Mistress of the Art of Death is a chilling and mesmerizing novel that masterfully combines the best elements of modern forensic thrillers with the rich detail and drama of historical fiction.

In medieval Cambridge, England, four children have been murdered under mysterious circumstances. The crimes are immediately blamed on the town's Jewish community, accused of committing these acts in blasphemous ceremonies. To protect them from the rioting mob, the king places the Cambridge Jews under his protection, hiding them in a castle fortress.

King Henry II, despite his general disdain for the Jews, is invested in their fate due to the taxes he receives from Jewish merchants, which are crucial for his treasury. Hoping that scientific investigation will exonerate the Jews, Henry calls upon his cousin, the King of Sicily, to send his finest medical expert. Yet, instead of a "master," the Italian doctor sent is a young prodigy named Adelia, a "mistress of the art of death."

Adelia, along with her companions Simon, a Jew, and Mansur, a Moor, travels to England to unravel the mystery of the Cambridge murders. The investigation reveals the work of a serial killer, likely someone who has been on Crusade with the king. In a backward and superstitious country like England, Adelia must conceal her true identity as a doctor to avoid accusations of witchcraft.

Assisted by Sir Rowley Picot, a tax collector with a personal stake in the investigation, Adelia navigates the shadowy river paths of Cambridge and the closed doors of its churches and nunneries. As the hunt intensifies, the killer prepares to strike again, leaving Adelia in a race against time to prevent further tragedy.