The Falconer's Knot

Three cheers for a book I delighted in reading. Interesting characters, interesting time, and how gently it helped me learn about how colors were prepared for artists--all while wrapped around medieval mystery, mayhem, and murder. The author carefully unwraps the story details and moves the reader through a variety of points of view, but still holds the reader captive. This is a terrific book for mature young readers and young mature readers as our sympathy moves from teen angst to adult sorrow. I'm so glad this book fell off the library shelf and with the title alone invited me to read it.

I have read hundreds of historical mysteries and this one is top notch. Once I started it, I did not want to put it down. The main protagonists are Silvano, who has sought sanctuary in a Franciscan Friary after being accused of a murder he did not commit, and Chiara, who is forced to enter a neighboring convent because her family does not have the money for a dowry. The supporting characters are very interesting too. The lively plot could be described as Shakespeare meets Brother Cadfael. The fascinating details about color-making and fourteeenth century art brought back happy memories of my visit to the Basilica of St. Francis several years ago.