Whiter Than the Lily (2004)

#7 Abbess Helewise/Sir Josse D’Acquin historical mystery series. Josse is contacted by a neighbor to provide an introduction at Hawkenlye for some friends of his who have attempted to conceive a child unsuccessfully. Galiena Ryemarsh is many years younger than her husband Ambrose, but she is a skilled herbalist and has tried every remedy she knows to help them—so now she is off to Hawkenlye Abbey to speak to the infirmarer there and to take the healing waters. She sets off a few days ahead of her husband as he has matters of estate to tend to, but upon his arrival, she drops dead of an apparent poisoning. Ambrose himself seems ill—confused, weak, dizzy and definitely not his usual robust self. Josse and Abbess Helewise begin investigating Galiena’s death independently, and it leads Josse to an isolated pagan community on the coast and much danger.

I figured out part of the plot ahead of time, but it was rather complicated and some parts weren’t really solvable til later in the book when enough information was available. I enjoy this series, but this one seemed to be a bit of a weak entry with the plot going hither and yon and a bit too much improbable and unlikely events transpiring. ( )