The Assassin's Riddle

The Sorrowful Mysteries of Brother Athelstan #7

by Paul Harding (Pseudonym), Paul Doherty

It's the summer of 1380 and the corpse of Edwin Chapler, clerk of the Office of the Green Wax of the Chancery, has been pulled from the Chapler has drowned, but not before he received a vicious blow to the back of the head. Then Bartholomew Drayton, a usurer and money-lender, is found dead in his strongroom, a crossbow firmly embedded in his a real mystery because the windowless strongroom was locked and barred from the inside. So who killed him? And how? And are the two deaths connected? Sir John Cranston, the Coroner of the City of London, comes to survey the scene. When other clerks are murdered, each with a riddle pinned to his corpse, Cranston enlists the help of his secretarius, Brother Athelstan – and together they must pit their wits against a deadly adversary bent on murder and mayhem.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Medieval, Crime, 14th Century, Historical

210 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

A pseudonym used by Paul Doherty.

Book 1-7 of The Sorrowful Mysteries of Brother Athelstan were originally written under pseudonym Paul Harding. Since 1998, starting with book 8, The Sorrowful Mysteries of Brother Athelstan were published under his own name Paul Doherty.

Reviews

[Clemens · Rating 5 out of 5]

This superb historical mystery is the 7th volume, originally from 1996, of the amazing "Brother Athelstan" series.

Storytelling is excellent, all characters come vividly to life in this tale about greed, corruption, treason and murder, while the book id filled with different great plots and those will be revealed in the end in a magnificent fashion.

The book is set in the year 1380, and its starts off with the murder of Edwin Chapler, Clerk at the Chancery of the Green Wax, by an unknown hand, and a difficult case for Brother Athelstan and Coroner Sir John Cranston to solve.

Not much later the dead body of Drayton, a notorious money-lender, is found in his locked strong-room, and so question for Brother Athelstan and Sir John Cranston will be how has this man been killed?

These cases will intertwine with each other somehow, and as a consequence several plots will occur that will need to be solved, and thus several perpetrators will come to the fore at the end when all will be revealed.

What is to follow is a wonderful historical mystery, with a lot of twists and turns, and that will end in a most astonished fashion when these cases and perpetrators are concerned will be revealed by Brother Athelstan.

Highly recommended, for this is a sublime addition to this amazing series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Marvellous Lethal Riddle"!

[Jazzysmum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another enjoyable read in this series.

In this one we meet some very dislikeable persons and a holy relic at St Erconwald's!!

I love the range of people who inhabit London and this time, the good, the bad and the ugly.

This one leaves us with a wee cliffhanger, as Brother Athelstan leaves St Erconwald's for the Halls of Oxford.

[Barefoot Gypsy Jimerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh Hell No!!!!!!

Oh clutterbuckle that was a good one.Well the devils bullocks I would of figured this one out. Now what's this about Athelstan leaving???? Old Jack won't stand for this. The devil's futtlocks he won't.

[Martina Sartor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un giallo storico medioevale molto ben costruito, su una trama solida e un'ambientazione accuratamente descritta. Fratello Athelstan mi piace molto come personaggio: nelle mie preferenze inizia a rivaleggiare con fratello Cadfael della Peters. Dovrò recuperare gli arretrati che mi mancano.

2^ LETTURA
Seguendo l'ordine cronologico, le storie si gustano ancora meglio. Sempre più avvincente.

[Christopher Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

This time the pair of Sir Cranston and brother Athelstan find themselves yet again working for the regent John of Gaunt. A locked room with a man shot with a crossbow puzzles everyone, but the missing thousands of silver is what concerns the crown. Then blood starts to seep from the brand new crucifix in Athelstan's little church. Meanwhile a series of Clerks from the Chancery are being murdered in rapid succession.

The development of Athelstan's Southside St Erconwald church has been interesting over the course of the books, as it goes from a hovel to a nicely painted, decorated place of work slowly over time due to hard work and grateful charity from people Athelstan saves or assists.

In this book, the fate of Athelstan is uncertain because John of Gaunt is uncomfortable with how perceptive and clever the friar is, and wants him safely out of town. So he is applying pressure to Athelstan's superior to move him to Oxford and away from London.

I figured out the entire thing pretty early on and who did what, but not precisely how. I'm still a bit puzzled by how the locked room murder was done because the descriptions of things were not especially clear. A decent book, but not as engaging as some of the previous ones in the series.

[Trevor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another thoroughly enjoyable murder/mystery/crime novel starring the wonderful brother Athelstan and Crown Coroner Sir John Cranston. This is set in 1380 and, as with previous novels, the body count is high. Murder methods are various and assorted but with each corpse the murderer leaves a riddle. As ever, Cranston and Asked Athelstan make a determined duo to rival Holmes and Watson or Morse and Lewis. On their way they encounter such wonderfully named London characters as William the weasel, the Sanctus Man and the Vicar of Hell.
I've now read three books of this charming series and plan to read the rest. Highly recommended!

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable read . The cat's name is either Bonaventure or Bonaventura , it varies from page to page .

[P.D.R. Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am always staggered by those prolific writers who produce umpteen books under several pen names and manage to produce good solid books which are worth reading.

I have enjoyed the previous Brother Athelstan mysteries and was pleased to enjoy this rip roaring story with a classic body in a locked room twist.

All the old character favourites are in the story, Sir John, Flaxwith and Samson, his dog and Benedicta plus the ususal huddle of Athelstan's parishoners. 14thC London is brought to life in its pleasant and unpleasant aspects and the story roars along at a great pace. First there's silver missing and John of Guant wants it. The usurer is dead in his locked strong room. His two clerks have alibis. Then government clerks from the Office of the Green Wax are being murdered with riddles attached to the bodies. Sir John eats and drinks his way through the plot but his brain is still acute. Friar Athelstan's brilliant mind sorts out the problems and justice is done.

A ripping good yarn for those who enjoy historical murder mysteries.

[Sarah Hearn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went backwards in time when reading this, by which I mean I’ve read almost all the most recent Brother Athelstan books, but I hadn’t read this one. I was astonished at the ending, and that’s all I’m going to say about that.

As usual, Doherty has constructed an excellent mystery in which a number of clerks of the Green Wax have been murdered is particularly dastardly ways. Athelstan is soon able to determine who was first and whether they are connected. There is also the classic locked room puzzle in which a money lender is found dead in his locked strong room while 5,000 marks belonging to John of Gaunt have disappeared. The solution to this is very clever. Sometimes I think Doherty’s books would do well to include a map of 14th century London and Southwark to help the reader situate themselves.

[nick mercer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not taxing read it in 2 days same formula as each one in the series but a comforting read

[Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

General Overview
A fun genre novel, Mr Doherty's, The Assassin's Riddle was a surprise find for myself. A murder mystery set in medieval London? I had to give it a go, and I am glad I did.

Style
Written like any good murder mystery, The Assassin's Riddle has all the hallmarks of a good one. Grizzled detective, Strange Genius, an evocative setting and side characters, and a seemingly unsolvable murder.

Now throw this into medieval London, and your on to something really fun. Mr Doherty does a great job applying the genre formula to this setting in such a way that really makes both come alive.

Story
Brother Athelstan and Sir John Cranston are on the case once more, to solve an impossible murder and robbery. A host of suspects and characters of ill repute lie in the way of the truth. The bold and sloshed coroner, with his brilliant friend the Friar, must trek across the streets of the good and old city to solve it, before anyone else is killed.

Its a simple story, but it works. The plot is rounded off well to a satisfying conclusion. Same is true for the side plot, which adds some necessary breaks and levity to the whole book.

The conclusion ramps up well, with dashes of action here and there throughout. I felt it could have been a bit more dramatic at points, but the areas where this does shine, it does so very well.

Final Thoughts
A good well themed novel, I look forward to trying more of Mr Doherty's work in the future.

[Valsala Rajan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really do like the Brother Athelstan stories. However, when it comes to rating/reviewing, I can't help but compare it to Sansom's Shardlake series and somehow, Athelstan always comes up short for me. Maybe it's because there are not as many historical characters, maybe it's because there are too many seemingly frivolous characters. Whatever it may be, I just don't get as emotionally involved. In this one, the unfolding of the mystery was all too abrupt.

[Bruce Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Assassin

Athelstan and Cranston have new murders to investigate. A man is murdered and a lot of silver, that is going to the Regent, goes missing. Clerks of the Chancery of the Green Wax are also dying. In Athelstan's church yard a new crucifix with the figure of Christ on the cross is bleeding from its eyes. Is it a miracle from God or something else? Another great mystery by Paul Doherty begins to unfold. I enjoyed this book also.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great series. I really like the camaraderie between Athelstan and Cranston. Athelstan's quirky parishoners and his cat and horse lighten the series and make it fun amidst some rather dark murders. This book is well written and well plotted but I was beginning to suspect one of the murderers long before the end.

[Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Related to Cadfael

This book was a wonderful surprise.I was unfamiliar with the author but that has changed.The story was incredible and the characters were totally believable.I seldom don't know the ending but wasn't positive this time. Will recommend this author to all my favorite readers.Thanks.

[Judith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another murder mystery that Brother Athelstan and Sir John have to solve with pressure coming from John of Gaunt, Regent.
This one was full of evil doers, who received their just rewards, however, the ending was a hard one to take. Can’t wait to read the next in the series to hopefully receive more pleasant news in regard to Brother Athelstan’s future.

[Ian D. Fetigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spoiler alert

Oh no. Brother Athelstan gets summoned to Oxford at the end of this story. Not sure Cranston or his parishioners will be able to handle this. Guess I am going to have to read the next in the series to see what happens.

[Mrs. A.A. Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

14th century London mystery

Paul Doherty beautifully describes , the characters,the glamour,the filth and wickedness of Father Athelstan's London. What were the mysterious riddles left around the scenes of death.An excellent read from the pen ofPaul Doherty, once again

[jonathan barwick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riddles aplenty

Murder is afoot as a cowled killer strikes down clerks in London and it's up to Brother Athelstan and Jack Cranston to solve the case. What follows is a mystery not to be missed!

[Maeghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was an ending!

These are always good, always three mysteries for the price of one, but this had a real humdinger of an ending and now I must immediately proceed to the next one to see what becomes of Athelstan....

[Andy Robson]

A good continuation of the series.

The Brother Athelstan series is an excellent read. The linear nature of the books helps to develop characters in depth.

[James Belson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well thought out mistery as always very clever takes me straight back in history and I feel part of the story marvellous

[pauline holbrook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

Such a good mystery and I can't wait to read the next book to see if Atherton comes back .

[Jni Rowland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my lord that ending!!!!! I need to read the next one now!

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent story in the series

[Susan in NC · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm enjoying this series more with each book I read - I love the deepening friendship and "Sherlock/Watson" vibe between Sir John Cranston, King's Coroner, and his secretarius Brother Athelstan. The mysteries are satisfyingly complex, the villains (and often the Regent and his surrounding courtiers) are sufficiently dark, devious and deadly, and as always Paul Doherty brings stinky, thriving, brutal London to exuberant life.

I'm very proud that I had an inkling early on that one of the characters was not who they were pretending to be and indeed was a murderer - and I was right! Not to say that the plot wasn't sufficiently complex, it was - the action kicks right off with the murders of a miserly moneylender and several clerks from the Chancery of the Green Wax. A fortune in silver belonging to the wily Regent John of Gaunt has disappeared from the locked strong room of moneylender Bartholomew Drayton, who was left to die from a crossbow arrow to the heart. Gaunt orders Cranston and Athelstan to recover the silver but before they can begin to crack this locked room murder they are called to investigate additional murders - someone appears to be picking off royal clerks one by one, leaving behind baffling riddles to further muddy the waters...And just to keep things interesting, Athelstan's parishioners think they've got a miraculous bleeding crucifix on their hands and chaos grips St. Erdonwald's parish.

This is an older series by the prolific Doherty, who has several mystery series to his credit under several names. I enjoyed the Hugh Corbett mysteries very much and read them all but feel the last two books lost the spark for me; the writing seemed sluggish and dull, as if someone else had written them. Not so here; I feel the first few books in this series portrayed Cranston as a drunken buffoon and Athelstan as a priggish fussbudget, but they have grown so much as characters they are a real treat to read - in fact, I'm off to start the next in the series, "The Devil's Domain".

[Simon Mcleish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally published on my blog here in November 2000.

There are two mysteries in this novel from Harding's medieval crime series, one a locked room puzzle, a genre which has already cropped up several times in the Sorrowful Mysteries of Brother Athelstan, and the other a serial killer who leaves riddles with the bodies of the victims. The first puzzle is the death of rich banker Bartholemew Drayton, who is found killed by a crossbow bolt in his strongroom, locked on the inside. The pressure is on Sir John Cranston, Coroner of the City of London, and his friend, the friar Athelstan, to swiftly discover the killer, particularly are five thousand pounds of silver is missing, instead of enriching the regent, John of Gaunt. The other is the murder, one by one, of the clerks working in a particular office in Chancery (which ran much of the bureaucratic administration of medieval England). The riddles left on their bodies are not in fact too difficult to work out (though they use some dubious linguistic trickery which I suspect depends on aspects of the English language which are anachronistic), and neither is the identity of the killer. The locked room is a much harder puzzle.

Having two mysteries means that the novel has to concentrate on them, rather than on the background of late fourteenth century London. Mind you, most of the readers of The Assassin's Riddle will probably already have read earlier novels in the series, so this doesn't matter as much as it might do.

[Elvenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, this was the seventh volume in the Sorrowful Mysteries of Brother Athelstan series and I've liked it a great deal.

I hadn't read Doherty's books for more than 10 years (they aren't easy to come by here) but I found this one as good as i remembered the first 6 had been. The way he describes the London under the regency of John of Gaunt, the contrast between the personalities of the two main characters, Athelstan, the scholar, with his daily struggles as a priest in a very poor Southwark in times when the plague was still present (as an atonement for his sins...) and Sir John Cranston, the Coroner of the City of London, with his love of food and claret, his fearsome wife and his poppets. Together they try to unravel the mysteries behind different murders, one in a closed room, one in an unknown location and some in plain sight, one of the main clues being the riddles left next to some of the victims and the sightings of a cowled clean-shaven young man...

It was also great to be able to learn what happened with the cliffhanger in book #6 after so much time and to be able to read the book in English, as I was spared the perplexing Peninsular Spanish slang...

[Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like these books about brother Athelstan and sir John Cranston a good read .

[Kalei · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought I could pick up this book/series as my next murder-mystery series to read but it was disappointing from the get-go. I'm not sure if it's because I don't like period pieces or if it's because the main characters are an alcoholic coroner and a priest, but I couldn't get into this book like I thought I might be able to.