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Hugh Corbett #24
Banners of Hell: Hugh Corbett 24
Summer 1312. The brutal murder of King Edward II's favourite, Peter Gaveston, unleashes a horde of demons . . .
Sir Hugh Corbett, Keeper of the Secret Seal, hastens to the Dominican Priory at Blackfriars where Gaveston's corpse awaits burial. But, on arrival, Corbett discovers that a series of macabre murders has turned the priory into a mansion of death, and a killer is roaming free.
Meanwhile, rumours spread that the pirate ships of the Black Banner Fleet are intent on entering the River Thames and, if the Sea Beggars succeed in their mission, they will weaken the king's power throughout the city.
Once again, Corbett must employ his wit and ingenuity to navigate the dangerous and deadly challenges ahead and bring the culprits to justice before matters turn grave indeed.
Sir Hugh Corbett, Keeper of the Secret Seal, hastens to the Dominican Priory at Blackfriars where Gaveston's corpse awaits burial. But, on arrival, Corbett discovers that a series of macabre murders has turned the priory into a mansion of death, and a killer is roaming free.
Meanwhile, rumours spread that the pirate ships of the Black Banner Fleet are intent on entering the River Thames and, if the Sea Beggars succeed in their mission, they will weaken the king's power throughout the city.
Once again, Corbett must employ his wit and ingenuity to navigate the dangerous and deadly challenges ahead and bring the culprits to justice before matters turn grave indeed.
368 pages, Paperback
Published April 22, 2025
51 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 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 17, 2024
This fantastic historical mystery is the 24th volume of the superb "Sir Hugh Corbett" series, which is along with Brother Athelstan and Margaret Beaufort my most favourite series by this author.
At the beginning of the book you'll find a Character List and an Historical Note, while at the back there's an Author's Note, where the historical details are wonderfully explained.
Storytelling is excellent, all characters, whether real historical or fictional, come splendidly to life in this tale of intrigue, mayhem, plotting and murder, while the turbulent atmosphere is also brilliantly captured by the author.
This story is set in the Summer of AD1312, and King Edward II has serious problems concerning his favourite Piers Gaveston, because Gaveston has been captured and executed by the Lancastrian faction, and this action will unleash many dangerous situations for King and his most trusted Servants in London, where this tale is taking place.
The main place of action and death will be the Dominican Priory of Blackfriars, where three men are found dead in a locked room, and so a case for Sir Hugh Corbett, Keeper of the Secret Seal, and his henchman and Clerk of the Green Wax, Ranulf-atte-Newgate, to investigate for the Crown.
Along with this murderous act, there will be arson attacks at derelict buildings, while the Lancastrian faction and the Banner fleet are informed by a conspirator about the Royal Fleet movement on the Thames, and this all done with Blackfriars Priory at the heart of it all.
What is to follow is a terrific historical mystery, where some historical events are brilliantly intertwined with a few well developed plots that will need to be untangled by Sir Hugh Corbett to eventually get a clear picture of all the actions taken by these devious culprits, and thereby causing so much mayhem and death.
Very much recommended, for this is another sublime addition to this great series, and that's why I like to call this latest episode: "A Marvellous Devilish Banner"!
At the beginning of the book you'll find a Character List and an Historical Note, while at the back there's an Author's Note, where the historical details are wonderfully explained.
Storytelling is excellent, all characters, whether real historical or fictional, come splendidly to life in this tale of intrigue, mayhem, plotting and murder, while the turbulent atmosphere is also brilliantly captured by the author.
This story is set in the Summer of AD1312, and King Edward II has serious problems concerning his favourite Piers Gaveston, because Gaveston has been captured and executed by the Lancastrian faction, and this action will unleash many dangerous situations for King and his most trusted Servants in London, where this tale is taking place.
The main place of action and death will be the Dominican Priory of Blackfriars, where three men are found dead in a locked room, and so a case for Sir Hugh Corbett, Keeper of the Secret Seal, and his henchman and Clerk of the Green Wax, Ranulf-atte-Newgate, to investigate for the Crown.
Along with this murderous act, there will be arson attacks at derelict buildings, while the Lancastrian faction and the Banner fleet are informed by a conspirator about the Royal Fleet movement on the Thames, and this all done with Blackfriars Priory at the heart of it all.
What is to follow is a terrific historical mystery, where some historical events are brilliantly intertwined with a few well developed plots that will need to be untangled by Sir Hugh Corbett to eventually get a clear picture of all the actions taken by these devious culprits, and thereby causing so much mayhem and death.
Very much recommended, for this is another sublime addition to this great series, and that's why I like to call this latest episode: "A Marvellous Devilish Banner"!
December 14, 2024
I do like a solid slice of historical fiction, and while the mystery is adequate (though why is EVERYTHING a mystery these days), and the historical details are first rate...I find there are just too many characters to keep track of, and not enough of them get the focus and development they should. Perhaps other books in the series address these concerns, but this one is more concerned with plot than people.
December 17, 2024
City of London, England. Summer 1312. Paul Doherty’s Banners of Hell (Hugh Corbett #24) is another medieval mystery written in such a way that the reader truly feels as though she/he is actually viewing everything as it happens in 1312. This author is known for his enthusiasm and knowledge of the medieval era: a violent time, a political unstable period where anyone attempting to live his/her life may face terrifying brutality. On the throne of England is Edward II, and he has need of “his faithful henchman, Sir Hugh Corbett, Keeper of the Secret Seal.”. The king’s cousin Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, is leading “great earls” into a “confrontation “ with Edward II over the king’s favorite, Piers Gaveston. The earls will contact the “rifflers” or gangs of the City of London. With the crisis about to explode, Sir Hugh Corbett and his loyal two men arrive. This is an extremely bloody novel, but the times were so turbulent. With so many deaths it is troublesome to follow Sir Hugh’s lead and his fight to find the truth, but once again Sir Hugh names the betrayer! I admire this author so very much. 4 stars.
November 20, 2024
Doherty seems to be stuck on the locked room scenario. He has used this as a plot device in many of his last few books in this and other series. It's an interesting story and well written for the most part. There isn't a great deal of character development but Doherty isn't known for depth of character. He's more interested in the historical setting.
June 1, 2025
unfortunately it was too predictable.
June 9, 2025
Typical Doherty book. He has written so many books that he cannot help reusing some of the plot points. Still entertaining and an easy enough read.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews