The Serpent's Tale

The Serpent's Tale by Ariana Franklin  371 pp

This is the second book in the "Mistress of the Art of Death" series. This time Dr. Vesuvia Adelia Rachel Ortese Aguilar of Salerno (known as Adelia) is sent to investigate the death of Rosamund Clifford, mistress of Henry II. Things are complicated by the fact that she now has her infant daughter, fathered by Rowley Picot-now a bishop, in tow along with her faithful servants, Mansur the Saracen and Glytha, who cares for the baby and Adelia as if they were her own family. Adelia's mission is complicated by her capture by Henry's wife Eleanor of Aquitaine, who is a prime suspect in Rosamund death. Adelia must prove that Eleanor did not commit the crime to prevent a war between Henry's supporters and Eleanor's.