A Snake in the Barley

December 1, 2024
Frantic over the disappearance of her husband, Tom, taverner Bess Merchet relies on their old friend Owen Archer, captain of York, to find him. Born in Wales, Owen walks a fine line in 1377 York, where competing forces may tear Britain apart. He knows little of Tom's life before he bought the York Tavern, married Bess 10 years later, and together, turned the inn into a thriving business. Owen's wife, Lucie, an apothecary, tells him that Tom had come to see her a few days before he disappeared, asking for salves to soothe his wrist and lip after a minor fight with a friend, and asking her not to tell Bess, fearing that she would worry. Which she probably would have, especially considering the rumors already circulating about Tom's involvement with the widow Cobb, which provide Owen's first clue. A young man is murdered, the widow and her cohort are revealed to be thieves or worse, and Lucie discovers their connection to a brothel. Two of the Duke of Lancaster's men arrive in York looking for men involved in London rioting, theft, and murder. Owen finally learns that a badly beaten Tom sought sanctuary in Beverley after having been accused of attacking the steward of Holcomb Manor. Accompanied by his and Lancaster's men, Owen goes to Beverly to retrieve Tom, a trip not without danger, and brings him to Bess, who with the help of healer Magda works to restore him to health. Tom is ashamed of a particular incident in his past, but when he finally brings himself to reveal it to Bess, it provides the information that's needed to bind all the loose threads together. A story of love, danger, and political intrigue sure to please history buffs.

COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

December 1, 2024
Robb's latest in her popular Owen Archer historical-mystery series (after A Fox in the Fold, 2023) is, in her words, "first and foremost a love story." Tom Merchet's pub was failing when he met Bess, fell in love, and married her. Together, the pair turned the pub into one of York's most popular taverns. But now Tom's murky past has him setting off on a mysterious mission without telling anyone, including Bess. When word reaches Bess that Tom has been gravely injured in a town two days' ride from York, she begs Archer, the historical equivalent of a police detective, to bring Tom home. The investigation is tricky and includes political intrigue, deception, violence, thievery, and a family's quest for revenge. While the dense, multilayered plot and plethora of characters can sometimes be confusing, the rich, vivid details of life in fourteenth-century England, the charismatic personalities, and the strong message about how love--within families, among friends, and between husband and wife--can overcome almost anything make this a fine read for genre fans.

COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.