Foul play is suspected when the corpse of a young woman is unearthed after twenty years in this “well-crafted” Roger the Chapman novel (Publishers Weekly). England, 1481. As land is being cleared for a new chapel to be dedicated to the three kings of Cologne, the remains of Isabella Linkinhorne are discovered. Known to have had three secret lovers, Isabella had disappeared twenty years earlier. Alderman John Foster, the mayor of Bristol, commissions Roger the Chapman to determine if one of her three suitors did her in. Faced with the task of tracking down three people about whom he knows next to nothing, Roger nicknames them Caspar, Balthazar, and Melchior, after the three kings. Will the perceptive peddler be able to solve this twenty-year-old mystery? The Three Kings of Cologne is the sixteenth book in the Roger the Chapman series. “Sedley effortlessly incorporates the details of daily life for a range of socioeconomic groups as Roger goes in search of answers. Roger’s droll sense of humor enlivens a narrative full of unexpected plot twists.” —Publishers Weekly “Sedley knows how to create authentic period ambience, build strong characters, and deliver plenty of adventure. Add a healthy serving of dry wit, and you have a fine series that just keeps getting better.” —Booklist

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The Magi: Legend, Art and Cult includes works of art from the fourth to the sixteenth century, including Magi fi gures in ivory, sculptures, paintings, manuscripts and other works from Italy, Germany and France. It examines the changing symbolism of the Magi, that reached its apex in the age of Gothic cathedrals. Royal affl uence and courtly ceremony of the time are reflected in fashions in the time when each of the artworks was commissioned. Many of the works' donors include themselves in the depiction of the Magi, among them Frederick Barbarossa, who arranged the original transfer of the remains of The Magi from Milan in 1164.

This beautiful classic Christmas story about the night of Jesus's birth makes a perfect holiday gift for boys and girls 3 - 7 years old. The visit of the Three Kings to the stable at Bethlehem is one of the most memorable of the Christmas stories. Filled with anticipation, and following an unknown star, the Magi begin the long quest to find the new-born king and to offer him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. The thoughtful, gentle text will engage readers of all ages.

"When a major relic of the Catholic Church, the remains of the Three Kings, is stolen from the cathedral" in Cologne, Germany, it looks as if even such a great detective as Bishop Blackie will need a miracle to retrieve it.--Cover