A suitably gloomy atmosphere replete with doom invades this often good-humored series, and Owen’s ménage seems like an oasis of calm in a stormy sea. Ms Robb excels at creating lifelike portraits of people both real and imagined and here are some that show this talent off well. It is a tortuous plot that gives the reader quite a mental workout trying to guess what it is all about, that nicely balances out the history, fiction and updates on the characters of a long running series. If this is your first foray into this writer’s work then go back and start at the beginning with The Apothecary Rose. At this stage in the series (book ten) the characters and their backstories are very much an integral part of the books, and reading this one is like renewing acquaintance with some good old friends. One of the better mediaeval series, and quite a treat for a whole list of reasons.