Campo de sangre

The Sorrowful Mysteries of Brother Athelstan #9

by Paul Harding

El escenario de la nueva investigación de Athelstan y Cranston es un viejo campo abandonado, donde la hierba crece vigorosa y fresca gracias a los cadáveres que en él se alojan. Su misión será encontrar las claves que relacionan a los cadáveres que van apareciendo, lo que en ningún caso a a ver fácil. Una de las novelas más intrigantes de la serie.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Medieval, Fiction, Historical, Crime

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

A pseudonym used by Paul Doherty.

Book 1-7 of The Sorrowful Mysteries of Brother Athelstan were originally written under pseudonym Paul Harding. Since 1998, starting with book 8, The Sorrowful Mysteries of Brother Athelstan were published under his own name Paul Doherty.

Reviews

[Clemens Schoonderwoert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book in 2010, and its the 9th volume of the wonderful "Brother Athelstan" series.

This mystery is mainly situated in the parish of Brother Athelstan, where three bodies are found, and these are savagely murdered.

What is clear that the murderer has been disturbed in his first killing, leaving him no choice to kill the preacher and whore also.

The third victim remains a mystery, and for Brother Athelstan the chance to start investigating these horrible murders.

With is Sir John Cranston at his side, the Coroner of London, and together they will go into any length to find out the truth behind these murders, and the more they unravel the clues concerning these deaths the more it will become clear at the who and why of it all, and after solving these clues they will be able in the end to apprehend the culprit of these hideous murders.

Highly recommended, for this is another superb addition to this great series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Brilliant Brother Athelstan Mystery"!

[Jazzysmum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another enjoyable addition with a twist at the end.

[Barefoot Gypsy Jimerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lessons learned.

One thing for sure is I really like these mysteries . This one is test of friendship. Also what lovers won't do to be together. The latter well shame on you!!!!! An how love brings people together. A lesson to remember.

A Damn fine telling!

[Trevor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another adventure for Brother Athelstan and Sir John Cranston. The body count is high – it starts at three, quickly rises to five with the possibility of another six or so.
As ever, this series mixes the high politics of court and its movers and shakers and the low lives of the parishioners of Brother Athelstan’s congregation at St Erconwald’s in Southwark. And, as ever, it’s clear that the lives of the both extremes are more closely linked than either might imagine. This is a charming series that I am enjoyably making my way through – this is book 9 with another 5 to go. The standard is consistently high and aways entertaining.

[Ana Gomez · Rating 3 out of 5]

A veces la trama me ha resultado confusa y eso me hacía complicado seguir la historia. Algunos hechos han sido predecibles pero al final hay un giro que yo no me esperaba y eso me ha gustado. A pesar de esto, la historia es muy entretenida.

[Ches Torrants · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fourteenth century London comes alive with shocking realism. I could feel the crowding and smell the dirt. The hero seems to be a saintly fellow, priest and friar, as well as working with a local dignitary to investigate murder. I tend to struggle with the names and roles of the numerous characters, but the suspects become clearer and the body count rises. Brother Athelstan finds the facts, and of course there is a surprise at the end that I could never have guessed.

[Christopher Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent mystery but it adds nothing to the series, and neither character really stood out as characters. They were in the story, but were just coasting on previous characterization without significant personality. Sir Cranston's usual foibles - drinking, sleeping, being bombastic, tricking people into thinking he was a fool etc - are almost gone in this story. Athelstan's behavior is a bit more established, but less significant and he was the focus of this book.

The mysteries are three fold again: a girl and boy want to wed but it is claimed their great-grandparents were related. Three people are found murdered in an old burned out home. A woman is accused of a double murder but Athelstan and Cranston are skeptical.

Without discernable logic or evidence, Athelstan is certain he knows who killed the trio. He manages to figure out how it happened, but with no proof or evidence.

All three murders are wrapped up with more than a little contrivance; definitely not Doherty's best work.

[Bruce Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

The field of Blood

Paul Doherty brings us to the London of 1380, including its smells and sights. Father Athelstan and Cranston must solve a few murders again. Are they related? A King's messenger has been killed? Is the Great Community involved? Who killed the other two people found with his body? An innkeeper is accused of murdering two people. Their bodies are found on her land. Can the Cororner prove her innocence? A great mystery.

[Alberto Valverde · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tenemos que hablar... No eres tú, tal vez sea yo que me deje sugestionar por el brillo de tu propuesta, pero al conocerte en ningun momento me sentí atrapado ni percibí el amor que yo mismo (ya digo que sea seguramente culpa mía) traté de convencerme que hallaría. Pudo ser bonito. Igual que los sueños que se diluyen al despertar dejando como poso la cruda realidad.

[Mrs Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant as always

I can never go wrong with a Brother Athelstan book, they’re always brilliant, entertaining and the history is very interesting. I love reading about Athelstan and the members of his parish council who get up to all sorts of things and their names also are an absolute hoot. Definitely recommended.

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Brother Athelstan series is my favourite murder mystery series. This one has a couple of mysteries going on. It is not too gory when describing how criminals were punished in this period, unlike some of the other books in the series.

[Lynn Alan Heath · Rating 5 out of 5]

More than one mystery

I was thrilled with this book as the little friar worked on solving three mysteries. In the end all were solved as the friar used logic as he always does. An excellent read☺😀

[pauline holbrook · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good book

I think this is one of the best books in read in this series. I couldn't put this down. What I love as well are the characters that live in Athelstans parish. I feel as though I'm there when I read these books.

ad t






hese book.

[Bethan Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. The first Athelstan book that I’ve read, will definitely read some more. Will have to try to get the start of the series.
3 bodies are found in his parish, 1 of whom turns out to be a royal messenger.

[Ian D. Fetigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Getting better.

Book number 9 and I am reading them in order. This one was very good. You always feel in the scene with this author. I love that.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story, but the ebook is full of typographical errors.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very predictable but I like the characters.

[Adam Bricker · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining whodunnit set in the 1380s

[Tara Gabor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoy this series; love the mysteries and the characters.

[Ed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

I love these books , great characters and a fine plot . You really get a taste for 12 th century England.

[Béatrice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Comme le précédent, je trouve l'intrigue confuse !

[Maeghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unexpected Ending...

A merry chase, this. As usual, there are three problems to solve, one with a lovely happy ending. And Cranston is largely sober, for him at least!

[Marion Hobbins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matriach38

As usual,this book like all BrotherAthelstan books is intriguing ,full of historical information,humour. "Who done it" right to the end.

[Ingrid · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it, and I'm glad there are a few more for me to read.

[Michael Dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

very enjoyable.
Athelstan is becoming more assertive vis a vis Cranston

Author is becoming a bit predictble on the villain.
Had my suspicion proven correct.

[Charlene · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not for me unfortunately 😔

[John Newey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant.

Another excellent whodunnit with the Sherlock Holmes and Watson of the Middle Ages. Great characters, great villains, and great plot.

[Susan in NC · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another satisfying entry in one of my favorite historical mystery series; this time three brutally murdered corpses are found in Brother Athelstan's parish, which could lead to a devastating fine on his poor parishioners if the murderer isn't found. Athelstan also serves as secretarius to Sir Jack Cranston, Coroner for the City of London, and the two must also investigate murder charges against a respectable widow accused of burying her victims in a "field of blood" beside her prosperous tavern. Kathryn Vestler is an old friend of Sir Jack's, kind, generous, and hard-working by all accounts, but Athelstan can tell she's lying about mysterious goings-on in and around her tavern; who is she protecting, and can our two heroes get to the truth and save her from hanging?

As always, Athelstan and Sir Jack have wonderful chemistry, bouncing theories off each other as they move about London questioning witnesses and suspects; the parishioners of St. Erconwald's, Athelstan's church, provide comic relief and a very earthy human touch. Recommended to fans of well-researched historical mysteries, especially the medieval period.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some stories will fit in any setting and this is one. Let the world hear about a possible buried treasure and large numbers will set out to find and claim it, even allowing for the crown's claim on treasure trove. In fact, the crown itself in the person of John of Gaunt, the Lord Protector, might very well get in on this act. Things are complicated by the murderous death of a royal messenger. If the murderer isn't found then the parish in which the death occurred is fined and the people of Brother Athelstan's parish are to poor to sustain such a fine so it is up to the good brother to assist Sir John Cranston to find the guilty party. People's motives don't change much from age to age so there was very little the author had to do to make the reasoning clear. This is the 9th in the series and the characters have tics and stock phrases that could turn them into caricatures, like Sir John with his appetite for ale and habit of crashing into rooms and the bailiff and his dog, always wanting to be with Sir John. It was a good story, well told.

[P.D.R. Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good straight forward read, by a good plain writer. For those who enjoy historical mysteries this is a great series. Not loaded down with historical details, but with just enough to give a sense of place and time.

The main characters are likeable and the plot is lively with lots of twists and turns. The ending is satisfactory, good does win out, but it is not until the last pages. A nail biting read!

Doherty writes a good plain tale in an easy to read style and even the non-historical reader would enjoy this series.