The Devil's Cup

March 14, 2016
Clare’s entertaining seventh Aelf Fen mystery (after 2015’s Blood of the South) opens in the autumn of 1094 with the discovery of a wealthy merchant with his throat torn out on a river bank near Cambridge, England. There’s nothing that apprentice healer Lassair or anybody can do but pray for the poor man’s soul. As the body count rises, Cambridge is thrown into an uproar, and rumors circulate that a legendary figure called the Night Wanderer has arisen and is stalking the populace. Sheriff Picot claims that a large animal is responsible, but Lassair and her lawman friend, Jack Chevestrier, are determined to prove that all too human hands are doing the killings. Lassair and Chevestrier desperately seek connections among the victims, even as it becomes apparent that Lassair herself may be a target due to her apprenticeship to a local wizard. Skillful pacing and a healthy dose of mysticism add to the appeal—especially for fans of medieval historicals.

May 1, 2016

In the autumn of 1094, Cambridge apprentice healer Lassair is called out to view a mutilated body on a riverbank, apparently the victim of a wild animal attack. When a second corpse is found, some believe the demon known as the Night Wanderer has returned to stalk the village. This seventh series entry (after Blood of the South) presents another fascinating look at medieval England.

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from November 1, 2016
After the success of her Aelf Fen and Hawkenlye books, Clare turns her talents to a new historical mystery series, this one set in rural Devon, England, in the early seventeenth century. Former ship's doctor turned country physician Gabriel Taverner is called to investigate a brutal death, which at first looks like suicide. There are few clues to the dead man's identity, and it's only coincidence that leads Gabriel to the first loose thread that will eventually unravel the twisted truth. As he and local coroner Theophilus Davey work together to try to solve the case, they find what at first seem to be tenuous links to the area's silk trade. As those links become ever stronger, Gabriel and Theo eventually begin to suspect the tragic, which will have frightening implications for Gabriel and his family. But what is most shocking is that even those closest to him have been hiding dark and dangerous secrets. As always, Clare has carefully researched the period she is writing about and offers authentic, engaging historical detail, but her real gift is as a superb storyteller whose clever, twisty plots; believable characters; and skillful writing will engross the reader from first page to last.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)