The Apothecary Rose

Rating:
Summary: Impressive work of historical fiction.
Review: I have enjoyed the Owen Archer series since a patient of mine suggested the books. This is my third venture into the 14th Century and the first of the series. In Apothecary Rose the author introduces most of the main characters: The Archbishop of York and King's Chancellor Thorsby, his spy/sleuth Owen Archer, Owen's apothecary wife Lucie Wilton, the infirmarian Brother Wulfstan, the mysterious healer Magda Digby, and the helpful neighbors and local pub owners Bess and Tom. With this work, the author sets up the personalities and histories of her characters, their new relationships, the format of this and succeeding stories, and introduces the main players on the historical stage of the time.

Like Ellis Peters (Brother Cadfael) with whom she is often compared, Ms Robb has a good handle on the mystery story as set in old England. She keeps to the story, but insists that it remain as historically accurate as she is able to make it. As she points out in one of her expositions on writing historical fiction, she attempts to produce a work that is as true to the time as possible, taking liberties only where there is no data and where her theories are at least plausible. Ms Robb is a professionally trained historian shy of a PhD only by a dissertation, and seems to have a feel for her time period of choice. She creates a realistic ambiance without burdening her readers with more information than they need to visualize the setting and characters.

One of the interesting facets of this story is the clear understanding that one gains of the social life of the times. The author is able to recreate the intertwined nature of church and secular authority. She also makes it clear that, no matter how we feel about religion, the religious, or God today, the early Europeans, in this case the English, were often quite serious about their beliefs. Even the very ambitious churchmen, like the Archbishop, who were involved in political intrigue, plot and counterplot were not totally lacking in belief. Why this might have been--and in fact why it is less so now--becomes more apparent when one is placed in the precarious setting of the Middle Ages.

Another of the things that the author is able to put across for the reader is that much of what is taken as "unfounded," anti-science herbal remedies today, have a long and respected history behind them. The apothecary underwent a lengthy training period or apprenticeship before practicing his/her craft, much as a modern pharmacist does today. Furthermore, there were specialties in the health care world of the time, just as there are today. In a world before antibiotics, much of what these people could do to heal and to relieve suffering was impressive. It may not measure up to today's standards, but the technology and economic wherewithal for modern medicine did not exist at the time and in fact still doesn't in many 3rd World countries.

Very impressive work. It might make a good introduction to this period in history for students.

Rating:
Summary: Impressive work of historical fiction.
Review: I have enjoyed the Owen Archer series since a patient of mine suggested the books. This is my third venture into the 14th Century and the first of the series. In Apothecary Rose the author introduces most of the main characters: The Archbishop of York and King's Chancellor Thorsby, his spy/sleuth Owen Archer, Owen's apothecary wife Lucie Wilton, the infirmarian Brother Wulfstan, the mysterious healer Magda Digby, and the helpful neighbors and local pub owners Bess and Tom. With this work, the author sets up the personalities and histories of her characters, their new relationships, the format of this and succeeding stories, and introduces the main players on the historical stage of the time.

Like Ellis Peters (Brother Cadfael) with whom she is often compared, Ms Robb has a good handle on the mystery story as set in old England. She keeps to the story, but insists that it remain as historically accurate as she is able to make it. As she points out in one of her expositions on writing historical fiction, she attempts to produce a work that is as true to the time as possible, taking liberties only where there is no data and where her theories are at least plausible. Ms Robb is a professionally trained historian shy of a PhD only by a dissertation, and seems to have a feel for her time period of choice. She creates a realistic ambiance without burdening her readers with more information than they need to visualize the setting and characters.

One of the interesting facets of this story is the clear understanding that one gains of the social life of the times. The author is able to recreate the intertwined nature of church and secular authority. She also makes it clear that, no matter how we feel about religion, the religious, or God today, the early Europeans, in this case the English, were often quite serious about their beliefs. Even the very ambitious churchmen, like the Archbishop, who were involved in political intrigue, plot and counterplot were not totally lacking in belief. Why this might have been--and in fact why it is less so now--becomes more apparent when one is placed in the precarious setting of the Middle Ages.

Another of the things that the author is able to put across for the reader is that much of what is taken as "unfounded," anti-science herbal remedies today, have a long and respected history behind them. The apothecary underwent a lengthy training period or apprenticeship before practicing his/her craft, much as a modern pharmacist does today. Furthermore, there were specialties in the health care world of the time, just as there are today. In a world before antibiotics, much of what these people could do to heal and to relieve suffering was impressive. It may not measure up to today's standards, but the technology and economic wherewithal for modern medicine did not exist at the time and in fact still doesn't in many 3rd World countries.

Very impressive work. It might make a good introduction to this period in history for students.

Rating:
Summary: Very good! Read in a day.
Review: I liked the mystery very much, it wasn't so much who killed who as it was about why, what was the mystery and motivations. I found it very suspenseful and I enjoyed the characters tremendously -OK Lucie U Bro Wulfsten were tolerable- Owen, Bess, Thorseby, Magda & the Summoner all thought were good well-developed characters. I liked Owen very much and will read the next book in the series asap.

Rating:
Summary: MAYBE BOOK 2 WILL BE BETTER?
Review: I really wanted to like this book, but found it ultimately lacking in depth. As a big fan of historical fiction I was immediately enticed by the character, an ex archer wounded fighting for Edward III who finds himself working for the Archbishop of York as a pseudo spy - our man, Owen Archer. The big bummer is that we get almost no history in the narrative save for some insider info Apothecary procedures. She explains in the back of the book Author's Note that she avoided too much history in order to focus on the story (is it some sort of rule that these series books clock in at 300 pages?). As a fan of both mysteries and history I would like to fall into the period a little more - too many historical fiction novels simply use their chosen time period as a mere backdrop to their story. The "mystery" here is really nothing new - a poisoning. The culprit is immediately known to the reader because Robb goes out of her way to make sure we know he's bad. This book, like many other mysteries, is a journey of discovery with Owen as he figures it all out. My other problem comes lies in Robb's' overuse of convenience and coincidence. Case in point without a spoiler - Owen's lodging overlooks an area (Luci's backyard) that the story would require him to see in order for everything to workout the way it did. I know it's cryptic, but if you've read the story you can't deny it. One last problem with Robb's' style is that she periodically addresses the reader using what normally would be a character's inner thought (almost never italicized in this book) to address the reader. Not a big complaint, but nevertheless, annoying.
Bottom Line: Despite my comments above this book is not a total failure and I might give one more a shot to see if Owen develops any.

Rating:
Summary: An Owen Archer Mystery: book one in this series
Review: I truly enjoyed this book and plan to read the entire series. It was through a romance review site that I first encountered a review on The Apothecary Rose. Frankly, if it hadn't been for the romantic element, I might not have read it. I felt the interaction between Owen Archer and Lucie made the story more interesting, but there is very little romance, per se, compared to what you would find in a romance novel where a lot of emphasis is placed on a physical relationship.

There is a mystery, but not centered on who-done-it because that's pretty easy to figure out. The mystery revolves around the "why", which to me can be just as enjoyable as guessing the "who". The medieval time period was fasinating to read about and also enlightening. Some of the characters like Magda Digby, Archdeacon Anselm, and Nicolas Wilton were unforgettable. Where some would look as if they were unfit for society and without wisdom, and others whose chosen field of service showcases their piety, readers will immerse themselves in the good and evil of these characters. Choices, during this period, was not so much based on moral decisions, but what was more expedient or best for the King and/or the Church.

Thus said, Owen Archer is someone you don't want to miss. The next one in the series is The Lady Chapel. I hope it will be just as titillating.

Rating:
Summary: Masterful!
Review: Take a great helping of a one-eyed rogue, mixed with equal parts of a mysterious woman and a shifty archdeacon, a dash of courtly intrigue, and a pinch of romance. Knead with interwoven plots and mysteries. Garnish with exquisit historical detail.

Candace Robb's obsession with medieval England shows through with great clarity. Everything is described with such detail that it's entirely possible to lose oneself in the story. The story is enticing, as well as the characters. A multitude of characters captivate the imagination. Each has believable traits, as well as flaws: Owen's self-doubts, Lucie's stubbornness, Anselm's obsession.

Candace is a wonderful author, and I recommmend all of her other Owen Archer novels, now that she has whet your appetite!

Rating:
Summary: An Owen Archer Mystery: book one in this series
Review: The correct way to read a series of books is to start with the first as is the case of Apothecary Rose being the first of a series by Candace Robb. I, unfortunately do not always follow the proscribed technique and in the case of Apothecary rose it was the forth I have read.

I was of course delighted to read the details of Owen Archers and Lucie Wiltons romance. Owen is sent to York by the Archbishop to investigate the death of the archbishop's ward who is a bit of a wayward soul and could easily do something which would lead to his murder. While in York Owen apprentices himself to Lucie Wilton an apothecary whose husband is dying. Owen soon learns that Lucy has some links to the death of the pilgrims, because he is beginning to care for her he hopes she is innocent.

Ms Robb does an excellent job of developing her characters. She takes care to describe life in a medieval city to make the setting interesting and add to the historical knowledge of the reader. This is an intriguing series which I would strongly recommend to fans of the medieval mystery genre.

Rating:
Summary: First of a Series
Review: The correct way to read a series of books is to start with the first as is the case of Apothecary Rose being the first of a series by Candace Robb. I, unfortunately do not always follow the proscribed technique and in the case of Apothecary rose it was the forth I have read.

I was of course delighted to read the details of Owen Archers and Lucie Wiltons romance. Owen is sent to York by the Archbishop to investigate the death of the archbishop's ward who is a bit of a wayward soul and could easily do something which would lead to his murder. While in York Owen apprentices himself to Lucie Wilton an apothecary whose husband is dying. Owen soon learns that Lucy has some links to the death of the pilgrims, because he is beginning to care for her he hopes she is innocent.

Ms Robb does an excellent job of developing her characters. She takes care to describe life in a medieval city to make the setting interesting and add to the historical knowledge of the reader. This is an intriguing series which I would strongly recommend to fans of the medieval mystery genre.

Rating:
Summary: Masterful!
Review: This inaugural text in the Owen Archer Mystery series is a masterpiece. Robb may well overtake Ellis Peters as queen of the Historical Mystery. The characters are not only mediaevally and ecclesially credible, but palpable. Anyone with a taste for mystery shouded in history should -- nay, must -- read this book!

Rating:
Summary: A good read....
Review: Those fascinated with herbal remedies, Medieval times, and quick mystery reads (at the airport, on the plane) will probably enjoy this little book. Candace Robb's series (APOTHECARY ROSE is the first installment) features the exploits of Owen Archer spy-sleuth, and is comparable to Ellis Peters Cadfael series as both heros are Welsh, and ex-warriors with knowledge of herbal healing. Both series take place in the Middle Ages, though Cadfael lived in the mid 1100s and Archer in the mid 1300s.

Peters plot development is much stronger. Her books could be read out of order as the plots stand on their own, but the reader will miss a few insights and not "get" some insider information if s/he reads them out of order. Peters writing is more deft. Her mystery books always have three plots going on at one time--a main plot and two subplots. Robb has one plot with a few twists, but she spends much more time in the first novel building up her characters--which I think pays off somewhat in later books in the series. However, I made the mistake of reading another book in the series first and it spoiled some of the plot in APOTHECARY ROSE so I recommend you read this one first.

Peters had an advantage as she was actually Welsh and understood the importance of being Welsh which she cleverly worked into every one of her stories. She was also an expert on the history of the time frame she used for Cadfael (wrote history under the name Edith Pargeter) while Robb apparently did most of her historical research for this book.

Robb is a novelist and her character development is quite good. However, the book is too short for it's complicated characters. APOTHECARY ROSE should have been 500 pages long so Robb had time to fully develop the storyline and characters.