Mist Over the Water

Aelf Fen #2

by Alys Clare

On Ely Island, the Normans are proclaiming their authority with the construction of a magnificent cathedral. When Morcar, fishing for eels nearby, is attacked, his cousin Lassair is sent to nurse him. Morcar tells Lassair a frightening tale of assassins in the dark and a brief vision of horror. Then the killers strike again, and, as the secret hidden within the walls of Ely Abbey claims more victims, Lassair is forced to face a challenge that she fears is far beyond her . . .

 

 

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Fiction, Medieval, British Literature, Historical Mystery, Historical

256 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2010

About the author

Alys Clare is the pen name used by Elizabeth Harris for the Hawkenlye series of historical mysteries.

Alys Clare is the pseudonym of a novelist with some 20 published works to her name. Brought up in the countryside close to where the Hawkenlye Novels are set, she went to school in Tonbridge and later studied archaeology at the University of Kent. She lives for part of the year in Brittany, in a remote cottage deep in an ancient landscape where many past inhabitants have left their mark; on her doorstep are relics that date from the stone circles and dolmens of the Neolithic to the commanderies, chapels and ancient tracks of those infamous warrior monks, the Knights Templar. In England, Alys's study overlooks a stretch of parkland which includes a valley with a little spring. The waters of this spring are similar in colour and taste to Tunbridge Wells's famous Chalybeat Spring, and it was this that prompted Alys's setting of her fictional Hawkenlye Abbey in the very spot where her own house now stands.

Reviews

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

More fun with Lassair. Also, more boring politics. Enjoyed the details of life: clothing, herb usage, homes, travel. Even if it isn't all 100% authentic, it seems that way. I like that clothes don't magically clean themselves and that sometimes a person needs the privy.

[Andrea Engle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lassair has been sent to Ely to care for her cousin Morcar, who is grievously injured and ill … her friend Sibert accompanies her, and they stumble into a vast mystery … interesting …

[Lynne Tull · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read 'The Hawkenlye Series' by Ms. Clare. I thought I might like this series. I couldn't find the first book so started with #2. I didn't care for the main character or even the supporting characters. The story was filled with historical facts that were awkwardly transitioned into the story. One such instance toward the end of the book read like a quote out of a reference book. Also, 'Publishers Weekly' claimed that Ms. Clare was "A worthy successor to Ellis Peters". I do not agree and do not plan to read the rest of the series.

[Rachel Roberson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, I went right from the first book to the second book, which is always a good sign. Book #2 was just as easy to read and featured another adventure-with-a-mystery-twist, this time mostly in the historic town of Ely during the early days of construction of its famous cathedral. All the elements of the first book are back, including the supporting cast and the medieval mystic twists. We are also introduced to a character who may or may not come back, who provided a little romance for Lassair. By leaning on mysticism and England's pagan roots rather than early medieval Christianity, Clare has a wider canvas for the agency Lassair is given. As a peasant, she would not have been protected and cloistered in the same way upper class women were, and she seems to interact with the Christian hierarchy in the same way she would with the political hierarchy, which is probably fairly historically accurate. These aren't actual mysteries per se, but there are unknown and mysterious elements that the characters need to puzzle through. I'm already on the list on the library for the third installment.

[Kelly Callaghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s 1070 ish and a big cathedral is being built at Ely. Morcar, a tile knapper is unable to get work and so he becomes an eel catcher, not a successful one. One night he sees a young man being hustled into the abbey. Not long after he is attacked and left for dead. He eventually sends for help and his cousin, Lassair comes to his aid. However that is just the beginning of the mysteries, polities and danger for Lassair and her friends.

Lots of historical intrigue and details about how people lived.

[Patrick Barry · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have enjoyed many of the author's tales in the series she has written. She is a fine story teller and her prose is very winning. This book I enkoyed but not as much as her other books I have read, Principally I had a hard time understanding the motivation of some of the characters particularly the four monks and Siebert. It is still a good read, but it took me until this writeup to realixze how much paranoia was at play. This is a good period piece and I am sure the series will wenlighten me on the period after 1066.

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second in a series set in East Anglia a generation after William the Bastard's conquest of England, this book is enthralling. I love this time period! Cultures collide. People are unsure of what to expect. And life is hard. Lassair is sent to Ely to help her cousin who's been hurt. It's her first solo healing trip. But she gets much more than she bargained for in this trip. There is violence. There is deception. And there is knowledge of past lives.

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an engaging and well plotted story with interesting characters. Unfortunately, the writing was very sloppy - lots of typos and bad grammar. A disappointing sequel to the first book in the series.

[Roslyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

late 11th century. Teenage healer. Magic. Political conspiracy; Saxon plot to overcome Norman King William. Building of a new Norman cathedral to replace a beloved Saxon church.
Slow

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good quick read.
Makes me want to learn about herbs.

[Marlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lassair has been tasked with going to the island of Ely to care for her gravely ill cousin. But something is off about the monestary being built there and Lassair is destined to get involved.

[Lighthearted · Rating 2 out of 5]

A few years have passed since Out of the Dawn Light: Lassair is now an accomplished healer. Her aunt is still very much needed in the village so when word arrives that a cousin has been viciously attacked, it’s Lassair who must go to his aid. To protect her on the journey, her friend Sibert accompanies her—but he has reasons of his own for wanting to travel to Ely Island. There has always been an element of mystery about the death of his father and Sibert hopes that visiting the place where so much happened will provide some answers.

The death of Sibert’s father is not the only mystery however: it appears that Morcar was attacked because he witnessed someone being forced into the Ely monastery. Who could the pale youth be? Why is his location a secret to murder to protect?

The mystery of the pale youth is intriguing and is quite easy to envision during this turbulent time in England’s history. On the other hand, the mystery of Sibert’s father was anti-climatic for me—I’d already considered that possible storyline in the first book. As it unraveled in this book, I felt it was too drawn out and only served the purpose of a) keeping Lassair on Ely Island and b ) separating Lassair from Sibert and Hrype at key points. When uncovered, Sibert’s reaction to the truth was too extreme to be believable for me.

Mist Over the Water also introduces romance to the series. I like the ‘ongoing’ romance we discover this time around but the new romance that springs up didn’t work for me—at least not the way that it was presented. It might work for a teenage audience—maybe.

While Out of the Dawn Light touched upon the spiritual realm, Mist Over the Water immersed the reader (lots of spirit guides hanging about, being helpful). This is okay, although less detail is more for me in this regard. That said, I was fascinated by the ghost.

Final thoughts: although I love the time period and the period detail, I may let the rest of the series go unread—the actions/romances of the Lassair are a bit too young for me.

[Carolynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ely Cathedral is one of my three favorite cathedrals (the other two are Durham and Canterbury) but its construction apparently did not bring unalloyed joy to the community. In fact it has a sinister feel in this novel, which takes place in the fens of eastern Britain in the late 11th century, not long after the Cathedral was begun in 1083. A hallowed chapel dedicated to St. Ethelreda was destroyed to make room for the larger building, and the local residents regarded that as a sacrilege. That, along with the remote Aelf Fen, is the setting for _Mist Over the Water_, whose heroine, Lassair, a gifted teenage healer still learning from her mentor, her Aunt Edild, tries to discover why her cousin, the Eel fisherman Morcar, was bludgeoned and left for dead. Her quest leads her into a dark political conspiracy, more than one foray into danger, the discovery of a long-hidden family secret, and even the beginning of an apparently doomed romance. The CIP (cataloging) gives Eel fishing and Crimes against fishers as subject headings, which suggests that the cataloger looked at only the first chapter. Lassair is a plucky and ingenious, if meddlesome, heroine whose tale has little to do with eels. I'll look forward to additional entries in this series.

[Phoebe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lassair, a young apprentice healer, is sent to nearby Ely to help her gravely wounded cousin, who appears terrified that his would-be murderers will be back to finish the job. Lassair fixes him up and he is sent back to his village for safety, but Lassair herself is too curious about what's going on to leave. Told from different points of view but with no clear warnings, such as a chapter start, when the author suddenly switches voice; also, the romance between Lassair and Rollo happens too quickly to be very credible. Entertaining, atmospheric, and a little creepy.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Touted as the successor to Ellis Peters, not in my opinion but it was an interesting story. A historical mystery set in 11th century England dealing with a Saxon plot that would threaten William's crown. Lassair goes to Ely Island to care for her injured uncle where she uncovers a plot to use a young boy in a plot to overthrow the newly establish Norman King William, of William the Conquer fame.

[Elli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical mystery. Set around the time not too far after the Norman Conquest. Along with some strong personal experiences, a young healer and some of her family accidentally get involved in a plot of organizing a rebellion to replace the Norman king with one of Saxon blood. Heavy and continuous action!

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok. These books are good light reads so I'll probably keep at them when I can. I like the time period. But there's a lot of "let me explain the history to you for the benefit of the readers" that gets dull, and I don't care for the magical stuff. This volume reads like she'd finished Pillars of the Earth and liked the plot so she thought she'd borrow it.

[Mary Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This medieval mystery is a quick read. It is the story of a young girl who is learning to be a healer. She becomes involved in trying to find out who is trying to murder her kinsman. Not a bad read, but the author could have developed her plot strands and characters more.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had a difficult reading this book. I can't say I was really interested in it, but found it at the library in the "What's New" section and thought I'd try it. I think it is very slow.

[Jacky · Rating 3 out of 5]

As before, a good plot, rooted in the countryside - in this case, an eel-catcher near Ely.

[Teresa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Usually I don't bother to finish a book I do not like, but because I have liked the Hawkenlye books I stuck with it. It did not get better.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't care for this book so much as the first one in the series. Felt that the author lost a bit of her momentum in this story.

[Margareth8537 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite enjoying this series of Fenland crime stories set in the 11th century

[Margaret Skrivseth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am loving this series! The characters are well-drawn, the plot is well-done, and overall, it is a nice book.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This began slowly, but I am very interested in this character and how she will develop.

[Felicity Fozard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Second mystery in the Lassair series. Lassair's cousin gets attacked on the island of Ely and she goes to help and investigate.