Ariana Franklin 2 Book Lot - The Serpent's Tale, Grave Goods (Paperback)

Pre-owned - See photos for condition

Since these two books are part of the acclaimed Mistress of the Art of Death series, I’ve put together summaries that capture the gritty, medieval noir atmosphere Ariana Franklin is famous for.

Serpent’s Tale - Ariana Franklin

The Queen is trapped. The King is furious. The Mistress of Death is the only hope. Winter, 1171. A bitter freeze has gripped England, and King Henry II is a man under siege. His mistress, the beautiful Rosamund Clifford, has been poisoned within her "impenetrable" bower at Woodstock. The prime suspect? Henry’s own estranged and formidable wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine.

With the threat of civil war looming and the Queen under house arrest, Adelia Aguilar—the brilliant, secret doctor of the dead—is summoned to investigate.

The Investigation:

The Clues: A trail of poisoned oranges and a labyrinthine garden designed to keep secrets in. The Obstacles: A Church that views female healers as heretics and a court swirling with political treachery. The Stakes: If Adelia can't prove the Queen’s innocence (or guilt), the country will ignite in a bloody rebellion.

In a world where the "Serpent" could be anyone from a jealous lover to a political mastermind, Adelia must use her 12th-century forensic skills to find the truth before she becomes the next victim.

Grave Goods - Ariana Franklin

Old legends never die—they just hide the bodies. Glastonbury, 1191. King Henry II is dead, and his son, Richard the Lionheart, is away on Crusade. The monks of Glastonbury Abbey make a stunning announcement: they have discovered the remains of the legendary King Arthur and Queen Guinevere.

But the "discovery" smells of a cynical publicity stunt to attract pilgrims—until the site is razed by fire and a new set of corpses appears. These bodies aren't ancient legends; they are very recent victims of foul play.

Inside the Mystery:

A Royal Command: Adelia is sent by the Lady Eleanor to verify the bones, only to find herself trapped in a town obsessed with myth and greed.

Hidden Identities: Adelia must hide her young daughter’s parentage and her own medical profession from a suspicious local law.

A Dark Conspiracy: As the bodies pile up, Adelia realizes that someone is using the legend of Arthur to mask a modern-day slaughter.

History and mystery collide as Adelia digs through the "grave goods" of the past to stop a killer who is very much alive.