Product Description

Silvano and Chiara are two teenagers with a difference. Silvano has been accused of a murder he did not commit. Chiara has been ousted from her family as a young woman with no marriage prospects. For these two very different reasons they are forced to seek refuge in a neighbouring convent and friary. And when they meet they are instantly aware that they are both outsiders, ill at ease with monastic life. Then a grisly murder - followed by another, and then another - strikes fear into the close-knit community. Chiara and Silvano cling together within the terrifying spiral of murder as they, and the friends they have made, attempt to solve the deadly mystery. This remarkably rich mystery thriller, with all the pace and action of a 'whodunnit', is set in the incredibly atmospheric environs of a friary in 14th-century Italy. Amidst all the action of the murder mystery, the author depicts in fascinating and intricate detail the lives and tasks of the friars and nuns, whether it be crushing pigments to create paints for the fresco artists in nearby Assisi, or the daily and nightly ritual of the religious services. All the historical detail is carefully researched. A huge cast of characters with romantic teen heroes, combined with the thriller-murder element, ensure a pacy, richly enjoyable read.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #73094 in Books
• Published on: 2008-04-07
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 304 pages

Review
'Mary Hoffman's medieval murder mystery has all the ingredients needed to weave a satisfying web of intrigue This is a pacy and highly enjoyable read there is a freshness of perspective and intricacy of plot that lifts the story above the obvious or crass. The female characters and their struggles to find some autonomy beyond the confines of the roles allotted to them provide a particularly vivid thread beneath the mystery narrative I defy anyone to read this book and not want to visit Assisi.' Guardian

About the Author
Mary Hoffman is a bestselling children's writer and critic, and the author of the hugely popular Stravaganza series. She is also the author of the bestselling Amazing Grace picture books. Mary is the editor of Armadillo, a children's literature review magazine. She has three grown-up daughters and lives with her husband in West Oxfordshire.

Customer Reviews

Gripping historical fiction
Historical fiction can sometimes be a bit stuffy, being pre-occupied with telling us facts about the historical period rather than getting on with the story. Here the focus is completely on the plot, which unfolds with great speed, keeping you turning the pages in anticipation!

Chiara and Silvano are the two heroes of the story, each reluctantly finding themselves in a strict religious order. I liked the way they were spirited but not rebellious, an admirable quality in teenage heroes! They both recognise the hospitality and generosity of the people around them and do their best to fit in. However, monks start dying with alarming rapidity and soon there is a full-blooded murder hunt under way.

There are many different threads to this story, and it's challenging to keep them all interesting and relevant to the reader, but Mary Hoffman manages this easily. I wondered about halfway through whether the ends would ever tie up, but I shouldn't have worried - everything comes together very neatly and in an extremely satisfying way.

It's a sort of Cadfael/Name of the Rose-type book but without the pontificating that goes with those stories. I was fascinated by the descriptions of various paint dyes and how they were made (both Chiara and Silvano work in Colour Rooms, where they are instructed on these procedures) but the detail never distracted me from the main plot and my desperation to know whodunit! (and I didn't guess until very near the end, despite several well-placed clues!)

I enjoyed this novel hugely and would urge anyone over the age of 12 (or even 10 if you're a keen reader and not too squeamish!) not to be put off by the historical setting. It's at heart a rollicking murder mystery, and you can't get more exciting than that!

Excellent read
I love Mary Hoffmans stravaganza trilogy and was very interested to see if the falconer's knot would live up to my expectations. It did not dissapoint. From the first page I was completely hooked. The story follows two teenagers who for very different reasons find themselves in a neighbouring monastery and convent. As the two settle into their new lives the story takes a dark twist and an exciting murder mystery develops. As with Hoffmans previous work the characters are well drawn, believable and likeable and the story flows at a rapid pace. The ending is prehaps a bit perfect but everyone likes a happy ending! Read it and not only if you're a teenager it's well worth the time.

Just as good as the Stravaganza series
I love the Stravagaza series so I thought I'd give this one a go. I wasn't expecting the book to be as good as her previous ones so I was pleasantly surprised to find myself sucked into the story. I really recommend this book especially if you've read the Stravaganza series. Trust me it doesn't disappoint.