The Nun's Tale

The Nun’s Tale is the third Owen Archer mystery. It’s 1366, and a nun, gone missing a year before, appears, claiming that she’s been buried alive. Pretty soon, other people who have been involved in her disappearance turn up, dead. In come Owen Archer and his wife, the apothecary Lucie Wilton, to solve the mystery. Is Joanna Calverley really what she says she is? Or is she simply mad? In any case, she’s a frustrating study in contrasts: virgin or Mary Magdalene? Victim in the case or perpetrator?

The story itself is slightly more grim than those in her other books; not just murder is at stake here, but something more sinister. There’s very little suspense to the mystery, but Candace Robb excels at portraying the relationships show more between her characters, developing them more and more with each book in the series. I liked how the author developed the tenuous relationship between Lucie and her father, Sir Robert, too. Jasper Melton, who features in the previous entry of the series, The Lady Chapel, appears here, but his presence in this book is merely incidental; I would have liked to have seen more of him.

Historical figures such as John of Gaunt and Geoffrey Chaucer even make brief cameos in The Nun’s Tale. The historical detail of the book is quite good, and another one of Robb’s strengths is tying the mystery—at first, it seems as though it’s simply a domestic affair—to larger events. It’s an enjoyable addition to the Owen Archer series, and I look forward to reading the next. show less

So carefully researched. The amount of trouble that she went to to make everything historically accurate must have amazing. As is so often the case when that is done, the plot moves a little slowly as all of the historical background comes out, but Owen Archer is a pretty neat character and the plot is enticingly unusual for a mystery, with some gruesome bits for those who enjoy them. One drawback is an odd tendency to repeat a phrase, as if, having gone to so much trouble to come up with it, the author doesn't see any reason to only use it the one time. A bit distracting. Still, a worthwhile story.

This is the third of the Owen Archer mysteries and I must admit this one was a bit darker than the first two. It wasn’t a straightforward murder mystery like the others either – in this one we have nun who everyone thought was dead suddenly showing up alive. This might be something that would go over right now but in Owen Archer’s time it just didn’t happen. Unless there was evil involved. So is this woman the 14th century equivalent of a zombie or is she a touch mad?

Owen and his lady wife Lucie are dispatched to try to get to the bottom of this woman’s story – she is the titular nun. What is her tale. Is she telling the truth or is she trying to cheat someone or something. As her story unfolds others involved in her tale show more start turning up…dead. So what started out as only a mystery now has become a murderous problem for Owen.

Ms. Robb continues the development of her core characters while still giving adequate attention to the new ones that inhabit this mystery. Historical figures make appearances in this tale much like the other books as the author likes to tie her fictional figures and stories to real people an events.

This was another excellent tale from the talented pen of Candace Robb. This has been my favorite of the three I have read so far. I do want to mention how much I appreciate the author’s note at the end. I so love having the facts to read to understand the times the fictional folk are wandering through. show less

The Nun’s Tale is the 3rd book in the Owen Archer mystery series and I think it’s still getting better! Most of the covers (if one were to judge a book by it’s cover) would suggest that they are more ‘girly’ books. I feel it needs to be noted that while the series is written by a woman and has strong female characters in the book, it is not ‘girly’ or chick lit. They are good strong character driven cozy mysteries.

Here a nun who was supposed to be dead and buried, miraculously returns from the grave a year later, raving about repentance and ‘our lady’s cloak’ which performs miracles, including raising her from the dead. The nun, Dame Joanna, is a bit strange and her story seems to wander. Lucie is dragged into show more questioning the nun, since she seems to be the only one who gets any sense out of her. Even though it seems pretty disjointed to Lucie.

Owen on the other hand is tasked by the Archbishop to find out where Joanna has been and corroborate as much of her story as has been deciphered. One item Owen went to check on was Joanna’s grave, which was occupied, by more recent death, and much more gruesome. He also visited Joanna’s family, and discovered she came from one that was a bit dysfunctional. One of the reasons Owen was chasing these stories was that they might be linked into a treasonous plot to the crown, and Thorsby considers it worthwhile to collect some gratitude should Owen be successful.

Lucie is nearing the end of her pregnancy with Owen’s first child and he is unhappy that she has been involved with this woman. Quite a few people have been found dead in her wake and Owen does not want Lucie to be one of the next victims. show less

1365. A nun Joanna Calverley dies of a fever in Beverley and is therefore buried quickly. But it is a year later when Archbishop Thoresby learns of a female in York claiming to be the resurrected nun.
He sends Owen Archer to investigate.
An enjoyable and well-written mystery story

In the third Owen Archer mystery, the one-eyed spy and apprentice apothecary is pressed into service to investigate the disappearance and mysterious reappearance of a nun whose tales of her time away are barely coherent. The trail will not only lead to disturbing family secrets, but to political intrigue. Though Owen does not relish his work, he is growing more skilled at it. Meanwhile, on the homefront, Lucie, his wife as well as master apothecary, is pregnant with their first child together. Though excited, both have their own apprehensions and their relationship continues to be lively in more ways than one. She will also try to come to terms with her father, whom she remembers only as a distant, uncaring figure from her childhood but show more who is now trying to make amends and build a relationship. The political side of the mystery confused me and featured perhaps too many characters, but I was quite drawn in to the family side of it and particularly to the recurring characters. The series manages to show dark and disturbing acts without becoming ugly. show less

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The dialog was authentic sounding without belaboring the archaic language, so it was easy to read and the characters were wonderful. The mystery was quite compelling. Was the nun telling the truth, was she lying, or were her cryptic answers just the delusions of an unstable mind? Great read.