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Hugh Corbett #14
The Magician's Death
The search for a coded book of secrets leads to dramatic repercussions...
In Paul Doherty's The Magician's Death , Hugh Corbett's must decipher a book of secrets and keep in check rivalries, passions and brutal murders. Perfect for fans of Ellis Peters and Susanna Gregory.
The monk and scholar Roger Bacon claimed to have seen many marvels of nature and science and concealed these in a book written in an unbreakable code. Sir Hugh Corbett has been instructed to organise agents in Paris to steal this Book of Secrets. They do so but pay a violent price and the French King Philip IV now wishes a meeting between the scholars of England and France to discuss breaking the code.
Edward I has no choice but to allow the meeting to take place at Corfe Castle, which becomes a place of murder and mayhem. Young women from the castle are being slain whilst horrific things are witnessed in the nearby forest. The situation becomes more serious when two of the French scholars die in sinister circumstances. Corbett and Ranulf-atte-Newgate have to thread this maze of malevolent murder whilst trying to decipher the great secrets of one of England's most outstanding scholars.
What readers are saying about The Magician's Death :
'Doherty's novel is written with a great flow, action and description and creates a vivid picture of the time and people'
'This is one of the best books so far... exciting and unputdownable '
' Murder, intrigue, treachery, a little romance , and lots of action combine to give the reader an excellent read'
In Paul Doherty's The Magician's Death , Hugh Corbett's must decipher a book of secrets and keep in check rivalries, passions and brutal murders. Perfect for fans of Ellis Peters and Susanna Gregory.
The monk and scholar Roger Bacon claimed to have seen many marvels of nature and science and concealed these in a book written in an unbreakable code. Sir Hugh Corbett has been instructed to organise agents in Paris to steal this Book of Secrets. They do so but pay a violent price and the French King Philip IV now wishes a meeting between the scholars of England and France to discuss breaking the code.
Edward I has no choice but to allow the meeting to take place at Corfe Castle, which becomes a place of murder and mayhem. Young women from the castle are being slain whilst horrific things are witnessed in the nearby forest. The situation becomes more serious when two of the French scholars die in sinister circumstances. Corbett and Ranulf-atte-Newgate have to thread this maze of malevolent murder whilst trying to decipher the great secrets of one of England's most outstanding scholars.
What readers are saying about The Magician's Death :
'Doherty's novel is written with a great flow, action and description and creates a vivid picture of the time and people'
'This is one of the best books so far... exciting and unputdownable '
' Murder, intrigue, treachery, a little romance , and lots of action combine to give the reader an excellent read'
270 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2004
65 people are currently reading
375 people want to read
About the author
Paul Doherty
236 books609 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 - 30 of 41 reviews
October 23, 2021
Read this book in 2010, and its the 14th volume of the fantastic "Sir Hugh Corbett" series, from the author, Paul Doherty.
This book is once again set during the Reign of King Edward I, and this time its about the book called "Secret of Secrets" written by the English Franciscan monk and scholar, Francis Bacon.
This book is supposedly in the hands of the French of King Philip IV, and the now SIR Hugh Corbett has been instructed by King Edward I to steal this book back.
Sir Hugh Corbett and his chosen men achieve in doing this but are paying a very heavy and bloody price for it, resulting in a request from King Philip IV that a meeting should take place between English and French scholars to discuss the possibility of breaking this code, and King Edward has no choice but to relent because its demanded in the peace treaty between the two countries.
This meeting will take place at Corfe Castle, and not long after the start of this meeting young women from the castle are being slain in a nearby forest, and these devastating horrors are witnessed by the outlaw, Horehound, who's deeply concerned by it.
It will get even worse when two of the French scholars are found dead in rather sinister circumstances, and so time for Sir Hugh Corbett and his servant and protector, Ranulf-atte-Newgate, to come into action.
Corfe Castle, a place of mystery, mayhem and murder, will be the decor for Sir Hugh Corbett and Ranulf-atte-Newgate to start their investigations, and in this maze of treachery, deceit, and backstabbing, they must find a way to solve these mysteries, and by sheer determination and grit in their actions, and which is followed by a superbly executed plot they will be able to reveal and catch the person of these devious crimes in the end.
Highly recommended, for this is another terrific mystery belonging to a magnificent series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Magical Medieval Mystery"!
This book is once again set during the Reign of King Edward I, and this time its about the book called "Secret of Secrets" written by the English Franciscan monk and scholar, Francis Bacon.
This book is supposedly in the hands of the French of King Philip IV, and the now SIR Hugh Corbett has been instructed by King Edward I to steal this book back.
Sir Hugh Corbett and his chosen men achieve in doing this but are paying a very heavy and bloody price for it, resulting in a request from King Philip IV that a meeting should take place between English and French scholars to discuss the possibility of breaking this code, and King Edward has no choice but to relent because its demanded in the peace treaty between the two countries.
This meeting will take place at Corfe Castle, and not long after the start of this meeting young women from the castle are being slain in a nearby forest, and these devastating horrors are witnessed by the outlaw, Horehound, who's deeply concerned by it.
It will get even worse when two of the French scholars are found dead in rather sinister circumstances, and so time for Sir Hugh Corbett and his servant and protector, Ranulf-atte-Newgate, to come into action.
Corfe Castle, a place of mystery, mayhem and murder, will be the decor for Sir Hugh Corbett and Ranulf-atte-Newgate to start their investigations, and in this maze of treachery, deceit, and backstabbing, they must find a way to solve these mysteries, and by sheer determination and grit in their actions, and which is followed by a superbly executed plot they will be able to reveal and catch the person of these devious crimes in the end.
Highly recommended, for this is another terrific mystery belonging to a magnificent series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Magical Medieval Mystery"!
January 7, 2019
Hugh Corbett again? Why, yes! In Paul Doherty’s The Magician’s Death (Hugh Corbett #14) Dr. Doherty leads the reader to Corfe Castle (I have seen the ruins of Corfe Castle, and they are magnificent!) located in Southern England for a meeting between the English and the French where the attendees of this meeting will discover and discuss a book written by the disgraced Franciscan Roger Bacon. A mouthful - I know. Reason - The Treaty of Paris which both Edward I of England and Philip IV of France have signed.These kings refer to each other as “My Sweet Cousin”, but they are anything but that to one another! Politics in the Middle Ages! Sir Hugh Corbett, Keeper of the Secret Seal of Edward I and his henchmen, Ranulf-atte-Newgate, Principal Clerk in the Chancery of the Green Wax, and Chanson, the groom arrive at Corfe Castle to await the representatives of France, De Crain, a bitter enemy of Corbett’s and vice versus, and a few scholars of The Sorbonne. Upon arrival Sir Hugh is apprised of deaths of young maidens, Flemish pirates are close to Southern England (In winter?), and an outlaw band living in the forest which is near to the castle. Could anything more go wrong? Without a doubt! Once again Dr. Doherty draws the reader right into 1303 while she/he keep looking over her/his shoulder to attempt not to be caught unaware! A intricate medieval mystery with history and atmosphere all around. Warning: death is ever present. 4.25 stars
December 6, 2021
Fantastic read!!!
Very interesting story. I must say I learn a lot of history when I read these mystery books. You see with your eyes but open your mind an you will see so much mire that life has to give.
Very interesting story. I must say I learn a lot of history when I read these mystery books. You see with your eyes but open your mind an you will see so much mire that life has to give.
August 15, 2019
Не лошо четиво за тези, които обичат загадките и криминалния жанр.
September 30, 2019
It’s 1303—in deep winter—and it’s the 14th episode in P.C. Doherty’s Hugh Corbett medieval mystery series.
Emissaries of both England’s King Edward I and France’s King Philip IV are meeting at Corfe Castle in Devon to work out, once and for all, the translation of Friar Roger Bacon’s fabled "Secretus Secretorum," written in what has been to date in such a deep code that no one has been able to break it. (It’s “secrets” are above the imagination of most folks in the 14th century!).
In "The Magician’s Death," Doherty gives us one of his trademarks: locked room murders, mystifying occurrences, colorful characters (murderers and all), and a good description of life in these times.
Among the French delegation is Corbett’s nemesis (and counter part of France), Amaury de Craon and there is deception, conniving, more deception, and a bunch of murders before this session can end. Both kings are determined to find Bacon’s book, for both believe it contains formulas for untold riches and successes.
True to his habit, Doherty gives us a parallel plot too—one by one young village lasses are being murdered, shot at close range with a crossbow. Corbett, the king’s right hand man, undertakes to solve this case as well.
Ala Agatha Christie, the two plots move along well for most of the book and then all the resolutions come a-tumbling down. Corbett and his staff, of course, save the day (and a few lives). The clever De Craon, though, may have lost this skirmish, but we know this contest between the two will continue. "The Magician’s Death" certainly gives us a cold winter’s tale, certainly a winter of their discontent, for bodies lie a-strewn and with a few surprises here and there, for causal effect.
June 7, 2021
Another multilayered, complex story...
Still want more info on Corvettes home life...what happens when he's there? How old are his children? What are the members of his family and household like? Does a story ever take place there? Also, Corbett was a musician at the beginning of the series...now he sings, loves music and created a choir at his hone at Leighton...what happened to his playing? So much I want to know and This book like most of the previous ones and the last one so far in this series...#21...deal with these consequential 'cases' and leave out so many details of Corvettes personal life, Ran ultra romantic life and what happens to the women he gets involved with, and What is it a out Chanson...who is as convenient a character as Corvettes wife, children, Uncle , household and etc. I am impressed with the writing of these books and the complexity of the tales and, yet acknowledge that there is much repetition, some contemporary language we use today as opposed to the time the books take place, some leaps of intuition by Corbett and the author that are known only to them not the reader! And I will complete the rest of the series (so far) to see if I discover the answers to some of my impertinent questions... I admit I am hooked just in case these discoveries are yet to be found! Ah, well...Next. Next.
Still want more info on Corvettes home life...what happens when he's there? How old are his children? What are the members of his family and household like? Does a story ever take place there? Also, Corbett was a musician at the beginning of the series...now he sings, loves music and created a choir at his hone at Leighton...what happened to his playing? So much I want to know and This book like most of the previous ones and the last one so far in this series...#21...deal with these consequential 'cases' and leave out so many details of Corvettes personal life, Ran ultra romantic life and what happens to the women he gets involved with, and What is it a out Chanson...who is as convenient a character as Corvettes wife, children, Uncle , household and etc. I am impressed with the writing of these books and the complexity of the tales and, yet acknowledge that there is much repetition, some contemporary language we use today as opposed to the time the books take place, some leaps of intuition by Corbett and the author that are known only to them not the reader! And I will complete the rest of the series (so far) to see if I discover the answers to some of my impertinent questions... I admit I am hooked just in case these discoveries are yet to be found! Ah, well...Next. Next.
February 25, 2019
Doherty is a prodigious writer of many books (see above). This is my first Hugh Corbett. It was interesting because I'd recently read The Godless Man, Alexander the Great and his friends. Not in content, but in writing style, I'd give Godless Man a YA rating--with prostitutes. Also warm weather. This is definitely an R rating, along with deep winter in southern England. Lots of snow and ice, though not the nuanced descriptions one might want. Just snow and ice and icy drafts throughout the castle. Roger Bacon is the deceased motivator--a book written in unbreakable code, with a race between the English and the French--Edward I and Philip IV and their scholars to break the code and learn the secrets before DaVinci sketched out his submarine and airplane. Maybe HE broke the code. Lots of murders, some related, some not.
May 17, 2020
Though 14th in a series, this is the first one of Doherty's books that I have read - and enjoyed it. Slightly reminiscent of Name of the Rose, in as much as both are period pieces set around mysterious books and arcane ciphers. There is quite a cast of characters, which occasionally becomes a little hard to follow in terms of who is doing what to whom.
There are two plots that intersect, with a series of local murders and some international espionage. I particularly liked the side plot involving a gang of woodland outlaws. The author has a deft touch for bringing the period to life - the battle scene I fund particularly enjoyable, which is rare for me as I am not a fan of war stories but perhaps this serves as a testament to Doherty's skill. I shall certainly be keeping an eye open for others in the series.
There are two plots that intersect, with a series of local murders and some international espionage. I particularly liked the side plot involving a gang of woodland outlaws. The author has a deft touch for bringing the period to life - the battle scene I fund particularly enjoyable, which is rare for me as I am not a fan of war stories but perhaps this serves as a testament to Doherty's skill. I shall certainly be keeping an eye open for others in the series.
November 13, 2024
#14 in the Sir Hugh Corbett, master spy to Edward I, medieval mystery series. It is 1303 and he has been instructed to steal the `Book of Secrets'. A book written by the monk and scholar Roger Bacon, in which he claimed to have seen many marvels of nature and science and concealed these in a book written in an unbreakable code. The thief dos not go well and and the French now wishes a meeting between the scholars of England and France to discuss breaking the code.
The meeting will take place at Corfe Castle, which becomes a place of murder and mayhem in which young women from the castle are being slain and horrific things are witnessed in the nearby forest. The situation becomes more serious when two of the French scholars die in sinister circumstances. It is up to Hugh and his French counterpart, Ranulf-atte-Newgate, to stop what is happening while also trying to decipher the code.
The meeting will take place at Corfe Castle, which becomes a place of murder and mayhem in which young women from the castle are being slain and horrific things are witnessed in the nearby forest. The situation becomes more serious when two of the French scholars die in sinister circumstances. It is up to Hugh and his French counterpart, Ranulf-atte-Newgate, to stop what is happening while also trying to decipher the code.
September 10, 2025
Condemned men always acted as if they were drunk, unable to accept what was happening. The same was true of Character_name. He hadn’t even touched his face where Corbett had smacked him, but sat, half turned in his chair, lips slightly parted, only the occasional blink or twitch of a muscle showing he was awake and listening.
December 14, 2018
Engaging story and well plotted for the most part but very sloppy writing at times. He mixes up character names and confuses Chanson, the current groom, with the one that was killed off several books ago.
February 17, 2019
Sir Hugh travels to Corfe Castle to meet with his French nemesis to decipher a book of secrets. Soon the castle is swept into intrigue a French scholars and young women are murdered.
The logical Sir Hugh solves mysteries set in Medieval England serves up a devilish good story.
The logical Sir Hugh solves mysteries set in Medieval England serves up a devilish good story.
August 22, 2019
If you've enjoyed the rest of the books in this series,you'll enjoy this one as well
The next installment in the series:Well written, interesting and historical. This one is number 14 in the Hugh Corbett medieval mysteries series.
The next installment in the series:Well written, interesting and historical. This one is number 14 in the Hugh Corbett medieval mysteries series.
December 31, 2019
Good sequel
Another fine entry in the entertaining Hugh Corbett series, now onto the next one while I am on school break.
Another fine entry in the entertaining Hugh Corbett series, now onto the next one while I am on school break.
July 20, 2021
I found it fascinating.
September 1, 2022
These books offer an excellent time and place experience of 1303. You really feel you are there with Sir Hugh. I also appreciate that the book avoids a common flaw of mysteries by never letting the story drag in the middle. The body count is high and never lets up.
My only complaint is that I would like to see more of Hugh’s private life and of Edward I. Love this series.
My only complaint is that I would like to see more of Hugh’s private life and of Edward I. Love this series.
January 31, 2023
I had forgotten how much fun Paul Doherty's books are to read. They're also clever and deft, and outstanding of their type!
August 13, 2012
love my British mysteries and I love them more if they are based in medieval area.
“The Magician’s death” is based some time during the early 14th century. Thought the story starts off in Paris, most of the plot is based in the Corfe Castle area in Dorset.
The plot is not complex but has several layers – all of them equally intriguing. There is firstly the political struggle between King Edward of England and King Phillip IV of France – they are both looking to unravel Friar Bacon’s Book of Secrets, which has been written in a secret code and will reveal the mysteries of the world. Both of them send their best man to Corfe Castle in the dead of the winter to hold a convention to break the cipher in which the book is written. Things start getting troublesome , when the french scholars start dying apparent natural deaths.
At the same time murders are being committed around the castle, where dead young women are being found, shot down by arrows for no conceivable reason. Then there are these outlaws that claim that they are innocent of these murders and speak of even worse “horror in the woods”. Lets not forget, Father Matthews – who lives almost an ascetic existence in his little church in the woods. All the murdered girls are students in his sunday classes – is he more than what he seems? If this isn’t enough, the King’s men report presence of pirates in the nearby coastel town, unexpected and seemingly suspicious. Are all these activties related?
Every good crime novel , needs a good detective, ours is Sir Hugh Corbett, King Edward’s right man. Melancholy with a sense for black humor, Corbett is still an instantly likeable character. Along with his advisor, the young Ranulf, Corbett tries to bring pieces of the puzzle together.
What worked for me as I read the book were the storylines and the characters. Though they are a dozen or more important characters in the book, Doherty manages to shape them out in the short spaces they occupy. The fact that I could empathaize with some of the characters of the book is a lot to say for a mystery novel.
The only place where the book falters is at the climax. Its predictable and slightly boring. The build up is pretty huge – political drama, jack the ripper like murders, accidental deaths, the creepy winter, dead bodies in the wood – and then the resolution is pretty unimpressive.
However, I think this would make an excellent movie actually. I would also definitely read more of Paul Doherty.
“The Magician’s death” is based some time during the early 14th century. Thought the story starts off in Paris, most of the plot is based in the Corfe Castle area in Dorset.
The plot is not complex but has several layers – all of them equally intriguing. There is firstly the political struggle between King Edward of England and King Phillip IV of France – they are both looking to unravel Friar Bacon’s Book of Secrets, which has been written in a secret code and will reveal the mysteries of the world. Both of them send their best man to Corfe Castle in the dead of the winter to hold a convention to break the cipher in which the book is written. Things start getting troublesome , when the french scholars start dying apparent natural deaths.
At the same time murders are being committed around the castle, where dead young women are being found, shot down by arrows for no conceivable reason. Then there are these outlaws that claim that they are innocent of these murders and speak of even worse “horror in the woods”. Lets not forget, Father Matthews – who lives almost an ascetic existence in his little church in the woods. All the murdered girls are students in his sunday classes – is he more than what he seems? If this isn’t enough, the King’s men report presence of pirates in the nearby coastel town, unexpected and seemingly suspicious. Are all these activties related?
Every good crime novel , needs a good detective, ours is Sir Hugh Corbett, King Edward’s right man. Melancholy with a sense for black humor, Corbett is still an instantly likeable character. Along with his advisor, the young Ranulf, Corbett tries to bring pieces of the puzzle together.
What worked for me as I read the book were the storylines and the characters. Though they are a dozen or more important characters in the book, Doherty manages to shape them out in the short spaces they occupy. The fact that I could empathaize with some of the characters of the book is a lot to say for a mystery novel.
The only place where the book falters is at the climax. Its predictable and slightly boring. The build up is pretty huge – political drama, jack the ripper like murders, accidental deaths, the creepy winter, dead bodies in the wood – and then the resolution is pretty unimpressive.
However, I think this would make an excellent movie actually. I would also definitely read more of Paul Doherty.
June 7, 2014
This is the fourteenth book in the medieval mystery series featuring Sir Hugh Corbett. As in every book in the series, Doherty weaves fact into his story, making it a convincing historical fiction.
This time Corbett and his retinue are called to Corfe Castle in England to discuss Roger Bacon's Book of Secrets. I enjoyed the premise of this story immensely, and found reference to the works of the controversial scholar quite intriguing. Roger Bacon imagined inventions such as the aeroplane and submarine and this book by Doherty has inspired me to investigate this further at some point in the future.
However, it's not long before murder reaches Corfe Castle and Corbett is almost assassinated by the killer. His investigative skills are put to the test again as young women from the Castle are found slain and two French scholars who are also gathered in an attempt to decipher the code in The Book of Secrets, seem to have had suffered fatal accidents.
I'm still enjoying these historical fiction mysteries set in 1300s England however this has been the longest series I've ever read from start to finish. I'll enjoy 'catching up' to the most current one so to speak and really enjoyed this one.
This time Corbett and his retinue are called to Corfe Castle in England to discuss Roger Bacon's Book of Secrets. I enjoyed the premise of this story immensely, and found reference to the works of the controversial scholar quite intriguing. Roger Bacon imagined inventions such as the aeroplane and submarine and this book by Doherty has inspired me to investigate this further at some point in the future.
However, it's not long before murder reaches Corfe Castle and Corbett is almost assassinated by the killer. His investigative skills are put to the test again as young women from the Castle are found slain and two French scholars who are also gathered in an attempt to decipher the code in The Book of Secrets, seem to have had suffered fatal accidents.
I'm still enjoying these historical fiction mysteries set in 1300s England however this has been the longest series I've ever read from start to finish. I'll enjoy 'catching up' to the most current one so to speak and really enjoyed this one.
May 22, 2012
Unfortunately, because I read some of the later novels first, I think that this is my last Hugh Corbett novel and it was as good as the others.
I like the stories and the rich descriptions of the life and times. Most stories have been good who-dun-its with other bits added so that the reader can claim self credit for solving some of the puzzle but I dont think that I have ever managed to completely unravel any.
An excellent series and as my marks show, thoroughly recommended to anyone who likes this genre of reading.
I like the stories and the rich descriptions of the life and times. Most stories have been good who-dun-its with other bits added so that the reader can claim self credit for solving some of the puzzle but I dont think that I have ever managed to completely unravel any.
An excellent series and as my marks show, thoroughly recommended to anyone who likes this genre of reading.
February 11, 2016
A disappointment. It started out strong and exciting, and then fizzled into wordiness and lack of character development. At the end, Corbett just became a bit of a wuss. He got nauseous during the battle? I thought he was a soldier! This is the first book I've read in this series, so maybe I got that part wrong. As an investigator, he seems pretty hapless, and then all of a sudden he comes up with a great revelation. The wrap-up at the end was so tedious and long-winded that I just skipped through it --I didn't care enough!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 10, 2012
This was a very well-written and well-researched book. The history of the time period was very well-captured. There were lots of plot twists. There was a lot of action. However, I still wasn't into the book. I can't put my finger on why it didn't appeal to me because all the elements of a great historical mystery are there. I gave the book 3 stars because I think the problem was me and not the author's writing.
August 29, 2009
Another highly readable entry in Doherty's series of Hugh Corbett mysteries. Political intrigue, multiple murders and mythical texts come together in an intriguing mix. Doherty is a assured, confident writer whose historical knowledge is one of the hallmarks of his books, though once again, things tie up too tidily and quickly at the end.
November 13, 2009
one of a historical mystery series. It was promising, and it wasn't bad, but too many characters with similar names, and there are nuances to the characters that I would have been more aware of had I read the previous novels.
May 1, 2011
like Sherlock Holms, the deduction and reasoning finally comes through. The Hugh Corbet series of books
are a little slow to start, but once they do you can't put it down. The descriptions of places and clothing and people make the stories seem so real.
are a little slow to start, but once they do you can't put it down. The descriptions of places and clothing and people make the stories seem so real.
October 25, 2011
I like the style of writing and appreciate the historical information provided by the author. I have read several of his books. I prefer his Middle Ages series to the Egyptian, but liked them as well.
December 6, 2010
A good one. Even though one of the mysteries is solved rather early, everything in this book is linked together and the original "solution" has ramifications later on.
November 10, 2009
Enjoyed the medieval setting. Wrap up is a little contrived. Similar to Holmes in that regard.
January 5, 2011
Not so strong and interesting like the Chinese Mysteries, but I like these ;)
July 20, 2011
Excellent book from beginning to end. For history lovers during the middle ages in England. The best of Doherty's books I've read yet. I couldn't put it down.
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