mysterious murders. We all know what happened but it is the why that takes a bit of time to uncover. We have some very good characters in Owen Archer, apothecary Lucie, Brother Woolston, healer Magda Digby, etc. and I can only hope that they appear in the other novels in this series that I have now rapidly purchased!
Highly enjoyable, fast reading and good plotting. I have read the first novel in the CJ Sansom series Matthew Shardlake Mysteries, and this book was easier to read, and more enjoyable - not to worry, I also own all the Sansom books and will get there ASAP. Meanwhile this is just another really fine beginning to what I hope will be a wonderful series of books that will give me hours of pleasure and enjoyment.
Highly enjoyable, fast reading and good plotting. I have read the first novel in the CJ Sansom series Matthew Shardlake Mysteries, and this book was easier to read, and more enjoyable - not to worry, I also own all the Sansom books and will get there ASAP. Meanwhile this is just another really fine beginning to what I hope will be a wonderful series of books that will give me hours of pleasure and enjoyment.
September 24, 2018
"The first Owen Archer Mystery".
This is the better historic crime novel - in itself a genre for pure (guilty?) pleasure.
Its scenery is Medieval York and reading the novel while visiting the place is a real asset!
The plot and characters are complex enough to keep the reader's attention sharp and wondering. Even if the central crime happens at the very beginning and leaves no doubt about who did it, the mystery about it creates the perfect narrative tension for the rest of the novel. As it unravels, unexpected complexity surfaces. It never bores. And the end creates the perfect onset for a sequel. The main characters have some potential to be explored further!
This is the better historic crime novel - in itself a genre for pure (guilty?) pleasure.
Its scenery is Medieval York and reading the novel while visiting the place is a real asset!
The plot and characters are complex enough to keep the reader's attention sharp and wondering. Even if the central crime happens at the very beginning and leaves no doubt about who did it, the mystery about it creates the perfect narrative tension for the rest of the novel. As it unravels, unexpected complexity surfaces. It never bores. And the end creates the perfect onset for a sequel. The main characters have some potential to be explored further!
February 10, 2022
Wonderful world building that is fairly accurate of the time. The MC has a decent character arc with an interesting mystery. Looking forward to more in this series to see how the characters develop.
December 1, 2015
Candace Robb did PhD studies in Medieval and Anglo-Saxon literature (ABD, all-but-dissertation) and has continued to research the fields thoroughly for each book.
Robb also has some intriguing comments on the three hats a writer of historical mysteries must wear. Not all writers of historical mysteries manage all three as well as Robb. She creates well-developed novels with dynamic characters; gets the chronology right (or explains why some changes are included); makes sure that the places she mentions in the city of York are well-researched and accurate; and avoids superfluous historical detail that doesn't develop the story. Some of that detail can be found in the Author Notes, and you can easily skip those if you choose.
The Apothecary Rose is set in 1363 in the city of York. The main character Owen Archer had been the Captain of the Archers under Henry of Lancaster, until losing an eye. The old Duke found a use for Owen as a spy, but when the old Duke died, Owen found himself having to choose between John Thoresby, Archbishop of York and Lord Chancellor of England, and the new Duke, John of Gaunt. Thinking that the Archbishop would be a better choice, Owen discovers that politics and self-service trump religion more often than not. Owen is a little naive, thinks more like a soldier, and does not admire Thoresby's worldliness and easy moral stance.
When two suspicious deaths occur in the infirmary of St. Mary's Abbey, Thoresby sends Owen in to determine if the deaths are connected and if murder was done. Although Owen is not aware, the reader knows who is responsible--the mystery is not who, but why. (And I have to admit the why wasn't a complete satisfaction for me.)
An intricate story set in a world of both fact and fiction, with historical detail that aids rather than distracts from the compelling plot and characters. From the infirmary to the apothecary shop to the machinations of some of the church figures, Robb gripped my imagination and allowed me to immerse myself in another time and place with characters that engaged my interest.
Purchased. Read in Nov., 2015. Complete blog review scheduled for Dec. 2, 2015.
A Garden Carried in the Pocket
Medieval Mystery. 1993; 2015. Print length: 340 pages.
I immediately ordered the next in the serie
Robb also has some intriguing comments on the three hats a writer of historical mysteries must wear. Not all writers of historical mysteries manage all three as well as Robb. She creates well-developed novels with dynamic characters; gets the chronology right (or explains why some changes are included); makes sure that the places she mentions in the city of York are well-researched and accurate; and avoids superfluous historical detail that doesn't develop the story. Some of that detail can be found in the Author Notes, and you can easily skip those if you choose.
The Apothecary Rose is set in 1363 in the city of York. The main character Owen Archer had been the Captain of the Archers under Henry of Lancaster, until losing an eye. The old Duke found a use for Owen as a spy, but when the old Duke died, Owen found himself having to choose between John Thoresby, Archbishop of York and Lord Chancellor of England, and the new Duke, John of Gaunt. Thinking that the Archbishop would be a better choice, Owen discovers that politics and self-service trump religion more often than not. Owen is a little naive, thinks more like a soldier, and does not admire Thoresby's worldliness and easy moral stance.
When two suspicious deaths occur in the infirmary of St. Mary's Abbey, Thoresby sends Owen in to determine if the deaths are connected and if murder was done. Although Owen is not aware, the reader knows who is responsible--the mystery is not who, but why. (And I have to admit the why wasn't a complete satisfaction for me.)
An intricate story set in a world of both fact and fiction, with historical detail that aids rather than distracts from the compelling plot and characters. From the infirmary to the apothecary shop to the machinations of some of the church figures, Robb gripped my imagination and allowed me to immerse myself in another time and place with characters that engaged my interest.
Purchased. Read in Nov., 2015. Complete blog review scheduled for Dec. 2, 2015.
A Garden Carried in the Pocket
Medieval Mystery. 1993; 2015. Print length: 340 pages.
I immediately ordered the next in the serie
August 13, 2016
I enjoyed this book, it’s a good mystery story with solid historical basis, but I struggled with the author’s narrative style (frequently changing stream of consciousness type POVs).
October 15, 2016
An amazing story that will make an amazing series.
Owen is a fantastic hero and the Apothecary Rose, Lucie, is strong and beautiful.
Owen is a fantastic hero and the Apothecary Rose, Lucie, is strong and beautiful.
November 19, 2020
Not all that long ago, but a little too long apparently I readThe Apothecary Rose by Candace Robb, and since I already have it I read The Lady Chapel her second book in the series as soon as I finished the first. I didn't write my review after the first book, but continued on to the second figuring I would have it all better in my mind after reading both books together. And then, my computer crashed, and stayed crashed for days, and days. Long enough for me to begin to forget all that happened to our characters in the first two books in the Owen Archer series, The Apothecary Rose and The Lady Chapel. These are some of the things I do remember, first about the author, Candace Robb is the same age as my oldest sister, and as far as I know they are both still alive. In the case of my sister, I'm pretty sure someone would have mentioned it to me if she had died, and as for the author, she simply doesn't seem to be old enough to have died yet. It's just a little unusual for me to read a book by someone who is still alive, most of my authors have been dead a long, long time. As for Miss Robb, she is an historical novelist, with works set in medieval England. She has also written under the pen name Emma Campion - I never heard of her under that name, of course until recently I never heard of her under any name. I see she's a goodreads author, so they may know more about her than I do.
Here is what I remember about the books. The first book, The Apothecary Rose was published in 1993 and it is where we meet Owen Archer. The first installment has been set in the year, 1363 in York City. I keep seeing that it is in the "Cathedral" city of York. I wonder if every city that has a cathedral is called a cathedral city or if that is something special sometimes, I'll have to look it up. The hero in this novel is Owen Archer who served as the Captain of Archers, under Henry Lancaster, until he lost an eye. I wanted to know if Owen's last name was Archer because he was the Captain of the Archers, or did he become an archer because of his name, or is it just a coincidence what he does is what his name is. If I'm supposed to know the answer to this fascinating question I don't remember it. But whatever the reason Owen is Captain of the Archers, he was until he lost his eye anyway. Now the old Duke found another job for Owen, this time appointing him as a spy. I'm thinking he isn't going to blend in very well having only one eye, but what do I know about one eyed spies? Not a thing. However, now the old Duke died and Owen was faced with a choice of either working under the Archbishop of York, John Thoresby and John of Gaunt, the newly appointed Duke, still as a spy I suppose. He doesn't like the new Duke, so he begins working for the Archbishop.
So on to the mystery part of the book, this guy shows up at St. Mary's Abbey sick, and is soon dead. There is nothing so terrible about this until the poor priest who gave the dead guy his medicine uses some of it on another patient and that guy ends up dead too. Somebody has poisoned the first now dead man and because of that we now have two dead men. So who did it? The Archbishop sends Owen to figure that out. So he is sent to Nicholas Wilton, the Master Apothecary as his apprentice where he can figure out who is poisoning who and why. He figures out the who, unfortunately I can't remember the why. While he is in the middle of doing all this he ends up falling in love with the Apothecary's wife Lucie. I really wish we could call the guy a pharmacist, that Master Apothecary seems long. And I really wish I could remember why the poisoner poisoned the poisoned person, but I can't. I may have to go dig the book out again just to read the ending. And the ending of The Apothecary Rose brings me to the beginning of The Lady Chapel so I guess I will go there. In the meantime, happy reading.
Here is what I remember about the books. The first book, The Apothecary Rose was published in 1993 and it is where we meet Owen Archer. The first installment has been set in the year, 1363 in York City. I keep seeing that it is in the "Cathedral" city of York. I wonder if every city that has a cathedral is called a cathedral city or if that is something special sometimes, I'll have to look it up. The hero in this novel is Owen Archer who served as the Captain of Archers, under Henry Lancaster, until he lost an eye. I wanted to know if Owen's last name was Archer because he was the Captain of the Archers, or did he become an archer because of his name, or is it just a coincidence what he does is what his name is. If I'm supposed to know the answer to this fascinating question I don't remember it. But whatever the reason Owen is Captain of the Archers, he was until he lost his eye anyway. Now the old Duke found another job for Owen, this time appointing him as a spy. I'm thinking he isn't going to blend in very well having only one eye, but what do I know about one eyed spies? Not a thing. However, now the old Duke died and Owen was faced with a choice of either working under the Archbishop of York, John Thoresby and John of Gaunt, the newly appointed Duke, still as a spy I suppose. He doesn't like the new Duke, so he begins working for the Archbishop.
So on to the mystery part of the book, this guy shows up at St. Mary's Abbey sick, and is soon dead. There is nothing so terrible about this until the poor priest who gave the dead guy his medicine uses some of it on another patient and that guy ends up dead too. Somebody has poisoned the first now dead man and because of that we now have two dead men. So who did it? The Archbishop sends Owen to figure that out. So he is sent to Nicholas Wilton, the Master Apothecary as his apprentice where he can figure out who is poisoning who and why. He figures out the who, unfortunately I can't remember the why. While he is in the middle of doing all this he ends up falling in love with the Apothecary's wife Lucie. I really wish we could call the guy a pharmacist, that Master Apothecary seems long. And I really wish I could remember why the poisoner poisoned the poisoned person, but I can't. I may have to go dig the book out again just to read the ending. And the ending of The Apothecary Rose brings me to the beginning of The Lady Chapel so I guess I will go there. In the meantime, happy reading.
April 23, 2022
Excellent beginning for this historical mystery set in 14th century York, England. Enjoyed the narration by Derek Perkins. Owen Archer is a one-eyed Welshman, former soldier in the employ of the Archbishop of England, sent to York to investigate 2 deaths that may or may not be related. Realistic characterizations, dialogue and historical details. Rated 4 stars.
October 10, 2016
This is the tedious beginning of a long series. To sum briefly: you know who and what and almost why in the first few pages and the remainder of the 319 pages is the hero bungling around trying to figure it out. The conclusion is by turns gothic and silly. There are 10 more books in this series - the mind boggles.
August 22, 2019
This was my first Candace Robb, but won’t be my last. In “The Apothecary Rose,” we are introduced to Owen Archer, a one-eyed former longbowman following Henry, Duke of Lancaster. Owen is knifed and blinded by the mistress of a musician that he saved from death. Some reward. Owen is naturally disillusioned by this and leaves his soldiering behind. He doesn’t wish to serve the new Duke of Lancaster, John of Gaunt, so gets hired as an investigator by the Lord Chancellor/Archbishop of York. (It was not uncommon in medieval times for high churchmen to have political roles as well.)
The Archbishop’s ward is poisoned at an abbey in York and Owen is hired to investigate the death. Turns out the ward died in the same way as a far-more-important anonymous pilgrim to the abbey.
Were these men murdered by the apothecary, or was it a tragic accident that too much monkshood was added to the medication? Was it the apothecary’s fault—or his wife’s, who is his apprentice? Or was it the monk’s fault who administered the med?
We spend the rest of the book rather slowly and methodically working out the details. Owen apprentices to the apothecary, who was struck down w/ an illness the same night that the pilgrim died. The apothecary’s wife is thus his boss, and Owen develops feelings for her, which just clouds his mind during the investigation. There are the stereotypical bad guys/brothers at the abbey and the fundraiser (the “summoner”) for York Minster is a slimy little character w/ a witch for a mother.
This is all fairly complicated but the story moves forward to its end. You know who the “really bad guy” is about 70% of the way into the book, but that doesn’t detract from the satisfying denouement. You want to see him get his comeuppance by that point.
I think I prefer the Brother Cadfael mysteries by Ellis Peters, but this had a similar feel, and as a retired pharmacist, I loved all the herbal lore in this book. This is a solid 4 stars and would have been a higher ranking if it had moved a little more quickly.
The Archbishop’s ward is poisoned at an abbey in York and Owen is hired to investigate the death. Turns out the ward died in the same way as a far-more-important anonymous pilgrim to the abbey.
Were these men murdered by the apothecary, or was it a tragic accident that too much monkshood was added to the medication? Was it the apothecary’s fault—or his wife’s, who is his apprentice? Or was it the monk’s fault who administered the med?
We spend the rest of the book rather slowly and methodically working out the details. Owen apprentices to the apothecary, who was struck down w/ an illness the same night that the pilgrim died. The apothecary’s wife is thus his boss, and Owen develops feelings for her, which just clouds his mind during the investigation. There are the stereotypical bad guys/brothers at the abbey and the fundraiser (the “summoner”) for York Minster is a slimy little character w/ a witch for a mother.
This is all fairly complicated but the story moves forward to its end. You know who the “really bad guy” is about 70% of the way into the book, but that doesn’t detract from the satisfying denouement. You want to see him get his comeuppance by that point.
I think I prefer the Brother Cadfael mysteries by Ellis Peters, but this had a similar feel, and as a retired pharmacist, I loved all the herbal lore in this book. This is a solid 4 stars and would have been a higher ranking if it had moved a little more quickly.
October 10, 2019
Owen Archer, having lost an eye, departs from his captaincy and takes up spying/mystery solving at the behest of the archbishop of York. He becomes apprentice to a dying apothecary and his wife, a journeyman. A good suspense novel although the mystery is tricksy and the modern killer is revealed relatively early to the reader, leaving Owen and his brilliant boss Lucie to flounder about for much of the book.
The historical afterword is quite interesting and I do love a early modern mystery. Read via my public library on Hoopla by Derek Perkins, who manages female characters well, although I was slightly disappointed not to get a more Welsh Welshman from such a beautiful voice. Owen Archer is a very matter-of-fact character, of course, and Perkins sounds exactly right I’m sure, I just like to swoon to a musically voiced detective.
The historical afterword is quite interesting and I do love a early modern mystery. Read via my public library on Hoopla by Derek Perkins, who manages female characters well, although I was slightly disappointed not to get a more Welsh Welshman from such a beautiful voice. Owen Archer is a very matter-of-fact character, of course, and Perkins sounds exactly right I’m sure, I just like to swoon to a musically voiced detective.
May 14, 2023
Meni se ova 'misterija' jako svidjela. Zanimljiva je i brzo se čita, osim što nažalost nisam imala puno vremena za čitanje. Priča je zanimljiva zbog važne prošlosti koju polako otkrivamo i velikog broja likova.
"U svima nama je veća ili manja količina mraka."
"U svima nama je veća ili manja količina mraka."
November 25, 2017
4 stelle e mezza
August 14, 2022
Volim srednjovjekovne trilere, misteriju, opise tog doba.
Ova knjiga mi je bila dosadna, bez napetosti i često se ponavljaju iste činjenice.
Ova knjiga mi je bila dosadna, bez napetosti i često se ponavljaju iste činjenice.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 355 reviews