Death At The School Of Translators - (A Rebecca Detoledo Mystery) by Esther Knight (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Toledo, 1193: A city of scholars, secrets, and simmering tensions. When Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine's spy is found dead, whispers of treachery reach all the way to England.

Rebecca DeToledo, a gifted healer and wealthy Jewish heiress, arrives under royal orders to investigate at the School of Translators. Her mission quickly turns perilous as she faces threats to her life and a sudden battle over her inheritance.

Assigned to guard her is Sir John of Hampstead, a disillusioned crusader burdened with knowledge that could threaten King Richard's release from captivity. Forced into this partnership, he must protect Rebecca while grappling with his own prejudices.

As they navigate Toledo's complex alliances, where Christians, Jews, and Muslims coexist in fragile peace, they uncover a web of secrets reaching deep into the cathedral. Can Rebecca and John unearth the truth before they become the next targets?

Review Quotes

"It's always exciting to review a book which is new and well written...Every time I had to stop reading I was anxious to get back to the story - it is well told, and the characters are complex and well drawn. Rebecca must be bold at times but also subservient, since Jews - and women healers - were tolerated but not always well regarded. It is also a time, however, when Jews, Christians and Muslims were able to mix and study, so these characters are also part of the story. Highly recommended! ."

"Wow. A gripping read from the first page. The Middle Ages are one of my favorite historical period and I love books set in that ages ever since I read Robin Hood when Ii was in first or second grade. Death at the School of Translators didn't disappoint!"

"Strong protagonists with a hint of forbidden love (will they or won't they? He's a Christian, she's a Jew...), well-rounded secondary characters (Queen Eleanor first of all; she stills the page every time she appears, as befits the great queen she was), a well-documented historical background, a loathsome villain (and yes, he was murdered, but nobody liked him, right?), an unpredictable denouément... Even the murderer is lovable, when you understand the reason behind their actions..."