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Hugh Corbett #25
Immortal Murder
The twenty-fifth enthralling Hugh Corbett medieval mystery from Paul Doherty, perfect for fans of C. J. Sansom, E. M. Powell and Bernard Cornwell.
May 1313. Edward of England and his beautiful wife Isabella journey to France to meet Isabella's redoubtable father King Philip IV. Murder, however, has set up camp in the royal household. Attacks on Queen Isabella culminate in the most dreadful assault at Poissy, where Isabella's silken pavilion is torched and the queen barely escapes with her life.
Corbett is brought in to investigate and reveal who could possibly want to assassinate the young queen and why. Drawn into the deadly intrigue that swirls through the courts of England and France, Corbett must tread carefully, ever fearful that he could swiftly turn from hunter to hunted . . .
What readers say about Paul
'Paul Doherty's depictions of medieval England are truly outstanding'
'Another brilliant story in the excellent Hugh Corbett series by a superb historical author'
'Good plots, clever twists and mostly impossible to work out'
May 1313. Edward of England and his beautiful wife Isabella journey to France to meet Isabella's redoubtable father King Philip IV. Murder, however, has set up camp in the royal household. Attacks on Queen Isabella culminate in the most dreadful assault at Poissy, where Isabella's silken pavilion is torched and the queen barely escapes with her life.
Corbett is brought in to investigate and reveal who could possibly want to assassinate the young queen and why. Drawn into the deadly intrigue that swirls through the courts of England and France, Corbett must tread carefully, ever fearful that he could swiftly turn from hunter to hunted . . .
What readers say about Paul
'Paul Doherty's depictions of medieval England are truly outstanding'
'Another brilliant story in the excellent Hugh Corbett series by a superb historical author'
'Good plots, clever twists and mostly impossible to work out'
343 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 5, 2025
About the author
Paul Doherty
250 books624 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
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 17, 2026
This brilliant historical mystery is the 25th volume of the amazing "Sir Hugh Corbett" series.
At the beginning of the book you'll find a Character List and an Historical note, while at the end within the Author's Note you'll notice some very well defined historical details concerning this period of history.
Storytelling is superb, all characters, whether real historical and fictional, come vividly to life in this tale about political intrigue, revenge, plotting and murder, and all this is brought to us in such an engaging way that you as reader will be drawn in witnessing and think along about the events that will unfold towards the inevitable conclusions.
The story is set in January 1313, and King Edward II and Queen Isabella are being targeted, having huge problems with some family members and a group of murderous group of people in London, who are intent on making mischief towards the Royal couple and commit murder if necessary.
Sir Hugh Corbett is called in to convict a dangerous leader by the name of Sarasin, who stabbed a French envoy to death, and who's formerly also known as a participant from the robbery of the Crown Jewels in 1303, and Sarasin's hanging will set in motion a time of much more mayhem and murder, all targeted at people connected to the trial of this same Sarasin.
What is to follow is a fabulous and intriguing historical mystery, where historical fact and fiction are wonderfully blended to give this mystery an authentic piece of history, and all this is brought to us in a most tremendous fashion by the author.
Highly recommended, for this is another splendid addition to this sublime series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Fantastic Treasonous Immortal"!
At the beginning of the book you'll find a Character List and an Historical note, while at the end within the Author's Note you'll notice some very well defined historical details concerning this period of history.
Storytelling is superb, all characters, whether real historical and fictional, come vividly to life in this tale about political intrigue, revenge, plotting and murder, and all this is brought to us in such an engaging way that you as reader will be drawn in witnessing and think along about the events that will unfold towards the inevitable conclusions.
The story is set in January 1313, and King Edward II and Queen Isabella are being targeted, having huge problems with some family members and a group of murderous group of people in London, who are intent on making mischief towards the Royal couple and commit murder if necessary.
Sir Hugh Corbett is called in to convict a dangerous leader by the name of Sarasin, who stabbed a French envoy to death, and who's formerly also known as a participant from the robbery of the Crown Jewels in 1303, and Sarasin's hanging will set in motion a time of much more mayhem and murder, all targeted at people connected to the trial of this same Sarasin.
What is to follow is a fabulous and intriguing historical mystery, where historical fact and fiction are wonderfully blended to give this mystery an authentic piece of history, and all this is brought to us in a most tremendous fashion by the author.
Highly recommended, for this is another splendid addition to this sublime series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Fantastic Treasonous Immortal"!
January 18, 2026
absolutely fantastic, pace is just right.
excellent 👌👍!
excellent 👌👍!
April 7, 2026
1313 Edward III and Queen Isabella survive assassination attempts, but also the King's treasure disappears from a boat on the Thames. Hugh Corbett is delegated to investigate.
An entertining historical mystery
An entertining historical mystery
August 7, 2026
As usual, Dr Doherty has written a gripping and fascinating mystery featuring Sir Hugh Corbett and his henchmen,this time also including a French clerk, Guillaume Malfeson. At the start of the book, the king of “rifflers”, Sarasin, once a leader in the Puddlicot gang who attempted to steal the Crown Jewels in the early years of the 14th century, is being tried for his life by Sir Hugh and two other men. Found guilty, he is hanged but soon someone calling himself “The Immortal” appears amongst the brotherhood of rifflers (sort of medieval gangs), and mysterious murders begin to happen in and around the Twilight Tavern. The way Doherty has written, we do sometimes get scenes of The Immortal issuing his murderous orders to his gangs so we know who’s next. As usual, Corbett and Ranulph with Malfeson and the Archer Captain, Ap Ythl, soon manage to catch up, and slowly begin to work out who The Immortal is. At the same time, the Knights of the Templar order are slowly being rounded up, especially in France, and two priests receive warnings the Philip (French King), Clement (the Pope), and Isabella (Philip’s daughter, now Queen of England and mother of a young son) will all die in the flames. While meeting with Corbett, both King Edward II and Queen Isabella are attacked from burning braziers and exploding fire logs. Corbett does not believe that all this has anything to do with the Templars, and looks for a more likely source. I highly recommend this mystery.
July 25, 2026
Of the two P.C. Doherty series I've read, I prefer the Brother Athelstan mysteries, but the Hugh Corbett novels are also excellent. Read through a contemporary lens, Corbett is something like a combination of the head of national security and the director of MI5 and MI6. He is a trusted investigator who serves directly under the English crown.
The historical backdrop is one of the series' greatest strengths. Edward II sits on the English throne; his father-in-law, Philip IV of France, is relentlessly persecuting the Knights Templar; the papacy has relocated to Avignon; and justice is swift and often brutal.
The novel opens with Corbett presiding over the trial of a notorious outlaw who escaped Corbett years earlier. After the man is convicted and hanged, someone begins carrying out ruthless acts of revenge against everyone connected with the trial. Despite becoming a target himself, Corbett is charged with identifying the killer. Doherty also weaves in intriguing secondary storylines involving the Knights Templar and the theft of royal jewels.
If you enjoy historical mysteries that are gritty, atmospheric, and filled with intrigue of medieval England, P.C. Doherty is well worth reading. I do recommend reading the Hugh Corbett books in publication order, as the characters and their relationships develop from one novel to the next.
The historical backdrop is one of the series' greatest strengths. Edward II sits on the English throne; his father-in-law, Philip IV of France, is relentlessly persecuting the Knights Templar; the papacy has relocated to Avignon; and justice is swift and often brutal.
The novel opens with Corbett presiding over the trial of a notorious outlaw who escaped Corbett years earlier. After the man is convicted and hanged, someone begins carrying out ruthless acts of revenge against everyone connected with the trial. Despite becoming a target himself, Corbett is charged with identifying the killer. Doherty also weaves in intriguing secondary storylines involving the Knights Templar and the theft of royal jewels.
If you enjoy historical mysteries that are gritty, atmospheric, and filled with intrigue of medieval England, P.C. Doherty is well worth reading. I do recommend reading the Hugh Corbett books in publication order, as the characters and their relationships develop from one novel to the next.
July 1, 2025
I absolutely love these books by Paul Doherty. His story-telling, for me, is second to none. The way he blends his fictional characters, with people who really existed and events that actually happened is masterful. He almost makes you live in the period. His descriptions of the streets of London with the noise and odours, makes me thankful I wasn't around in those times.
February 10, 2026
Brilliant! Very atmospheric writing placing the reader right in the heart of medieval England. Did guess an element of the ending, but nevertheless enjoyed thoroughly. Very useful to have a full listing of all main characters at front of book, which used a lot as reference. Enjoyed the characters. Hope to read more Doherty....
June 7, 2025
Another great book
This was a great read, as all the books in this series. A bit of history and a lot of mystery. Looking forward to next book, hopefully not to long.
This was a great read, as all the books in this series. A bit of history and a lot of mystery. Looking forward to next book, hopefully not to long.
September 16, 2025
I’ve followed the mysteries of Master Long Face from the beginning and he never fails to delight and enthrall. Another great tale from a master at work
August 7, 2026
This was not my favourite book in this series. His writing is great...but his heroes were just too morally grey for my liking.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews