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Hugh Corbett #3
Spy in Chancery
Some people will stop at nothing, not even murder, to keep their secrets hidden...
Paul Doherty writes a spellbinding mystery in Spy in Chancery , the third novel to feature his much-loved medieval sleuth, Hugh Corbett. Perfect for fans of Ellis Peters and Robin Hobb.
Edward I of England and Philip IV of France are at war. Philip, by devious means, has managed to seize control of the English duchy of Aquitaine in France, and is now determined to crush Edward. King Edward suspects that his enemy is being aided by a spy in the English court and commissions his chancery clerk, Hugh Corbett, to trace and, if possible, destroy the traitor. Corbett's mission brings him into danger on both land and at sea, and takes him to Paris, and its dangerous underworld, and then to hostile Wales. Unwillingly he is drawn into the murky undercurrents of international politics in the last decade of the thirteenth century. And the spy will stop at nothing, not even murder, to keep his identity secret.
What readers are saying about Spy in Chancery :
'Paul Doherty has the happy knack of making anything he writes about come to life for the reader... The sights and sounds of medieval England seem vividly real in this entertaining novel '
'A dark and engaging jaunt through a strange, vividly realised, and fey world. Fantastic! '
' Believable characters and wonderful medieval setting makes them all a very entertaining read'
Paul Doherty writes a spellbinding mystery in Spy in Chancery , the third novel to feature his much-loved medieval sleuth, Hugh Corbett. Perfect for fans of Ellis Peters and Robin Hobb.
Edward I of England and Philip IV of France are at war. Philip, by devious means, has managed to seize control of the English duchy of Aquitaine in France, and is now determined to crush Edward. King Edward suspects that his enemy is being aided by a spy in the English court and commissions his chancery clerk, Hugh Corbett, to trace and, if possible, destroy the traitor. Corbett's mission brings him into danger on both land and at sea, and takes him to Paris, and its dangerous underworld, and then to hostile Wales. Unwillingly he is drawn into the murky undercurrents of international politics in the last decade of the thirteenth century. And the spy will stop at nothing, not even murder, to keep his identity secret.
What readers are saying about Spy in Chancery :
'Paul Doherty has the happy knack of making anything he writes about come to life for the reader... The sights and sounds of medieval England seem vividly real in this entertaining novel '
'A dark and engaging jaunt through a strange, vividly realised, and fey world. Fantastic! '
' Believable characters and wonderful medieval setting makes them all a very entertaining read'
180 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 1988
77 people are currently reading
356 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 30 reviews
September 11, 2025
This exciting historical mystery is the 3rd part of the "Hugh Corbett" series, a book that was originally published in 1988.
At the end of the book you'll notice an author's Note where the historical details about double agents (like Thomas Tuberville) are superbly explained.
This book is about a double agent and the intensive investigations made by Hugh Corbett to identify and expose this traitor of King Edward I in 1296.
Storytelling is excellent, all characters, real historical and fictional, come vividly to life in this tale about treason and death.
The book is set in the year 1296, and King Edward I is thwarted in his actions against King Philip IV of France due to a traitor within the King's Chancery, and so he commissions his chancery clerk, Hugh Corbett, to investigate and trace the traitor and bring him to justice.
What is to follow is an intriguing and action-packed historical mystery, in which Hugh Corbett is exposed to several dangerous and lethal situations caused by this traitor within the English court, whether it is in England, Wales or France, but after much analysing and cunning by Hugh Corbett, he's eventually able to identify the Spy in Chancery and deliver him to King Edward I.
Highly recommended, for this is another excellent addition (true historical) to this superb series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Captivating Adventurous Spy Reveal"!
At the end of the book you'll notice an author's Note where the historical details about double agents (like Thomas Tuberville) are superbly explained.
This book is about a double agent and the intensive investigations made by Hugh Corbett to identify and expose this traitor of King Edward I in 1296.
Storytelling is excellent, all characters, real historical and fictional, come vividly to life in this tale about treason and death.
The book is set in the year 1296, and King Edward I is thwarted in his actions against King Philip IV of France due to a traitor within the King's Chancery, and so he commissions his chancery clerk, Hugh Corbett, to investigate and trace the traitor and bring him to justice.
What is to follow is an intriguing and action-packed historical mystery, in which Hugh Corbett is exposed to several dangerous and lethal situations caused by this traitor within the English court, whether it is in England, Wales or France, but after much analysing and cunning by Hugh Corbett, he's eventually able to identify the Spy in Chancery and deliver him to King Edward I.
Highly recommended, for this is another excellent addition (true historical) to this superb series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Captivating Adventurous Spy Reveal"!
June 25, 2018
It had some interesting history facts.
December 7, 2019
Just love this series! I am not sure how I missed this early book, but now Paul Doherty’s Spy in Chancery (Hugh Corbett #3) has been read, and this book is so descriptive of the last ten years of the 13th c. that the reader, at least this reader, feels as though she is actually in this time. Edward I of England is in conflict with the two thorns in his political side, Scotland and France, with some activity against Edward in Wales which Edward has already ‘conquered’. Now, it is ‘discovered’ that a spy is on Edward’s Council or at least has access to the Council’s discussions. Edward has experienced a complete military failure in Gascony, France, lost an important ship carrying secret papers meant for Edward’s eyes only, and suspects collusion between France, Wales, and Scotland. Edward needs his most analytical and honest ‘Clerk of the Chancery’-Hugh Corbett. Hugh and ‘his henchman’ Ranulf are sent to France and Wales to attempt to uncover the spy. Throughout the book, one witnesses the situations Hugh is placed in both France and Wales-feels his fear, enjoys his successes, and suffers his frustrations. The author’s writing enables the reader to become part of the story. So well done! 5 stars.
October 30, 2021
Great story line.
Politics, spying an running from on counter to the next to give an take. Corbett has a lot on his mind to find the spy in the Kings council. Every move the king makes falls at his feet , cause the king of France is there to make his move. King Edward has had enough an sends Corbett in one last time an find the traitor. He gets the shit scared out of him more than once but won't back down. He falls in love for the 3rd time.
Bang up writing sir.
Politics, spying an running from on counter to the next to give an take. Corbett has a lot on his mind to find the spy in the Kings council. Every move the king makes falls at his feet , cause the king of France is there to make his move. King Edward has had enough an sends Corbett in one last time an find the traitor. He gets the shit scared out of him more than once but won't back down. He falls in love for the 3rd time.
Bang up writing sir.
December 25, 2021
Spy in Chancery is the third book in the series of mysteries featuring Hugh Corbett, a medieval chancery clerk (which seems to be a position that generates and preserves documents for the King and his court) serving King Edward I. It seems clear that someone on the King's Council is a traitor, passing the plans and secrets of King Edward I to his arch-rival, Philip IV, the King of France. Why King Edward would turn to a clerk to root out the traitor was not clear to me, but since this is the third book in the series, presumably readers that start at the beginning of the series (as I now hope to do!) will have an understanding of the relationship between the King and his clerk, Corbett. A professional historian, the astonishingly prolific Paul Doherty has written eighteen novels in Hugh Corbett series, and over one hundred books over all. A Spy in Chancery is only 175 pages in the hard cover edition that I read, but even so, writing over 100 books is a prodigious output.
Doherty's writing style is efficient and succinct, he doesn't waste time with unnecessarily florid descriptions or tangents into story arcs of secondary characters. In the opening pages, the merchant ship the St. Christopher is sailing for England with important documents containing vital information for the ongoing war between France and England, when two pursuing French ships appear on the horizon. Within a few pages, the engagement is over and the St. Christopher is destroyed. Equally concise is the reader's introduction to Nicholas Poer, one of King Edward I's most trusted spies in Paris. A few pages later, Poer has been knocked unconscious and then murdered. How do the French know what is happening in the councils of the king, and how is this information getting back to France? Hugh Corbett is tasked with unmasking the traitor.
Corbett is depicted as a middle aged man with brilliant mind, but not courageous. Indeed, several times in the novel Corbett is in great physical danger, and he finds himself almost crippled with fear. Each narrow escape leaves him shaking. And the dangers are real - as depicted by Doherty, medieval England and France are violent, brutal places. It seems there are scaffolds outside every castle where dead bodies sway in nooses. Poachers are nailed to walls, outlaws locked in stocks. Life is certainly cheap. Nonetheless, despite the personal risks, Corbett doggedly tries to solve the mystery of who is betraying the king.
Corbett travels to Paris as part of a English negotiating party - although the forces of King Philip IV have overrun the English duchy of Aquitaine, the two kingdoms are not currently fighting on the battlefield. In Paris, Corbett does his best to gather information regarding various members of the entourage. Corbett observes Amaury de Craon, the wily spy-master for King Philip IV, meeting with Waterton - is that an indication that Waterton is guilty? Or is it a deliberate red-herring by de Craon? Frustrated in Paris, Corbett returns to England, but soon he finds himself sent to Wales, to investigate Lord Morgan, a Welsh lord thought to be conspiring with the French. Although Corbett is treated as a "guest" while at Neath, the castle radiates menace; it is clear that if Lord Morgan detects Corbett has learned any valuable data, then Corbett will never leave Wales alive.
I liked this novel. It seems to be set around 1295 A.D., so about 150 years after the stories featuring Brother Cadfael. Unlike Cadfael, who remains at the St. Peter and Paul monastery (at least, in the Cadfael books I have read so far, the detective-monk has not ventured far from Shrewsbury), it looks like the Corbett series deals with political intrigues over all of England and nearby countries. I am trying to find the first book in this series, Satan in St. Mary's, to start back at the beginning. However, it is not necessary to have read the previous books to understand the plot and characters in A Spy in Chancery.
Doherty's writing style is efficient and succinct, he doesn't waste time with unnecessarily florid descriptions or tangents into story arcs of secondary characters. In the opening pages, the merchant ship the St. Christopher is sailing for England with important documents containing vital information for the ongoing war between France and England, when two pursuing French ships appear on the horizon. Within a few pages, the engagement is over and the St. Christopher is destroyed. Equally concise is the reader's introduction to Nicholas Poer, one of King Edward I's most trusted spies in Paris. A few pages later, Poer has been knocked unconscious and then murdered. How do the French know what is happening in the councils of the king, and how is this information getting back to France? Hugh Corbett is tasked with unmasking the traitor.
Corbett is depicted as a middle aged man with brilliant mind, but not courageous. Indeed, several times in the novel Corbett is in great physical danger, and he finds himself almost crippled with fear. Each narrow escape leaves him shaking. And the dangers are real - as depicted by Doherty, medieval England and France are violent, brutal places. It seems there are scaffolds outside every castle where dead bodies sway in nooses. Poachers are nailed to walls, outlaws locked in stocks. Life is certainly cheap. Nonetheless, despite the personal risks, Corbett doggedly tries to solve the mystery of who is betraying the king.
Corbett travels to Paris as part of a English negotiating party - although the forces of King Philip IV have overrun the English duchy of Aquitaine, the two kingdoms are not currently fighting on the battlefield. In Paris, Corbett does his best to gather information regarding various members of the entourage. Corbett observes Amaury de Craon, the wily spy-master for King Philip IV, meeting with Waterton - is that an indication that Waterton is guilty? Or is it a deliberate red-herring by de Craon? Frustrated in Paris, Corbett returns to England, but soon he finds himself sent to Wales, to investigate Lord Morgan, a Welsh lord thought to be conspiring with the French. Although Corbett is treated as a "guest" while at Neath, the castle radiates menace; it is clear that if Lord Morgan detects Corbett has learned any valuable data, then Corbett will never leave Wales alive.
I liked this novel. It seems to be set around 1295 A.D., so about 150 years after the stories featuring Brother Cadfael. Unlike Cadfael, who remains at the St. Peter and Paul monastery (at least, in the Cadfael books I have read so far, the detective-monk has not ventured far from Shrewsbury), it looks like the Corbett series deals with political intrigues over all of England and nearby countries. I am trying to find the first book in this series, Satan in St. Mary's, to start back at the beginning. However, it is not necessary to have read the previous books to understand the plot and characters in A Spy in Chancery.
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December 25, 2025Well, this is the 2nd time I've tried to read this book. Not sure if I just wasn't paying attention when all the characters were introduced but I found myself referencing back who was who. I felt the beginning was a little slow for my taste and I found myself putting this aside quite a bit.
I have most of the other in this series so hope this was a one off for me as I really enjoyed the first few.
I have most of the other in this series so hope this was a one off for me as I really enjoyed the first few.
June 21, 2021
Read three of these so far..many more to go...
Beautifully written. Love the fact that Paul Dougherty so seamlessly translates Latin and French phrases within the text so not nearly as much time...interrupting reading flow...is spent looking up or trying to find definitions for said words or phrases in the Oxford English Dictionary! The writing is crisp and descriptive. Infused with median language and phrasing yet direct and mostly easy to one such as myself to understand. These books would, will, be appropriate for teens and young adults as well as full fledged grown ups like myself, in my opinion. Planned to read only a few of this author's more than 100 published works but may be forced, by unseen eyes and hands! to read many, many more. He is only the second male author in this genre; I vowed to myself to read mostly, if not exclusively, female authors...a matter of principle I suppose....I made a rare exception here due to the enormous number of positive reviews by pros and regular readers like me . I read about these books of his and many other series and stand alones he has written, and others have read....the reviews often lead me to books I might not have read on my own. It is always great to find a new series (for me) and a new author (to me) to add to an area of interest....medieval historical fiction...ho writes from a new perspective about real characters...queens and kings and such...that increases ones knowledge or expertise or both in an range or period in history. I am hooked on stories that take place in ancient times through to the present....good luck with that...but this medieval series has me moving a little more forward in history than the past hundred books I have completed. I am steeped in the middle ages for the past many months and this author and others have made it easy to feel I live there, breathe there, dress in the styles of the day and I'm perfectly comfortable with that!!!! Time to return to 21st century life for a couple minutes and then on to or back to Hugh Corbett and the next adventure. I highly recommend this series and look forward to exploring more of this authors other series... Especially the ones about women of this long era....love the idea that he has so many pseudonyms...will make me feel as if I am reading a plethora of authors instead of just one..no matter how good he is!!! Happy reading to all who enjoy these as I do!
Beautifully written. Love the fact that Paul Dougherty so seamlessly translates Latin and French phrases within the text so not nearly as much time...interrupting reading flow...is spent looking up or trying to find definitions for said words or phrases in the Oxford English Dictionary! The writing is crisp and descriptive. Infused with median language and phrasing yet direct and mostly easy to one such as myself to understand. These books would, will, be appropriate for teens and young adults as well as full fledged grown ups like myself, in my opinion. Planned to read only a few of this author's more than 100 published works but may be forced, by unseen eyes and hands! to read many, many more. He is only the second male author in this genre; I vowed to myself to read mostly, if not exclusively, female authors...a matter of principle I suppose....I made a rare exception here due to the enormous number of positive reviews by pros and regular readers like me . I read about these books of his and many other series and stand alones he has written, and others have read....the reviews often lead me to books I might not have read on my own. It is always great to find a new series (for me) and a new author (to me) to add to an area of interest....medieval historical fiction...ho writes from a new perspective about real characters...queens and kings and such...that increases ones knowledge or expertise or both in an range or period in history. I am hooked on stories that take place in ancient times through to the present....good luck with that...but this medieval series has me moving a little more forward in history than the past hundred books I have completed. I am steeped in the middle ages for the past many months and this author and others have made it easy to feel I live there, breathe there, dress in the styles of the day and I'm perfectly comfortable with that!!!! Time to return to 21st century life for a couple minutes and then on to or back to Hugh Corbett and the next adventure. I highly recommend this series and look forward to exploring more of this authors other series... Especially the ones about women of this long era....love the idea that he has so many pseudonyms...will make me feel as if I am reading a plethora of authors instead of just one..no matter how good he is!!! Happy reading to all who enjoy these as I do!
January 22, 2018
Paul Doherty, alias Paul Harding, alias C.L. Grace, è ormai uno specialista del giallo storico, medievale e non.
Anche la serie che ha per protagonista il Cancelliere Hugh Corbett ed è ambientata ai tempi di re Edoardo 1° è a ottimi livelli: personaggi molto ben caratterizzati, ambientazioni curate, fedeltà storica mantenuta, trama gialla comunque di spessore e intrigante, ben amalgamata con le vicende storiche.
In quest'avventura Corbett deve scoprire chi fra gli alti funzionari della corte di re Edoardo è la spia al soldo dei francesi e del loro re Filippo il Bello.
Anche la serie che ha per protagonista il Cancelliere Hugh Corbett ed è ambientata ai tempi di re Edoardo 1° è a ottimi livelli: personaggi molto ben caratterizzati, ambientazioni curate, fedeltà storica mantenuta, trama gialla comunque di spessore e intrigante, ben amalgamata con le vicende storiche.
In quest'avventura Corbett deve scoprire chi fra gli alti funzionari della corte di re Edoardo è la spia al soldo dei francesi e del loro re Filippo il Bello.
August 22, 2021
In the third novel of the Hugh Corbett series, he must find a spy who will stop at nothing, not even murder, to keep his identity secret.
Doherty’s Hugh Corbett medieval mysteries are my guilty reading pleasure. A go-to read for something completely different but always satisfying. In the third volume, Edward I of England and Philip IV of France are at war. Philip, by devious means, has managed to seize control of the English duchy of Aquitaine in France and is now determined to crush Edward. King Edward suspects that his enemy is being aided by a spy in the English court and commissions his chancery clerk, Hugh Corbett, to trace and, if possible, destroy the traitor. Corbett's mission brings him into danger on both land and at sea, and takes him to Paris, and its dangerous underworld, and then to hostile Wales. Unwillingly he is drawn into the murky undercurrents of international politics in the last decade of the thirteenth century.
There is plenty to like about this series, a plot full of treachery and intrigue. Doherty has a way of weaving real history into the story with an air of authenticity in his research. Grim and gruesome with a longish story arc over 23 books in the series so far. For me, just pure good reading fun, mixed with a history lesson to boot. Great series and characters.
Doherty’s Hugh Corbett medieval mysteries are my guilty reading pleasure. A go-to read for something completely different but always satisfying. In the third volume, Edward I of England and Philip IV of France are at war. Philip, by devious means, has managed to seize control of the English duchy of Aquitaine in France and is now determined to crush Edward. King Edward suspects that his enemy is being aided by a spy in the English court and commissions his chancery clerk, Hugh Corbett, to trace and, if possible, destroy the traitor. Corbett's mission brings him into danger on both land and at sea, and takes him to Paris, and its dangerous underworld, and then to hostile Wales. Unwillingly he is drawn into the murky undercurrents of international politics in the last decade of the thirteenth century.
There is plenty to like about this series, a plot full of treachery and intrigue. Doherty has a way of weaving real history into the story with an air of authenticity in his research. Grim and gruesome with a longish story arc over 23 books in the series so far. For me, just pure good reading fun, mixed with a history lesson to boot. Great series and characters.
April 13, 2019
Accurate History + Compelling Mystery: A combo thats hard to beat!
If you enjoy historic mysteries, Doherty's Hugh Corbett series is pretty much the standard for the genre. It's tough to beat this combination of good history + good mystery--especially when the author makes the history as "alive", exciting and accurate as this! That Doherty is a fantastic wordsmith makes for an even richer experience.
If you enjoy historic mysteries, Doherty's Hugh Corbett series is pretty much the standard for the genre. It's tough to beat this combination of good history + good mystery--especially when the author makes the history as "alive", exciting and accurate as this! That Doherty is a fantastic wordsmith makes for an even richer experience.
August 30, 2017
Corbett is trying to find the spy and traitor in the council of King Edward I. It's an interesting story and Doherty keeps the intrigue going until the very end. Unfortunately, it is not very well written.
October 30, 2018
A good story about political intrigue
It took me a long time to take to Hugh Corbett, but gradually his character is becoming more rounded. As usual, a well researched story well written.
It took me a long time to take to Hugh Corbett, but gradually his character is becoming more rounded. As usual, a well researched story well written.
January 10, 2023
A tale of two books
Well written and full of detail while still holding the reader’s attention. As always with this series, this is a tale of two books with a dictionary always at hand.
Well written and full of detail while still holding the reader’s attention. As always with this series, this is a tale of two books with a dictionary always at hand.
October 21, 2024
Corbett is always good...
Re-reading this series after reading them as they came out and what fun it is to see Corbett grow, and grow happier, as a character. Ranulf is still fairly minor, they are much closer as men later on, but it is a great joy to watch it all unfold.
Re-reading this series after reading them as they came out and what fun it is to see Corbett grow, and grow happier, as a character. Ranulf is still fairly minor, they are much closer as men later on, but it is a great joy to watch it all unfold.
September 20, 2025
There is plenty of good history and action in this Hugh Corbett series taking us back to Kind Edward's time.
second reading of book that I have now purchased rather than borrowed since it is on sale for $1.99
second reading of book that I have now purchased rather than borrowed since it is on sale for $1.99
April 11, 2018
Based on historical fact, but highly novelized medieval mystery.
May 5, 2022
Coinvolgente.
December 1, 2025
Carino.. scorrevole e piacevole per l’ambientazione medioevale. Traspare la profonda conoscenza del medioevo da parte dell’autore.
February 20, 2025
Looking forward to the next book.
May 18, 2021
Another good story from the excellent Paul Doherty.
August 3, 2013
I usually love mysteries set during this time period, however the first half of the book was filled with so many distracting grammatical errors (mostly punctuation) I kept being dragged out of the story trying to figure out what the author was actually trying to say.
Like a knife that cuts both ways, the redeeming quality of this book is that it is based on an actual historical event. This was also a handicap as it seemed the author felt their task was to gradually reveal all of the facts dressed up with a little romance and suspense instead of constructing a well crafted mystery.
I'm glad I did not pick this book up early in Doherty's career, or I might never have read another title by him. However, I was concurrently reading one of his mysteries set in ancient Egypt and am finding it much more to my liking.
Like a knife that cuts both ways, the redeeming quality of this book is that it is based on an actual historical event. This was also a handicap as it seemed the author felt their task was to gradually reveal all of the facts dressed up with a little romance and suspense instead of constructing a well crafted mystery.
I'm glad I did not pick this book up early in Doherty's career, or I might never have read another title by him. However, I was concurrently reading one of his mysteries set in ancient Egypt and am finding it much more to my liking.
September 10, 2013
Edward I is convinced that Philip IV of France is plotting insurrection in Scotland and Wales against the English throne. Since Philip seems to know the secret decisions made by Edward almost as soon as he makes them, Edward is sure that Philip has planted an informant and traitor in his council. Dispatching agents to Paris, Edward is dismayed when their lifeless bodies are discovered. He commissions Hugh Corbett to take their place and find the traitor before he loses Wales and Scotland to the French king.
June 7, 2014
An easy read over Christmas was Spy in Chancery by Paul Doherty. This is another book in the Hugh Corbett series of medieval mysteries, and I really enjoyed it.
I was thrilled to notice that Paul Doherty has a new book out this month, and it's going to take a LOT of self discipline not to skip the next 8 or so books in the series to get to the new one...
I was thrilled to notice that Paul Doherty has a new book out this month, and it's going to take a LOT of self discipline not to skip the next 8 or so books in the series to get to the new one...
February 8, 2011
Another well researched and enjoyable read. The background description of life during that period is very good and as high up the social ladder as Hugh is, there are still many hardships. Life at that time for us mere peasants would have been unbearable.
February 3, 2011
Spy thriller during the reign of Edward. Doherty does a pretty good job of bringing the middle ages to life in his novels.
February 18, 2013
Another short story, but still very interesting and full of suspense. Doherty never fails to impress me.
March 13, 2012
Paul Doherty is such a prolific author that you can't quite believe the standard of his books can stsy so high - yet another great read.
August 25, 2014
Spy in Chancery
I believe that Paul Doherty is one of the best authors. I have enjoyed every one of the books that I have read. I have really enjoyed this book.
I believe that Paul Doherty is one of the best authors. I have enjoyed every one of the books that I have read. I have really enjoyed this book.
May 2, 2017
1296 and Edward I is convinced that their is a spy in his court passing his secrets to the French. He instructs Hugh Corbett to find the guilty party, and evidence for a conviction. Corbett's mission takes him to Paris and Wales.
An enjoyable quick read.
An enjoyable quick read.
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January 18, 2019Excellent
What more could you want from historical crime fiction. An element of truth, a great plot, great characters and to be well written. This book meets all of them.
What more could you want from historical crime fiction. An element of truth, a great plot, great characters and to be well written. This book meets all of them.
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