The Lady Agnès Mystery, Vol. 2

Set in 14th-century France, Japp’s first Lady Agnès mystery introduced a wide range of characters and plot lines. Newcomers will welcome this engaging sequel’s three-page synopsis of what’s come before: intrigue involving an attempt to assassinate Pope Benoit XI; the search for a lost treatise; and the tribulations of Agnes de Souarcy, a young noblewoman who has barely escaped a charge of heresy. The main story line expands and the characters deepen, as evidence emerges that Agnès may be the subject of a prophecy, whose fulfillment is feared by the prime mover in the plot to kill Benoit—the pope’s own treasurer and secretary, Honorius Benedetti. Meanwhile, a poisoner who claimed several lives in the previous book remains active and at large. Fans of Dumas Père’s historical romances will find it easy to get lost in this satisfying and atmospheric visit to another time. [em](Jan.) [/em]