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Sir Roger Shallot #3
Gli assassini del Graal
Inghilterra, XVI secolo. La setta dei Templari è ormai sciolta da tempo, ma i secoli non hanno saputo consegnare definitivamente al passato questi gloriosi cavalieri: segretamente, l'ordine continua a riunirsi e a praticare i propri riti. E ancora una volta il suo destino è legato alla più sacra delle reliquie. Un antico manoscritto riemerso dalla polverosa biblioteca dell'Abbazia di Glastonbury svelerebbe il luogo in cui è occultato il Sacro Graal, insieme alla leggendaria spada Excalibur. ma i cavalieri non sono gli unici sulle tracce di un tale inestimabile tesoro. Enrico VIII, spregiudicato e sanguinario despota, ne brama il possesso per sancire la legittimità della casa dei Tudor contro quella avversaria degli York che minaccia il suo trono.
302 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
About the author
Paul Doherty
250 books627 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
He has been published under several pseudonyms: P.C. Doherty, Celia L. Grace, Paul Harding, Ann Dukthas, Vanessa Alexander, Michael Clynes and Anna Apostolou but now writes only under his own name.
Paul Doherty was born in Middlesbrough (North-Eastern England) in 1946. He had the usual education before studying at Durham for three years for the Catholic priesthood but decided not to proceed. He went to Liverpool University where he gained a First Class Honours Degree in History and won a state scholarship to Exeter College, Oxford, whilst there he met his wife Carla Lynn Corbitt. He continued his studies but decided that the academic world was not for him and became a secondary school teacher.
Paul worked in Ascot, Nottingham and Crawley West Sussex before being appointed as Headmaster to Trinity Catholic School in September 1981. Trinity is a large comprehensive [1700 on roll] which teaches the full ability range, ages 11-18. The school has been described as one of the leading comprehensives in the U.K. In April, 2000 H. M. Inspectorate describe it as an 'Outstanding School', and it was given Beacon status as a Centre of Excellence whilst, in the Chief Inspector’s Report to the Secretary of State for January 2001, Trinity Catholic High School was singled out for praise and received a public accolade.
Paul’s other incarnation is as a novelist. He finished his doctorate on the reign of Edward II of England and, in 1987, began to publish a series of outstanding historical mysteries set in the Middle Age, Classical, Greek, Ancient Egypt and elsewhere. These have been published in the United States by St. Martin’s Press of New York, Edhasa in Spain, and Eichborn, Heyne, Knaur and others in Germany. They have also been published in Holland, Belgium, France, Italy, Romania, Estonia, Czechoslovakia, Russia, Bulgaria, Portugal and China, as well as Argentina and Mexico.
He has been published under several pseudonyms (see the bibliography): C. L. Grace, Paul Harding, Ann Dukthas and Anna Apostolou but now writes only under his own name. He recently launched a very successful series based around the life of Alexander the Great, published by Constable & Robinson in the U.K., and Carroll and Graf in the U.S.A., whilst his novels set in Ancient Egypt have won critical acclaim. Paul has also written several non-fiction titles; A Life of Isabella the She-wolf of France, Wife of Edward II of England, as well as study of the possible murder of Tutankhamun, the boy Pharaoh of Egypt’s 18th Dynasty, and a study on the true fate of Alexander the Great.
Paul and Carla live on the borders of London and Essex, not far from Epping Forest and six of their children have been through his own school. His wife Carla currently owns two horses and is training, for showing and dressage, a beautiful Arab filly named Polly.
Paul lectures for a number of organisations, particularly on historical mysteries, many of which later feature in his writings. A born speaker and trained lecturer Paul Doherty can hold and entertain audiences.
His one great ambition is to petition the Privy Council of England to open the Purbeck marble tomb of Edward II in Gloucester Cathedral. Paul believes the tomb does not house the body
He has been published under several pseudonyms: P.C. Doherty, Celia L. Grace, Paul Harding, Ann Dukthas, Vanessa Alexander, Michael Clynes and Anna Apostolou but now writes only under his own name.
Paul Doherty was born in Middlesbrough (North-Eastern England) in 1946. He had the usual education before studying at Durham for three years for the Catholic priesthood but decided not to proceed. He went to Liverpool University where he gained a First Class Honours Degree in History and won a state scholarship to Exeter College, Oxford, whilst there he met his wife Carla Lynn Corbitt. He continued his studies but decided that the academic world was not for him and became a secondary school teacher.
Paul worked in Ascot, Nottingham and Crawley West Sussex before being appointed as Headmaster to Trinity Catholic School in September 1981. Trinity is a large comprehensive [1700 on roll] which teaches the full ability range, ages 11-18. The school has been described as one of the leading comprehensives in the U.K. In April, 2000 H. M. Inspectorate describe it as an 'Outstanding School', and it was given Beacon status as a Centre of Excellence whilst, in the Chief Inspector’s Report to the Secretary of State for January 2001, Trinity Catholic High School was singled out for praise and received a public accolade.
Paul’s other incarnation is as a novelist. He finished his doctorate on the reign of Edward II of England and, in 1987, began to publish a series of outstanding historical mysteries set in the Middle Age, Classical, Greek, Ancient Egypt and elsewhere. These have been published in the United States by St. Martin’s Press of New York, Edhasa in Spain, and Eichborn, Heyne, Knaur and others in Germany. They have also been published in Holland, Belgium, France, Italy, Romania, Estonia, Czechoslovakia, Russia, Bulgaria, Portugal and China, as well as Argentina and Mexico.
He has been published under several pseudonyms (see the bibliography): C. L. Grace, Paul Harding, Ann Dukthas and Anna Apostolou but now writes only under his own name. He recently launched a very successful series based around the life of Alexander the Great, published by Constable & Robinson in the U.K., and Carroll and Graf in the U.S.A., whilst his novels set in Ancient Egypt have won critical acclaim. Paul has also written several non-fiction titles; A Life of Isabella the She-wolf of France, Wife of Edward II of England, as well as study of the possible murder of Tutankhamun, the boy Pharaoh of Egypt’s 18th Dynasty, and a study on the true fate of Alexander the Great.
Paul and Carla live on the borders of London and Essex, not far from Epping Forest and six of their children have been through his own school. His wife Carla currently owns two horses and is training, for showing and dressage, a beautiful Arab filly named Polly.
Paul lectures for a number of organisations, particularly on historical mysteries, many of which later feature in his writings. A born speaker and trained lecturer Paul Doherty can hold and entertain audiences.
His one great ambition is to petition the Privy Council of England to open the Purbeck marble tomb of Edward II in Gloucester Cathedral. Paul believes the tomb does not house the body
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 30, 2021
Read this book in 2009, and its the 3rd volume of the delightful "Roger Shallot" series.
This series brings us the recollections of Roger Shallot's adventures for his boss , Cardinal Wolsey, during the reign of King Henry VIII.
The tale is set in the year AD 1522, and Roger Shallot and Benjamin Daunbey are witness of the execution of Stafford, Duke of Buckingham, after having been found guilty of treason.
The true reason for the Duke of Buckingham's downfall was that he was searching for two precious relics, the Holy Grail and Excalibur at Templecombe manor and Glastonbury Abbey in Somerset.
Benjamin and Roger Shallot are sent to Templecombe to find these relics for the KIng, and they are accompanied by the King's dreaded secret service, the agentes in Rebus.
Their opponents are Templars, a secret organisation plotting against the Tudors, of which Buckingham may have been part, and one of them is still a member and also close to the crown.
What will follow is an intriguing and exciting Tudor mystery, in which Benjamin and Roger Shallot will have to use their wits, cunning and speedy legs, to unravel this mystery, and after several dangerous and deadly encounters in various circumstances they will be able to reveal the culprit of all this mayhem and murder.
Highly recommended, for this is a wonderful addition of this great series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Glorious Grail Mystery"!
This series brings us the recollections of Roger Shallot's adventures for his boss , Cardinal Wolsey, during the reign of King Henry VIII.
The tale is set in the year AD 1522, and Roger Shallot and Benjamin Daunbey are witness of the execution of Stafford, Duke of Buckingham, after having been found guilty of treason.
The true reason for the Duke of Buckingham's downfall was that he was searching for two precious relics, the Holy Grail and Excalibur at Templecombe manor and Glastonbury Abbey in Somerset.
Benjamin and Roger Shallot are sent to Templecombe to find these relics for the KIng, and they are accompanied by the King's dreaded secret service, the agentes in Rebus.
Their opponents are Templars, a secret organisation plotting against the Tudors, of which Buckingham may have been part, and one of them is still a member and also close to the crown.
What will follow is an intriguing and exciting Tudor mystery, in which Benjamin and Roger Shallot will have to use their wits, cunning and speedy legs, to unravel this mystery, and after several dangerous and deadly encounters in various circumstances they will be able to reveal the culprit of all this mayhem and murder.
Highly recommended, for this is a wonderful addition of this great series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Glorious Grail Mystery"!
August 16, 2017
Un protagonista loffio, una trama leggera, pochissimi spunti interessanti: un libro buono solo per accendere il camino d'inverno!
November 24, 2022
Сър Шалот, шпионин на краля и безнадежден женкар, е по следите на две от най-издирваните реликви в историята - Светия Граал и меча на крал Артур. Но той не е единственият, поел на това пътешествие. В надпревара със зловещия Орден на рицарите тамплиери, сър Шалот се изправя срещу призраци, вещици и древни проклятия. Серия от загадъчни убийства го съпровожда по пътя му. "Убийствата на Граала" е увлекателна хроника за управлението на Хенри VIII, написана в стил "Името на розата," задължителна за феновете.
November 8, 2017
Great book
Again the author takes the reader through a maze by which the reader forgets which way to turn next. Superb writing.
Again the author takes the reader through a maze by which the reader forgets which way to turn next. Superb writing.
May 19, 2026
Imagínate que una ejecución real en la corte del rey Enrique VIII fuera solo la primera pieza de un tablero de ajedrez mortal relacionado con los caballeros templarios. Esto es lo que nos propone Los asesinos del grial, donde el duque de Buckingham es decapitado por traición, destapando una conspiración enorme. Resulta que esta muerte es la llave que abre un misterio oculto durante siglos: el legado secreto de la Orden del Temple, el Santo Grial y la mítica espada Excalibur. El pícaro Roger Shallot y su inteligente amigo Benjamin se ven atrapados en una investigación llena de peligros y asesinatos rituales por culpa de unos fanáticos que intentan usar estos conocimientos prohibidos para acabar con la dinastía de los Tudor.
La historia avanza a un ritmo genial, mezclando los datos históricos reales con leyendas antiguas y misterios esotéricos sin que la lectura se vuelva aburrida en ningún momento. Lo que hace que el libro sea tan divertido es el tono gamberro y cínico de Roger Shallot, que sirve como guía en una Inglaterra sumamente peligrosa. Como él no es ningún héroe y le aterroriza la idea de morir, sus quejas y su forma tan poco romántica de ver las intrigas de palacio te hacen pasar un rato divertidísimo. En definitiva, es una novela de aventuras y espías superadictiva, perfecta para quienes disfrutan de los puzles clásicos de misterio donde las leyendas más antiguas se convierten en amenazas muy reales.
La historia avanza a un ritmo genial, mezclando los datos históricos reales con leyendas antiguas y misterios esotéricos sin que la lectura se vuelva aburrida en ningún momento. Lo que hace que el libro sea tan divertido es el tono gamberro y cínico de Roger Shallot, que sirve como guía en una Inglaterra sumamente peligrosa. Como él no es ningún héroe y le aterroriza la idea de morir, sus quejas y su forma tan poco romántica de ver las intrigas de palacio te hacen pasar un rato divertidísimo. En definitiva, es una novela de aventuras y espías superadictiva, perfecta para quienes disfrutan de los puzles clásicos de misterio donde las leyendas más antiguas se convierten en amenazas muy reales.
April 6, 2020
3.5 🌟
Molto diverso dai libri che leggo di solito, sia per quello che riguarda lo stile della narrazione, lo stile dei dialoghi e il fatto che a tratti il narratore, Shallot, sembra quasi rivolgersi direttamente al lettore.
Ciò detto, devo ammettere che essendo un'amante della storia l'ho trovato un libro interessante, con una ottima premessa iniziale.
Templari, omicidi apparentemente inspiegabili, Tudor, Windsor, cospirazioni, la ricerca del Gaal, la spada Excalibur, come potevo non leggere questo libro?
Molto diverso dai libri che leggo di solito, sia per quello che riguarda lo stile della narrazione, lo stile dei dialoghi e il fatto che a tratti il narratore, Shallot, sembra quasi rivolgersi direttamente al lettore.
Ciò detto, devo ammettere che essendo un'amante della storia l'ho trovato un libro interessante, con una ottima premessa iniziale.
Templari, omicidi apparentemente inspiegabili, Tudor, Windsor, cospirazioni, la ricerca del Gaal, la spada Excalibur, come potevo non leggere questo libro?
February 24, 2022
Paul Doherty is truly a master of his craft!
The art of storytelling can be good, bad or even indifferent, and then sometimes you find an author who is truly great. Paul Doherty is one of the great ones. Yet he makes it seem so simple. I wish I had his knowledge of history and his way with words. I can't wait to read more of his books.
The art of storytelling can be good, bad or even indifferent, and then sometimes you find an author who is truly great. Paul Doherty is one of the great ones. Yet he makes it seem so simple. I wish I had his knowledge of history and his way with words. I can't wait to read more of his books.
September 24, 2018
Libro lento, noioso e piuttosto prevedibile
July 1, 2019
Engaging story that is well plotted but Shallot is not a very likable character.
May 5, 2022
Bello, bello, bello.
July 15, 2025
Senza infamia e senza particolari lodi. Inizio molto confusionario e di difficile comprensione. Poi tutto si libera davanti ai nostri occhi. Libro da "una volta e forse mai più".
August 5, 2025
Enjoyable light read.
April 26, 2012
Probabilmente non l'ho letto in un momento adatto... sarà che ero al mare e magari avevo altro per la testa... ma non mi è piaciuto... L'ho trovato lento... moooolto lento ed estremamente pesante... ho fatto veramente fatica a finirlo :-(
July 2, 2014
Really a good series.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews