This story was fine, but for such a short book the pacing was too slow. The first third of the book seemed like it was just different goldsmith and bakers guild members bickering with each other. I loved the 16th century setting but I think this book could have used a bigger glossary for those not familiar with 16th century terminology. I definitely enjoyed the second half of the book much better the first because the plot picks up pace, and Bianca and John's relationship improves. ( )

Bianca Goddard becomes interested in the death of a pregnant woman is found next to the church of St. Vedast. The same church that her husband's master, Boisvert, is set to be married to Odile. But this is not be be the only death, as poison is determined to be the cause of Odile's death. Bianca is determined to find the cause and who is responsible.
This is the second of the series I have read, and I find that I need to like the main character in a mystery series and I don't know why but I just can't take to the character of Bianca.
A NetGalley Book ( )

shit book, got it at the dollar tree, and now I see why ( )

**I voluntarily read an Advance Readers Copy of this book from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.**

I'm a sucker for anything set during the reign of Henry VIII and also a big mystery fan. So, I was instantly drawn to the Bianca Goddard series.

Death at St Vedast is the 3rd book in the series by Mary Lawrence. The two prior books, The Alchemist's Daughter and Death of an Alchemist, give the background of Goddard's early life with her alchemist father and her knowledge of alchemy and medicinal plants. But it isn't necessary to read the series in order. This was the first book in the series that I read and I was able to understand the characters and enjoy the story. As soon as I finished Death at St Vedast, I went back and read the first two books, as I found the series inventive and intriguing.

Both the historical fiction and mystery genre can easily get into a rut with the same basic plots being recycled again and again with just a change of scenery and niche in history. This series is more than a romp through history with historical characters solving murders. It delves into the forbidden art of alchemy, the darkness of some elements of society and politics during King Henry VIIIs reign, and life during that period. The mystery portion of all 3 books is interesting, well-paced and engaging. In this 3rd installment, Bianca Goddard moves to a better area of London because her husband is employed by Bosivert the Silversmith. But, events turn bad almost immediately. First, a pregnant woman seemingly goes insane, screaming nonsensical things and jumping from the roof of St Vedast. Then Bosivert is accused of murder when his betrothed drops dead at the wedding feast. Bianca has to step in quickly and use her knowledge of forensics and her detective skills to discover what evil is afoot.

This series is well-written and enjoyable. Any fan of historical fiction, the Tudor era and murder mysteries would enjoy reading this series.

This latest book, Death at St Vedast, will be published December 27th by Kensington.

For more information about the author and her books, check out her website: www.marylawrencebooks.com ( )

A Bianca Goddard Mystery Bk #3 - 3.5 stars...

The Bianca Goddard series is a historical fiction mystery series featuring alchemist/herbalist, Bianca Goddard and her husband John, who's training to become a Silversmith. Bianca mixes physiques and salves which her streetseller friend, Meddybemps, then sells for her.

In the beginning of this third installment, Bianca and John are moving above the Silversmith shop because his master, Boisvert, is getting married. For Bianca this means she can't conduct her experiments until she finds a secluded shop to work in because a lot of people believe that her practice of alchemy is witchy business or dancing with the devil etc. So when a lady is found dead at St. Vedast, a church very near to their new home, followed by a weird sickness and then the murder of Bianca's friend, she puts her medicinals on hold and vows to get to the bottom of these mysterious deaths. As her investigations take her from St. Vedast church, and the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, to the Brown and White Bakers Guilds she finds herself learning the inner workings of the different guilds, bread making, ale brewing and church politics.

I personally got hooked on this series because I enjoy the time period the series is set in -around 1543. I also love the quirky characters especially Hobs- the immortal, wild cat and Bianca- who's always burning something or creating the most awful smells and messes. I also find Bianca's experiments and creations of medicinals fun and fascinating so I was a little put out that Bianca's alchemy wasn't highlighted more in this mystery. Bianca did do a couple of experiments with her rats and bread at the very end to help solve the mystery but I would have liked to seen more. I did enjoy learning all about the guilds though, and the bread baking and how the gristmill works. That was all pretty interesting.

I also really enjoyed the complexity to this mystery. There was a whole lot going on and I really liked that. Trying to fit all of the pieces together kept me thoroughly engaged.

Which brings me to the ending, I felt like some of the strings, particularly from the Dinmow mystery and death, weren't fully tied together. I would have liked it more if Bianca would have went back to Dinmow and wrapped up things with Father Paston, Brother Fromme and Felton, the brewer, since she told them she would figure everything out and to see if Elgin, owner of the Stuffed Goose or Littleton was involved in anyway as Bianca suspected. None of that was tied up to my satisfaction at the end which is why I only rated it 3.5 stars.

*I received this ARC from NetGalley & Kensington Books in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!



( )