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Abbess of Meaux #3
The Law of Angels
York, 1385. Just as the Mystery Plays are about to unfold, a young woman witnesses a terrible crime and turns to Abbess Hildegard for protection. Cassandra Clark once again shows us the human side of history, giving readers new reason to follow Publishers Weekly ’s rallying “Medievalists rejoice!”
368 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 2011
About the author
Cassandra Clark
25 books129 followersI'm mad about the middle ages and love writing this series of medieval whodunits featuring nun sleuth Hildegard of Meaux. When I started with Hangman Blind I thought Hildegard would become an abbess but then she joined the Cistercians who only allowed women to be prioresses so she's had to put up with that. It surprises me that I'm writing historical novels at all, especially ones involving crime, as before this I wrote contemporary plays and romance. I'm doubtful about putting too much violence in the stories as there is already so much in the world and I don't like the idea of adding to it, even if only in the imagination, but then, it's part of that world too so it cannot be avoided. I would love to write a book shadowing every year of Richard II's reign with a different, multi-layered mystery for Hildegard to solve. She's about 32 now, with two children living in different households as was the custom then, so by the time poor Richard is murdered, she's going to be quite old. I wonder if she and Hubert will ever be together? Who knows? It's a question readers often ask me but we'll have to wait and see.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
January 24, 2024
Book found in a charity shop after my wife gave me strict instructions not to keep buying them.
Intrigued by the name of the heroine Hildegard of Meaux. It reminded me of Hildegard von Bingen. She was an 11th century saint and music composer. I was introduced to her works when the 90’s band the Beloved sampled one of her pieces (‘O Euchari’) in the single ‘The Sun Rising.’ But I digress.
Overall I was disappointed. I couldn’t relate to the characters, although the time period was interesting. Some of the language was more 21st century rather than 14th century.
I did enjoy it when in a Jack Reacher manner she head butted a Mother Superior. But that didn’t save the story.
Unfortunately not ‘as exciting a find as CJ Sansom’ as the cover blurb suggested.
Intrigued by the name of the heroine Hildegard of Meaux. It reminded me of Hildegard von Bingen. She was an 11th century saint and music composer. I was introduced to her works when the 90’s band the Beloved sampled one of her pieces (‘O Euchari’) in the single ‘The Sun Rising.’ But I digress.
Overall I was disappointed. I couldn’t relate to the characters, although the time period was interesting. Some of the language was more 21st century rather than 14th century.
I did enjoy it when in a Jack Reacher manner she head butted a Mother Superior. But that didn’t save the story.
Unfortunately not ‘as exciting a find as CJ Sansom’ as the cover blurb suggested.
November 3, 2011
I like these books--they're well-written and historically interesting. But I have a great deal of difficulty suspending my disbelief whilst reading them. This is simply not how a nun would behave. She spends no time whatsoever in a convent, and she never pays any attention to the daily orders. The woman never prays. If she goes inside a church, it's to admire the architecture. Her behaviour would be out of place for a woman of the time let alone a nun. Having said that, I'll probably read the next one as well just for this history.
June 3, 2022
In this third installment on Hildegard, there are at least four plots within this book: rescuing two young girls and one with a huge secret, protecting the cross of Constantine from the Lancaster family (Henry Bolingbroke) wanting it to take the throne of England, the massive Corpus Christi festival in York in June with each Guild showcasing a part of the life of Jesus in plays, early Catholic dissenters called Lollards, stained glass making and Hildegard in the middle of them all.
So, if you can keep all the plots straight and not wonder why an nun is involved in each of the mysteries, this is a good book.
So, if you can keep all the plots straight and not wonder why an nun is involved in each of the mysteries, this is a good book.
July 22, 2014
I'm afraid I have to give it up. I gave it 120 pages. I enjoyed the first couple of books in the series, but the more I think about it, the harder it is to stay in the story. As much as I like the writing, and love the time frame and setting, I just cannot suspend my disbelief enough to see Hildegard actually having any opportunity whatsoever to get into the situations she gets into, or behaving the way she does. She's a *nun.* It's 1385. It might be different if she were simply a noblewoman, but even women in general had such restrictions then...to have a nun sitting and quaffing ale with a bunch of glassmakers and apprentices engaged in rather bawdy conversation...it just isn't on.
I always said half the fun of the Brother Cadfael mysteries was seeing the old boy use his superior mind to work out plausible ways for him to escape his herbarium and the cloister once in awhile, to put one over on his sly prior and the self-righteous Brother Jerome. Hildegard has no such restriction and gallavants about like it's 1999. No.
I always said half the fun of the Brother Cadfael mysteries was seeing the old boy use his superior mind to work out plausible ways for him to escape his herbarium and the cloister once in awhile, to put one over on his sly prior and the self-righteous Brother Jerome. Hildegard has no such restriction and gallavants about like it's 1999. No.
September 24, 2021
I liked that this novel ties noticeably into the previous one - the acquisition of that relic is having consequences, which leads to an exploration of belief and how some genuinely believe in the power of such objects, while others are sceptical, seeing only a piece of wood.
There is also the mystery of the two young women brought to Hildegard at the start of the book - who are they and why do they need protecting? Of course, Hildegard feels obliged to look after them and investigate, but not everyone is helpful and she gets into a fair few scrapes along the way.
Some of it does stretch belief at times - a scene where Hildegard headbutts someone stands out as being distinctly un-nun-like behaviour - but overall, the story is an interesting one with plenty of mystery going on.
I have the next one on loan from the library already and it will be interesting to see where the story goes from here.
There is also the mystery of the two young women brought to Hildegard at the start of the book - who are they and why do they need protecting? Of course, Hildegard feels obliged to look after them and investigate, but not everyone is helpful and she gets into a fair few scrapes along the way.
Some of it does stretch belief at times - a scene where Hildegard headbutts someone stands out as being distinctly un-nun-like behaviour - but overall, the story is an interesting one with plenty of mystery going on.
I have the next one on loan from the library already and it will be interesting to see where the story goes from here.
May 6, 2020
The Law of Angels, written by Cassandra Clark, features the medieval abbess of Meaux in 14th c England. Part of a series, we follow the complicated politics in the reign of Richard II and a puzzling murder. The writing is pedestrian, the plot desultory, character development almost nonexistent. All in all a big disappointment. Not even a stab of effort to capture the historical setting the author has chosen as her background
April 3, 2020
Interesting details regarding medieval festivals.
November 13, 2019
Summer, 1384. Hildegard of Meaux - sleuth, spy and now an Abbess of the powerful Cistercian Order - has found refuge from a world of violence and blood-feud at her new Grange in Yorkshire. But by taking a bonded maid into the fold, Hildegard has made a dangerous enemy, an enemy who thinks nothing of destroying her little sanctuary to further his own ends. Meanwhile her own history, and her possession of a priceless relic, threatens to drag her into the schemes of traitors; among them the ruthless Henry Bolingbroke, who seeks to overthrow King Richard II. Can even the resourceful Hildegard unweave the tangled skein of conspiracy?
It was the title, and setting that first drew me to this Novel. Hailing not far from the Historical Setting, and having an inteterest in the study of Angels I was intrigued to find out what delights this novel contained.
The title purely refers to the belief of one mistress that Angels have their own laws, and no one is protected from their wrath. The story is complex and at times a little tedious. I read this over a summer, with a new baby and a new house, hence the length of time it took me to read it, but I also found, although I could visualise the story as I was reading it, I could not fully immerse myself and this meant I didn't pick it up as often as I normally would.
That being said, there are few negative points regarding the plot or characters. The author manages a wide and rich cast with apparent ease, and all are believable.
In all a pleasant, if occasionally slow paced read.
It was the title, and setting that first drew me to this Novel. Hailing not far from the Historical Setting, and having an inteterest in the study of Angels I was intrigued to find out what delights this novel contained.
The title purely refers to the belief of one mistress that Angels have their own laws, and no one is protected from their wrath. The story is complex and at times a little tedious. I read this over a summer, with a new baby and a new house, hence the length of time it took me to read it, but I also found, although I could visualise the story as I was reading it, I could not fully immerse myself and this meant I didn't pick it up as often as I normally would.
That being said, there are few negative points regarding the plot or characters. The author manages a wide and rich cast with apparent ease, and all are believable.
In all a pleasant, if occasionally slow paced read.
May 16, 2017
Hildegard has established her house of nuns in the wilderness only to have it destroyed by a group of marauders searching for a young girl Hildegard recently took in. She ends up in York with her two young charges. There the story gets rather convoluted and a little difficult to follow. I will not go into detail but Clark has several events going on simultaneously, a writing method used successfully by many writers but Clark has trouble working all of these events together into one story. Eventually, she does tie several them together but the overall conclusion just doesn't work for me. I don't really know how to explain the problem concisely.
March 28, 2023
Slow story, but if you can sink into the pace and rhythm of this book, the lovely writing brings this 14th century world alive (including the harshness of the times). With its great descriptions of the setting and people, the world feels vivid and real. While realistic as a character (Hildegard feels like a real person), this nun-detective isn't realistic for a nun in medieval times, but I really like her nonetheless (or maybe because of that). Lots of twists, many plot threads, lots of intrigue, and a delightful variety of characters.
February 23, 2017
I would have given this and the other books I've read in this series 4 stars if weren't for the periodicc lapses into non Medieval slang by various characters, and the main character Hildegard's almost modern attitudes and ideas. Entertaining stories, but not top shelf when it comes to historical fiction.
October 12, 2020
I enjoyed this far more than Parliment of spies. Maybe I have just got used to the names and historical events of this time more now. Found I was completely immersed in the 1300s. Perfect escapism for October 2020. Have ordered Hangmans Blind now because now I have finished this I am missing Hildegards world.
May 10, 2020
I don't normally read historical-fiction but I picked this book up from the Rievaulx Abbey bookshop, mainly due to the story being set in Yorkshire.
Didn't really enjoy it that much, found the story to be plodding at best.
Didn't really enjoy it that much, found the story to be plodding at best.
August 13, 2017
Third in the series. Didn't disappoint.
June 2, 2018
Good scene setting and creating the atmosphere of a busy York, amid celebrations.
June 25, 2019
Good story, set in a different world, interesting and developing characters, easy to read. I love these books, especially when life is challenging. An enjoyable rest!
December 15, 2019
I am really enjoying this series
April 27, 2020
Twice as long as it needed to be so with three times as many mysteries needed.
November 23, 2021
Took me awhile to get through this one as does not move forward quickly but loved the descriptions of medieval life and pageantry, will look out for more of this series.
January 22, 2023
These books are so great! Can't wait to get my hands on the next one.
February 28, 2012
The third in a series of mysteries set in Medieval England, this book follows the adventures of Abbess Hildegard, a young widow turned nun. She’s settled into a peaceful life in the country with a couple of nuns, raising bees and growing their food. This peace is ruined when two young girls on the run arrive, followed closely by marauding knights who set fire to the buildings. They all set off on foot for the great northern city of York.
The book is set in a turbulent era of England’s history. John of Gaunt threatens his nephew’s throne; the Wycliff bible has been published and is being suppressed; some theologians are questioning whether the host really turns into the body of Christ at mass; a long drought is creating hunger and stress. York is packed with people arriving for the celebration of the Feast of Corpus Christi. And of course, families are having personal problems. Hildegard must protect her two young charges- and figure out why one is wanted so badly and who is doing the wanting. And now a precious relic has been stolen. These strands all weave together through the novel.
It’s odd; things never stop happening in this book, but it seemed very slow. Despite all the action and puzzles, I got bored. I loved the way the author put historical details in; one really gets a sense of the period and place. The characters are fairly well done, but I didn’t really care very much about any of them- possibly because there are so many characters that you don’t really get to spend much time with any one of them except for Hildegard. A few are so unimportant that I’m not sure why they were put in.
The book is good but not great. It kept me reading, but there were definitely times when I saw how far I had still to go to finish it and groaned.
The book is set in a turbulent era of England’s history. John of Gaunt threatens his nephew’s throne; the Wycliff bible has been published and is being suppressed; some theologians are questioning whether the host really turns into the body of Christ at mass; a long drought is creating hunger and stress. York is packed with people arriving for the celebration of the Feast of Corpus Christi. And of course, families are having personal problems. Hildegard must protect her two young charges- and figure out why one is wanted so badly and who is doing the wanting. And now a precious relic has been stolen. These strands all weave together through the novel.
It’s odd; things never stop happening in this book, but it seemed very slow. Despite all the action and puzzles, I got bored. I loved the way the author put historical details in; one really gets a sense of the period and place. The characters are fairly well done, but I didn’t really care very much about any of them- possibly because there are so many characters that you don’t really get to spend much time with any one of them except for Hildegard. A few are so unimportant that I’m not sure why they were put in.
The book is good but not great. It kept me reading, but there were definitely times when I saw how far I had still to go to finish it and groaned.
April 24, 2015
I read this to the end, so two stars. At least the writing doesn't jar as prose.
However, the characters are anything but mediaeval; they're typical postomderns of our own day, with today's postmodern concerns and attitudes. At one point Hildegarde even speaks of conducting an opinion survey. What tripe.
It is totally impossible for any historically informed person to suspend disbelief while reading this story, the characters and their concerns are so out of context. Since the whole point of a historical novel is to bring the past to life, this one may safely be judged a failure.
It is also incredible in a number of other ways: as other reviewers here have pointed out, this mediaeval nun rushes about in public like a Marvel Comics action hero, rarely rests and never prays (especially not in church).
Most of the action in the book seemed to be completely irrelevant to the plot. The most gratuitous sequence of all was Hildergarde's completely pointless ride with the White Company. This episode ends with a battle that is practically a massacre, yet the combatants allow Hildegarde to escape, unnoticed, with the object they are fighting over. They don't even bother to look for it.
And in the end, nothing really fits or makes sense. The great mystery about the villain of the piece turns out to be nothing but smoke and fishy odours, and the political dimension of the story disappears into thin air. By then, however, I no longer cared about any of the characters, or their creator.
What a load of rubbish this was. I understand Ms. Clark is quite a prolific author. Let's hope she makes money out of it, because money is all someone as bad as this will ever make out of 'literature'.
However, the characters are anything but mediaeval; they're typical postomderns of our own day, with today's postmodern concerns and attitudes. At one point Hildegarde even speaks of conducting an opinion survey. What tripe.
It is totally impossible for any historically informed person to suspend disbelief while reading this story, the characters and their concerns are so out of context. Since the whole point of a historical novel is to bring the past to life, this one may safely be judged a failure.
It is also incredible in a number of other ways: as other reviewers here have pointed out, this mediaeval nun rushes about in public like a Marvel Comics action hero, rarely rests and never prays (especially not in church).
Most of the action in the book seemed to be completely irrelevant to the plot. The most gratuitous sequence of all was Hildergarde's completely pointless ride with the White Company. This episode ends with a battle that is practically a massacre, yet the combatants allow Hildegarde to escape, unnoticed, with the object they are fighting over. They don't even bother to look for it.
And in the end, nothing really fits or makes sense. The great mystery about the villain of the piece turns out to be nothing but smoke and fishy odours, and the political dimension of the story disappears into thin air. By then, however, I no longer cared about any of the characters, or their creator.
What a load of rubbish this was. I understand Ms. Clark is quite a prolific author. Let's hope she makes money out of it, because money is all someone as bad as this will ever make out of 'literature'.
May 18, 2011
This was a serendipitous find for me. I love, love, love books set in Medieval England, and this one has a fascinating period and locale. The York Corpus Christi celebrations were famous all over England and the conflict of Lollards vs the "organized" Catholic Church, The Duke of Lancaster, the Crown, the rising merchant class and the bondsmen makes a wonderfully pungent mix as background for a mystery. Our heroine, Sister Hildegarde is caught up in a tide of violent happenings. Just after the arrival of two teenaged refugees, her little grange is attacked and destroyed by armed men. She and her teenaged protegees travel to York to notify the authorities and seek justice. While in York she and her friends face attempted kidnap, assault, theft of a priceless religious relic, fires and conspiracies of all sorts. All of this is set against a backdrop of a smelly, busy, vital medieval city, full of pilgrims, guildsmen, craftsmen and thugs. I could eat this like ice cream, yum, yum! I understand that this is part of a series, so I am on a mission to find the the rest of these books as of now.
February 13, 2014
(3.5 stars) The third book in the Abbess of Meux series has Hildegard happily settled in her small community of women, now approximately a year old, and starting to approach some self-sufficiency with both confirmed nuns and lay sisters. She is asked to shelter two young girls by the Abbess, and is shocked when their community is torn apart by a group of men searching for the girls. The group heads to York to report the crime and to await word on what they are to do, sheltering the two girls with them. In York, preparations are underway for the Corpus Christi festival, and Hildegard has to shelter with a difficult order of nuns due to the high number of visitors. It becomes clear that the men looking for the girls are playing with high stakes, and Hildegard becomes concerned that the relic she returned from Rome may also be involved in the intrigue. The return of the abbott from his pilgrimage also causes her some emotional turmoil. High adventure ensues as Hildegard is pursued from may angles and must solve more than one mystery in order to save what she holds dear. The book is rich in historical detail of the period.
July 18, 2011
While I know that there is historic evidence that there were many strong, self-reliant women in medieval England, and also that many of them were in positions of authority within the church, Hildegarde is more a swashbuckler than an Abbess. Not for her the brilliant wits of Sister Fidelma (Peter Tremayne), the obedience of Sister Frevisse (Margaret Frazer) or the ponderings of Prioress Eleanor (Priscilla Royal.)note: I do seem to have stumbled into a lot of nun mysteries.....They all solve mysteries and attend to their religious duties in what seems to be equal parts, but Hildegarde is different. Whether Hildegarde is escaping on foot from yet another armed band, talking her way out of a dicey corner, or facing down the Archbishop, she repeatedly beats the odds-and every so often remembers to go to Mass. I read these not as I read Sharon Kay Penman's series, with a feeling of being immersed in another time, but as books in which I happily suspend disbelief (because seriously-no way H. could have survived all her adventures) and hang on for the wild ride.
February 5, 2012
This is one of my favorite medieval mystery series. Sister Hildegard is a well rounded character and the current events she moves through are fascinating. Set during the reign of Richard II and involving the complicated politics around Wat Tyler's Rebellion, the king's uncle and former regent John of Gaunt's wielding of his considerable power, as well as the crusades, there is never a dull moment. Hildegard herself has two hounds that often travel with her and protect her, which I like. While I did detect a bit of 21st century feminist-leaning attitude in a couple of places, for the most part the characters ring true. This book is set in York in the heat of the summer at the time of a big religious festival and I did think that the continual descriptions of the crowding and the heat and the stench could have been tightened up. (Of course, I read this while I was ill and it could have just been how I was feeling that made me think this!) There was a good segue into the next novel in the series at the end and I'm looking forward to the next one.
April 6, 2012
In this third installment of Sister Hildegarde's adventures in medieval England, her world is getting darker and murkier. The series has gotten darker--but not cumbersome to the reader--since the nun emerged in the first book. The heat is all the more oppressive heat in an over-crowded city of York during tkhe Corpus Christi celebration. Hildegarde is there too seek some justice for her year-old nunnery, which has been ransacked and burned, and for two mysterious orphans who appear are more than they seem. The politics of both church and state are determined to use her as one of their pawns once again. Hildegarde--with her friends and colleagues--is up to the challenge of living in interesting times once again.
August 29, 2016
After 203 pages, I give up. This is an awful book. About 200 pages ago we were introduced to two orphans, perhaps 100 pages & one lone revelation later they were sent off, no word of them since, while a totally different plot thread is pursued. Occasionally something happens - not often.
The secondary characters are too thin and muddled to be of interest, the main character is totally unbelievable in context, and way too much time is spent on the weather, which doesn't even change - it's hot.
I'll go and re-read something worth reading till my next book arrives. I don't plan to finish this; it's already in the "donate to thrift store" pile.
The secondary characters are too thin and muddled to be of interest, the main character is totally unbelievable in context, and way too much time is spent on the weather, which doesn't even change - it's hot.
I'll go and re-read something worth reading till my next book arrives. I don't plan to finish this; it's already in the "donate to thrift store" pile.
January 11, 2017
While I truly enjoyed the first two books of this series, this one dragged a bit. I do agree with other reviews that state for a nun, Hildegarde sure doesn't spend very much time in church in this book! If she is going to spend her time solving murder mysteries, perhaps she should think about returning to a secular life.
That said, the history behind the story makes the book worth reading. And the intrigue....the twists the plot takes make the book a worthy read. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes mysteries, European history, or British historical fictional mysteries. The fact the main character is a strong woman helps, in a time when women rarely had a voice.
That said, the history behind the story makes the book worth reading. And the intrigue....the twists the plot takes make the book a worthy read. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes mysteries, European history, or British historical fictional mysteries. The fact the main character is a strong woman helps, in a time when women rarely had a voice.
February 17, 2012
I really enjoyed the previous books in the series, but this one was a letdown for me. I agree with the reviewer who said the plot was overly convoluted, and the other who said Hildegard rarely acts like a nun.
I just didn’t get hooked into caring about the story, and got annoyed with Hildegard, who seemed to go looking for trouble. Perhaps because this story was set mainly in one town, there was less adventure, and more politics, and the conflicts that happened with the two girls, and with Hildegard seemed overly contrived.
I just didn’t get hooked into caring about the story, and got annoyed with Hildegard, who seemed to go looking for trouble. Perhaps because this story was set mainly in one town, there was less adventure, and more politics, and the conflicts that happened with the two girls, and with Hildegard seemed overly contrived.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews