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A review by jennysaisquois
The Canterbury Papers by Judith Koll Healey
4.0
I love historical mysteries, and I love ones that incorporate historical events and people who don't typically get enough "screen time" and imagine their stories from the fragments that are recorded. So while Eleanor of Aquitaine and King John of England (as well as a few other recognizable figures) feature in this book, the main characters are much more obscure and therefore, to me, much more interesting to follow.
The narrator and protagonist, Alais Capet, is basically a footnote today; a quick Google tells you that she was a French princess, betrothed to Richard the Lionheart of England, but never married him, possibly because of a rumored affair with Richard's father, Henry II. Although this book appears to focus on a search for possibly-treasonous letters written by Eleanor of Aquitaine to the Archbishop of Canterbury, the unfolding of Alais' history is the main thrust.
Because the plot is driven more by revealing conversations and letters about long-ago events, even though there is a fair bit of international travel, kidnapping, escaping, and other action, the book felt very slow paced in parts. Which is not to say it isn't enjoyable, just not a fast-paced thriller.
I felt that some aspects of the mysteries in the book - in particular, the situation with Alais' necklace, or the actual location of the Canterbury papers of the title - were written off too quickly/neatly. But I definitely enjoyed Alais' voice and am curious about the future of some of the characters.
The narrator and protagonist, Alais Capet, is basically a footnote today; a quick Google tells you that she was a French princess, betrothed to Richard the Lionheart of England, but never married him, possibly because of a rumored affair with Richard's father, Henry II. Although this book appears to focus on a search for possibly-treasonous letters written by Eleanor of Aquitaine to the Archbishop of Canterbury, the unfolding of Alais' history is the main thrust.
Because the plot is driven more by revealing conversations and letters about long-ago events, even though there is a fair bit of international travel, kidnapping, escaping, and other action, the book felt very slow paced in parts. Which is not to say it isn't enjoyable, just not a fast-paced thriller.
I felt that some aspects of the mysteries in the book - in particular, the situation with Alais' necklace, or the actual location of the Canterbury papers of the title - were written off too quickly/neatly. But I definitely enjoyed Alais' voice and am curious about the future of some of the characters.