A Swarming of Bees

Fridgyth the Herb-Wife, Book 1

By: Theresa Tomlinson

Narrated by: Danielle Cohen

"A herb-wife on a mule may go where warriors cannot - she may see what warriors cannot see and hear what warriors cannot hear!”

The Monastery at Whitby is ruled over by the powerful and independent Abbess Hild. But when she needs someone to confide in, she turns to the honest warmth of her friend Fridgyth, the half-pagan herb-wife.

A divisive and life-altering decision taken at the Great Synod is swiftly overshadowed as the monastery is ravaged by a deadly plague. As she tends the sick, Fridgyth starts to suspect that not all the deaths are natural. Despite Hild's stern warnings "not to meddle" she sets out to investigate.

Can Fridgyth's wisdom and intuition unmask the murderer and unravel the dark politics surrounding the deaths and clandestine arrival of two young scholars?

©2012 Theresa Tomlinson (P)2020 Tantor

Enjoyable story

I enjoyed this performance very much. I think hearing it made the more enjoyable for me as it was easier to follow the characters as the names of some were so similar. Hearing the dialogue in different voices enable me to keep the male and female characters straight. The story had many layers to it and took time to get to the mystery but that did not detract from my desire to get back to listening.

.subtle ..captivating intrigue

This book was as innocent look of life in a much harsher time.The nuances of simplicity was almost poetic..A bit slow building the characters but that was the richness of the story.I truly knew each character..their strength and weakness....I love when reading makes me laugh...cry ..and break out in a true grin..

The Great Synod, from pagan eyes

A view into life in the Dark Ages, read with a lilting accent so evocative of the time and place. Fridgyth is the herbwife at the Monastery of Whitby, though she herself honors Freya in the privacy of her home and garden, and serves as a healer to the Monastery and nearby community. The Great Synod of 644 brings an enormous decision, whether the Christians of the region should go on with the practices of Iona or follow the practices of Rome -- while at the same time Fridgyth learns that the synod has also brought a young nobleman in exile. When the plague strikes (and this is historically accurate), Fridgyth's skills are strained to save as many lives as she can, but when she witnesses deaths that don't look like the plague, she suspects poison. And that the real target may be the young nobleman.

Excellent storytelling

Loved history presented so beautifully, bringing to life historical figures and events. The narrator is wonderfully captivating.

The herb wife the way of life in the beginning of Christianity and Scotland

I like the story I love the narrator very calming to hear her voice-fun to imagine what life must’ve been like then

Fabulous tale for a lover of history and intrigue

The reader is clear and sensitive. She lends charm and gravity when needed. I’ll look for more read by her.

the voice

the sing song voice was a little hard to take. almost went to sleep,but struggle to the end.

I really wanted to like this..

Good try but so clichéd, simplistic, and hackneyed, I gave up. Extremely predictable and pedantic.