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Sir Robert Carey #8
A Clash of Spheres
It's late August, 1592.
Sir Robert Carey, cousin to Queen Elizabeth from the wrong side of Henry VIII's blanket, remains at his post on the Borders at Carlisle. He has at last been confirmed by his monarch as Deputy Warden, is still deeply in love with Lady Elizabeth Widdrington while despising her elderly, abusive husband (will the man never die?). And he remains estranged from his dour but lethal henchman, Henry Dodd, Land-Sergeant of Gilsland, who is currently serving as one of the sergeants of the Carlisle Castle guard. Dodd can't forgive Carey for taking the high road at the conclusion of the incident at Dick of Dryhope's tower, when Sir Robert called out the Carlisle garrison, but "honourably and skillfully avoided the bloody-pitched battle" that seemed inevitable. Dodd is old-school and would have preferred to exterminate as many under Wee Colin Elliott, and also Grahams, as he could. Not for him, but for peace to the Debatable Land.
Sir Robert Cecil, Privy Councillor to the Queen, warns of a new challenge: the King of Spain's "intentions in Scotland." Will Cecil be sending a pursuivant to the Borders to suss out, and possibly interrupt, whatever plots are in progress against England?
Now it's Autumn. We meet Marguerite, an over-sexed and unhappy wife. Father Crichton, a Jesuit, formerly of Spain. A man who says his name is Jonathan Hepburn but, curiously, thinks in Deutsch. Marguerite's elderly husband Sir David, a Groom of King James' VI's Bedchamber, a jealous man. Various disloyal Scottish Earls. Janet Dodd, wife to Henry, who learns an interesting thing from Mrs. Hogg, the midwife. Hughie Tyndale, a would-be-assassin. Mr. John Napier, a philosopher and mathematician with a revolutionary theory of how the solar system works. Mr. Simon Anricks, a toothdrawer (and philosopher, too) bearing a secret letter from England, who becomes delighted with Mr. Napier. Queen Anne (of Denmark), not yet a mother. And King James, not your usual monarch, plus his court, sycophants, and (former) lover Lord Spynie, who is still plotting revenge. So many spheres of influence or disruption in play.
Events come to a head at the King's court in Edinburgh where a great Disputation on the differences between the Ptolemaic and the Copernican systems, and a demonstration of the planets will be staged, a clash of spheres mirroring the same at the human level.
Sir Robert Carey, cousin to Queen Elizabeth from the wrong side of Henry VIII's blanket, remains at his post on the Borders at Carlisle. He has at last been confirmed by his monarch as Deputy Warden, is still deeply in love with Lady Elizabeth Widdrington while despising her elderly, abusive husband (will the man never die?). And he remains estranged from his dour but lethal henchman, Henry Dodd, Land-Sergeant of Gilsland, who is currently serving as one of the sergeants of the Carlisle Castle guard. Dodd can't forgive Carey for taking the high road at the conclusion of the incident at Dick of Dryhope's tower, when Sir Robert called out the Carlisle garrison, but "honourably and skillfully avoided the bloody-pitched battle" that seemed inevitable. Dodd is old-school and would have preferred to exterminate as many under Wee Colin Elliott, and also Grahams, as he could. Not for him, but for peace to the Debatable Land.
Sir Robert Cecil, Privy Councillor to the Queen, warns of a new challenge: the King of Spain's "intentions in Scotland." Will Cecil be sending a pursuivant to the Borders to suss out, and possibly interrupt, whatever plots are in progress against England?
Now it's Autumn. We meet Marguerite, an over-sexed and unhappy wife. Father Crichton, a Jesuit, formerly of Spain. A man who says his name is Jonathan Hepburn but, curiously, thinks in Deutsch. Marguerite's elderly husband Sir David, a Groom of King James' VI's Bedchamber, a jealous man. Various disloyal Scottish Earls. Janet Dodd, wife to Henry, who learns an interesting thing from Mrs. Hogg, the midwife. Hughie Tyndale, a would-be-assassin. Mr. John Napier, a philosopher and mathematician with a revolutionary theory of how the solar system works. Mr. Simon Anricks, a toothdrawer (and philosopher, too) bearing a secret letter from England, who becomes delighted with Mr. Napier. Queen Anne (of Denmark), not yet a mother. And King James, not your usual monarch, plus his court, sycophants, and (former) lover Lord Spynie, who is still plotting revenge. So many spheres of influence or disruption in play.
Events come to a head at the King's court in Edinburgh where a great Disputation on the differences between the Ptolemaic and the Copernican systems, and a demonstration of the planets will be staged, a clash of spheres mirroring the same at the human level.
283 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 4, 2017
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January 6, 2021
4.5★ rounded up
“It was an awful lot for a simple bribe. Far too much really.
‘Well,’ Carey said, ‘I don’t object to bribery. How can I? The entire governance of the country rests on it.’”
It was ever thus. Bribes and influence. Why should we pretend to be surprised now when we uncover this method of “governance”?
Carey has just been told one of his men was paid to hang back, which would leave him vulnerable to attack, but he’s fine with the payment. He just wishes he’d been told he’d be left to his own devices. Strange times and fascinating reading for me.
I really enjoy this series with the handsome Sir Robert Carey, “the Courtier”, cousin and half-brother of Elizabeth the First of England. This also makes him a cousin of King James VI of Scotland, who is at the centre of the action in this story. There is a lot of political history, which is well explained, making the attempts on Carey’s life and the King’s life understandable.
Carey and his usual henchman, Henry Dodd, are at odds, because Carey let the Elliots go when he had them dead to rights in a tower battle. Everyone knew it would have been a massacre, which suited Dodd, because they were the blood enemy of his people.
“It was quiet at the moment and there had been a couple of marriages to try and heal the breach, but nobody forgot a bloodfeud. How could you? A bloodfeud meant men dead.”
Dodd is exceptionally dirty with Carey, for letting the Elliots go. It’s very much the history of nations in microcosm, isn’t it? In the border country of northern England, where Carey is a Deputy Warden, it’s a way of life to reive (steal) and plunder and murder – when there is time between sowing and harvesting, that is. There's a season for reiving as well.
Most of this takes place in the Scottish court, where there are foul deeds afoot, evil plots aplenty, lovely ladies dancing, and jockeying for position between the favourites and former favourites of King James VI. They play on his preference for male bed-partners, but he does seem devoted to his young Danish wife as well, whom Carey befriends in this tale. [This is the same King James who later becomes King James I of England and Ireland and who is also the James of the King James Bible. But I digress.]
Hunting is the main diversion, the King being especially keen, but the part that intrigued me in several places, was the singing. I loved that someone would start a tune and others would join in. Imagine this - a chorus of male voices in the winter woods.
“They all rode home down the road from Leith, with the King talking animatedly in the middle about what he would do with the hart’s antlers and then the Earl of Huntly started up an old song in his astonishing bass. Carey knew another version of it in English and answered him and then all the other nobles and attendants and foresters came in on the chorus. The sound of the powerful deep voices singing as they rode back through the snowy fields with the crows starting from their rookeries made the hairs on Dodd’s neck stand up.”
It would have been magic! I don’t know if it’s the thrill of the hunt that leads them to song or not, but it does seem like it. I should also mention Carey’s vanity about his clothing. He does love to dress well, at someone else’s expense, if he can manage it (which he does). People don’t actually change clothes the way we do. A masked ball probably smelled pretty ripe. At one point, consoling a woman:
“And then suddenly she crumpled and he had to catch her before she fell and she wept into the shoulder of his brand new damask doublet, risking watermarks. Only for a second, thank God she stopped before damage could be done, stepped back and used her apron to wipe her eyes and blow her nose.”
Ah, chivalry is not dead. There’s so much more to enjoy in this – the characters, the history, the seat-of-your-pants worry about who’s going to succumb next to an assassin’s knife! I love it!
The ending is the worst-ever cliffhanger I think I’ve ever been faced with! By worst, I mean best, of course. I must move on to #9 sooner than I’d planned. Get out of the way, all of my other scheduled reads!
“It was an awful lot for a simple bribe. Far too much really.
‘Well,’ Carey said, ‘I don’t object to bribery. How can I? The entire governance of the country rests on it.’”
It was ever thus. Bribes and influence. Why should we pretend to be surprised now when we uncover this method of “governance”?
Carey has just been told one of his men was paid to hang back, which would leave him vulnerable to attack, but he’s fine with the payment. He just wishes he’d been told he’d be left to his own devices. Strange times and fascinating reading for me.
I really enjoy this series with the handsome Sir Robert Carey, “the Courtier”, cousin and half-brother of Elizabeth the First of England. This also makes him a cousin of King James VI of Scotland, who is at the centre of the action in this story. There is a lot of political history, which is well explained, making the attempts on Carey’s life and the King’s life understandable.
Carey and his usual henchman, Henry Dodd, are at odds, because Carey let the Elliots go when he had them dead to rights in a tower battle. Everyone knew it would have been a massacre, which suited Dodd, because they were the blood enemy of his people.
“It was quiet at the moment and there had been a couple of marriages to try and heal the breach, but nobody forgot a bloodfeud. How could you? A bloodfeud meant men dead.”
Dodd is exceptionally dirty with Carey, for letting the Elliots go. It’s very much the history of nations in microcosm, isn’t it? In the border country of northern England, where Carey is a Deputy Warden, it’s a way of life to reive (steal) and plunder and murder – when there is time between sowing and harvesting, that is. There's a season for reiving as well.
Most of this takes place in the Scottish court, where there are foul deeds afoot, evil plots aplenty, lovely ladies dancing, and jockeying for position between the favourites and former favourites of King James VI. They play on his preference for male bed-partners, but he does seem devoted to his young Danish wife as well, whom Carey befriends in this tale. [This is the same King James who later becomes King James I of England and Ireland and who is also the James of the King James Bible. But I digress.]
Hunting is the main diversion, the King being especially keen, but the part that intrigued me in several places, was the singing. I loved that someone would start a tune and others would join in. Imagine this - a chorus of male voices in the winter woods.
“They all rode home down the road from Leith, with the King talking animatedly in the middle about what he would do with the hart’s antlers and then the Earl of Huntly started up an old song in his astonishing bass. Carey knew another version of it in English and answered him and then all the other nobles and attendants and foresters came in on the chorus. The sound of the powerful deep voices singing as they rode back through the snowy fields with the crows starting from their rookeries made the hairs on Dodd’s neck stand up.”
It would have been magic! I don’t know if it’s the thrill of the hunt that leads them to song or not, but it does seem like it. I should also mention Carey’s vanity about his clothing. He does love to dress well, at someone else’s expense, if he can manage it (which he does). People don’t actually change clothes the way we do. A masked ball probably smelled pretty ripe. At one point, consoling a woman:
“And then suddenly she crumpled and he had to catch her before she fell and she wept into the shoulder of his brand new damask doublet, risking watermarks. Only for a second, thank God she stopped before damage could be done, stepped back and used her apron to wipe her eyes and blow her nose.”
Ah, chivalry is not dead. There’s so much more to enjoy in this – the characters, the history, the seat-of-your-pants worry about who’s going to succumb next to an assassin’s knife! I love it!
The ending is the worst-ever cliffhanger I think I’ve ever been faced with! By worst, I mean best, of course. I must move on to #9 sooner than I’d planned. Get out of the way, all of my other scheduled reads!
April 27, 2017
Another beautifully written, thoroughly enjoyable book from this fantastic series. Lots of positive adjectives there - you can tell it's a five star book for me:)
Sir Robert Carey is one of my ten best book characters ever - at least this author's version of him is! I am not totally sure the real one was as charismatic or as full of devilment but it makes for a really great story.
BUT that ending!!! Ms. Chisholm - how could you do that to us? That was not just a cliff hanger, it was a barely holding on to the edge of a precipice by the finger tips hanger. That was one of our heroes you were writing about and you left him.......well I won't say where you left him but it was a shocker.
Roll on 2018. I need to know!
Sir Robert Carey is one of my ten best book characters ever - at least this author's version of him is! I am not totally sure the real one was as charismatic or as full of devilment but it makes for a really great story.
BUT that ending!!! Ms. Chisholm - how could you do that to us? That was not just a cliff hanger, it was a barely holding on to the edge of a precipice by the finger tips hanger. That was one of our heroes you were writing about and you left him.......well I won't say where you left him but it was a shocker.
Roll on 2018. I need to know!
November 6, 2018
I think this might be the best of this excellent series so far!
Sir Robert Carey, cousin to Queen Elizabeth I and Warden of the Scottish Borders is once again in Edinburgh at the court of St James, accompanied by a philosopher and astronomer summoned to debate with the king over the movement of the heavenly bodies around the Earth and the Sun. It's Christmas and the Court is in party mood, but there are several plots afoot against King James that could result in not only his death but also cause war in both Scotland and England. Carey must not only uncover these plots but pick his way through a minefield of old enemies and avoid various plots against himself as well. Carey's previous loyal and faithful Sergeant Henry Dodds is still really, really annoyed with him over Carey allowing Dodds' long-standing enemies, the Elliots, go free in a previous encounter when they were ripe for mass slaughter and is trying to work out how to make Carey pay.
This is such a good series, based on real characters, well written and researched and full of action. plotting and intrigue. My only complaint is the cliffhanger where I was left well and truly in shock! But at least I already have the next book lined up on my kindle so watch this space .....
Sir Robert Carey, cousin to Queen Elizabeth I and Warden of the Scottish Borders is once again in Edinburgh at the court of St James, accompanied by a philosopher and astronomer summoned to debate with the king over the movement of the heavenly bodies around the Earth and the Sun. It's Christmas and the Court is in party mood, but there are several plots afoot against King James that could result in not only his death but also cause war in both Scotland and England. Carey must not only uncover these plots but pick his way through a minefield of old enemies and avoid various plots against himself as well. Carey's previous loyal and faithful Sergeant Henry Dodds is still really, really annoyed with him over Carey allowing Dodds' long-standing enemies, the Elliots, go free in a previous encounter when they were ripe for mass slaughter and is trying to work out how to make Carey pay.
This is such a good series, based on real characters, well written and researched and full of action. plotting and intrigue. My only complaint is the cliffhanger where I was left well and truly in shock! But at least I already have the next book lined up on my kindle so watch this space .....
July 14, 2020
Edited for historical accuracy: Below I should have listed King James as King James IV of Scotland. He will become King James I of England when Elizabeth I dies.
Another excellent Sir Robert Carey
adventure\mystery. This time we learn more about Sergeant Dodd's feisty wife, Janet. Loved seeing the events through her perspective. She's opinionated and brave which is greatly needed in dealing with her husband, their extended families and all of the English\Scottish clans!
This is a witty and complicated tale of espionage and politics with astroloy, astronomy and mathematics thrown in to the mix. I especially liked the author's portrayal of King James I of Scotland. He comes off as likeable and even compassionate. In the Author's Notes at the end she adds her insight into his life.
Sir Robert Carey is his charming, intelligent and VERY vain self! He's assisted by the mysterious tooth-puller from the previous book, Simon Anrick, and we learn more about his past. Anrick has become another of my favorites and I'm hoping he'll be featured again in book #9 A Suspicion of Silver.
There are numerous entertaining secondary characters, in fact so many that I bookmarked her "Cast of Characters" listed in the beginning. There is also a helpful glossary of Scottish and English words from the 16th century included at the end. Very useful!
If I say much more in this review I'm afraid there would be too many spoilers. After the exciting and eventful ending I'm glad I own #9 so I can dive back into the lives of these delightful historical characters.
Another excellent Sir Robert Carey
adventure\mystery. This time we learn more about Sergeant Dodd's feisty wife, Janet. Loved seeing the events through her perspective. She's opinionated and brave which is greatly needed in dealing with her husband, their extended families and all of the English\Scottish clans!
This is a witty and complicated tale of espionage and politics with astroloy, astronomy and mathematics thrown in to the mix. I especially liked the author's portrayal of King James I of Scotland. He comes off as likeable and even compassionate. In the Author's Notes at the end she adds her insight into his life.
Sir Robert Carey is his charming, intelligent and VERY vain self! He's assisted by the mysterious tooth-puller from the previous book, Simon Anrick, and we learn more about his past. Anrick has become another of my favorites and I'm hoping he'll be featured again in book #9 A Suspicion of Silver.
There are numerous entertaining secondary characters, in fact so many that I bookmarked her "Cast of Characters" listed in the beginning. There is also a helpful glossary of Scottish and English words from the 16th century included at the end. Very useful!
If I say much more in this review I'm afraid there would be too many spoilers. After the exciting and eventful ending I'm glad I own #9 so I can dive back into the lives of these delightful historical characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2019
Nice fresh library books allowed me to catch up with the adventures of Sir Robert Carey of ye ole Elizabethan times, the main character based on a real person, son of one of Henry VIII's bastards. There will be horses, swords, olympic bedroom activities and the carrying out of whatever might please the Queen. The end looks glum for Carey's henchman Dodd, but I was able to jump into book #9 immediately after this one. He took a bolt to the back, after all.
These books should be read in order and a long period of time should not hang in between as they did for me in this case. One loses the appetite when one has wandered so very far away from historical fiction. In fact I am impressed with my former ability to track thousands of characters and relished the doing of it.
These books should be read in order and a long period of time should not hang in between as they did for me in this case. One loses the appetite when one has wandered so very far away from historical fiction. In fact I am impressed with my former ability to track thousands of characters and relished the doing of it.
April 18, 2017
The later books in this series aren’t as good as the earlier ones, but they’re still entertaining, mostly for the realistic details of the setting. The author is good at depicting the life and times of these characters at the end of the year 1592, at the court of King James of Scotland.
The plots are growing ever more outlandish, however. This one concerns a weak conspiracy to assist Spain with an invasion of England, and also an attempt to assassinate the king. The spheres in the title refer to an intellectual debate concerning the movement of heavenly bodies.
My favorite scenes in this book were the ones from Janet Dodd’s point of view. There’s a fascinating chapter where she assists with a difficult childbirth; then later she talks down a thuggish cousin who is seriously considering robbing and killing her.
I think this series has become a little preoccupied with homosexuality at King James’s court. While James himself is portrayed as noble and kind, albeit slovenly and hedonistic and physically cowardly, there is an unsavory ring of pedophiles among his courtiers, and I think that one book featuring them was quite enough.
This ends with a life-or-death cliffhanger, which I detest in novels.
The plots are growing ever more outlandish, however. This one concerns a weak conspiracy to assist Spain with an invasion of England, and also an attempt to assassinate the king. The spheres in the title refer to an intellectual debate concerning the movement of heavenly bodies.
My favorite scenes in this book were the ones from Janet Dodd’s point of view. There’s a fascinating chapter where she assists with a difficult childbirth; then later she talks down a thuggish cousin who is seriously considering robbing and killing her.
I think this series has become a little preoccupied with homosexuality at King James’s court. While James himself is portrayed as noble and kind, albeit slovenly and hedonistic and physically cowardly, there is an unsavory ring of pedophiles among his courtiers, and I think that one book featuring them was quite enough.
This ends with a life-or-death cliffhanger, which I detest in novels.
November 7, 2017
I have loved all of P F Chisholm's Robert Carey stories and this one was no exception. Anricks, the dentist/spy whom we met in the previous book, has been sent to Scotland to investigate a possible plot by the Spanish against England, and potentially Scotland as well, and Robert Carey goes with him to help uncover what is going on, and to catch a little time with his beloved Elizabeth Widdrington who is staying at the Scottish Court for Christmas.
As well as the excellent Elizabeth, Chisholm develops the character of Janet Dodd, who yet again proves herself a remarkable woman, though one who may be driven to desperate measures. King James' Danish queen is also a strong and sympathetic character.
I particularly like the way Chisholm takes a few threads of real history and weaves them into such a gripping book. The blank letters signed by the Scotttish earls were real and no-one knew what they were for, though a Spanish plot is always a possibility, and Young Hutchin Graham grew up into one of the more notorious border reivers of the turn of the 17th century.
As well as the excellent Elizabeth, Chisholm develops the character of Janet Dodd, who yet again proves herself a remarkable woman, though one who may be driven to desperate measures. King James' Danish queen is also a strong and sympathetic character.
I particularly like the way Chisholm takes a few threads of real history and weaves them into such a gripping book. The blank letters signed by the Scotttish earls were real and no-one knew what they were for, though a Spanish plot is always a possibility, and Young Hutchin Graham grew up into one of the more notorious border reivers of the turn of the 17th century.
June 28, 2017
I mostly enjoyed this, which was as action-filled and funny as the rest of the series. I thought I felt a few Americanisms or at least modern usages floating in this time: there were moments when the dialogue just missed a beat, which is a shame. The books however are growing less and less stand-alone and more like episodes in a life: I'm not sure if I like that, because when I finish a book I like at least to have the feeling that I've completed something and not the niggling feeling that I'd left it a few pages before the end.
December 25, 2019
Set mainly in the court of James VI of Scotland, this is another excellent installment of the Sir Robert Carey mysteries, as always mixing well-written characters, complicated (although not unrealistic) plots, and accessible but still accurate history (although the author is not above taking some liberties where the historical record is silent). While Chisholm doesn't gloss over the Scottish monarch's faults, she does portray him with a great deal of sympathy. 4 stars.
February 13, 2018
Wow! Can't wait for the next book.
As always, I LOVE the historical elements in this series. It always makes logical sense and deepens my perspective of both the story itself, and as a reader, my understanding of what it must have been like to live then. I spend a lot of time of Wikipedia and looking up portraits of the people mentioned. BTW, be sure to go google Robert Carey so you can see the several portraits extant of him or including him. I wish I could find one of Elizabeth. If anyone finds one, send me a link.
In this book, I particularly enjoyed:
As always, I LOVE the historical elements in this series. It always makes logical sense and deepens my perspective of both the story itself, and as a reader, my understanding of what it must have been like to live then. I spend a lot of time of Wikipedia and looking up portraits of the people mentioned. BTW, be sure to go google Robert Carey so you can see the several portraits extant of him or including him. I wish I could find one of Elizabeth. If anyone finds one, send me a link.
In this book, I particularly enjoyed:
May 25, 2017
I can’t really imagine writing a bad review of any of these books. The author writes with huge affection about her main characters and they are developing all the time. In the previous book I felt as though I got to know Elizabeth a lot better. In this book Sergeant Dodd and his formidable wife Janet step forward. So does the King of Scotland.
I love the period detail in these books. I write historical fiction myself so I’m well aware of the enormous amount of research that goes into them, but this author never makes the knowledge a burden and never reads like a textbook. But although the history is fascinating and I never put one down without rushing to look things up to find out how much of the plot is fiction and which bits are fact, it will always be the characters that bring me back to the Robert Carey novels.
Carey is a hero of his time and his flaws are as appealing as his good points. He is clever and fearless and very loyal. He is also vain, easily bored and hopeless with money. Above all he is surprisingly kind.
Dodd has always been one of my favourite characters but in this book we see a whole new side of him which reminds us that despite his surprising loyalty to Carey so far, he is and will always be a borderer, dragged down by the complicated loyalties and sense of honour of the riding surnames. His wife, Janet, is torn between loyalty to her husband and a fund of common sense which tells her that the feuding is likely to ruin them all.
James of Scotland, up until now, has seemed a wholly unappealing character in the series. In this one we see an unexpectedly sympathetic side to him - and so does Carey which for those of us who know the subsequent history makes some sense.
I loved the book and as always, I can’t wait for the next one.
I love the period detail in these books. I write historical fiction myself so I’m well aware of the enormous amount of research that goes into them, but this author never makes the knowledge a burden and never reads like a textbook. But although the history is fascinating and I never put one down without rushing to look things up to find out how much of the plot is fiction and which bits are fact, it will always be the characters that bring me back to the Robert Carey novels.
Carey is a hero of his time and his flaws are as appealing as his good points. He is clever and fearless and very loyal. He is also vain, easily bored and hopeless with money. Above all he is surprisingly kind.
Dodd has always been one of my favourite characters but in this book we see a whole new side of him which reminds us that despite his surprising loyalty to Carey so far, he is and will always be a borderer, dragged down by the complicated loyalties and sense of honour of the riding surnames. His wife, Janet, is torn between loyalty to her husband and a fund of common sense which tells her that the feuding is likely to ruin them all.
James of Scotland, up until now, has seemed a wholly unappealing character in the series. In this one we see an unexpectedly sympathetic side to him - and so does Carey which for those of us who know the subsequent history makes some sense.
I loved the book and as always, I can’t wait for the next one.
July 2, 2017
A return to form for a series I had worried was losing it's way. Back in the Scottish marshes, and Scotland itself, the characters are allowed to revert from the stereotypes they seemed to become in London, and the book takes a slightly more serious turn for the better.
Chisholm's Carey is a magnificent creation, his foppishness and idiocy in love balanced by his unusual seriousness in politics and policing, and she weaves between infallible and stupid in a way that should be more common in this genre than it is. But the Dodd's have always been at the heart of this series, and the decision both to set much of the story from Janet's POV, and to deal seriously with the sergeant's PTSD and truama induced violence works extremely well. Dodd's single-mindedness had become a joke in the last couple of books, and turning it around here to being the kind of reaction that creates todays suicide bombers was a bold choice she pulls off flawlessly (No, Dodd does not become a suicide bomber! they didn't have those in the marches!)
Similarly, her historical read on James I, another man marked by PTSD, but with a completely different response, a fanatical commitment to peace, is interesting, and I am loving to see where she goes with this.
Chisholm's Carey is a magnificent creation, his foppishness and idiocy in love balanced by his unusual seriousness in politics and policing, and she weaves between infallible and stupid in a way that should be more common in this genre than it is. But the Dodd's have always been at the heart of this series, and the decision both to set much of the story from Janet's POV, and to deal seriously with the sergeant's PTSD and truama induced violence works extremely well. Dodd's single-mindedness had become a joke in the last couple of books, and turning it around here to being the kind of reaction that creates todays suicide bombers was a bold choice she pulls off flawlessly (No, Dodd does not become a suicide bomber! they didn't have those in the marches!)
Similarly, her historical read on James I, another man marked by PTSD, but with a completely different response, a fanatical commitment to peace, is interesting, and I am loving to see where she goes with this.
January 11, 2023
In this double mystery, we travel with Deputy Warden Robert Carey as he unravels at least two plots and spies along the English and Scottish border. He ends up traveling north from Carlisle into the court of King James in Edinburgh for Christmas with his angry henchman Henry Dodd, Jewish philosopher Simon Anricks and several men. This is a very complicated triple mystery, involving a Spanish plan to invade England from the north, help Sergeant Dodd move beyond his anger and restore his marriage, and spend more time with the love of his life.
You will want to read at least the book just previous to this one to understand the relationships and why the several characters have so much anger and are hiding parts of their life. The author excels at the details, in conversations, dress, food and true history. This is not a book to put down for very long as you need to keep track of everyone and their motive, hence the title.
You will want to read at least the book just previous to this one to understand the relationships and why the several characters have so much anger and are hiding parts of their life. The author excels at the details, in conversations, dress, food and true history. This is not a book to put down for very long as you need to keep track of everyone and their motive, hence the title.
September 2, 2017
Sir Robert Carey (an historical figure, as are many others in this series) is charged with keeping the borderlands between England and Scotland peaceful. His long-time assistant Henry Dodd is sullenly angry at Carey for opting for a peaceful solution to a situation that would have, if Dodd had had his way, ended with the slaughter of Dodd's enemies. Now Carey must go to the court of James VI, over Christmas, to find out if the Spanish are once again posing a threat to the English crown. But there are several people offering a price on his head, and Dodd seems willing to take one of the offers himself. As usual, this is fast-moving, convincingly Elizabethan, and involving. Although the books stand alone, it's probably much wiser to start with the first one to avoid confusion.
May 12, 2017
Consistently superior writing
And a good tale to boot with engaging characters and delightful dialogue.
Eight more words required? But succinctness is a hallmark of good composition.
And a good tale to boot with engaging characters and delightful dialogue.
Eight more words required? But succinctness is a hallmark of good composition.
July 10, 2017
Another good book from this author. I found it a bit slow in places and the story was very complicated but there are some really funny moments and I like the new character. The cliff hanger at the end is horrible though, how long to the next book????????
August 20, 2017
Well up to the standard of the rest of the series - I had almost forgotten how much I enjoy these. Although be warned that the ending is a bit of a cliffhanger - I cant believe I have to wait till next year to see the next book!
December 26, 2017
Object lesson in how to write a historical novel
Immense research that never gets in the way of an enthralling story. Believable characters, no phony attempt at 16th century dialogue. Can't wait for the next instalment.
Immense research that never gets in the way of an enthralling story. Believable characters, no phony attempt at 16th century dialogue. Can't wait for the next instalment.
July 17, 2019
The Sir Robert Carey Mystery series keeps getting better and better. Carey spends time in the Scottish court uncovering several plots and plotters resulting in a surprising ending. Highly recommend reading each book in the order written.
February 9, 2021
A great read. It's a "I need to know what happens next" book. A page Turner of excellence. So invested in the characters I'm hoping the series continues for many more books, however I'm just going to buy the next one or more right now.
March 28, 2021
Sad. Funny. Exciting. Emotionally wrenching at times. Amazing.
Her writing is the best in the genre. Truly magnificent. YOU are THERE!!! I Love these books, stay up all night to finish eachone. Cannot wait for the next one.
Her writing is the best in the genre. Truly magnificent. YOU are THERE!!! I Love these books, stay up all night to finish eachone. Cannot wait for the next one.
January 2, 2024
Set in 1592 , located in the Scottish/ English borders and with a large cast of Border revivers and Elizabethan courtiers. A Clash of Spheres includes Holyrood Palace , James VI and assassination plots, blood feuds and bedroom encounters - just a great read.
May 25, 2017
Really? And how long before the next one? Please hurry with it! Marvelous books!
September 15, 2017
Great
I have enjoyed every adventure of Sir Robert and look forward to the next, especially as to whether Dodd will survive plus Whitesock?
I have enjoyed every adventure of Sir Robert and look forward to the next, especially as to whether Dodd will survive plus Whitesock?
November 5, 2017
A most amusing & satisfactory tale.
May 23, 2018
Patricia Finney (aka P.F. Chishom) cannot write fast enough for me. I want more more more of
the Robert Carey series, stat!
the Robert Carey series, stat!
June 15, 2018
Great story
Ripping yarn! I look forward to the next take. All a fast read with a great feel for the time.
Ripping yarn! I look forward to the next take. All a fast read with a great feel for the time.
September 26, 2018
Brilliant writing. A joy to read.
October 1, 2018
Loved it but it is only half a book. It ends right in the middle of events.
January 10, 2020
A good pace, although the books are becoming less Carey focussed as there are so many points of view! Hopefully we’ll get to see more of Young Hutchin and Anricks in future books
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