DNF murder mystery, seemed well written but not my thing.

Mary Hoffman wrote the amazing Stravaganza series, and now has this wonderful historical fiction to offer us. Silvano is a rich, privileged young man in Perugia, a 16th century Renaissance Italian town. He is accused of a murder he did not commit. To save him from prison, his father sends him to a monastery in another town, where he is sheltered and given sanctuary. There is a small convent next to the monastery, where a young girl has been sent by her brother who no longer wants her around. Chiara doesn't fit in with the nuns there, just as Silvano doesn't fit in with the priests. There are three murders in the monastery, and Silvano is suspected -- and not only must he hope someone will clear his name of the crime in Perugia, now he must work to clear his own name of the monastery murders. Lots of mystery, intrigue, and Renaissance life and art! Very well written, excellent characterization. For strong 7th grade readers and up. ( )

The Falconer’s knot is a medieval murder mystery set in 1316 Umbria, Italy. After her father’s death Chiara is sent to the nuns of the order of the Poor Clares by her brother. Silvano da Montacuta is the only son of a noble family whose dagger is lodged in the body of a sheep farmer whose wife he coveted. He flees to the Franciscan monastery in Giardinetto, located next to the Poor Clares, until the real culprit can be uncovered. The friary becomes plagued by a series of suspicious deaths as Chiara and Silvano, the two reluctant novices, slowly become accustomed to their new way of life. They both work within their respective order’s creating colour pigments such as dragon's blood, green earth & ultramarine. As they meet each other they develop a relationship and realise they are in the midst of a dangerous mystery.

This is a complicated and intriguing historical mystery. There is great deal of historical information included which lent authenticity. I was especially interested in how the minerals are ground to create colour pigments as well as the detail about illuminating manuscripts and the process of painting frescoes. A good read. ( )

Set in the Middle Ages, this book is about a boy and a girl, a brother and a sister, a widow and a suitor. It weaves together the stories of many people, who all are linked by one thing -- murder. Accused of it, a victim of it, freed by it, a series of murders in a small abbey change the lives of all involved. While the writing and historical facts may be true to life, the story lacks the compelling voice and characters to be a popular choice, particularly among young adults. Recommended for those who are fans of historical fiction or unhappily married. ( )

Wealthy Silvano takes sanctuary with the friars near Assisi to escape persecution for a murder he did not commit. He is attracted to Chiara, abandoned in the nearby convent by her brother, who cannot provide a dowry. When murders in the friary threaten to ruin all hope of a happy future, they set out to find the real killer. The book is subtitled “a Story of Friars, Flirtation and Foul Play”, and it is a wonderful mixture of romance and murder mystery. It has likeable characters and vivid settings rich with details of medieval Italy. All of the pieces of the tightly woven plot are neatly tied up with a satisfying ending. I recommend it for mystery lovers and fans of medieval fiction. ( )