The Gallows Murders

Sir Roger Shallot #5

by Michael Clynes

In the summer of 1523, the weather has turned hot and the sweating sickness has returned to London to provide a fertile breeding ground for terrible murders and the most treasonable conspiracies. King Henry VIII has moved the court to Windsor, where he slakes his lusts while the kingdom is being governed by his first minister, Cardinal Thomas Wolsey. Wolsey, however, is not having an easy time. Someone is sending the king threatening letters from the tower, despatched under the name and seal of Edward, one of the princes supposedly murdered there, and demanding that great amounts of gold be left in different parts of London. If the orders are not carried out, proclamations will be published throughout the capital which, coinciding with the outbreak of plague, may make it look as though the hand of God has turned against the Tudors for usurping the throne. Henry VIII is truly terrified - and also intrigued by the mysterious and grisly murders occurring among the hangmen of London, whose guild also happens to meet in the tower. Wolsey has only two people to turn to: his beloved nephew, Benjamin Daunbey, and Daunbey's faithful servant, Roger Shallot, who reluctantly agree to go to London to unmask the blackmailer and end the macabre murders among the hangmen. Benjamin and Roger first meet with disaster in the murky Tudor underworld. They also become immersed in the ghastly world of the Gallowsmen, the royal executioners, many of whom are dying the same hideous deaths that they have meted out to others. And at the same time they must confront the mystery of the princes of the tower - an ancient murder that still haunts the English throne. When King Henry threatens that Shallot will hang from the highest scaffold in the kingdom unless the mysteries are resolved, the pressure mounts for Benjamin and Roger to find the answers - whether they be in London's foul alleyways or among the gorgeous splendor of the Tudor court.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Historical, Fiction, Crime, Detective

247 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

aka Paul Doherty

Reviews

[Clemens Schoonderwoert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book in 2009, and its the 5th volume of the delightful "Roger Shallot" series, from the author, Paul Doherty.

This tales are brought to us as a kind of recollections of Roger Shallot while serving Cardinal Wolsey as a reluctant spy and henchman, during the brutal reign of King Henry VIII.

The story is set in the summer of the year AD 1523, and the King has retreated to Windsor, to slake his lusts there, while London a breeding ground for murder and conspiracies.

While Cardinal Wolsey is governing the realm, the King receives a threat from the Tower, despatched under the name and seal of Edward, one of the princes supposedly murdered there, and the blackmailer demands great amounts of gold.

King Henry VIII, now truly terrified and intrigued by the mysterious murders occurring among the hangmen of London, whose guild are also meeting in the Tower.

Cardinal Wolsey will turn to his nephew, Benjamin Daunbey and his servant, Roger Shallot, to find out the truth behind these threats.

What Benjamin and Roger will encounter is a world of suspicion and deceit, where they to tread carefully if they want to succeed with their investigations, and after quite some twists and turns, followed by an exquisite executed plot, they will be able to unravel this mystery of mayhem and murder.

Highly recommended, for this is another splendid addition to this marvellous series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Glorious Gallows Murders Mystery"!

[Kim Campbell]

Another great read by Paul Doherty. I love this character Roger Shallot. He's a rogue through and through, but such fun to read. You can't help wondering how on earth he managed to get to the grand old age of 95, when undoubtedly better men than he have long since gone. Ah well, maybe the devil does take care of his own.

[Rose Lambert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book

The author does it again. Leads the reader on a merry Chase so you think you have solved the mystery but alas you have not.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable light hearted mystery

[Zosia Marsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable light read.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shallot heads off to London during a quiet spell in Ipswich where he gets caught up with the plague of sweating sickness sweeping the city and falls victim to it himself. He recovers under the careful care of an order of monks and his master finds him to tell him the king needs their services again. Someone purporting to be one of th missing Princes in the Tower is blackmailing Henry VIII and the city's executioners are also being murdered. Shallot and Daunbey need to establish if the two are related and who's responsible. I enjoy the twists in these novels and Shallot is a loveable rogue whose antics amuse and, occasionally, make me roll my eyes.

[Karen M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this something different mystery set in London in 1523. I enjoyed the mystery within a mystery of the disappearance of the little princes in the Tower forty years prior.

[Herneith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hey nonny no another for Roger Shallot!!!

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great tongue-in-check mystery of the Tudor era! Roger Shallot bungles his way through the mystery with help from his Master & friend and other players.