Somehow this escaped me — Lynn at Paperback Writer just gave me a headsup — but the Ariana side of Diana Norman has been short listed for the CWA Ellis Peters Historical Crime Prize. Euro Crime has the skinny, here.
And the blurb that was published with the nomination:
Ariana Franklin – MISTRESS OF THE ART OF DEATH – Bantam Press
Judges’ comments: ‘Ariana Franklin has found a unique female protagonist, an Italian doctor trained in the study of death and brought to England as assistant to a renowned investigator charged by Henry II with the solving of murder. In this seductive book, characters leap into life, scenes form a closely woven and colourful tapestry, the central figure of Adelia, the mistress of the art of death, has an unusual charm, and the plot darkens as the story progresses.’
So congratulations are in order — yet again.
I’m just now getting to the end of the book. I expect to finish it up within the next few hours.
I’ve really enjoyed it – well, as much enjoyment as one can get from such a dark crime. I’m definitely reading something light next.