The Apothecary Rose

by Candace Robb Narrated by Derek Perkins

Overview

In the year of our Lord 1363, two suspicious deaths in the infirmary of St. Mary's Abbey catch the attention of the powerful John Thoresby, Lord Chancellor of England and Archbishop of York. One victim is a pilgrim, while the second is Thoresby's ne'er-do-well ward, both apparently poisoned by a physic supplied by Master Apothecary Nicholas Wilton. In the wake of these deaths, the archbishop dispatches one-eyed spy Owen Archer to York to find the murderer.



Under the guise of a disillusioned soldier keen to make a fresh start, Owen insinuates himself into Wilton's apothecary as an apprentice. But he finds Wilton bedridden, with the shop being run by his lovely, enigmatic young wife, Lucie. As Owen unravels a tangled history of scandal and tragedy, he discovers at its center a desperate, forbidden love twisted over time into obsession. And the woman he has come to love is his prime suspect.

Editorial Reviews

Wes Lukowsky

When Irish cop Maureen Sullivan is murdered in New York, where she had gone to search for her lost sister, the case becomes the personal crusade of Brian Donodio, who found the body. Donodio, the father of Maureen's friend Deirdre, a U.S. immigration agent also involved in the case, follows a trail that takes him from New York to Dublin to rural Ireland, where he uncovers a computer-based immigration-fraud scheme. This is a very light, very readable mystery. Brian is a curmudgeonly type, given to temper and a sharp tongue; his wit will wither an adversary and leave readers chuckling. It's clear that a series is planned with Brian as the amateur-sleuth hero. While his bumbling escapades work fine here, it's hard to know if they will strain credibility over time. How many murders can the father of an immigration officer stumble into? For now, this one's lots of fun.

Publishers Weekly - Audio

10/30/2017
Set in the 14th century, Robb’s historical detective stories about Owen Archer, a spy working for the influential John Thoresby, Lord Chancellor of England and Archbishop of York, currently runs to 10 volumes. This new audio edition of the first in the series is the obvious starting place for both curious newcomers and a treat for fans of the shrewd one-eyed Archer and his beautiful pharmacist wife Lucie, who may appreciate a reminder of how the two first met: over a pair of corpses possibly killed by a concoction mixed by Lucie’s first husband, master apothecary Nicholas Wilton. Reader Perkins gives Archer a confident-sounding British voice, with the requisite uncertainty about his trial employment by the demanding archbishop and feelings for a married woman. Perkins also presents thoughtful interpretations of the series’ continuing characters, like the warm-hearted midwife, Magda Digby; the rowdy, humorous tavern proprietress Bess Merchet; and the enigmatic Thoresby, whose voice changes according to the situation. His clerical delivery is sharper, higher pitched, while his personal conversation, which Archer prefers, is more relaxed, down-to-earth, and uncritical. Adeptly capturing the voices of the series’ recurring characters, Perkins delivers a promising start to the audio edition of this beloved series. A Diversion paperback. (June)

Booklist on A Conspiracy of Wolves

A multitude of new and old supporting characters round out the delightful cast and contribute to the twists and turns of the compelling plot

Yorkshire Evening Post on Vigil of Spies

Meticulously researched, authentic and gripping

Prima on The Riddle of St. Leonard's

Gripping and believable.you can almost smell the streets of 14th-century York as you delve deeper into an engrossing plot

From the Publisher

"British narrator Perkins employs his deep voice to great effect . . . A perfect listen for fans of historical mysteries." —Booklist Audio Review

Product Details

BN ID:	2940171156091
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Publication date:	06/27/2017
Series:	Owen Archer Series , #1
Edition description:	Unabridged

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