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The King's Hounds #1
The King's Hounds
The first in the bestselling Danish series of historical mysteries
The newly crowned King Cnut of Denmark has conquered England and rules his new empire from Oxford. The year is 1018 and the war is finally over, but the unified kingdom is far from peaceful.
Halfdan’s mixed lineage—half Danish, half Saxon—has made him a pauper in the new kingdom. His father, his brother, and the land he should have inherited were all taken by the new king’s men. He lost everything to the war but his sense of humor. Once a proud nobleman, Halfdan now wanders the country aimlessly, powered only by his considerable charm and some petty theft. When he finds an unlikely ally in Winston, a former monk, he sees no reason not to accept his strange invitation to travel together to Oxford. Winston has been commissioned to paint a portrait of the king at the invitation of his new wife, and the protection of a clever man like Halfdan is well worth its price in wine and bread.
But when the pair’s arrival in court coincides with news of a murder, the king has a brilliant idea: Why not enlist the newly arrived womanizing half-Dane and the Saxon intellectual to defuse a politically explosive situation? The pair represents both sides of the conflict and seem to have crime-solving skills to boot. In their search for the killer, Halfdan and Winston find seduction, adventure, and scandal in the wild early days of Cnut’s rule.
The newly crowned King Cnut of Denmark has conquered England and rules his new empire from Oxford. The year is 1018 and the war is finally over, but the unified kingdom is far from peaceful.
Halfdan’s mixed lineage—half Danish, half Saxon—has made him a pauper in the new kingdom. His father, his brother, and the land he should have inherited were all taken by the new king’s men. He lost everything to the war but his sense of humor. Once a proud nobleman, Halfdan now wanders the country aimlessly, powered only by his considerable charm and some petty theft. When he finds an unlikely ally in Winston, a former monk, he sees no reason not to accept his strange invitation to travel together to Oxford. Winston has been commissioned to paint a portrait of the king at the invitation of his new wife, and the protection of a clever man like Halfdan is well worth its price in wine and bread.
But when the pair’s arrival in court coincides with news of a murder, the king has a brilliant idea: Why not enlist the newly arrived womanizing half-Dane and the Saxon intellectual to defuse a politically explosive situation? The pair represents both sides of the conflict and seem to have crime-solving skills to boot. In their search for the killer, Halfdan and Winston find seduction, adventure, and scandal in the wild early days of Cnut’s rule.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 29, 2013
504 people are currently reading
1787 people want to read
About the author
Martin Jensen
69 books65 followersMartin Jensen debuterede i 1998 ned den historiske roman "Frit gennem Jylland", som er genudgivet i 2011.
Han modtog i 2009 Edvard Pedersens Biblioteksfonds Forfatterpris og Det Danske Kriminalakademis hæderspris for 7-bindsserien om byfoged Eske Litle og Assens i 1300-tallet.
Han har desuden skrevet fem samtidsromaner og de historiske romaner Soldaterhoren, Tømrerens datter og Ravneflugt.
================
Bestselling Danish novelist Martin Jensen was born in 1946 into a working-class family and worked as a teacher and a headmaster in Sweden and Denmark before becoming a full-time author in 1996. He and his wife collect mushrooms, enjoy bird watching, and are botany enthusiasts. Martin Jensen is the author of twenty-one novels. The King's Hounds is his first title to be published in English.
Han modtog i 2009 Edvard Pedersens Biblioteksfonds Forfatterpris og Det Danske Kriminalakademis hæderspris for 7-bindsserien om byfoged Eske Litle og Assens i 1300-tallet.
Han har desuden skrevet fem samtidsromaner og de historiske romaner Soldaterhoren, Tømrerens datter og Ravneflugt.
================
Bestselling Danish novelist Martin Jensen was born in 1946 into a working-class family and worked as a teacher and a headmaster in Sweden and Denmark before becoming a full-time author in 1996. He and his wife collect mushrooms, enjoy bird watching, and are botany enthusiasts. Martin Jensen is the author of twenty-one novels. The King's Hounds is his first title to be published in English.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 235 reviews
February 19, 2015
Translated by Tara Chace
Description: The newly crowned King Cnut of Denmark has conquered England and rules his new empire from Oxford. The year is 1018 and the war is finally over, but the unified kingdom is far from peaceful.
Halfdan’s mixed lineage—half Danish, half Saxon—has made him a pauper in the new kingdom. His father, his brother, and the land he should have inherited were all taken by the new king’s men. He lost everything to the war but his sense of humor. Once a proud nobleman, Halfdan now wanders the country aimlessly, powered only by his considerable charm and some petty theft. When he finds an unlikely ally in Winston, a former monk, he sees no reason not to accept his strange invitation to travel together to Oxford. Winston has been commissioned to paint a portrait of the king at the invitation of his new wife, and the protection of a clever man like Halfdan is well worth its price in wine and bread.
But when the pair’s arrival in court coincides with news of a murder, the king has a brilliant idea: Why not enlist the newly arrived womanizing half-Dane and the Saxon intellectual to defuse a politically explosive situation? The pair represents both sides of the conflict and seem to have crime-solving skills to boot. In their search for the killer, Halfdan and Winston find seduction, adventure, and scandal in the wild early days of Cnut’s rule.
Opening: The Prior had allowed Winston to have his way.
Okay, I get it, his name is Winston, now stop bludgeoning me to death with it! A lust-ridden tale written in pedestrian language. If two wooden characters have sex, does that start a fire? Unfinished.
June 3, 2014
There are many authors who have attempted to illuminate this period of medieval England ranging from Bernard Cornwell's tales of the common man, to Ariana Franklin's exotic medical examiner.
Now add Martin Jensen's Scandinavian perspective. This is the first of his books to be translated into English.
This particular period is when fragmented England is coming together. Angles, Saxons, Jutes, Vikings, and Danes have kept their identities and their cultures during a particularly tumultuous period. Cnut, has just triumphed on the battlefield but his ability to consolidate the peace is being threatened by a murder in Oxford where he has decreed a meeting of all the rich and powerful.
Enter two men who have no immediate source of income and no connection to the political present. One a "Dane" and the other a Saxon, Cnut is confronted by the body and these two at almost the same time. A casual observation by one, and Cnut seizes the opportunity to appoint them the crown's investigators who have less than 72 to find the murderer before the gathering is convened.
Hafdan, who has lost his land, and Winston, a lapsed monk with skills in "illumination," make up The King's Hounds. Jensen works an excellent plot within a delightful picture of the life and times of medieval Oxford. Others has noted the occasional dischordant use of anachronistic words. Aside from that,this was a fast and entertaining "buddy" mystery. I will definitely see where the next one takes them.
Now add Martin Jensen's Scandinavian perspective. This is the first of his books to be translated into English.
This particular period is when fragmented England is coming together. Angles, Saxons, Jutes, Vikings, and Danes have kept their identities and their cultures during a particularly tumultuous period. Cnut, has just triumphed on the battlefield but his ability to consolidate the peace is being threatened by a murder in Oxford where he has decreed a meeting of all the rich and powerful.
Enter two men who have no immediate source of income and no connection to the political present. One a "Dane" and the other a Saxon, Cnut is confronted by the body and these two at almost the same time. A casual observation by one, and Cnut seizes the opportunity to appoint them the crown's investigators who have less than 72 to find the murderer before the gathering is convened.
Hafdan, who has lost his land, and Winston, a lapsed monk with skills in "illumination," make up The King's Hounds. Jensen works an excellent plot within a delightful picture of the life and times of medieval Oxford. Others has noted the occasional dischordant use of anachronistic words. Aside from that,this was a fast and entertaining "buddy" mystery. I will definitely see where the next one takes them.
January 28, 2015
This was kind of the literary version of the Seinfeld show - it was a book about nothing. Only the tv series was supposed to be 'a show about nothing' and was still about some things that were a lot of fun.
This book was not fun, it actually was about nothing.
The characters didn't interest me, the writing was clunky and the translation is not good.
There is so much going on in this period. And yet, to me, the author failed to latch on and ride it into a great story.
In theory, the setting should be a colourful one and had all the potential to float this story like a bobbing buoy on a surging sea.
It is Britain, 1018. Cnut has conquered parts of England, cultures are clashing, uprisings are plentiful, the slave trade is about to go into overdrive. Settlements are popping up overnight.
But, this book captured none of that to me. If it weren't for the words Vikings and Saxons being thrown around, it could have been devoid of ethnicity and could have been any European country before the Late Middle Ages.
I found the main character, Halfdan, so incredibly annoying and two dimensional and I found his support character, Winston, a poorly forged copy of historical mystery solvers who are already done to perfection in this genre, ie Matthew Shardlake from the C.J. Sansom series. In fact there were a lot of similarities between Winston/Halfdan and Matthew Shardlake/Jack Barak. At times it felt nearly plagiarised, but all it was, was a bad copy.
The translation I think was the story killer here for me. It was a terrible translation. It had been translated too literally and with modern words used frequently. A translator with a better understanding of what is required of an historical fiction translator, may have done a better job. Who knows.
I wish I was fluent in Danish, so that I could read the original to see whether this book was massacred at the hands of the translator more so than the author. I suspect the translation is to blame for a lot of the grievances I have towards this book.
I thought about giving it 3 stars, because there were some chapters that I enjoyed. In hindsight, now I have put some distance between me and this read, I realise those enjoyable parts did not in fact outweigh the overall negative feelings I have towards this book.
This book was not fun, it actually was about nothing.
The characters didn't interest me, the writing was clunky and the translation is not good.
There is so much going on in this period. And yet, to me, the author failed to latch on and ride it into a great story.
In theory, the setting should be a colourful one and had all the potential to float this story like a bobbing buoy on a surging sea.
It is Britain, 1018. Cnut has conquered parts of England, cultures are clashing, uprisings are plentiful, the slave trade is about to go into overdrive. Settlements are popping up overnight.
But, this book captured none of that to me. If it weren't for the words Vikings and Saxons being thrown around, it could have been devoid of ethnicity and could have been any European country before the Late Middle Ages.
I found the main character, Halfdan, so incredibly annoying and two dimensional and I found his support character, Winston, a poorly forged copy of historical mystery solvers who are already done to perfection in this genre, ie Matthew Shardlake from the C.J. Sansom series. In fact there were a lot of similarities between Winston/Halfdan and Matthew Shardlake/Jack Barak. At times it felt nearly plagiarised, but all it was, was a bad copy.
The translation I think was the story killer here for me. It was a terrible translation. It had been translated too literally and with modern words used frequently. A translator with a better understanding of what is required of an historical fiction translator, may have done a better job. Who knows.
I wish I was fluent in Danish, so that I could read the original to see whether this book was massacred at the hands of the translator more so than the author. I suspect the translation is to blame for a lot of the grievances I have towards this book.
I thought about giving it 3 stars, because there were some chapters that I enjoyed. In hindsight, now I have put some distance between me and this read, I realise those enjoyable parts did not in fact outweigh the overall negative feelings I have towards this book.
December 9, 2014
As a general rule, if the protagonist of a book is insisting to the reader within the the first 20 pages that some sex he had was totally consensual no matter what the woman he slept with said, there's going to be an uphill battle for me to like the story. This is even more true when the tale is supposed to be a comedy. My dislike of the protagonist colored my enjoyment of the entire story. Being in his point of view was unpleasant, as he walked around in an overconfident swagger, commenting to the reader on the attractiveness of various plot-important women. His perspective also made it impossible for any of the women in the plot to get any character development, as their primary descriptor gravitated to their breast size. I don't get along with people who see women primarily as physical attributes in real life, and it is no less insufferable here.
There was a decent mystery under all the lechery somewhere, and I've come away with an increased interest in King Cnut from the setting. However the protagonist made it a chore to read.
There was a decent mystery under all the lechery somewhere, and I've come away with an increased interest in King Cnut from the setting. However the protagonist made it a chore to read.
February 24, 2014
It is the year 1018, and Cnut [Canute] of Denmark, now the ruler of a unified England, wishes a peaceful country, with all peoples living in harmony. This is the first volume in a delightful, highly recommended historical mystery series. It was written by a Dane. The book was well plotted, well written and it flowed along. The translator used such modern colloquialisms as 'guys', 'pals', 'buddies', 'boyfriend' that took some getting used to. The conclusion left room for more mysteries to follow.
A Saxon thane [member of the lower nobility] is murdered and King Cnut tasks Winston, an ex-monk illuminator, and Halfdan, a landless Danish/Saxon noble, to solve the case. The king chooses them particularly, because they will be representatives of two different nationalities in his kingdom cooperating and helping each other, a human example of what the king wants his realm to be. The two investigators made a good team. I liked how Winston and Halfdan worked together and processed the clues. I liked the deductive aspect. They divided up tasks in investigation, both were sharp-witted, but Winston was the "bigger brains" of the two and the leader. Halfdan nearly loses his life but defends himself several times against men who want to kill him, whether by fists or sword. In the course of the investigation, there are more murders, which have something to do with the first one. The solution made sense.
I liked Winston's statement to Halfdan early in the novel about detective work: Winston explains that to him it's like illumination of manuscripts: solving one small clue after the other is like illuminating different parts of a manuscript, then finally the big picture emerges. I was curious why the title was The King's Hounds. Towards the end of the novel, one character insults Winston and Halfdan by comparing the duo to the hounds of the king. Winston has a good riposte: "Better the hunter than the hunted. Just like King Cnut's other hounds, once we've picked up the scent we're tenacious to the end." I liked these two men and also the wise Cnut.
A Saxon thane [member of the lower nobility] is murdered and King Cnut tasks Winston, an ex-monk illuminator, and Halfdan, a landless Danish/Saxon noble, to solve the case. The king chooses them particularly, because they will be representatives of two different nationalities in his kingdom cooperating and helping each other, a human example of what the king wants his realm to be. The two investigators made a good team. I liked how Winston and Halfdan worked together and processed the clues. I liked the deductive aspect. They divided up tasks in investigation, both were sharp-witted, but Winston was the "bigger brains" of the two and the leader. Halfdan nearly loses his life but defends himself several times against men who want to kill him, whether by fists or sword. In the course of the investigation, there are more murders, which have something to do with the first one. The solution made sense.
I liked Winston's statement to Halfdan early in the novel about detective work: Winston explains that to him it's like illumination of manuscripts: solving one small clue after the other is like illuminating different parts of a manuscript, then finally the big picture emerges. I was curious why the title was The King's Hounds. Towards the end of the novel, one character insults Winston and Halfdan by comparing the duo to the hounds of the king. Winston has a good riposte: "Better the hunter than the hunted. Just like King Cnut's other hounds, once we've picked up the scent we're tenacious to the end." I liked these two men and also the wise Cnut.
March 24, 2020
3.5 but giving it a 3 bc tho I liked this book the mc is like super rapey. its really weird he has to like, keep pointing out "its not rape." like.... it sure sounds like hes uh like coercing? them? and the fact that that much detail, constant detail is unneeded. but at least it ddint have actual sex scenes? weird book.
November 18, 2013
I loved it! An excellent book, very pleasant, very nice, very funny.
I completely fell for Halfdan - who tells the story in the first person - even if he sometimes lacks in moral sense. When we meet him, he's about to rob Winston to steal his food and he's considering it without qualm. Add to that that he's a real womanizer and that he does not hesitate to use violence if necessary. I don't know if it's his humor or the fact that he's sometimes unlucky or clumsy, but he's a very likable character that one quickly appreciates. Winston, the brain of the pair is also a great character: former monk, an intelligence based on the thoroughness and details, he has a sense of his superiority. He regularly highlights the fact that he was the first one to understand one thing and that Halfdan could have done the same by thinking. Winston and Halfdan are a bit like Holmes and Watson, although Watson in this book is a little more crafty and womanizer. Do not forget the donkey, Atheling, which provides some very funny and light scenes, especially when in the presence of Halfdan.
The plot is well done. It a classic whodunit, the number of potential suspects is known quickly, all that is to know is which one did it. The elements are revealed one after the other, in a chain of events that leads logically to the killer. It is easy to know who killed before the end, but the overall context of the book makes that story interesting until the end. We also learn more about judgment and how people defended themselves at the time (and thankfully that has changed!)
I enjoyed getting to know the life in England at the time, which makes this book very interesting from the historical side. It's also nice to discover the historical side of the history of England from the perspective of a Danish. Here, the Danes or Vikings are not the bad guys just because they have invaded the country.
Finally, Halfdan and Winston have three days to discover the murderer so the pace is fast, you won't get bored. There's action, especially as Cnut want to solve the problem as soon as possible, meetings more or less pleasant and characters that bring a lot of freshness. And icing on the cake, this book is the first in a series.
In a nutshell
A little treasure. The light atmosphere of the book - especially thanks to Halfdan I must say - the plot, the historical context: it's all well written, well done and very enjoyable to read. I highly recommend this book! I give it 4.5 / 5.
My thought on closing the book : Excellent!
(Originally posted at vanessa-s-bookshelves.blogspot.ca)
I completely fell for Halfdan - who tells the story in the first person - even if he sometimes lacks in moral sense. When we meet him, he's about to rob Winston to steal his food and he's considering it without qualm. Add to that that he's a real womanizer and that he does not hesitate to use violence if necessary. I don't know if it's his humor or the fact that he's sometimes unlucky or clumsy, but he's a very likable character that one quickly appreciates. Winston, the brain of the pair is also a great character: former monk, an intelligence based on the thoroughness and details, he has a sense of his superiority. He regularly highlights the fact that he was the first one to understand one thing and that Halfdan could have done the same by thinking. Winston and Halfdan are a bit like Holmes and Watson, although Watson in this book is a little more crafty and womanizer. Do not forget the donkey, Atheling, which provides some very funny and light scenes, especially when in the presence of Halfdan.
The plot is well done. It a classic whodunit, the number of potential suspects is known quickly, all that is to know is which one did it. The elements are revealed one after the other, in a chain of events that leads logically to the killer. It is easy to know who killed before the end, but the overall context of the book makes that story interesting until the end. We also learn more about judgment and how people defended themselves at the time (and thankfully that has changed!)
I enjoyed getting to know the life in England at the time, which makes this book very interesting from the historical side. It's also nice to discover the historical side of the history of England from the perspective of a Danish. Here, the Danes or Vikings are not the bad guys just because they have invaded the country.
Finally, Halfdan and Winston have three days to discover the murderer so the pace is fast, you won't get bored. There's action, especially as Cnut want to solve the problem as soon as possible, meetings more or less pleasant and characters that bring a lot of freshness. And icing on the cake, this book is the first in a series.
In a nutshell
A little treasure. The light atmosphere of the book - especially thanks to Halfdan I must say - the plot, the historical context: it's all well written, well done and very enjoyable to read. I highly recommend this book! I give it 4.5 / 5.
My thought on closing the book : Excellent!
(Originally posted at vanessa-s-bookshelves.blogspot.ca)
June 26, 2015
3.5 stars. I might have given this 4 stars if I hadn't been annoyed by a glaring historical inaccuracy in the very beginning -- Winston, the illuminator of manuscripts, was using a graphite pencil. While graphite was discovered (in the early 1500s) much earlier than I had expected when I looked into this, it was still much later than the setting of this novel in 1018. This was the only such inaccuracy that I noticed so it is too bad that it happened so early and tinged my opinion of the book.
This Danish mystery is set in England a few years after King Cnut (Canute was the way I would have spelled it) began ruling. I found this early medieval setting, when Angles, Jutes, Saxons, and Danes (Vikings) were first coming together into a unified country very interesting. While I had heard of King Canute before, I hadn't really realized that there was a time when England (and apparently Ireland too?) was under the rule of the Danes. One thing I would have liked that was missing was an appendix with definitions of some of the historical terms (such as housecarls, Witenagemot, etc.). Most of the meanings became clear from the context but it would have been a nice addition to the book.
I liked the use of the Saxon Winston coupled with Halfdan, a young dispossessed nobleman -- whose mother was Danish and father Saxon -- as main characters. Not only do the two provide a way to see different ethnicities but Winston had a background in the religious life (monasteries and abbeys) while Halfdan knew more about the "wild" side of life from his days of living hand-to-mouth. The murder investigation by these two was fine with the caveat that this was not a mystery that the reader could solve before the 'detectives'. I will be reading more from this series.
This Danish mystery is set in England a few years after King Cnut (Canute was the way I would have spelled it) began ruling. I found this early medieval setting, when Angles, Jutes, Saxons, and Danes (Vikings) were first coming together into a unified country very interesting. While I had heard of King Canute before, I hadn't really realized that there was a time when England (and apparently Ireland too?) was under the rule of the Danes. One thing I would have liked that was missing was an appendix with definitions of some of the historical terms (such as housecarls, Witenagemot, etc.). Most of the meanings became clear from the context but it would have been a nice addition to the book.
I liked the use of the Saxon Winston coupled with Halfdan, a young dispossessed nobleman -- whose mother was Danish and father Saxon -- as main characters. Not only do the two provide a way to see different ethnicities but Winston had a background in the religious life (monasteries and abbeys) while Halfdan knew more about the "wild" side of life from his days of living hand-to-mouth. The murder investigation by these two was fine with the caveat that this was not a mystery that the reader could solve before the 'detectives'. I will be reading more from this series.
January 4, 2014
I'm addicted!
Ok, I'm addicted already to this series. Certainly I hope for more translations to follow.
King Cnut is in Oxford to hold a Witenagemot (a National council assembly of the King, nobles and bishops) trying to bring the various English peoples now under his command (Angles, Jutes, Saxons, Danes, most recently, Vikings) together as one people. King Cnut wants this to move forward. But a well known South Saxon thane, Osfrid, has been murdered. A man who was known to be Cnut's enemy. King Cnut Cnut wants the murder solved so that his plans for unity, peace and kingship aren't thwarted.
Winston the Illuminater has been commissioned by the King's consort, Lady Aelfgifu, to paint Cnut's portrait.
Halfdan an ex half Danish nobleman (his father chose the wrong side) is here to seek a living or more certainly, the main chance. The two met on the road and travelled to Oxford together having a couple of adventures enroute.
Cnut choses Winston and Halfdan to conduct the murder investigation. He gives them three days to find the guilty party.
As the two move forward with their investigation the singular murder is suddenly crowded with bodies and potential suspects...and the list just keeps growing.
There's betrayed wives, hints of treason, angered landholders and more.
The action moves smartly along aided by an excellent translation from Danish into English by Tara Chace. She is to be applauded in enabling the smooth flowing and very readable dialogue.
The novel gives a credible insight into the life and times of this period in English History.
A very enjoyable and often humorous read. Bring on the next in the series.
A NetGalley ARC
Ok, I'm addicted already to this series. Certainly I hope for more translations to follow.
King Cnut is in Oxford to hold a Witenagemot (a National council assembly of the King, nobles and bishops) trying to bring the various English peoples now under his command (Angles, Jutes, Saxons, Danes, most recently, Vikings) together as one people. King Cnut wants this to move forward. But a well known South Saxon thane, Osfrid, has been murdered. A man who was known to be Cnut's enemy. King Cnut Cnut wants the murder solved so that his plans for unity, peace and kingship aren't thwarted.
Winston the Illuminater has been commissioned by the King's consort, Lady Aelfgifu, to paint Cnut's portrait.
Halfdan an ex half Danish nobleman (his father chose the wrong side) is here to seek a living or more certainly, the main chance. The two met on the road and travelled to Oxford together having a couple of adventures enroute.
Cnut choses Winston and Halfdan to conduct the murder investigation. He gives them three days to find the guilty party.
As the two move forward with their investigation the singular murder is suddenly crowded with bodies and potential suspects...and the list just keeps growing.
There's betrayed wives, hints of treason, angered landholders and more.
The action moves smartly along aided by an excellent translation from Danish into English by Tara Chace. She is to be applauded in enabling the smooth flowing and very readable dialogue.
The novel gives a credible insight into the life and times of this period in English History.
A very enjoyable and often humorous read. Bring on the next in the series.
A NetGalley ARC
June 21, 2017
This was a fun, easy to listen to audiobook mystery. Some annoying anachronistic words were sprinkled throughout, but I assumed that was due to it being a translation and was forgiving regarding them.
The mystery, which our lovable protagonists have no good reason to be in charge of solving, involves the murder of a nobleman just as Cnut is gathering them to confirm his kingship. How inconvenient. The unlikely pair find their way into plenty of trouble, prove their womanizing skills, and even solve the murder. It is all a bit meandering but in good fun. This isn't a edge of your seat suspense novel, but an enjoyable diversion.
The skilled narrator really kept this one a 4-star for me. Considering it is free through Kindle Unlimited, this is a worthwhile selection.
The mystery, which our lovable protagonists have no good reason to be in charge of solving, involves the murder of a nobleman just as Cnut is gathering them to confirm his kingship. How inconvenient. The unlikely pair find their way into plenty of trouble, prove their womanizing skills, and even solve the murder. It is all a bit meandering but in good fun. This isn't a edge of your seat suspense novel, but an enjoyable diversion.
The skilled narrator really kept this one a 4-star for me. Considering it is free through Kindle Unlimited, this is a worthwhile selection.
January 17, 2014
I have discovered a new affection for British early medieval detective fiction! (When King Cnut ruled, that's called early medieval right?)
Here we have a lapsed not-quite-ever-a-monk, a noble younger son who's lost his lands, a suspicious murder, and political scandal and conflict between Danish thegns, Vikings, Jutes, and deposed Saxon lords. The depth of the historical research delighted my history-major heart,and it's never cloyingly packing with details in your face but rather subtly and naturally worked into the narrative to make the setting a solid one. I didn't even notice that the book was translated, it was that smooth and effective, and I am extremely picky about and sensitive to that sort of thing (having actually studied it in college). So good job, translator.
The plot! King Cnut wants the land to actually become peaceful, but he's like a man holding a flaming torch while walking on a kerosene-soaked box with fireworks inside, so to speak. He might be the all-powerful conquering tyrant, but Vetinari-style, just because he is a tyrant doesnt mean he can do whatever he wants. He needs to not offend people enough into starting another uprising- even if he could win it, he wants to rule a kingdom that actually works instead of one that's tearing itself apart, if you'll excuse me mixing my metaphors.
So when a crime is committed that the king would have had ample motivation to have committed, but he claims that he hasn't done it. He's able to get out of it legally if he needs to by something I hadn't heard of before, a provision of medieval law called compurgation (which i promptly researched, quite fascinating, it fell into disuse but never went off the books entirely until the 1800s!) just getting 12 men to swear they believe your oath of innocence and you're covered.
BUT. To keep peace in the realm he needs to make people believe he truly hasn't ordered the murder. So he needs two expendable people, unknowns who aren't connected to any of the political sides in his encampment so they won't look biased.
And guess who has wandered into the hall at just the right moment!
Halfdan is half-Dane (ha ha. but is his name supposed to mean that? It was never specified) who lost his lands and his family to a battle and has been living on the lam ever since, doing whatever it takes to get something to eat and survive for another day.
It was alittle lot disgusting the way he viewed women, talk about objectification. His mental processes are pretty gross. But when he needed to be brave and save someone he would do it, even if he was still definitely a scoundrel you still want to applaud when he cleverly gets out of yet another scrape.
His relationship with Winston, his traveling-companion/employer, is done perfectly, they start to have a rapport despite being very, very different people and manage to work together to solve the crime. But will they solve it in time? The king gave them only 3 days until the Wizenga- sorry! The Wittengamot! (I had no idea that was a real thing outside HP.) so they have to put together all the clues in a hurry or lose the king's favor. That is not something you will lose for very long.
As they go around town interviewing all the people involved in the case, there are fraught conversations, where anything might be a complete lie and all your senses as a reader must remain sharp or you won't know who to believe. Tiny details can conceal an important connection when investigating such a crucial case. There are some clever deductions, and also stupid mistakes like letting one suspect warn another in time to run away, whooops.(hey, they're an ex-noble thief and a lapsed-non-monk illuminator, what do they know about being detectives! But they do learn fast.)
Also gotta watch out for the politics- which is more important, the truth as the king wants it, the truth as the widow wants it, or the truth as it actually is?
Can't wait for the sequel! Translate it fast.
Here we have a lapsed not-quite-ever-a-monk, a noble younger son who's lost his lands, a suspicious murder, and political scandal and conflict between Danish thegns, Vikings, Jutes, and deposed Saxon lords. The depth of the historical research delighted my history-major heart,and it's never cloyingly packing with details in your face but rather subtly and naturally worked into the narrative to make the setting a solid one. I didn't even notice that the book was translated, it was that smooth and effective, and I am extremely picky about and sensitive to that sort of thing (having actually studied it in college). So good job, translator.
The plot! King Cnut wants the land to actually become peaceful, but he's like a man holding a flaming torch while walking on a kerosene-soaked box with fireworks inside, so to speak. He might be the all-powerful conquering tyrant, but Vetinari-style, just because he is a tyrant doesnt mean he can do whatever he wants. He needs to not offend people enough into starting another uprising- even if he could win it, he wants to rule a kingdom that actually works instead of one that's tearing itself apart, if you'll excuse me mixing my metaphors.
So when a crime is committed that the king would have had ample motivation to have committed, but he claims that he hasn't done it. He's able to get out of it legally if he needs to by something I hadn't heard of before, a provision of medieval law called compurgation (which i promptly researched, quite fascinating, it fell into disuse but never went off the books entirely until the 1800s!) just getting 12 men to swear they believe your oath of innocence and you're covered.
BUT. To keep peace in the realm he needs to make people believe he truly hasn't ordered the murder. So he needs two expendable people, unknowns who aren't connected to any of the political sides in his encampment so they won't look biased.
And guess who has wandered into the hall at just the right moment!
Halfdan is half-Dane (ha ha. but is his name supposed to mean that? It was never specified) who lost his lands and his family to a battle and has been living on the lam ever since, doing whatever it takes to get something to eat and survive for another day.
It was a
His relationship with Winston, his traveling-companion/employer, is done perfectly, they start to have a rapport despite being very, very different people and manage to work together to solve the crime. But will they solve it in time? The king gave them only 3 days until the Wizenga- sorry! The Wittengamot! (I had no idea that was a real thing outside HP.) so they have to put together all the clues in a hurry or lose the king's favor. That is not something you will lose for very long.
As they go around town interviewing all the people involved in the case, there are fraught conversations, where anything might be a complete lie and all your senses as a reader must remain sharp or you won't know who to believe. Tiny details can conceal an important connection when investigating such a crucial case. There are some clever deductions, and also stupid mistakes like letting one suspect warn another in time to run away, whooops.(hey, they're an ex-noble thief and a lapsed-non-monk illuminator, what do they know about being detectives! But they do learn fast.)
Also gotta watch out for the politics- which is more important, the truth as the king wants it, the truth as the widow wants it, or the truth as it actually is?
Can't wait for the sequel! Translate it fast.
October 29, 2013
What a treat this historical mystery has turned out to be. It's the story of the murder of a Saxon thane on the eve of King Cnut's 1018 meetings in Oxford of the proto-parliamentary Witenagemot (Saxon) and Ting (Danish.) He wants these former enemies to agree to the same laws for the entire country of England, enforced by himself.
I don't think I'm leaking any spoilers when I reveal that Cnut's plan does work and except for the lamentable incident of William the Norman 50 years later the peace that Cnut established lasted 200 years.
But that peace is in danger if Cnut doesn't find out who has murdered Osfrid the Saxon. Whom can he possibly find to investigate for him? Neither Saxons nor Danes will trust the results of anyone from the other side.
At just this ticklish moment two men wander into town. Winston is a failed monk, the country's best illuminator who has been hired by Queen Emma to paint a picture of her husband, Cnut. Halfdan is the younger son of a Saxon nobleman who backed Edmund and not Cnut. When Edmund died he lost his estates and Halfdan, Danish on his mother's side and Saxon on his father's, is scraping by with handouts and what he can steal.
They meet on the road one night when Winston has set up camp and Halfdan, who has been living off what he could steal, is deciding how to go about attacking the seemingly vulnerable man. But a pair of thugs attack Winston before Halfdan can do so and he comes to the monk's aid. The well-provisioned illustrator thankfully shares his roast leg of lamb with rosemary and they decide to travel together.
It turns out Queen Emma is out of town but King Cnut sees an opportunity to get himself out of a fix. He orders the two men to undertake a bit of sleuthing on his behalf. If they find a Dane killed Osfrid, the Danes will be satisfied that one of the investigators was at half Danish. And if a Saxon is discovered to be the murderer their Saxon background will save them from being accused of favoritism by the English.
And should they fail to discover the culprit Cnut can always banish them and say he did his best.
These are pre-feudal times when every nobleman defends himself and his land with a private army, and the king's housecarls intervene only when violence becomes impossible to ignore. It's dangerous to walk the streets of Oxford or to wander among the tents pitched by the noblemen who have come to the Witan and the Ting. Halfdan provides some protection to Winston, who is older and wiser and more observant.
I've recently been doing a lot of reading about post-Roman times in Britain and the colorful world of the Saxons. The author obviously knows his cultural history, although he makes no attempt to lecture the reader. The characters who people this story are wonderful: Tonild, the infuriated Saxon wife of the dead Osfrid; her truculent brother Ranulf; Godskalk, Cnut's head of security; Baldwin, the king's accountant; Wulfstan, the archbishop of York; and the fearsome Viking, Thorkell the Tall. The last two are historical characters.
And the murderer? It takes Winston and Halfdan a while to figure out who would benefit from the brutal and very public murder of this Saxon nobleman at just this crucial moment. But an illustrator by necessity pays close attention to detail and the young and impetuous Halfdan is intelligent and enthusiastic. Cnut is pleased with their work and the reader will be too.
I don't think I'm leaking any spoilers when I reveal that Cnut's plan does work and except for the lamentable incident of William the Norman 50 years later the peace that Cnut established lasted 200 years.
But that peace is in danger if Cnut doesn't find out who has murdered Osfrid the Saxon. Whom can he possibly find to investigate for him? Neither Saxons nor Danes will trust the results of anyone from the other side.
At just this ticklish moment two men wander into town. Winston is a failed monk, the country's best illuminator who has been hired by Queen Emma to paint a picture of her husband, Cnut. Halfdan is the younger son of a Saxon nobleman who backed Edmund and not Cnut. When Edmund died he lost his estates and Halfdan, Danish on his mother's side and Saxon on his father's, is scraping by with handouts and what he can steal.
They meet on the road one night when Winston has set up camp and Halfdan, who has been living off what he could steal, is deciding how to go about attacking the seemingly vulnerable man. But a pair of thugs attack Winston before Halfdan can do so and he comes to the monk's aid. The well-provisioned illustrator thankfully shares his roast leg of lamb with rosemary and they decide to travel together.
It turns out Queen Emma is out of town but King Cnut sees an opportunity to get himself out of a fix. He orders the two men to undertake a bit of sleuthing on his behalf. If they find a Dane killed Osfrid, the Danes will be satisfied that one of the investigators was at half Danish. And if a Saxon is discovered to be the murderer their Saxon background will save them from being accused of favoritism by the English.
And should they fail to discover the culprit Cnut can always banish them and say he did his best.
These are pre-feudal times when every nobleman defends himself and his land with a private army, and the king's housecarls intervene only when violence becomes impossible to ignore. It's dangerous to walk the streets of Oxford or to wander among the tents pitched by the noblemen who have come to the Witan and the Ting. Halfdan provides some protection to Winston, who is older and wiser and more observant.
I've recently been doing a lot of reading about post-Roman times in Britain and the colorful world of the Saxons. The author obviously knows his cultural history, although he makes no attempt to lecture the reader. The characters who people this story are wonderful: Tonild, the infuriated Saxon wife of the dead Osfrid; her truculent brother Ranulf; Godskalk, Cnut's head of security; Baldwin, the king's accountant; Wulfstan, the archbishop of York; and the fearsome Viking, Thorkell the Tall. The last two are historical characters.
And the murderer? It takes Winston and Halfdan a while to figure out who would benefit from the brutal and very public murder of this Saxon nobleman at just this crucial moment. But an illustrator by necessity pays close attention to detail and the young and impetuous Halfdan is intelligent and enthusiastic. Cnut is pleased with their work and the reader will be too.
July 15, 2020
I wanted to read a mystery novel that takes place long time ago for a while now. This one happened in 11th century under King Cnut. The history part was pretty interesting, I don't really know much about it, so it was pretty good to read about the society and their issues from that times. Translation was the only thing that was kind of making harder to get into the old times. They were talking as if it was happening these days, only their weapon of choice was a sword.
As a mystery novel it was also well done. Lots of suspects and a lot happening. I was not too happy with the ending but one can't always be. The main thing is that I didn't guess who did it until the very end.
The main characters didn't really interest me. A very common pair of a very intelligent guy(this one can read) and his partner who tries hard to help. Not much more about them. One is smart the other likes women's heaving bosoms. But maybe it is for the best because I prefer the mystery to concentrate less on the ones who solve it and more on the crime.
As a mystery novel it was also well done. Lots of suspects and a lot happening. I was not too happy with the ending but one can't always be. The main thing is that I didn't guess who did it until the very end.
The main characters didn't really interest me. A very common pair of a very intelligent guy(this one can read) and his partner who tries hard to help. Not much more about them. One is smart the other likes women's heaving bosoms. But maybe it is for the best because I prefer the mystery to concentrate less on the ones who solve it and more on the crime.
February 15, 2014
This historical mystery is set in 1018 and features Winston, a respected Saxon illuminator, and Halfdan, a half Danish and half Saxon former nobleman, who lost his father’s estate in the recent upheavals which have left Cnut as King of England – although that fact is not undisputed. Winston and Halfdan meet up on the road - Winston is headed for Oxford, where the first wife of Cnut has requested his services. However, when they arrive they happen to present when a Saxon nobleman, who has recently had an altercation with Cnut, is murdered. When Winston makes some observant comments about the crime, Cnut enlists his help to discover the murderer. For Cnut is in Oxford for a reason - he is waiting to be paid the huge amount of heregald, before he agrees to meet the Wtenageniot and the Thing. With Saxon, Jutes, Angles, Danes and Vikings assembled for the Witenageniot and the murdered Saxon thanes widow accusing him of murder, Cnut reasons that asking for help from one Saxon and one Dane will mean that he is showing he wants the truth uncovered. For he is precariously ruling a divided land and he has to show that he is upholding the laws. Will Winston and Halfdan manage to discover the murder or will they be in danger of uncovering a more dangerous plot? Cnut is a man who can finally bring a measure of peace to a divided and fractious country and, although a Saxon, Winston is willing to help if he can.
This is an interesting mystery, which is –as other reviewers have pointed out – let down by a poor and unsympathetic translation. Words such as “dumb guy” and “scooted” do not belong in a novel set in 1018. I enjoyed the characters, but hope that the next instalment will have a more realistic feeling, especially in the dialogue between characters. Saying that, the author himself is not responsible for the translation and the actual pace of the mystery and characters of Winston and Halfdan are well written. I would give the next book a try, but seriously hope that a new translator is found and that modern, jarring words are left out of the text.
This is an interesting mystery, which is –as other reviewers have pointed out – let down by a poor and unsympathetic translation. Words such as “dumb guy” and “scooted” do not belong in a novel set in 1018. I enjoyed the characters, but hope that the next instalment will have a more realistic feeling, especially in the dialogue between characters. Saying that, the author himself is not responsible for the translation and the actual pace of the mystery and characters of Winston and Halfdan are well written. I would give the next book a try, but seriously hope that a new translator is found and that modern, jarring words are left out of the text.
May 20, 2014
This book worked much better as a mystery than a historical novel. This mystery is suitably complicated without being too far-fetched.
I did not get a strong sense of the time period, although the bare facts of the historical events are true. The author is Danish and it is one of the few times when Danish and English history are entwined. I suppose he knows about as much about the major historical figures as it is possible to know and I have no problem with authors filling out a historical character. There are other books which get a much better feel of the times than this one and there are some which are a lot worse. It is not full of annoying anachronisms, but if we were not being constantly told that King Cnut is trying to get the Witangemot and the Thing to meet at the same time, it could be almost any feudal time and country. I don't think the dialogue helps set the time very well. The whole historical setting is vague.
It is an an enjoyable mystery and I enjoyed reading it, but it does not score very highly on the historical setting for me.
I think the relationship between Winston and Halfdan worked and people did band together to travel. As Cheryl says the clever detective with less bright sidekick is well used. It is not particularly innovative, apart from the historical setting, which did not work very well.
Although I did enjoy reading the book, I did not enjoy it enough to read more in the series.
I did not get a strong sense of the time period, although the bare facts of the historical events are true. The author is Danish and it is one of the few times when Danish and English history are entwined. I suppose he knows about as much about the major historical figures as it is possible to know and I have no problem with authors filling out a historical character. There are other books which get a much better feel of the times than this one and there are some which are a lot worse. It is not full of annoying anachronisms, but if we were not being constantly told that King Cnut is trying to get the Witangemot and the Thing to meet at the same time, it could be almost any feudal time and country. I don't think the dialogue helps set the time very well. The whole historical setting is vague.
It is an an enjoyable mystery and I enjoyed reading it, but it does not score very highly on the historical setting for me.
I think the relationship between Winston and Halfdan worked and people did band together to travel. As Cheryl says the clever detective with less bright sidekick is well used. It is not particularly innovative, apart from the historical setting, which did not work very well.
Although I did enjoy reading the book, I did not enjoy it enough to read more in the series.
March 27, 2017
An interesting murder mystery set in medieval Oxford as Cnut aims to unify Saxons, Vikings, and other assorted groups, and impose peace on a war torn England. The Saxon illustrator Winston and impoverished half-Danish nobleman Halfdan join forces to investigate a violent death, and soon find their own lives in danger.
The tone of this novel is pleasantly light-hearted, and Winston and Halfdan make an amusing couple of sleuths. Their friendship doesn't develop as fully as I would have liked in this book, but it offers scope for that to happen in later books. The plot is intriguing, it unfolds quite slowly but there are plenty of twists and turns, and some exciting moments of danger. The setting of medieval Oxford is conveyed well, descriptions of buildings and camps, smells and sounds evoke the dirt and chaos of the time and place, and the political considerations of this turbulent time are fascinating to read about.
There are a few modern Americanisms which do jar at times - I found 'worst case scenario' and 'for sure you're fresh' sounded particularly odd in the context of medieval England - but on the whole the translation works quite well.
I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a quirky medieval mystery with a light hearted feel.
The tone of this novel is pleasantly light-hearted, and Winston and Halfdan make an amusing couple of sleuths. Their friendship doesn't develop as fully as I would have liked in this book, but it offers scope for that to happen in later books. The plot is intriguing, it unfolds quite slowly but there are plenty of twists and turns, and some exciting moments of danger. The setting of medieval Oxford is conveyed well, descriptions of buildings and camps, smells and sounds evoke the dirt and chaos of the time and place, and the political considerations of this turbulent time are fascinating to read about.
There are a few modern Americanisms which do jar at times - I found 'worst case scenario' and 'for sure you're fresh' sounded particularly odd in the context of medieval England - but on the whole the translation works quite well.
I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a quirky medieval mystery with a light hearted feel.
April 4, 2014
I found both of the main characters, Halfdan and Winston, exceedingly annoying in their own ways. This is definitely one of the worst detective duos I've encountered: the arrogant chauvinist ex-nobleman and self righteous and patronising painter. Every female was introduced through the eyes of a horny male, sizing her up as though she were a mare to breed with (age, beauty, etc.). I could excuse this as being true to the times if the modern writing did not irk me so much. Words like "boyfriend" and terms like "gold digger" are too contemporary for a historical novel. Now I realise this book was translated and therefore some of the more appropriate descriptions may have been lost but I am a fan of historical novels and this was difficult to dismiss. Also, endless descriptions of ale. Ugh.
May 16, 2014
Found this fairly interesting, with some vivid descriptions of life in those tumultuous times in England's history. However, I felt the story was a little marred by the often anachronistic terms used, and particularly the modern-day 'Americanisms' - although this may be down to the translator. Obviously, the USA is a much bigger market, but one would think that Americans who choose to read historical novels set in England would not object to a more authentic 'British English' translation which better suits the subject matter.
Reviewed in exchange for a preview Kindle copy.
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Reviewed in exchange for a preview Kindle copy.
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http://easyturkishforbeginners.wordpr...
October 10, 2017
Enter the world of King Canute, where the Danish conqueror is transitioning from usurper to fair and honest ruler. The setting is Oxford, and the event is the gathering of Canute's staggering Danegeld to pay off his mercenaries. But that is not all; Canute has called a Witenagemot to bring the Saxon and Danish leaders together in an attempt to forge a new administration acceptable to everyone. This is a tall order, for the Saxons are still reeling from the loss of Edmund Ironside and most haven’t been able to restrain their surly attitude toward the disdainful Norse. Enter our heroes, the clever Winston, an illuminator recently ejected from monastic toil, and his recently discovered sidekick Halfdan, dispossessed half-Saxon, half-Danish noble. A Saxon lord has just been murdered, and his widow accused Canute of ordering the deed. This was enough to disrupt Canute’s assembly, and the king enlists the help of Winston and Halfdan to solve the murder—in a satisfactory manner so as not to ruffle any feathers. Needless to say, nobody will cooperate with the untrained sleuths, who must find the killer in three days or suffer the consequences. We get plenty of action, some red herrings, and enough local color to keep things moving right along while managing to plunge the reader firmly into the early eleventh century. I enjoyed the book immensely.
February 25, 2018
Sorry, but I just was not overly impressed with this one. Plot seemed thin, history not all that good, just didn't hold my interest very long. ah, well. <><
February 4, 2018
Really enjoyable
I loved the story and the characters a lot! A really good read and I look forward to the next in the series!
I loved the story and the characters a lot! A really good read and I look forward to the next in the series!
May 17, 2025
skvelé, tak isto ako aj ostatné knižky. neviem, či si priať, aby mal autor viac kníh prelozenych aspoň do angličtiny, alebo či si priať, že by som zrazu zázračne vedela rozumieť po dánsky a mohla sa pustiť do ďalších jeho kníh.
August 24, 2018
A displaced nobleman's son and a traveling illustrator wanted for his realistic paintings of saints and kings make for a strange team as they meet and try travel to Oxford in England and are given the charge to solve a murder that threatens to tear apart the consensus for peace and unity of the new King Cnut.
This is the premise we find in Danish author Martin Jensen's historical mystery series, The King's Hounds. The 'hounds' are Winston, a former monk who has been commissioned to paint a portrait of the king at the invitation of his wife, and Halfdan, who is half Danish, half Saxon and a pauper after his father chose the wrong side to support in the war.
For Halfdan, the partnership doesn't seem too onerous— food in return for protecting Winston in his travels — until they get to Oxford, where Winston finds Cnut himself, not his wife, and the duo are tasked with a whole new, unexpected and potentially dangerous challenge. They are charged with solving the murder of a Saxon nobleman whose widow has accused the king of the deed. In three days.
Winston is down to earth and trying to get to the root of things, while Halfdan is headstrong and a bit of a ladies man but together they manage to work their way between the clues and the politics of the age.
It's an interesting tale — a bit challenging, not convoluted — and a winning pair of sleuths although I think that Halfdan will have to grow mightily to keep up with the far more astute Winston. The language, terms, etc., is a bit modern, especially in the dialogue and a bit jarring but this could be from the translation and that its a first book. It felt for the most part like the two characters were created and then shoved into a historical time period. They really could have been set during any time period by the feel of the book. All in all, though, it is an enjoyable read with surprising humor.
This is the premise we find in Danish author Martin Jensen's historical mystery series, The King's Hounds. The 'hounds' are Winston, a former monk who has been commissioned to paint a portrait of the king at the invitation of his wife, and Halfdan, who is half Danish, half Saxon and a pauper after his father chose the wrong side to support in the war.
For Halfdan, the partnership doesn't seem too onerous— food in return for protecting Winston in his travels — until they get to Oxford, where Winston finds Cnut himself, not his wife, and the duo are tasked with a whole new, unexpected and potentially dangerous challenge. They are charged with solving the murder of a Saxon nobleman whose widow has accused the king of the deed. In three days.
Winston is down to earth and trying to get to the root of things, while Halfdan is headstrong and a bit of a ladies man but together they manage to work their way between the clues and the politics of the age.
It's an interesting tale — a bit challenging, not convoluted — and a winning pair of sleuths although I think that Halfdan will have to grow mightily to keep up with the far more astute Winston. The language, terms, etc., is a bit modern, especially in the dialogue and a bit jarring but this could be from the translation and that its a first book. It felt for the most part like the two characters were created and then shoved into a historical time period. They really could have been set during any time period by the feel of the book. All in all, though, it is an enjoyable read with surprising humor.
October 26, 2019
This is the first title of Martin Jensen's to be released in English and I am sure it will not be the last.The title the "King's Hounds" is a play on words that suggests the probability of further mysteries to be solved, as does King Cnut's making such a comment. The Translator is very much to be congratulated as the book was amusing and entertaining.
King Cnut Sweynsson is recently crowned and has convened a combined meeting of the Witenagemot and Danish Ting to bring his varied peoples together in Oxford. Winston the Illuminator, who grew up in a monastery, is summoned by the Lady Ælfgifu the Mistress of Northampton to paint King Cnut. Enroute he encounters Halfdan of Oakthorpe a dispossessed Saxon whose father and older brother had been killed at the Battle of Assundun fighting the Danes.
Winston and Halfdan encounter each other on the way to Oxford and join forces. Halfdan is hungry and Winston is unprotected and their mutual needs work well together. Their first encounter leads them to the later mystery they are commissioned to unravel.
I was very happy to have been able to read this for a review. I recommend it highly for historical mystery as well as medieval period historical novels.
King Cnut Sweynsson is recently crowned and has convened a combined meeting of the Witenagemot and Danish Ting to bring his varied peoples together in Oxford. Winston the Illuminator, who grew up in a monastery, is summoned by the Lady Ælfgifu the Mistress of Northampton to paint King Cnut. Enroute he encounters Halfdan of Oakthorpe a dispossessed Saxon whose father and older brother had been killed at the Battle of Assundun fighting the Danes.
Winston and Halfdan encounter each other on the way to Oxford and join forces. Halfdan is hungry and Winston is unprotected and their mutual needs work well together. Their first encounter leads them to the later mystery they are commissioned to unravel.
I was very happy to have been able to read this for a review. I recommend it highly for historical mystery as well as medieval period historical novels.
January 13, 2014
Jensen's mystery, set in 1018, centers on the murder of a Saxon noble. His two investigators, wilton the Illuminator and a smart Saxon-Dane thug named Halfdan, stumble into the job by displaying some proto-forensic intelligence following the discovery of the body. The king, himself everyone's favorite suspect, gives them an investigative opportunity they can't turn down. Somewhat buttressed by royal favor, Wilton and Halfdan interrogate Saxons, Danes (from England's Danelaw), Vikings (Danes from the mother country), servants, soldiers and nobles. Along the way Halfdan kills two Vikings in self-defense. Everyone they talk to lies to them about something, but they hang in there until one lie looms larger than the others. The accusation scene is interesting for a couple of reasons, one of which is the Saxon/Germanic approach to law and oath-taking. The cultural background is fairly interesting; the historical context is fairly well laid out. The translation is very effective, even when it swings toward contemporary (us) slang, and the two main characters don't quite wear out their welcome. The book is obviously the first of a series. It's probably worth 3 1/2 stars, but that choice isn't available and three stars seems miserly. The next book will move the bubble one way or another.
October 25, 2013
Winston, an illuminator, has been summoned by Aelfigu to paint a portrait of her husband, King Cnut. En route, he is followed by Halvdan, son of a noble who is alone and lost all the family lands. When Winston is attacked, Halvdan saves him. The unlikely pair team up and upon arriving at Winston's destination, they find that King Cnut's wife has not arrived. Also, things are in an uproar because a noble has been murdered. Cnut enlists the help of Winston and Halvdan to solve the murder. If they are unable to solve the crime, they could lose their lives.......
Nicely written mystery with numerous twists and turns. Very believable characters. Could most definitely be the start to a good series of books. And the time period for this book is earlier in period than most other historical mysteries or historical fiction. I truly enjoyed the novel.
Nicely written mystery with numerous twists and turns. Very believable characters. Could most definitely be the start to a good series of books. And the time period for this book is earlier in period than most other historical mysteries or historical fiction. I truly enjoyed the novel.
January 29, 2014
Generally, the historical fictional I most prefer is set sometime between the Regency era and World War I. The King's Hounds takes place much earlier, during the 11th century conquest of England by the Danish King Cnut. The book, originally written in Danish, is well written and well-translated (the only exception being the translation of the Danish council that comes up in the book - it can't possibly be called the "Thing.").
The mystery is good and the story was well paced. It kept the reader guessing until the end as to who the actual bad guy was.
Jensen has written quite a few books in Danish. This is the first to be translated into English, with the second coming out soon. Hopefully it will be the next of many.
The mystery is good and the story was well paced. It kept the reader guessing until the end as to who the actual bad guy was.
Jensen has written quite a few books in Danish. This is the first to be translated into English, with the second coming out soon. Hopefully it will be the next of many.
February 17, 2014
This novel's story is set in England at a time that is not clearly identified. Saxons, Danes, and Vikings are fighting for control of the country. A Danish king has one a decisive victory and is wanting to consolidate his victory and unite the country. A murder of a Saxon nobleman stands in the way of the King's plans. The Saxons suspect that the King had the nobleman killed and the King is adamant that he did not.
The King appoints an unlikely pair to solve the mystery. An illuminator (former novice monk) and a disenfranchised Saxon-Dane nobleman are teamed to find the killer(s). The story is well developed and written. This is a good mystery that moves fast. My only regret is that I think this is the only one of Jensen's stories that is available in English.
The King appoints an unlikely pair to solve the mystery. An illuminator (former novice monk) and a disenfranchised Saxon-Dane nobleman are teamed to find the killer(s). The story is well developed and written. This is a good mystery that moves fast. My only regret is that I think this is the only one of Jensen's stories that is available in English.
February 11, 2016
This was interesting because it's set in an early part of British history, where the Danes, Saxons, Jutes and Angles are on the verge of an uneasy alliance under King Cnut. When a Saxon nobleman is murdered, unlikely detectives Winston the Illustrator and Halfdan, a half Saxon, half Danish, estateless nobleman are charged by the kind with solving the crime. The mystery itself isn't too enthralling, but the scene-setting is great.
Halfdan is a bit of a Jack the Lad character, quick to anger and forever ogling any passing woman. Winston is a more measured, educated man. Together, they make quite a pair.
This novel has been translated from the original Danish, but I think the translator may be American as some of the translation is a little jarring - too modern and American.
Halfdan is a bit of a Jack the Lad character, quick to anger and forever ogling any passing woman. Winston is a more measured, educated man. Together, they make quite a pair.
This novel has been translated from the original Danish, but I think the translator may be American as some of the translation is a little jarring - too modern and American.
February 27, 2020
There is potential for an interesting story here, especially if the point of view had switched between the illustrator and the nobleman's son. It doesn't, and this story is a waste of an interesting era and setting. The protagonist is an entitled, sexist, jackass who thinks it's "fun" to grope and pinch women. The male characters are flat, and the female characters exist entirely to make the point that the protagonist is "successful" with the ladies. But only the young, buxom, attractive ones.
Just... ugh.
Just... ugh.
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