REVIEW: Searcher of the Dead

Searcher of the Dead
Author: Nancy Herriman

Bess Ellyot flees London after the death of her husband. Martin's cause of death was recorded as the bloody flux, but Bess knows he was murdered. After arriving at the home of her brother, she hopes that she has escaped from whatever evil killed her husband. But when her brother-in-law is found hanged in the woods, she knows that she has not escaped. Who killed the prosperous merchant and made it look like suicide? As she investigates with the help of a local constable, Bess discovers that the plot is much more complex and horrifying than the murders of her two family members. It may even threaten Queen Elizabeth I herself!

What an interesting and entertaining Tudor era mystery story! The descriptions of life and people of the era and the characters themselves really made this book impossible to put down! Bess is an herbalist and an intelligent, strong and determined woman. All of the side characters -- her family, Constable Harwood, etc -- made the plot richer and nicely complex. The mystery moved along at a fast pace, with several twists and suspects. This book is a great start for a new series, and a nice mix of historical fiction and mystery.

Nancy Herriman is the author of several mystery books including the Mystery of Old San Francisco series. I will definitely be eagerly awaiting the next book in this series!

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**