The Riddle Of St. Leonards Essay Example

residents of York, including his wife Lucie, Bess Merchet who owns the York Tavern, and Magda Digby who accompanies him on crime-solving missions as the Riverwoman midwife. Honoria de Staines also plays a significant role in these crimes. Reluctantly accepting a mission assigned by Archbishop Thoresby and Richard de Ravenser, Master of St.Leonard's Hospital, Owen delves into uncovering its troubles. With Queen Philippa gravely ill and the return of the plague causing fear among many people in York, this one-eyed ex-soldier faces yet another daunting task.
Owen's wife Lucie, an apothecary, finds comfort in his presence after sending their children to stay with her father in the countryside. Owen is assigned to investigate two incidents at St.Leonard's Hospital - the theft of valuable treasures and the mysterious deaths of elderly patients who had exchanged gifts for lifetime care at the hospital. The death of Laurence de Warrene is especially significant and prompts Bess and Owen to search for the truth. Additionally, Owen is tasked with finding a young orphan named Alisoun Ffulford, who ends up at St.Leonard's under Sister Anneys' care, adding another mystery for Owen and his team to unravel. Rumors circulate about Honoria de Staines, a former prostitute turned nurse, who remains silent despite being imprisoned. Despite their efforts to extract information from her, Honoria refuses to speak. With help from tavern keeper Bess Merchet and Magda Digby, whom some consider witch-like, Owen ultimately solves these mysteries. This book appears to be a work of fiction without any specific perspective; however, if I had to choose one, it seems pessimistic in nature.In my opinion, Candace Robb's narrative explores the medieval era and depicts the

devastating impact of the plague, as well as various crimes. The author incorporates Latin and Old English terms, such as "spital" (an early English term for hospital) and uses "favourite" instead of "favorite". Additionally, she includes colloquial expressions like "Nay'", "Ay'", and "Sweet Jesu". Personally, I found the book to be slightly long. As an impatient reader, I usually avoid lengthy books and strive to quickly reach the conclusion. However, this particular book managed to hold my interest due to its captivating mystery narrative - a genre I greatly enjoy. Mysteries always leave you wondering what will happen next, making you want to keep reading and finishing it sooner than expected.

One weakness of the book is that it jumps from one place to another in each chapter. For instance, while one chapter focuses on Owen and Magda, the following chapter shifts its focus entirely to Alisoun in a different location. Although confusing at times, this aspect actually compels readers to read more within each chapter in order to discover their whereabouts and understand what is happening.The book leaves the impression that sometimes the unexpected person can be the culprit, despite being least anticipated. Following the facts will eventually lead to finding the guilty party. The book is enjoyable because it keeps readers on edge. There are moments when a certain person seems responsible, but then confusion arises as the story changes. Furthermore, learning about challenges faced during medieval times, such as the plague, adds an interesting aspect to the book. In conclusion, this book is recommended especially for teenagers aged at least 14 years old. While reading this story, it keeps you engaged and provides

insights into the past. It brings characters to life and immerses readers in unfolding events. Through this book, I gained understanding of the medieval ages and how they were affected by the plague outbreak. The story is set during its third occurrence when children had to be separated from their families for safety reasons while sick people were isolated and businesses forced to relocate due to quarantine measures. Despite numerous challenges faced, there weren't enough people available to solve them all. Additionally, I learned about some details regarding medieval hospitals where care was prioritized over cure with a focus on strengthening souls and relieving physical painIn addition, I learned some new vocabulary from the text. For example, "grandme" means grandmother and "mazer" refers to a large wooden cup. The Author's Note also revealed that Queen Phillippa had been battling illness for many years, but she did not succumb to the plague. However, unexpectedly, her condition suddenly worsened. I am interested in exploring other books in this series, such as The Nun's Tale or The King's Bishop because Candace Robb is a highly skilled writer who clearly finds satisfaction in her craft. This is why she excels in her work and hopefully will continue creating these captivating mystery novels for a long time.