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Kathryn Swinbrooke #7
A Feast of Poisons
Could a village blacksmith and his wife have independently, and on the same day, murdered each other with two entirely different poisons? The local medicine woman doesn't think so. And neither does Kathryn Swinbrookei physician of Canterbury, who is in Walmer with her new husband, Colum Murtagh. Kathryn and Colum are visiting on state business: the fate of nations hinges on a meeting between the local grandee, Lord Henry, and agents of the French king. Now murder stalks the land, and only Kathryn can cut through the web of deceit that descends with the Spider King's minions.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2004
48 people are currently reading
187 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
January 14, 2025
Netter, aber irgendwie unspektakulärer Abschluss einer Reihe, die ich insgesamt sehr mochte.
Irgendwie hat mich in diesem Band weder der Fall noch Kathryn und Collum besonders gepackt. Aber trotzdem wie üblich kurzweilig und unterhaltsam.
Irgendwie hat mich in diesem Band weder der Fall noch Kathryn und Collum besonders gepackt. Aber trotzdem wie üblich kurzweilig und unterhaltsam.
March 8, 2023
Complex Whodonit...
Enjoyed this book! Complex tale with a challenging plot. Though I Missed some of the regular characters ...it was nice to read Kathryn and Columns relationship is blooming, so that part was good! A very violent and puzzling series of murders in a small town was shocking and the past events in the town's history leading up to the deaths is as complex a tale as any in this series. I would recommend this author's books to anyone interested in the aftermath of the Wars of the Roses and the reign of Edward the forth and his retinue. The details of life out of the London environs but still closely affected by and determined by loyalties to King and Country Are illuminating. I have now read all 7 books in the series in random order...wish I had read them in order!...but hope fervently there are more! Good reading to all who have not read any of these yet!
Enjoyed this book! Complex tale with a challenging plot. Though I Missed some of the regular characters ...it was nice to read Kathryn and Columns relationship is blooming, so that part was good! A very violent and puzzling series of murders in a small town was shocking and the past events in the town's history leading up to the deaths is as complex a tale as any in this series. I would recommend this author's books to anyone interested in the aftermath of the Wars of the Roses and the reign of Edward the forth and his retinue. The details of life out of the London environs but still closely affected by and determined by loyalties to King and Country Are illuminating. I have now read all 7 books in the series in random order...wish I had read them in order!...but hope fervently there are more! Good reading to all who have not read any of these yet!
June 10, 2022
I enjoyed all the books in this series.
However, towards the end of this book, I have noticed that the author tends to go through all the evidence over & over again which gets a bit tedious. Also Colum doesn't seem to do anything either in helping Kathryn solve any of the murders. I thought in the beginning of the series it was going to be a more joint partnership but it has turned out to be all about Kathryn's detective skills & Colum is only the muscle. (yes I do know it's called Kathryn Swinbrooke Medieval Mysteries) but I did get the impression that Colum was also intelligent enough to help in solving mysteries too.
I have enjoyed it none the less. PD makes good plots and twists & weaves the mystery, so the ending is usually a surprise for whom the murderer is.
However, towards the end of this book, I have noticed that the author tends to go through all the evidence over & over again which gets a bit tedious. Also Colum doesn't seem to do anything either in helping Kathryn solve any of the murders. I thought in the beginning of the series it was going to be a more joint partnership but it has turned out to be all about Kathryn's detective skills & Colum is only the muscle. (yes I do know it's called Kathryn Swinbrooke Medieval Mysteries) but I did get the impression that Colum was also intelligent enough to help in solving mysteries too.
I have enjoyed it none the less. PD makes good plots and twists & weaves the mystery, so the ending is usually a surprise for whom the murderer is.
March 28, 2023
Very good plot. This is the last of the Kathryn novels. Really sorry about that. It has been a good series with a lot of historical data.
July 21, 2015
love this series of books, finding the twists and turns, had to keep reading, even though I did not want it to end.
May 28, 2016
No more Kathryn. No more Irishman. What am I to do with my life? Read some Chaucer maybe?
August 28, 2016
Set in the late 15th century this book explores a series of poisonings and the possible reasons for them. Was it political, personal and who is the culprit?
June 14, 2023
Good story with interesting twists
August 13, 2023
A Feast of Poisons
Kathryn Swinbrooke #7
By Paul Dohert (writing as C L Grace)
Reviewed August 13, 2024
1473
The village of Walmer, not far from Canterbury, is your typical village where everybody knows everybody else’s business. But matters take a deadly turn when Elias, the Blacksmith, and his wife are both poisoned. Elias may not have been the nicest person, but who would hate him enough to want him and his wife dead?
Not long after, Adam the Apothecary is also poisoned, yet he had locked himself in his private room while his bed-ridden mother is calling for him. Is someone settling some scores? Are these deaths in any way connected to an incident after the battle of Tewkesbury when three Lancastrian soldiers came to Walmer seeking the sanctuary of the Church but were cut down by villagers eager to prove their loyalty to King Edward?
Meanwhile, Lord Henry Beauchamp at the behest of King Edward has invited French envoys Sanglier, Delacroix, and Cavignac to his estate in Walmer, ostensibly to begin negotiations for a peace treaty between England and France, but also to learn the truth about the disappearance of English envoy William Marshall and the Book of Ciphers he was supposed to have had with him.
On their medieval equivalent of a honeymoon, newlyweds Kathryn Swinbrooke and Colum Murtagh are also in Walmer, and at Lord Henry’s request are staying at his manor to be witnesses to any negotiations that take place. Their past service to the Crown is now well known in the region and honeymoon or not, you don’t really say no to what is, in essence, a royal request.
Whoever this poisoner is, he (or she) is able to slip in and out without being detected, and when one of the French envoys is poisoned, this mystery needs to be solved quickly or dire consequences including the possibility of war could result.
This is, at this time, the last of the Kathryn Swinbrooke mysteries, and I’m sorry to see the series end. The mysteries are always nicely convoluted, with plenty of clues and red herrings to delight the lovers of this genre, and the characters are always interesting. The development of the relationship between Kathryn and her Irishman has also been fun to follow. Highly recommend to series to anyone who enjoys mysteries with a medieval setting.
Kathryn Swinbrooke #7
By Paul Dohert (writing as C L Grace)
Reviewed August 13, 2024
1473
The village of Walmer, not far from Canterbury, is your typical village where everybody knows everybody else’s business. But matters take a deadly turn when Elias, the Blacksmith, and his wife are both poisoned. Elias may not have been the nicest person, but who would hate him enough to want him and his wife dead?
Not long after, Adam the Apothecary is also poisoned, yet he had locked himself in his private room while his bed-ridden mother is calling for him. Is someone settling some scores? Are these deaths in any way connected to an incident after the battle of Tewkesbury when three Lancastrian soldiers came to Walmer seeking the sanctuary of the Church but were cut down by villagers eager to prove their loyalty to King Edward?
Meanwhile, Lord Henry Beauchamp at the behest of King Edward has invited French envoys Sanglier, Delacroix, and Cavignac to his estate in Walmer, ostensibly to begin negotiations for a peace treaty between England and France, but also to learn the truth about the disappearance of English envoy William Marshall and the Book of Ciphers he was supposed to have had with him.
On their medieval equivalent of a honeymoon, newlyweds Kathryn Swinbrooke and Colum Murtagh are also in Walmer, and at Lord Henry’s request are staying at his manor to be witnesses to any negotiations that take place. Their past service to the Crown is now well known in the region and honeymoon or not, you don’t really say no to what is, in essence, a royal request.
Whoever this poisoner is, he (or she) is able to slip in and out without being detected, and when one of the French envoys is poisoned, this mystery needs to be solved quickly or dire consequences including the possibility of war could result.
This is, at this time, the last of the Kathryn Swinbrooke mysteries, and I’m sorry to see the series end. The mysteries are always nicely convoluted, with plenty of clues and red herrings to delight the lovers of this genre, and the characters are always interesting. The development of the relationship between Kathryn and her Irishman has also been fun to follow. Highly recommend to series to anyone who enjoys mysteries with a medieval setting.
March 26, 2023
This is book 7 in the Kathryn Swinbrooke series and seems to be the last.
I really enjoyed the whole series and the world of the Middle Ages (England) and the aftermath of the War of the Roses.
Kathryn and Colum, her Irishman, have wed and are supposed to be on their honeymoon, but murder has other ideas.
While I enjoyed this one, it felt a bit flat at times. Kathryn was irritated at having her honeymoon disrupted and at times the story plodded.
Colum seemed almost sidelined and the story didn't take place in Canterbury, as the other six have I missed the usual household interactions.
Kathryn of course solved the variety of murders, with poisoning being the most used.
Hopefully she then got to enjoy some time with her husband.
I highly recommend this series and in fact any of Paul Doherty's books.
I really enjoyed the whole series and the world of the Middle Ages (England) and the aftermath of the War of the Roses.
Kathryn and Colum, her Irishman, have wed and are supposed to be on their honeymoon, but murder has other ideas.
While I enjoyed this one, it felt a bit flat at times. Kathryn was irritated at having her honeymoon disrupted and at times the story plodded.
Colum seemed almost sidelined and the story didn't take place in Canterbury, as the other six have I missed the usual household interactions.
Kathryn of course solved the variety of murders, with poisoning being the most used.
Hopefully she then got to enjoy some time with her husband.
I highly recommend this series and in fact any of Paul Doherty's books.
June 25, 2023
all’s well that ends well.
But leaves a bloody trail behind it. There are more murders in this book than in any of the others. And more secret sins, and treachery, and evil mindedness. On a happier note Kathryn and Colum are married.
But leaves a bloody trail behind it. There are more murders in this book than in any of the others. And more secret sins, and treachery, and evil mindedness. On a happier note Kathryn and Colum are married.
March 19, 2024
Wow!
Terrific series!. I read all 7 books consecutively and found it to be very enjoyable, thrilling, historically accurate series, written by an excellent historian and author! Similar to Candace Rob's Owen Archer Series! Enjoy an exciting adventure with Kathryn and Colum!
Terrific series!. I read all 7 books consecutively and found it to be very enjoyable, thrilling, historically accurate series, written by an excellent historian and author! Similar to Candace Rob's Owen Archer Series! Enjoy an exciting adventure with Kathryn and Colum!
August 17, 2017
Great reading
Again this great and talented author whips up a tale with so many twists and turns one cannot put down the book till the end
Again this great and talented author whips up a tale with so many twists and turns one cannot put down the book till the end
January 30, 2018
L'ultimo della serie dedicata alla medico-speziale Kathryn Swinbrooke. Peccato che Doherty, alias C.L. Grace, non ne abbia scritti altri, in questa serie.
February 27, 2022
Intriguing premise but very little character development.
January 6, 2026
Kathryn Swinbrooke, apothecary and physician of Canterbury, has at last married her gorgeous Irishman, Colum Murtagh, keeper of the King’s stables at Canterbury. But as you might expect, Kathryn and Colum do not have long to enjoy their wedded bliss before they have to investigate a series of gruesome murders, this time at the village of Walmer. A good mystery, though as it mostly takes place in Walmer we unfortunately don’t see much of the other regular characters who usually enliven the story(nowadays you can get from Canterbury to Walmer in half an hour, but it took a bit longer in the 15th century). At one point Kathryn says she misses the streets of Canterbury, and so did I. Still, I had no idea who did it, or why, which is always satisfying. I am only sorry that this is the last volume of this very enjoyable series.
September 26, 2012
I am a great fan of this author ( Paul Doherty )and have read most of his Hugh Corbett series. So, grabbed at the chance to read another of his historical sleuths.
I found the book as gripping as the others and was impressed by the ease at which the author changes his background around periods of history.
There were a couple of good plots running through this one, but unlike Midsomer Murders which it appeared to mirror with the number of bodies, the clues were well hidden. In the case of the french connection, a most unexpected motive.
I found the book as gripping as the others and was impressed by the ease at which the author changes his background around periods of history.
There were a couple of good plots running through this one, but unlike Midsomer Murders which it appeared to mirror with the number of bodies, the clues were well hidden. In the case of the french connection, a most unexpected motive.
November 8, 2010
It's a rare book that can make nearly all the murders seem justified without lacking in satisfaction, but this one does. The logic that unravels the mysteries is clean but still manages to come as a surprise. The historic details are excellent, as always, and this entry is a must for the reader of this series. New readers should start at the beginning.
April 4, 2014
The last in the series, but it does bring things to a conclusion. A cracking pair of intertwined mysteries, well up to Paul Doherty aka C L Grace's usual standard. For full review, see http://classicmystery.wordpress.com
December 26, 2014
This is a well written mystery with interesting characters and a plot that slowly unfolds. Hard to believe that the murderer is found through sheer logic with little if any clues.
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January 26, 2013wonderful, too bad it seems to be the last one
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews