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The Sorrowful Mysteries of Brother Athelstan #13
Candle Flame
February, 1381. Splendid Southwark tavern, The Candle-Flame, is the site of a brutal massacre in which nine people, including John of Gaunt's tax collectors, their military escort and the prostitutes entertaining them, are murdered. The furious Regent orders Brother Athelstan to track down the culprits.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published July 31, 2014
144 people are currently reading
294 people want to read
About the author
Paul Doherty
236 books606 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 49 reviews
December 29, 2018
The 13th volume of the fantastic Brother Athelstan series is certainly another one to treasure.
As always Paul Doherty has managed to bring London in the late 14th Century vividly to life with it's own feel and atmosphere of these medieval times.
The storytelling is again of the highest quality and the mystery itself is really fantastic and exciting from start to finish, and so making this book a real page-turner.
The story itself is set in February in the year AD 1381 and the story really begins when the Regent, John of Gaunt, is demanding ever increasing taxes, so much so that people will spark into flame and total resentment.
This unrest will result in a bloody massacre at a Southwark tavern, The Candle-Flame, in which nine people are killed, including Gaunt's tax collectors and their military escorts.
And so Brother Athelstan is ordered by John of Gaunt to investigate these killings, because not only has Gaunt's treasure been stolen, the Regent also believes that there's a French spy active along the Thames, while at the same time there's a professional assassin, Beowulf, on the loose who has sworn vengeance against Gaunt and his minions.
This is another top-notch murder mystery which is packed with great storytelling and excitement, making this Candle Flame "A Bright Light Tale"!
As always Paul Doherty has managed to bring London in the late 14th Century vividly to life with it's own feel and atmosphere of these medieval times.
The storytelling is again of the highest quality and the mystery itself is really fantastic and exciting from start to finish, and so making this book a real page-turner.
The story itself is set in February in the year AD 1381 and the story really begins when the Regent, John of Gaunt, is demanding ever increasing taxes, so much so that people will spark into flame and total resentment.
This unrest will result in a bloody massacre at a Southwark tavern, The Candle-Flame, in which nine people are killed, including Gaunt's tax collectors and their military escorts.
And so Brother Athelstan is ordered by John of Gaunt to investigate these killings, because not only has Gaunt's treasure been stolen, the Regent also believes that there's a French spy active along the Thames, while at the same time there's a professional assassin, Beowulf, on the loose who has sworn vengeance against Gaunt and his minions.
This is another top-notch murder mystery which is packed with great storytelling and excitement, making this Candle Flame "A Bright Light Tale"!
May 11, 2024
Another twisty plot for this one, set mainly in and around The Candle Flame public house.
Again we have murder, but by more than one person, and in different settings. Which took our intrepid Friar some picking apart.
Of course we are given a good look into how bleak and cruel life could be in this time period.
We move every closer to the Great Peasant Revolt of the 14th century.
Again we have murder, but by more than one person, and in different settings. Which took our intrepid Friar some picking apart.
Of course we are given a good look into how bleak and cruel life could be in this time period.
We move every closer to the Great Peasant Revolt of the 14th century.
September 22, 2021
This was a good look one to read!!!
A great mystery!!! It's freezing ass cold an more murders going on at the Candle Flame Inn. Athelstan an old Jack the corner have quite a bit more on there hands. Always impressed on the description of old London's poor side of town.
A great mystery!!! It's freezing ass cold an more murders going on at the Candle Flame Inn. Athelstan an old Jack the corner have quite a bit more on there hands. Always impressed on the description of old London's poor side of town.
December 27, 2014
Where I got the book: review copy provided by the publisher.
This medieval murder mystery, set in 1381, takes us to the restless, dangerous Southwark district of London where a massacre is committed in the Barbican, the ancient keep adjoining the Candle-Flame tavern. John of Gaunt’s poll tax collector, his associates and guard are murdered in a locked room, and a large amount of gold goes missing. As more deaths follow, Brother Athelstan, Dominican friar and coroner’s clerk, is ready to listen to those who connect the murders to popular unrest and the rise of an avenger nicknamed Beowulf, but takes careful note of the other travelers in the inn and of the French threat to London.
This mystery began with a long prologue setting out the historical context and continued with a methodical exposition of clues. This will please readers who like to puzzle out a mystery in an orderly manner, but I found the long passages of exposition hard going, particularly as there were few paragraph breaks in the text and the chapters were extremely long. Much local color was provided that was fascinating but failed to advance the plot.
As the story proceeded there was more dialogue and it became easier to read, and by the end I could see the mystery was well plotted and had worked in a great deal of history. Candle Flame will reward the persistent, detail-oriented reader, but for my taste I felt it suffered from overmuch minutiae.
This medieval murder mystery, set in 1381, takes us to the restless, dangerous Southwark district of London where a massacre is committed in the Barbican, the ancient keep adjoining the Candle-Flame tavern. John of Gaunt’s poll tax collector, his associates and guard are murdered in a locked room, and a large amount of gold goes missing. As more deaths follow, Brother Athelstan, Dominican friar and coroner’s clerk, is ready to listen to those who connect the murders to popular unrest and the rise of an avenger nicknamed Beowulf, but takes careful note of the other travelers in the inn and of the French threat to London.
This mystery began with a long prologue setting out the historical context and continued with a methodical exposition of clues. This will please readers who like to puzzle out a mystery in an orderly manner, but I found the long passages of exposition hard going, particularly as there were few paragraph breaks in the text and the chapters were extremely long. Much local color was provided that was fascinating but failed to advance the plot.
As the story proceeded there was more dialogue and it became easier to read, and by the end I could see the mystery was well plotted and had worked in a great deal of history. Candle Flame will reward the persistent, detail-oriented reader, but for my taste I felt it suffered from overmuch minutiae.
April 1, 2025
I was able to guess the answers to most of the mysteries presented .
Either they were more obvious or I'm getting better.
Either they were more obvious or I'm getting better.
April 11, 2014
I have seen these historical mystery novels featuring the Dominican friar Brother Athelstan and the Lord High Coroner in the City of London, Sir John Cranston and have even bought several of the books, but just haven’t gotten around to reading them yet. This 13th book in the series was as good a place to start as any because author Paul Doherty made it easy for me to catch up on the lives of those who make the environs around St. Erconwald their home. In this novel there is great civil unrest in London because of the taxation burden under the rule of John of Gaunt, serving as regent because of the youthful age of his nephew, the King. The city is now home to the Great Community of the Realm; being led by the Upright Men with help from the Earthworms and those lowliest of citizens who are overburdened and overtaxed to the point of starvation. When one of the tax collectors is killed inside an impregnable Barbican on the grounds of The Candle-Flame tavern and inn Sir John and Athelstan are called on to solve the ultimate locked room mystery. All those both inside and guards outside the Barbican are dead and yet it is not possible for anyone to have gained entry. A tangled web, indeed, for these two staunch seekers of truth and justice.
I like to feel that I am solving a mystery along with the protagonists in a story. In this case, even though I definitely enjoyed the book, there was not much hope of me ever getting this one right. I can’t say any more than that without revealing things which readers will want to discover for themselves, but I will tell you that you will deserve several pats on the back if you can unravel this plot before you reach the end of the story. At some points the novel tried my patience, mostly by things such as overly long lists of all the various activities happening on the streets of London between one point and another. When you’ve read about one chamber pot being emptied down on the heads of pedestrians you’ve pretty much gotten the picture of that. At least, I had. I enjoy description, but not when it goes on for so long that I become impatient with it and want to move on. This did seem to be a habit engaged in by the author quite often.
If you are very familiar with the poem Beowulf, you will enjoy this novel where a Beowulf-like character is referred to on a regular basis. If you have forgotten your study of Beowulf, as I generally had, some of the dialogue may float over your head and you will miss clues. I liked my initial foray into the world of Brother Athelstan and I’m sure regular readers of the series will find this addition to be every bit as well written as previous novels. I still can’t help but feel there was too much circumstantial evidence used in solving the case, but this may be standard procedure in these novels. I will definitely go looking for those books I already own and check out other cases solved by this intriguing pair of sleuths.
I received an ARC of this novel through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own.
I like to feel that I am solving a mystery along with the protagonists in a story. In this case, even though I definitely enjoyed the book, there was not much hope of me ever getting this one right. I can’t say any more than that without revealing things which readers will want to discover for themselves, but I will tell you that you will deserve several pats on the back if you can unravel this plot before you reach the end of the story. At some points the novel tried my patience, mostly by things such as overly long lists of all the various activities happening on the streets of London between one point and another. When you’ve read about one chamber pot being emptied down on the heads of pedestrians you’ve pretty much gotten the picture of that. At least, I had. I enjoy description, but not when it goes on for so long that I become impatient with it and want to move on. This did seem to be a habit engaged in by the author quite often.
If you are very familiar with the poem Beowulf, you will enjoy this novel where a Beowulf-like character is referred to on a regular basis. If you have forgotten your study of Beowulf, as I generally had, some of the dialogue may float over your head and you will miss clues. I liked my initial foray into the world of Brother Athelstan and I’m sure regular readers of the series will find this addition to be every bit as well written as previous novels. I still can’t help but feel there was too much circumstantial evidence used in solving the case, but this may be standard procedure in these novels. I will definitely go looking for those books I already own and check out other cases solved by this intriguing pair of sleuths.
I received an ARC of this novel through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own.
March 31, 2014
For my own reasons I rated somewhere between 3.75 and 4, although Athelstan as a character cannot be beat. Descriptions of 14th century London do give me the shivers, very gritty with too many adjectives repetitively used. Read Part One carefully as it is complex.
A convoluted plot starts and ends at the opulent (for 1381) Southwark tavern the Candle-Flame, built "on the profits of the recent war in France by Mine Host Simon Thorne". Built on blood,it is said, remember that!
England and especially London, being in a turmoil, the Regent John of Gaunt figures prominently. Gaunt's tax collectors are being targeted, presumably by a mysterious and unseen assassin called Beowulf, or are they? Sir John Cranston and Athelstan drop everything to get to the bottom of it.
Recommended, of course, for fans of this series and this genre, as well as historical mystery lovers of any kind. It is, after all" the Thirteenth of the Sorrowful Mysteries of Brother Athelstan". Received from NetGalley for an honest review.
A convoluted plot starts and ends at the opulent (for 1381) Southwark tavern the Candle-Flame, built "on the profits of the recent war in France by Mine Host Simon Thorne". Built on blood,it is said, remember that!
England and especially London, being in a turmoil, the Regent John of Gaunt figures prominently. Gaunt's tax collectors are being targeted, presumably by a mysterious and unseen assassin called Beowulf, or are they? Sir John Cranston and Athelstan drop everything to get to the bottom of it.
Recommended, of course, for fans of this series and this genre, as well as historical mystery lovers of any kind. It is, after all" the Thirteenth of the Sorrowful Mysteries of Brother Athelstan". Received from NetGalley for an honest review.
June 4, 2014
This is really a 3.5 star review, but as I prefer to round up, not down, I've given it four stars.
I didn't enjoy this at first, I found it heavy going. Cranston was not up to his usual blustering, roaring self, and Athelstan just seemed to be off beam quite a bit.
I persevered and about a third of the way through, everything just snapped into place and the story became the fast paced, exciting novel that I have come to expect from Paul Doherty.
Not the best of the Brother Athelstan series, but certainly doesn't disgrace the series.
I didn't enjoy this at first, I found it heavy going. Cranston was not up to his usual blustering, roaring self, and Athelstan just seemed to be off beam quite a bit.
I persevered and about a third of the way through, everything just snapped into place and the story became the fast paced, exciting novel that I have come to expect from Paul Doherty.
Not the best of the Brother Athelstan series, but certainly doesn't disgrace the series.
December 8, 2015
Descriptions of Southwark are alarming to modern-day sensibilities, but truly succeeded in setting the scene for a most puzzling murder/theft scheme during a time of upheaval during reign of the child king (Richard). Athelstan and his coroner friend Cranston proved worthy to find solution/resolution.
January 18, 2016
Another good one in this appealing series.
September 21, 2022
I am just reading the whole series in order as I am loving these historic murder mysteries and the characters involved.
March 28, 2020
4.5 stars, even though I’m dropping into the series in the middle, having borrowed from my local library on a whim.
I enjoy a good historical mystery, and am looking for three main things: an interesting and well constructed mystery, a vivid and authentic portrayal of the chosen time period, and well drawn characters that I actually want to spend time with.
It’s now a crowded genre, but I’ve concluded that all of these are more difficult than they look.
Plot is difficult because one and a half centuries of detective fiction have worked over the ground pretty thoroughly and it’s hard to be original, even with the advantage of a novel historical setting. Yet Doherty piles on not one but two ‘locked room’ murder scenes here, and makes them just about plausible. (Yes, the plots in this kind of book are usually implausibly complex and with a ludicrous number of red herrings; that’s the genre. I prefer the closed-cast-country house style here to the modern crime style of traumatised, miserable cops chasing serial killers).
Both time and place are effectively if graphically depicted, with a delight in the grotesque. I got a satisfying sense that that author had his head ‘in the time’ and its attitudes and ways. Descriptions are peppered with archaic words and names I didn’t know, which is unusual for me – I particularly enjoyed ‘wodwoses’. The 14C Southwark seething with poverty, anger and rebellion is explored naturally as part of the plot and mostly avoiding blocks of infodump.
Character is also difficult to do well in detective fiction because there’s so much plot to get through, with witnesses etc. having little time to establish depth. The role of investigator tends to make the detective into an emotionless cipher, though a great writer can pull of the kind of patient character development that Dorothy Sayers demonstrated. I can’t judge that from one book here. We also reasonably expect our protagonist to be just, heroic and broad-minded but I tend to dock stars for virtue-signalling and using a dollop of modern attitudes as a shortcut instead of genuinely demonstrating those qualities. Brother Athelstan instead manages to be all those things while also being a convincing and godly Catholic priest, and still seeming human. Not quite Father Brown, but less distant than Brother Cadfael. Sir John Cranston also shows signs of character, emotion and initiative that threaten to escape the policeman-friend-of-genius-detective role in which he’s cast.
I’ve now grabbed another few just before the library shut down and will see if they are as entertaining.
I enjoy a good historical mystery, and am looking for three main things: an interesting and well constructed mystery, a vivid and authentic portrayal of the chosen time period, and well drawn characters that I actually want to spend time with.
It’s now a crowded genre, but I’ve concluded that all of these are more difficult than they look.
Plot is difficult because one and a half centuries of detective fiction have worked over the ground pretty thoroughly and it’s hard to be original, even with the advantage of a novel historical setting. Yet Doherty piles on not one but two ‘locked room’ murder scenes here, and makes them just about plausible. (Yes, the plots in this kind of book are usually implausibly complex and with a ludicrous number of red herrings; that’s the genre. I prefer the closed-cast-country house style here to the modern crime style of traumatised, miserable cops chasing serial killers).
Both time and place are effectively if graphically depicted, with a delight in the grotesque. I got a satisfying sense that that author had his head ‘in the time’ and its attitudes and ways. Descriptions are peppered with archaic words and names I didn’t know, which is unusual for me – I particularly enjoyed ‘wodwoses’. The 14C Southwark seething with poverty, anger and rebellion is explored naturally as part of the plot and mostly avoiding blocks of infodump.
Character is also difficult to do well in detective fiction because there’s so much plot to get through, with witnesses etc. having little time to establish depth. The role of investigator tends to make the detective into an emotionless cipher, though a great writer can pull of the kind of patient character development that Dorothy Sayers demonstrated. I can’t judge that from one book here. We also reasonably expect our protagonist to be just, heroic and broad-minded but I tend to dock stars for virtue-signalling and using a dollop of modern attitudes as a shortcut instead of genuinely demonstrating those qualities. Brother Athelstan instead manages to be all those things while also being a convincing and godly Catholic priest, and still seeming human. Not quite Father Brown, but less distant than Brother Cadfael. Sir John Cranston also shows signs of character, emotion and initiative that threaten to escape the policeman-friend-of-genius-detective role in which he’s cast.
I’ve now grabbed another few just before the library shut down and will see if they are as entertaining.
April 16, 2018
I usually enjoy books in this series, but unfortunately this one missed the mark.
The author seemed to be entranced with his complicated plot, and did not develop the characters or provide much action during the narrative. The final denouement took pages of dialogue, which was just dull to read. i finished it just to see how it all turned out - I missed a few of the twists, but wasn't sufficiently interested to go back and resolve them.
The author has set the scene for the next in the series, but I am not sure I'll be queueing up to read it!
The author seemed to be entranced with his complicated plot, and did not develop the characters or provide much action during the narrative. The final denouement took pages of dialogue, which was just dull to read. i finished it just to see how it all turned out - I missed a few of the twists, but wasn't sufficiently interested to go back and resolve them.
The author has set the scene for the next in the series, but I am not sure I'll be queueing up to read it!
May 7, 2019
A good entry in the Athelstan series.
An unpopular tax collector is staying in an old tower belonging to the Candle Flame Inn in Southwark. In the morning his guards are dead, and no one in the tower is responding. When entry is finally gained all inside are found dead and the collected taxes are missing. When John Cranston and Athelstan start asking questions it seems everyone staying at the inn has something to hide and a couple of Athelstan's parishioners may be involved in some way. Can Athelstan untangle the strands and ensure the guilty are punished and the innocent cleared?
An unpopular tax collector is staying in an old tower belonging to the Candle Flame Inn in Southwark. In the morning his guards are dead, and no one in the tower is responding. When entry is finally gained all inside are found dead and the collected taxes are missing. When John Cranston and Athelstan start asking questions it seems everyone staying at the inn has something to hide and a couple of Athelstan's parishioners may be involved in some way. Can Athelstan untangle the strands and ensure the guilty are punished and the innocent cleared?
August 3, 2020
Candle Flame
I have read and re-read the Brother Athelstan books for a number of years. Now in a time of pandemic I return again to the sanctuary of St. Erconwalds. Paul Doherty describes the world of Brother Athelstan and Sir John perfectly. One can almost smell the streets and hear the cries of the stall holders. The plot is constructed brilliantly and it is easy to become immersed in another time and place which faced similar problems to our own and to forget for a while our own problems.
I have read and re-read the Brother Athelstan books for a number of years. Now in a time of pandemic I return again to the sanctuary of St. Erconwalds. Paul Doherty describes the world of Brother Athelstan and Sir John perfectly. One can almost smell the streets and hear the cries of the stall holders. The plot is constructed brilliantly and it is easy to become immersed in another time and place which faced similar problems to our own and to forget for a while our own problems.
April 14, 2025
The Candle Flame
We meet a new supporting character named Mooncalf. The name made think his patents were at Woodstock in 1969. Is he a good character or a bad one? Multiple murders take placed in locked rooms. A tower is set on fire with Athelstan inside. Who is Beowulf, the assassin? The King's taxes are stolen. Another great mystery to solve. It is February of 1381 and the Summer of Blood is coming. Watkins and pike are arrested. Will Athelstan lose two more parishioners? Each story goes into the next. I really enjoy reading them.
We meet a new supporting character named Mooncalf. The name made think his patents were at Woodstock in 1969. Is he a good character or a bad one? Multiple murders take placed in locked rooms. A tower is set on fire with Athelstan inside. Who is Beowulf, the assassin? The King's taxes are stolen. Another great mystery to solve. It is February of 1381 and the Summer of Blood is coming. Watkins and pike are arrested. Will Athelstan lose two more parishioners? Each story goes into the next. I really enjoy reading them.
June 16, 2017
I have read all the preceding books, but now find they are becoming very repetitive. The book is padded out with what I call waffle - retelling every day activities in 14 century London, which if you had read the previous books you would know. Athelstans notes which are more or less repeated several times in the book are unnecessary. I find myself skipping these. The author frequently names Althestans brother as Stephen - his name was Francis. I don't think that I will read any more.
August 5, 2018
A History lesson tied up in a clever who dunnit.
A brilliantly constructed who dunnit set amongst the turbulent backdrop of London during the Medieval period. Brother Athelstan is a quiet but assured hero surrounded by colourful characters and the vivid descriptions of London at this time make you feel like you have stepped out of a time machine.
A brilliantly constructed who dunnit set amongst the turbulent backdrop of London during the Medieval period. Brother Athelstan is a quiet but assured hero surrounded by colourful characters and the vivid descriptions of London at this time make you feel like you have stepped out of a time machine.
February 20, 2024
One of the Hardest So Far....
This was complicated. Sometimes I get an inkling of who has done what and I even picked up on g[d clues but missed the big truths entirely. You always get three myteries for the price of one I Brother Athelstan and I only got one part of one of them, while getting the other part of it totally wrong. Riveting.
This was complicated. Sometimes I get an inkling of who has done what and I even picked up on g[d clues but missed the big truths entirely. You always get three myteries for the price of one I Brother Athelstan and I only got one part of one of them, while getting the other part of it totally wrong. Riveting.
March 20, 2022
I listened to the audiobook. The reader has a good voice, but…… in his effort to give a voice to each character, he gave a most unpleasant voice to one of the main characters. Because that character had a lot of dialogue, his unpleasant voice ruined the audiobook. Also, it was a lousy book.
November 25, 2020
Sir John’s role in this book is much smaller than previously, though it has been gradually diminishing over the past few books.
July 8, 2021
OK but it didn't have the flair of the previous books. The author is setting the scene for a big uprising so maybe that's why this installment lacked some of the quirky characters of previous books.
July 18, 2022
brilliant
This series of books just gets better and better, great characters and clever plots , all eventually leading to the peasants revolt .
This series of books just gets better and better, great characters and clever plots , all eventually leading to the peasants revolt .
March 22, 2015
I'm so glad I have the next in this excellent series ("The Book of Fires") on hand so I can dive right in - Paul Doherty has given readers a darker outing for Sir Jack and Brother Athelstan with "Candle Flame", and the tension is ratcheting up toward the coming conflagration that will be the Peasants' Revolt of 1381. London is straining under the burden of taxation imposed by Regent John of Gaunt, and acts of rebellion are increasing as the Upright Men clash openly in the streets with Gaunt's soldiers. One of Gaunt's most devious and detested tax collectors is murdered along with his entourage at a Southwark tavern called the Candle Flame and the treasure he had collected disappears; soon Cranston and Athelstan are wrestling with yet another impossible murder, several suspects and a city about to boil over in open revolt...
This is one of my favorite historical mystery series and it gets better with every book - Doherty is one of my all-time favorite mystery writers and although I've enjoyed his Hugh Corbett series, the Amerotke series set in ancient Egypt and the chilling Canterbury mysteries, Athestan and Sir Jack's adventures are the most satisfying and engrossing. Highly recommended.
This is one of my favorite historical mystery series and it gets better with every book - Doherty is one of my all-time favorite mystery writers and although I've enjoyed his Hugh Corbett series, the Amerotke series set in ancient Egypt and the chilling Canterbury mysteries, Athestan and Sir Jack's adventures are the most satisfying and engrossing. Highly recommended.
May 7, 2014
Overall, I thought this was a lovely historical book with a lot of mystery and interesting plot twists. The hero of the book is quite vibrant and gave me a reason to want to keep exploring the depths of London from long ago.
I would have liked to have seen a bit more variation in the choice of adjectives for things, as many were repeatedly used. Still, the writing was solid and the story had a good pace. I enjoyed the descriptions of the city and the actions of the characters matched their personalities.
I really appreciated the way the author pulled the back story into the present time in this book. It was handled so well that everything came out smooth and seamless.
If you are a fan of historical fiction, this one is sure to please you.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from Netgalley and the publisher.
I would have liked to have seen a bit more variation in the choice of adjectives for things, as many were repeatedly used. Still, the writing was solid and the story had a good pace. I enjoyed the descriptions of the city and the actions of the characters matched their personalities.
I really appreciated the way the author pulled the back story into the present time in this book. It was handled so well that everything came out smooth and seamless.
If you are a fan of historical fiction, this one is sure to please you.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from Netgalley and the publisher.
October 6, 2014
The latest Brother Athelstan mystery, this one taking place in Feb. 1381 London at a Southwark tavern (the Candle Flame), with more than one 'locked room' killing, including that of the King's tax collector and a number of guards in what seems to be a secure tower at the tavern. John of Gaunt is the Regent and generally despised by the populace. The "Upright Men", many of whom are members of Athelstan's congregation, are leading a revolt against Gaunt and the regime, which are heavily taxing and letting starve a large amount of the general populace. This is an era of English history which is not as popular in current fiction, so I enjoy reading about mysteries within this context. It seems the next book may take place in what is being referred to at the end of the book as the coming "Day of the Great Slaughter", and the time of great tribulation.
April 11, 2022
As usual, an excellently constructed mystery from Mr. Doherty. Brother Athelstan, Coroner John Cranston, and the inhabitants of St. Erconwald's parish in Southwark, London in the 14th century are once again plunged into a diabolical murder while England seethes and surges in the months preceding the Peasant's Revolt of 1381. This mystery employs the classic "locked room" conundrum, and throws in guerilla attacks by the mysterious "Beowulf", as well as appearances by the creepy, evil "Earthworms" - the fighting arm of the Great Community of the Realm. Doherty also brings in the Lollards - a sect that presaged the rise of Protestantism 150 years in the future - and the terrible fate that awaited Heretics. The history is solid, the characters are well-rounded, and most important, the mystery at the book's heart is truly mysterious.
March 12, 2020
Amazing little friar does it again.
I thoroughly enjoy the Brother Athelstan mysteries, not only for the tales of suspense and mystery they tell, but for the historical context and background. The Candle Flame, while displaying some familiar themes, such as the seemingly impossible murder in a locked room, is somewhat more complex than some of the others in the series. The story weaves personal conflicts, local political struggles, and espionage on a grander scale, continuing the series’ foreshadowing of a grander conflict to come. Both Athelstan and John Cranston seem a bit bolder and maybe rougher in character than the simple reserved authoritativeness we have seen previously. As usual, Athelstan’s solution is brilliant, and only pieces of it are evident before he reveals them. Enough to make my head spin a bit!
I thoroughly enjoy the Brother Athelstan mysteries, not only for the tales of suspense and mystery they tell, but for the historical context and background. The Candle Flame, while displaying some familiar themes, such as the seemingly impossible murder in a locked room, is somewhat more complex than some of the others in the series. The story weaves personal conflicts, local political struggles, and espionage on a grander scale, continuing the series’ foreshadowing of a grander conflict to come. Both Athelstan and John Cranston seem a bit bolder and maybe rougher in character than the simple reserved authoritativeness we have seen previously. As usual, Athelstan’s solution is brilliant, and only pieces of it are evident before he reveals them. Enough to make my head spin a bit!
July 4, 2014
As usual, Mr Doherty has written an entertaining and informative historical mystery with my favorite detective, Brother Athelstan and his sidekick Sir John Cranston, who in this particular book was more subdued than usual. The plot revolves around the the times of the political unrest during the reign of Richard who is under the protection of his uncle John of Gaunt. There are intrigues within intrigues and plots within plots. The author, on this occasion, skillfully questions the reader to solve the crime along with Althenstan and in his writing evokes the scenes of grimy, noisy, lively London in the 14 th century to lure us on.
August 2, 2014
Candle Flame is Paul Doherty at his finest - in the midst of medieval law and justice. Doherty makes minor mention of the assorted secondary characters as in past novels. Most of the author's attention is given to Brother Athlestan, the seeker of justice, as he unravels a complicated mix of conspiracy, treason and murder. Even Sir John unusually more sober and more judicious, seldom pausing for a refreshing swing from his miraculous wine skin. It would seem that the much anticipated Day of the Great Slaughter is about to engulf the populace - perhaps in installment fourteen?
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