Ashes of the Elements

THE ALYS CLARE SERIES OF HAWKENEYE MEDIEVAL MYSTERIES CONTINUES TO IMPROVE. ONE LEADS TO ANOTHER, BUT CAN EASILY BE READ ON IT'S OWN. THE LIFE OF AN ABBESS AND HER NUNS AND MONKS WAS NEW TO ME AND FASCINATING. I'VE ORDERED THE NEW ONE. HER MALE CHARACTERS ARE AS WELL DRAWN AS THE WOMEN. THE HISTORY INVOLVED IS ANOTHER PLUS FOR THIS SERIES.

Alys Clare's novels are like a breath of fresh air. I love medieval murder mysteries and there are certainly a lot of them about (thank goodness), but the authors books breathe new life into the period and her will they won't they situation that started with a strong friendship between Helewise and Sir Josse, holds the reader's attention as well. Don't be swayed into thinking that these books are written with the female reader in mind. They are for everybody, young and old, male or female. Alys Clare lives in Kent where the Hawkenlye mysteries are set. A grove of oaks has been felled in the Wealden forest, but the man who felled them has met a violent end. People think back to the old ways and the days of the druids, when the oak was the one tree in all England that was sacred. Had the tree feller been cursed by the old magic of the Forest People. Josse and Helewise enter the forest and are witness to strange events , but will these happening bring them any closer to solving the murder. Christianity is now the religion of England, but there are many who have not left the old ways behind.

she just gets better and better. Read this if you like Ellis Peters.

The second book in this wonderfully refreshing historical series is even better than the first. There is a cracking plot (concerning the "forest people"), which moves along at a fair pace. It's interesting and very different. There is also, as another reader mentioned, a very definite sense of "otherworldliness" to the plot. Through the intense beliefs of the tree people, you start to somewhat acknowledge the possibility that maybe there is something in it after all...And this adds yet another layer of mystery and intrigue to the plot, above that of the actual crimes committed. the two lead cahracters are great and interesting. they are well developed, and their talents and deductive skills compliment each other well. They are a brilliant team. And, as well, Alys Clare REALLY knows her stuff about accurate historical detail. All of it seems very authentic. This is an exciting, intriguing book, with a great plot and some nice likeable characters. Definitely reccomended.

If you're looking for a mystery novel that baffles and intrigues you, with breath neck-like action, then "Ashes Of The Elements" is NOT for you. However if you're looking for a well written and captivating historical mystery novel that unfolds in a more leisurely manner, and that gives you a glimpse of life in 12th century England and with fully developed and engaging characters, then this is the book for you.Wealden Forest is a place that is full of dark and mysterious secrets -- it is even whispered that the Forest People still meet there when the moon is full to practise their dark and strange ways! And the good people of Tonridge take great care not to be in the woods once night has fallen. Apparently the local poacher, Hamm Robinson, must not have placed much stock in these rumours, as one fine June morning, Abbess Helewise of Hawkenlye Abbey finds Hamm dead from a spear wound on a path that leads from the forest. The Sheriff of Tonridge, a man of strong convictions and little imagination, immediately blames the Forest People for Hamm's murder. And indeed the fine workmanship of the spear that was used to kill Hamm seems to backup the Sheriff's theory. However Abbess Helewise is not so sanguine. She instinctively senses that there is more to Hamm's murder, and when her good friend Josse d'Acquin pays her a visit upon his return from France, Helewise shares her misgivings about the whole affair with him.Sharing Helewise's doubts, Josse decides to look into the matter and hopefuly without stepping on the Sheriff's toes. However he hasn't gotten very far in his investigations when another poacher is found dead. This time however the Sheriff cannot blame the Forest People for the murder as it becomes obvious that this poacher was killed with a dagger, and in what seems to have been a frenzy of violence. What exactly is going on in the forest, and for what dark reason were both poachers killed? Helewise and Josse team up again to discover exactly what dark secrets the Forest holds before more people are murdered. While this novel is not one of those page-turning chilling historical mystery novels that boast of a murder, mayhem and a fiendishly clever plot, it is not a boring read either. Indeed this novel has a very atmospheric feel to it, esp when the story takes the reader into Wealden Forest. Alys Clare does a brilliant job of evoking the darkness and the mysteriousness of the forest. I also enjoyed the glimpses that Clare gives the reader of the day-to-day life of the nuns and monks at Hawkenlye Abbey; and of the rare and unique friendship that Josse and Helewise share. "Ashes Of The Elements" is not a typical historical mystery novel. While the activities that take place in the forest are indeed dire, there are few red herrings or real twist and turns in the plot -- indeed the mystery unfolds in a very straight forward manner. However this book is very well written and is engaging and captivating in its own way. So if you're looking for some