The focus of my blog is to review book series and not individual novels. But writers are going to continue writing novels within a series even after I have done my review, so I plan on reviewing the individual novels as they come into circulation.   Mary Lawrence has just recently added book #3, Death at St. Vedast to the Bianca Goddard series.

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If you are looking for a good mystery to read during the holidays, you may want to consider Mary Lawrence’s newest addition to the Bianca Goddard series, Death at St. Vedast. Mary Lawrence has created a highly enjoyable medical mystery series featuring herbalist and daughter to an alchemist, Bianca Goddard. The series takes place in mid-sixteenth century Tudor London where supernatural or spiritual explanations for when things go awry are more likely than natural and empirical answers. Thank goodness that Tudor London has Bianca Goddard, a scientist at heart, who looks at the world in a rational way. Goddard has the dumb luck of being present when an unexplained death has taken place and, of course, the curious person that she is, she must find answers.

In Death at St. Vedast, Bianca and her husband John are attending the wedding of John’s mentor and Frenchman, Boisvert, when his betrothed, Odile Farendon, dies from a mysterious ailment shortly following the ceremony. Boisvert unfortunately is accused of poisoning his newly wedded wife and is sent off to prison. It is up to Bianca to prove his innocence.

Two mysteries need to be explained in Death at St. Vedast. What is causing the unusual deaths of Londoners that have ties to a failing church, St. Vedast, and are they related to deaths in a small rural town not far from London? And are these deaths purposely being committed? Goddard must work against a culture that would rather explain the deaths that occurred through mythical means and irrational people can be dangerous when they are looking for scapegoats to place the blame.

If you like historical fiction and a good medical mystery, than Death at St. Vedast will be a pleasurable read. Though there are references in Death at St. Vedast to previous books in the series, this addition to the series could be read as a standalone.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Mary Lawrence for my Advance Reader Copy of Death at St. Vedast.

Death at St. Vedast will be released on December 27th.

To learn more about the series check out the Bianca Goddard series.