From Publishers Weekly
This sixth entry in the Catherine LeVendeur series of medieval mysteries (Cursed in the Blood, etc.) leans more heavily on history than mystery as Newman makes 12th-century Paris, a period of religious and political strife and much intolerance, a rich stage for her cast. Catherine, wife of one-handed Edgar, mother of two small children and daughter of a Jewish merchant, Hubert, is a Christian convert. When her estranged sister, Agnes, unable to accept her father's Jewish origins, contracts a marriage with a German wine grower, Lord Gerhardt of Trier, the family schism threatens to become both wider and more permanent. But Gerhardt's death, under circumstances that strongly implicate his new bride as either murderess or witch, sends Catherine and her family on an arduous trek to Germany to win Agnes's freedom by proving her innocence or another's guilt. The mystery develops slowly, which allows the reader to savor the customs, practices and beliefs that inform the lives of the French, German and English; of nobles, merchants and knights; of Jews, Christians and schismatics. If Newman doesn't deliver a particularly suspenseful plot, she compensates with her command of the period and her ability to translate her knowledge into an absorbing and entertaining narrative. (Nov.) Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From School Library Journal
YA-When her estranged sister, Agnes, becomes the main suspect in the murder of her bridegroom, Catherine Le Vendeur and her immediate family journey from their home in France to Germany in hopes of proving Agnes's innocence. Set in 1146, the story highlights the difficulties of traveling long distances, avoiding political unrest, and coping with tremendous differences in languages and cultures. With the help of friends, kin, and many church officials, Catherine begins to piece together the death scenario of her brother-in-law. She clears Agnes's name and the family becomes reconciled. Newman deftly conveys clues in the constant flow of the everyday life of Catherine's medieval society. Details cover clothing, language, travel, crusades, torture, food, drink, laws, and lots of religion, both Christian and Jewish. With several plots intermingling and a constant flow of major crises, the interest stays at a consistently high level. Characters have individual personalities and idiosyncrasies from the beginning and continue to add substance to their identities through interaction with one another and their inner reflections. This title, the sixth in a series featuring Catherine, stands on its own. Teens who like the popular medieval mysteries by Ellis Peters, P. F. Chisholm, or Sharon Kay Penman will find much to appreciate here.Pam Johnson, Fairfax County Public Library, VA Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Kirkus Reviews
Sixth in a series narrating the life and times of merchant Hubert Le Vendeur and his family in 12th-century France. Hubert, born a Jew, raised a Christian, has brought up his own children as Christians but never forgotten his birthright. His daughter Catherine is married to one-handed artisan Edgar; they have two children. Catherine's younger sister Agnes, alienated from the family, has just been betrothed by her grandfather to German winemaker Lord Gerhardt of Trier, bringing sadness to Jehan Blois, her longtime undeclared admirer. Meanwhile, anti-Semitism is rampant in some parts of Europe, even though condemned by influential Abbot Bernard le Fontaines of Clairvaux. It persists in Trier, where Agnes journeys in the company of old friend Sir Walter of Grancy. There, she meets her future bridegroom, his young son Peter, and his brother Hermann. The marriage takes place in a friendly, festive atmosphere, but next morning Gerhardt is dead and Agnes is a prisoner in the family castle, accused of murder. On hearing the news from Sir Walter, Catherine and Hubert, along with Edgar and his young half-sister Margaret, rush to Trier to help Agnes. But much time passes and more frightening acts occur before the bizarre motive and means of Gerhardt's death are revealed and the family rifts begin to heal. Fans of Ellis Peters's elegant simplicity may be dismayedor overwhelmedby the extravagant number of characters, incidents, and subplots. But students and others interested in the period will find much to enjoy. -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.


Book Description
In The Difficult Saint, Sharan Newman returns to medieval France and the murder-haunted Catherine LeVendeur, heroine of this acclaimed series. After a harrowing stay with Catherine's in-laws in Scotland, Catherine and her husband, Edgar, have returned home with their two small children to live a life of peace at last--or so they hope. But soon the safety of those they love is questioned as anti-Jewish sentiment begins to grow in Paris. Raised Catholic by her father, Hubert, who poses as a Christian while practicing Judaism in secret, Catherine fears that the violence of the most recent crusade will repeat itself, victimizing members of her family. but before she can put too much thought into that, fate interrupts.

Catherine's estranged younger sister, Agnes, has returned to Paris with the news that she has been promised in marriage to a German lord. Bitter about their religious differences Agnes wants no part of Catherine or Hubert--except for the sizable dowry that Hubert can provide. When Catherine and Hubert arrange for Agnes to be escorted to Germany with her dowry, they assume that they have seen the last of her.

But then one of Agnes's escorts returns to Paris with terrible news: Agnes's new husband appears to have been murdered by poisoning, and Agnes is the prime suspect. In spite of their differences, Catherine believes in her innocence, and knows that she must do everything she can to save her sister's life. And when Catherine and her brood travel to Germany to begin sleuthing in a dangerously anti-Semetic climate, it becomes clear that Catherine and Edgar's long-dreamt of life of peace remains in the distant future--if they live to see it at all.



About the Author
Sharan Newman won Romantic Times magazine's Career Achievement Award for Historical Mystery in 1999. She lives in Oregon.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

In The Difficult Saint, Sharan Newman returns to medieval France and the murder-haunted Catherine LeVendeur, heroine of this series. After a harrowing stay with Catherine's in-laws in Scotland, Catherine and her husband, Edgar, have returned home with their two children to live a life of peace at last - or so they hope. But soon the safety of those they love is questioned as anti-Jewish sentiment begins to grow in Paris. Raised Catholic by her father, Hubert, who poses as a Christian while practicing Judaism in secret, Catherine fears that the violence of the most recent Crusade will repeat itself, victimizing members of her family. But before she can put too much thought into that, fate interrupts.. "Catherine's estranged younger sister, Agnes, has returned to Paris with the news that she has been promised in marriage to a German lord. Bitter about their religious differences, Agnes wants no part of Catherine or Hubert-except for the sizable dowry that Hubert can provide. When Catherine and Hubert arrange for Agnes to be escorted to Germany with her dowry, they assume that they have seen the last of her.. "But then one of Agnes's escorts returns to Paris with terrible news: Agnes's new husband appears to have been murdered by poisoning, and Agnes is the prime suspect. In spite of their differences, Catherine believes in her innocence, and knows that she must do everything she can to save her sister's life.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

This sixth entry in the Catherine LeVendeur series of medieval mysteries (Cursed in the Blood, etc.) leans more heavily on history than mystery as Newman makes 12th-century Paris, a period of religious and political strife and much intolerance, a rich stage for her cast. Catherine, wife of one-handed Edgar, mother of two small children and daughter of a Jewish merchant, Hubert, is a Christian convert. When her estranged sister, Agnes, unable to accept her father's Jewish origins, contracts a marriage with a German wine grower, Lord Gerhardt of Trier, the family schism threatens to become both wider and more permanent. But Gerhardt's death, under circumstances that strongly implicate his new bride as either murderess or witch, sends Catherine and her family on an arduous trek to Germany to win Agnes's freedom by proving her innocence or another's guilt. The mystery develops slowly, which allows the reader to savor the customs, practices and beliefs that inform the lives of the French, German and English; of nobles, merchants and knights; of Jews, Christians and schismatics. If Newman doesn't deliver a particularly suspenseful plot, she compensates with her command of the period and her ability to translate her knowledge into an absorbing and entertaining narrative. (Nov.) Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.

School Library Journal

YA-When her estranged sister, Agnes, becomes the main suspect in the murder of her bridegroom, Catherine Le Vendeur and her immediate family journey from their home in France to Germany in hopes of proving Agnes's innocence. Set in 1146, the story highlights the difficulties of traveling long distances, avoiding political unrest, and coping with tremendous differences in languages and cultures. With the help of friends, kin, and many church officials, Catherine begins to piece together the death scenario of her brother-in-law. She clears Agnes's name and the family becomes reconciled. Newman deftly conveys clues in the constant flow of the everyday life of Catherine's medieval society. Details cover clothing, language, travel, crusades, torture, food, drink, laws, and lots of religion, both Christian and Jewish. With several plots intermingling and a constant flow of major crises, the interest stays at a consistently high level. Characters have individual personalities and idiosyncrasies from the beginning and continue to add substance to their identities through interaction with one another and their inner reflections. This title, the sixth in a series featuring Catherine, stands on its own. Teens who like the popular medieval mysteries by Ellis Peters, P. F. Chisholm, or Sharon Kay Penman will find much to appreciate here.-Pam Johnson, Fairfax County Public Library, VA Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.|

Romantic Times

Rich in detail and description, The Difficult Saint is a sumptuous read for all those who love an historical novel.

Kirkus Reviews

Sixth in a series narrating the life and times of merchant Hubert Le Vendeur and his family in 12th-century France. Hubert, born a Jew, raised a Christian, has brought up his own children as Christians but never forgotten his birthright. His daughter Catherine is married to one-handed artisan Edgar; they have two children. Catherine's younger sister Agnes, alienated from the family, has just been betrothed by her grandfather to German winemaker Lord Gerhardt of Trier, bringing sadness to Jehan Blois, her longtime undeclared admirer. Meanwhile, anti-Semitism is rampant in some parts of Europe, even though condemned by influential Abbot Bernard le Fontaines of Clairvaux. It persists in Trier, where Agnes journeys in the company of old friend Sir Walter of Grancy. There, she meets her future bridegroom, his young son Peter, and his brother Hermann. The marriage takes place in a friendly, festive atmosphere, but next morning Gerhardt is dead and Agnes is a prisoner in the family castle, accused of murder. On hearing the news from Sir Walter, Catherine and Hubert, along with Edgar and his young half-sister Margaret, rush to Trier to help Agnes. But much time passes and more frightening acts occur before the bizarre motive and means of Gerhardt's death are revealed and the family rifts begin to heal. Fans of Ellis Peters's elegant simplicity may be dismayed—or overwhelmed—by the extravagant number of characters, incidents, and subplots. But students and others interested in the period will find much to enjoy.