Caroline Medora Sale Roe

Caroline Medora Sale Roe (1943–2021, born in Windsor, Ontario, Canada) was an award-winning Canadian novelist recognized for her work in the mystery and detective genres. She earned a Ph.D. in Medieval Studies in the early 1970s. Her doctoral research focused on religious diversity during the Medieval Era, a theme that heavily influenced her later fiction. She published work under two distinct names:

Medora Sale: Used for contemporary police procedurals set in Toronto, featuring Detective John Sanders and architectural photographer Harriet Jeffries.

Caroline Roe: Used for historical mysteries, specifically the Chronicles of Isaac of Girona, which follow a 14th-century blind Jewish physician.

The Chronicles of Isaac of Girona series is deeply rooted in 14th-century Jewish life in Spain, leveraging Caroline Roe’s PhD in Medieval Studies to create a meticulously researched portrayal of the period. 

The Jewish content is central to the series in the following ways:

• Protagonist & Perspective: The main character, Isaac of Girona, is a blind Jewish physician. His blindness makes him a “double outsider”—both as a Jew in a Christian society and as a man who cannot see—which allows him to observe social nuances others miss.
• The “Call” (Jewish Quarter): The stories are primarily set in Girona’s medieval Jewish quarter, known as the Call. Roe uses her knowledge of its well-preserved streets, like Carrer de la Força, to depict a vibrant community of scholars, shopkeepers, and doctors.
• Interfaith Relations: A recurring theme is the complex relationship between the Jewish community and the Christian authorities. Isaac frequently serves as the personal physician and confidant to the Bishop of Girona, illustrating the “convivencia” (coexistence) and the underlying tensions of the era.
• Medical & Scientific Knowledge: The series explores the high regard for Jewish medical expertise in the Middle Ages. Isaac utilizes his heightened senses and knowledge of herbal remedies to solve crimes, reflecting the historical role of Jewish healers.
• Kabbalistic & Scholarly History: While Isaac is a fictional creation, the series is set in the historical home of renowned Jewish figures like Nahmanides and the  Girona School of Kabbalah, subtly weaving this intellectual atmosphere into the narrative backdrop. [Google/AI]

Roe, Caroline Medora Sale [The Chronicles of Isaac of Girona #1], (Remedy for Treason [mass mkt pb, Berkley, 1998]) 978-0425162958 [library binding, Bt. Bound, 2001] 978-0613293327

Roe, Caroline Medora Sale [The Chronicles of Isaac of Girona #2], (Cure for a Charlatan [mass mkt pb, Berkley, 1999]) 978-0425167342

Roe, Caroline Medora Sale [The Chronicles of Isaac of Girona #3], (An Antidote for Avarice [mass mkt pb, Berkley,1999]) 978-0425172605

Roe, Caroline Medora Sale [The Chronicles of Isaac of Girona #4], (Solace for a Sinner [mass mkt pb, Berkley, 2000]) 978-0425177761

Roe, Caroline Medora Sale [The Chronicles of Isaac of Girona #5], (A Potion for a Widow [mass mkt pb, Berkley, 2001]) 978-0425183656

Roe, Caroline Medora Sale [The Chronicles of Isaac of Girona #6], (A Draught For a Dead Man [hc, Berkley Hardcover, 2002]) 978-0425186480 [mass mkt pb, Berkley, 2003] 978-0425193082

Roe, Caroline Medora Sale [The Chronicles of Isaac of Girona #7], (A Poultice For A Healer [hc, Berkley, 2003]) 978-0425191927 [mass mkt pb, Berkley, 2004] 978-0425198667

Roe, Caroline Medora Sale [The Chronicles of Isaac of Girona #8], (Consolation for an Exile [hc, Berkley. 2004]) 978-0425198377 [mass mkt pb, Berkley, 2005] 978-0425201817