Remedy for Treason

by Caroline Roe

Book Overview

Girona, Spain. 1353. Struggling to save his patients from the plague, and avoiding the even greater danger of his wife's temper, Isaac discovers that pestilence isn't the city's only killer. A nun... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0425162958
• ISBN13: 9780425162958
• Release Date: May 1998
• Publisher: Berkley Books
• Length: 259 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 4.2" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

This Debut Deserves a Wide Audience

This debut is set in 1353 Girona, Spain, and feature Isaac, a blind Jewish physician. Isaac is trying to save his patients from the plague as the story opens. When a nun is found dead in the public baths, the Bishop of Girona calls on Isaac to investigate the death. The Bishop trusts Isaac's discretion, intelligence, and ability to move among Girona's populace. What Isaac discovers is that nothing is as it seems. This debut by Roe is an excellent entry into the historical mystery genre. Isaac is a believable and likable character, Roe's characterizations of even the minor chararacters are well drawn. Roe does not overwhelm her readers with historical minutiae that impedes her story, but gives enough history to satisfy those of us who prefer our history wrapped in a mystery. This PBO is only the first in a planned series. It and the series deserve a wide audience.

An absorbing novel with endearing characters

Remedy for Treason manages to combine an engrossing plot and sympathetic characters with a fascinating historical setting. Roe definitely succeeded in making me want to learn more about medieval Spain and the complexities of Islamic, Christian, and Jewish coexistence there. To my mind, the book had only two weaknesses. First, like another reviewer, I was somewhat puzzled by the religious infractions committed by ostensibly pious Jewish characters, who (for example) not only consume non-kosher food and wine with gusto, but also violate the Sabbath day by writing. Second, I agree with other reviewers that the sinister villain was a little dorky. Still, I greatly enjoyed Roe's first Isaac of Girona novel, and I definitely plan to read more of her medieval mysteries.

Vivid, inventive, unforgettable characters.

A thoroughly engrossing page-turner, richly atmospheric, with dimensional characters ranging from a runaway Muslim boy to an old bishop. Each of her characters possesses a unique intelligence; as a group, and brought together by Isaac the physician, they unravel the mystery. I disagree with the deus ex machina comment of an earlier reviewer.

A good read.

I enjoyed this book. Some of the reviewers seem to be upset that the author portrays some of the complexity of Jewish life (conversion, intermarriage, etc.). Sorry, folks. These issues have always been part of Jewish reality.

Great read! Can't wait for the next in the series!

This book has a great story and classic characters with many small details that capture the time setting. Great read for rainy days!