Masques of Gold

by Roberta Gellis

Book Overview

"Robert Gellis has an extraordinary talent "-- Affaire de Coeur With more than 8 million books in print RT Book Reviews Lifetime Achievement Award-winning author Roberta Gellis is the master of the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0515104698
• ISBN13: 9780515104691
• Release Date: December 1990
• Publisher: Jove Books
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Love & Death in London in the Time of Not So Good King John

It is early in the 13th century and King John, the last of the sons of Elinor of Aquitaine, is on the throne of England. Normandy has been lost to France and now King Philip threatens Gascony. Meanwhile in London, an elderly goldsmith's abused body has been found by his sons and young second wife. The sons gather up all of their father's strong boxes of precious metals and jewels and most of their tools and flee leaving Madame Lissa to deal with the consequences of the goldsmith's death. Sent for to investigate the murder is Sir Justin, captain of the London city guard, the force used to maintain order within the city walls. This is not a simple death. Peter de Flael was a wealthy merchant and one who had done work for King John himself. Sir Justin, more used to being feared than welcomed, finds himself distrusting Lissa's open admiration based on his behavior during the great fire in London a year before. Lissa herself had braved her miserly father's wrath to care for the stricken and observed Sir Justin's charitable behavior.More a historical novel than a murder msytery, discovering the reason for Peter de Flael's death is only one of the narrative threads. There is also the development of the relationship between Lissa and Sir Justin against a backdrop of political struggle and Lissa's father's own machinations as he attempts to match wits against a powerful and amoral lord.The characters are well drawn. Gellis does a very good job of portraying the contrast between the interests of the merchants of London and the great barons of England. Sir Justin and Lissa live in that nebulous area where wealthy merchants and the lesser gentry merge socially. While Sir Justin has his knighthood to offer Lissa, Lissa is also the heir to her father's substantial apothecary business.I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a meaty historical novel with a strong romantic plot, engaging characters and a strong historical background.