From Booklist
Newman's intrepid, twelfth-century French woman of reason, Catherine LeVendeur, is with her brother when their family is summoned to the castle of her aged grandfather. The well is running dry, and according to legend, if the well runs dry, all the branches of the family will die. Catherine does not believe in pagan tales; however, it seems that misfortune does stalk her extended family as people are murdered and a lord is threatening to besiege the castle. As others wait for some mythical antecedent to save them, Catherine looks for a contemporary explanation for the mishaps and mayhem. But it seems as though even the castle is against her finding a solution with its many passages and secret entrances, although it does eventually lead her to the solution with the help of a witch of a relative. Once again Newman provides her audience with a multifaceted jewel of a historical mystery that is filled with fascinating details that bring the twelfth century to life. Patty Engelmann
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Book Description
Catherine LeVendeur is a creature of 12th century France whose life is a mirror of her times--but she is armed with a keen mind and lively curiosity.

When Catherine's grandfather sends for his family to tell them their well is going dry, Catherine is alarmed. The family's wealth depends on its status, and if the well goes dry, their castle will fall. Her grandfather seems wracked with a fear deeper than that, though--and there's a mysterious woman who is either old or young, dead or alive--depending on whom you ask.

Catherine doesn't believe the magical legends her family has handed down, that they are the descendents of a knight of Charlemagne's and a faerie--she puts her faith and distrust in the human condition.

When bodies being appearing--not ghostly specters, but freshly-dead humans--Catherine knows she's right, and must uncover the secrets of the witch in the well...



About the Author
Sharan Newman is a medieval historian and writer who has published eight medieval mysteries and won many awards, including the Macavity for Best First Mystery of 1993 (Death Comes As Epiphany), and the Herodatus Award for Best Historical Mystery of 1998 (Cursed in the Blood). She has a BA from Antioch College in Comparative Literature, an MA from Michigan State University in English and has completed the requirements for a Ph.D. in History at the University of California at Santa Barbara. She is a longtime member of the Medieval Academy and has served on the advisory board for the Medieval Association of the Pacific. She has delivered a number of academic papers, taught at Temple University and UC Santa Barbara and continues to lecture widely on medieval topics.

FROM THE PUBLISHER