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Warhammer Fantasy
A Murder in Marienburg
Marienburg is the greatest port of the Old World, a melting pot of different cultures and races. When he is made a captain of the watch, ex Imperial army officer Kurt Schnell soon finds his promotion is a poison chalice. His watch station is in the worst part of town, his men are scum, strange creatures prowl the streets at night - what more could possibly go wrong?
- GenresFantasy
416 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 22, 2007
2 people are currently reading
97 people want to read
About the author
David Bishop
141 books38 followersDavid James Bishop is a New Zealand screenwriter and author. He was a UK comics editor during the 1990s, running such titles as the Judge Dredd Megazine and 2000 AD, the latter between 1996 and the summer of 2000.
He has since become a prolific author and received his first drama scriptwriting credit when BBC Radio 4 broadcast his radio play Island Blue: Ronald in June 2006. In 2007, he won the PAGE International Screenwriting Award in the short film category for his script Danny's Toys, and was a finalist in the 2009 PAGE Awards with his script The Woman Who Screamed Butterflies.
In 2008, he appeared on 23 May edition of the BBC One quiz show The Weakest Link, beating eight other contestants to win more than £1500 in prize money.
In 2010, Bishop received his first TV drama credit on the BBC medical drama series Doctors, writing an episode called A Pill For Every Ill, broadcast on 10 February.
He has since become a prolific author and received his first drama scriptwriting credit when BBC Radio 4 broadcast his radio play Island Blue: Ronald in June 2006. In 2007, he won the PAGE International Screenwriting Award in the short film category for his script Danny's Toys, and was a finalist in the 2009 PAGE Awards with his script The Woman Who Screamed Butterflies.
In 2008, he appeared on 23 May edition of the BBC One quiz show The Weakest Link, beating eight other contestants to win more than £1500 in prize money.
In 2010, Bishop received his first TV drama credit on the BBC medical drama series Doctors, writing an episode called A Pill For Every Ill, broadcast on 10 February.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 8, 2016
I originally bought "A Massacre in Marienburg" thinking it was a one-off, but it was actually book #2 in the series and this book is the first. So I bought this book not thinking much about it.
I just finished it and I loved every page! A fantastic story about a 'Black Hat' captain having to take over a previously shutdown police watch station in the worse part of Marienburg port town. You can smell and taste the salty air of this rancid and dodgy part of the Empire. I loved all the characters and their individual idiosyncrasies.
A great climatic ending that was really satisfying. Now I can't wait to read his book #2, "A Massacre in Marienburg".
Why, oh why, did GW have to blow up the Old World and give us the bland Sigmarines. :/
I just finished it and I loved every page! A fantastic story about a 'Black Hat' captain having to take over a previously shutdown police watch station in the worse part of Marienburg port town. You can smell and taste the salty air of this rancid and dodgy part of the Empire. I loved all the characters and their individual idiosyncrasies.
A great climatic ending that was really satisfying. Now I can't wait to read his book #2, "A Massacre in Marienburg".
Why, oh why, did GW have to blow up the Old World and give us the bland Sigmarines. :/
March 24, 2025
El libro esta bien, aunque no me ha gustado demasiado el trato a los skaven, aunque el tema bandas humanas y la mafia está muy bien. Me falta algo de desarrollo en algún personaje principal. Los secundarios los deja bastante de lado muchas veces.
Es fácil hacerse un lio con quien es quien con algunos personajes, por ejemplo los compañeros Gorras Negras, ya que en algunos momentos se les llama por el apellido, otras por el nombre y es fácil liarse.
Aunque es un libro que me ha gustado, no he sentido, casi en ningún momento, ese punto de no poder dejar de leer, ni siquiera en la parte final del libro.
Es fácil hacerse un lio con quien es quien con algunos personajes, por ejemplo los compañeros Gorras Negras, ya que en algunos momentos se les llama por el apellido, otras por el nombre y es fácil liarse.
Aunque es un libro que me ha gustado, no he sentido, casi en ningún momento, ese punto de no poder dejar de leer, ni siquiera en la parte final del libro.
November 12, 2021
"Sigmar's Sausage!"
This book is worth reading for that alone.
All in all, this was actually a pretty decent book in my opinion. It had solid characters, an intriguing plot (for the most part), the writing is good: dark and gritty with action that feels realistic. It's a book with a narrower perspective; no wars or world-threatening crisis, just a couple of police trying to reclaim an abandoned station in a bad part of town while at the same time solve the mystery of someone's untimely death. At times, you can be forgiven for forgetting it's a Warhammer book at all, that's how narrowly focused this book is. It feels like a crime mystery that just so happens to be set in the Warhammer universe.
If you're like me and prefer the focused, character-driven stories over the extravagantly actiony ones, you'll probably enjoy this. It's got compelling heroes, diverging subplots, a lingering sense of danger that keeps the atmosphere tense. There's a lot of charm to its characters and story.
That said, it's not without its flaws. For one thing, It's a bit campy. The main villain is like the Godfather, but a Saturday morning cartoon version. I mean, his name is Henschmann, come on. The ending also feels very rushed and doesn't make a whole lot of sense (as usual with Warhammer books).
And then there's the Skaven. They get an awesome description in the book, that emphasizes how menacing and terrifying they can be.
Nonetheless, I would still recommend this to any fans of Warhammer fantasy.
This book is worth reading for that alone.
All in all, this was actually a pretty decent book in my opinion. It had solid characters, an intriguing plot (for the most part), the writing is good: dark and gritty with action that feels realistic. It's a book with a narrower perspective; no wars or world-threatening crisis, just a couple of police trying to reclaim an abandoned station in a bad part of town while at the same time solve the mystery of someone's untimely death. At times, you can be forgiven for forgetting it's a Warhammer book at all, that's how narrowly focused this book is. It feels like a crime mystery that just so happens to be set in the Warhammer universe.
If you're like me and prefer the focused, character-driven stories over the extravagantly actiony ones, you'll probably enjoy this. It's got compelling heroes, diverging subplots, a lingering sense of danger that keeps the atmosphere tense. There's a lot of charm to its characters and story.
That said, it's not without its flaws. For one thing, It's a bit campy. The main villain is like the Godfather, but a Saturday morning cartoon version. I mean, his name is Henschmann, come on. The ending also feels very rushed and doesn't make a whole lot of sense (as usual with Warhammer books).
And then there's the Skaven. They get an awesome description in the book, that emphasizes how menacing and terrifying they can be.
They were vermin that stood on their hind legs like men, creatures of hunger and fury. They were evil personified, fear and loathing made flesh. They were every worst nightmare, brought to life.But at the same time, they don't appear very often in the book; on the whole, maybe three times they showed up. Worst of all, their dialogue sounds nothing like how skaven are supposed to speak. It really breaks the immersion.
Nonetheless, I would still recommend this to any fans of Warhammer fantasy.
May 7, 2020
Do I think this book deserve 5 stars for an Epic tale in the Old World.... no.
However, where the book truly succeeds is the tale it self. The author weaves a lively tale, full of characters and conflicts, that just flow together so well, I had a hard time putting the book down. I wanted to keep reading to find out what else could befall all the characters in the book. I felt I was reading a great Fantasy novel, from a talented writer all the way through and through. Nothing less than 5 stars, for this book of adventure.
Fantastic read, even though the story could have taken place in any other fantasy book, not just in Warhammer Universe. (Ratman = Skaven only really show up at the end, no great loss to a great story)
However, where the book truly succeeds is the tale it self. The author weaves a lively tale, full of characters and conflicts, that just flow together so well, I had a hard time putting the book down. I wanted to keep reading to find out what else could befall all the characters in the book. I felt I was reading a great Fantasy novel, from a talented writer all the way through and through. Nothing less than 5 stars, for this book of adventure.
Fantastic read, even though the story could have taken place in any other fantasy book, not just in Warhammer Universe. (Ratman = Skaven only really show up at the end, no great loss to a great story)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 6, 2024
First read this back when I was 16 and it was one of the first Warhammer books i read and it was what got me really into the series. 15+ years later it’s good to see it still holds up! Especially considering the fall from grace these books suffered after the End Times. The new Age Of Sigma books just plain suck. This book harkens back to a time of Warhammer when you could pick just about any old book and read it without having read any others or any idea about the world setting or anything else. Classic Warhammer at its best! 5/5
February 20, 2025
Toda una sorpresa, cruel y oscuro, la trama se desarrolla en un barrio lleno de criminales de Marienburgo donde es destinado el capitán Kurt Schnell para poner orden y resolver el misterioso asesinato de un elfo encontrado cerca de las cloacas. Este valeroso señor Kurt tiene que enfrentarse a todo el mundo, los criminales del barrio, los polis corruptos, agentes del caos, cazadores de brujas,traidores y cobardes en sus propias filas, y si eso fuera poca cosa, los malditos skavens acechan en las cloacas debajo de la ciudad. Como he dicho, el lectura ligera pero está muy bien.
August 30, 2025
Tu padre sabe que te gusta Warhammer y que te gusta leer, va al Fnac o a algún sitio así y pregunta al técnico de las teles por una novela de Warhammer.
El libro que llega a tu casa es insulso, pero agradeces el detalle.
El libro que llega a tu casa es insulso, pero agradeces el detalle.
February 1, 2021
Grim, dark and heroic. A very good read to taste the Warhammer Old World's mood.
Definitely suggested.
Definitely suggested.
January 2, 2026
Good pace, it kept me wanting more.
I look forward to reading more by this author.
I look forward to reading more by this author.
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July 22, 2016This is yet another excellent dark fantasy book set in the Warhammer world. Warhammer has crept ahead of the Realms books in my opinion recently.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews