The Devil's Door

The story in this historical novel takes place during the time period leading up to the final confrontation between Bernard of Clairvaux and Peter Abelard at the council of Sens. (The novel says this occurred 1140 A.D.; Wikipedia says 1141 A.D.) This historical setting is peripheral to the fictional murder-mystery story, and is not an important part of the story. However, it places it firmly into a particular time in history. One of the things I appreciate most about Sharan Newman is her concern with accurately portraying the life and times surrounding the fictional plot.

The actual plot itself is quite contrived, but what murder mystery isn't contrived? The plot of this book contains a legal hearing (a trial) near its end that is show more worthy of a Perry Mason TV show with emotional outbursts from almost everybody present. There's even a missing human head in the story that appears near the end in a very public way. The story includes a primer on medieval smelting of iron. The main character gets married in this story so there's ample discussion of their frustrated honeymoon. There are plenty of hints toward the end that she may be pregnant, and at the very learn we learn the truth.

One interesting aspect of the ten part Catherine LeVendeur series of novels is to try and figure out the thinking behind the selection of the book's title. The titles are always intriguing, but their application to the story tends to be obscure. This book is the second one in the series. I think anyone who enjoys the Brother Cadfael novels by Ellis Peters would also enjoy these novels as well. show less

Another satisfying outing from the author of Death Comes as Epiphany. Sharan Newman's training as a historian and compendious research allows these books a breadth of subject matter. Whereas the first book was more closely concerned with the politics and practice of the medieval Catholic Church, this volume's murderous plot is squarely 'of the world' and concerns its laws and problems.

That plot was a good one: I was able to guess the central secret, but not too long before our heroine did. The villains were suitably villainous, the authorities well-meaning but not unrealistically helpful. I continue to enjoy the secondary characters and the enveloping reality of a medieval world I can smell (all too well!) and see. I really like the show more heroine, Catherine, and look forward to many more adventures with her. show less

Catherine is trying to decide whether or not to stay in the convent or marry her. The Convent has inherited a plot of land from a woman who arrives battered, bruised and barely alive. Everyone seems to want this land. Then a body is found decapitated and someone is trying to incite anti-semetic fever. Interesting and has enough of the history to be interesting but not enough to bog you down with too many details.

Instead of a mystery falling into her path, one is brought to Catherine LeVandeur's door step in this sequel to Death Comes as Epiphany. In Catherine's final days before marriage and leaving the convent, a dying noblewoman is brought to the Sisters. The woman has obviously been beaten repeatedly and Catherine wants her tormentor brought to justice. There are further complications as the noblewoman leaves a small bit of land to the convent, land that many other parties are trying to claim. Again, Newman uses her knowledge of the time period to make the setting come alive. The switches between character's point of view are smoother than in the first book as well as the use of Catherine's voices. This book lives up to the promise of it's show more predecessor and will leave readers hungry for the next in the series. show less

Protagonist: Catherine LeVendeur
Setting: 12th century France
Series: #2

First Line: "Sister Bertrada was snoring like a woman possessed."

Countess Alys of Tonnerre, victim of a brutal beating, is barely alive when her husband Raynald brings her to the Abbess Heloise at the convent of the Paraclete in medieval France. Young Catherine LeVendeur, who helps care for Alys, is disturbed by scars that attest to the woman's prior mistreatment. Upon the Countess's death, the Paraclete inherits a small piece of
unimpressive land, which sets off a furor: Raynald claims the convent stole the property, and the prior of a nearby monastery makes a handsome offer for it. Catherine maintains her intense curiosity about Alys's unhappy end even through the show more arrival of her betrothed, Edgar of Wedderlie, with Peter Abelard; after Catherine and Edgar's wedding, the pair travel to Troyes and, at Heloise's request, search for information on the mysterious bequest.

This is another series that I enjoy for the plot, the characterization, and its setting. Newman does an excellent job of bringing both her characters and the setting to life. show less

Really more like 2.5 stars...