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Sir Robert Carey #4
A Plague of Angels
In 1592, dashing courtier Sir Robert Carey took up his northern post as Warden of the West March in order to escape the complications of creditors and court life. Trouble, however, dogs his heels wherever he goes. And where he goes in autumn, after the summer's misadventures in Carlisle, is back to London upon a summons from his father.
Carey is on difficult terms with his powerful sire, Henry, Lord Hunsdon. Hunsdon, son of Anne Boleyn's elder sister, Mary -- and probably of a young King Henry VIII -- swings a lot of weight as "cousin" to Queen Elizabeth. But Hunsdon needs his ingenious younger son, Carey to sort out the difficulties his elder son has got himself into as an innocent party in a plot to discredit the family.
Accompanied by the shrewd Sergeant George Dodd, who's like a fish out of water as he copes with the strange Londoners, Carey tackles Catholics, treachery, and such persons known to history and students of literature as George Greene and Christopher Marlowe who are working as spies and double agents. Most arresting is a portrait of a love-sick, snivelling hanger-on named Will Shakespeare....
252 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
April 23, 2019
4.5★
“The man’s eyes were swivelling in his head and he was gobbling. Dodd slammed him again. ‘By Christ, did ye think I wear ma sword for a f**king decoration, ye long slimy toad’s pizzle, who the hell d’ye think…’”
Sir Robert Carey has been called down from the Borders to London by his father, Lord Hunsdon, and brought his stalwart companion Sergeant Dodd and his valet Barnabus with him. It’s a somewhat different view of our handsome courtier. I don’t think I can improve on this wonderful praise from the introduction:
“From opening line to bottom line, the felicity of the language leads us through a neatly dove-tailed plot that ranges from high comedy to genuine pathos, but never loses its sense of engagement—because it’s dealing with characters who are Real People. And the real bottom line is that while I adore Sir Robert Carey and his father, I am just hopelessly in love with Sergeant Dodd.
- - Diana Gabaldon Scottsdale July 3, 2000”
The author capitalises on the fish-out-of-water state of Sergeant Dodd’s reluctant visit to London. Dodd is impressed with the livestock and wishes they weren’t so far from home. He hates missing an opportunity to improve his flock!
“. . . they passed fields full of sheep and kine and only children guarding them, so it made you sad to think how many you could reive if only the distances weren’t so great.”
Once in London, he cannot understand how Lord Hundson's mansion can be built without a tower and a moat and obvious manpower to defend it. Carey's family home wouldn’t last a minute in the north. He also can’t understand how Carey can cry poor when he sees the luxurious furnishings and clothing.
Mistress Bassano's clothing particularly catches his eye. He is loyal to a fault to his beloved wife, but he’s only a man, after all.
“Dodd tried to stop himself from staring at those milky plump breasts that seemed fashionably on the point of bursting out of the bodice. Would they? Could they?”
He is not alone. Will Shakespeare is a young player and would-be poet and playwright who blushes furiously in Mistress Bassano’s presence and writes her sonnets which she shreds with great ceremony and drops into a “jordan” (a chamberpot).
Both Shakespeare and Marlowe (‘Kit’) are active characters in this particular escapade, and both are unpleasant; Marlowe is a self-absorbed dandy and Will is a shy but sneaky little bald fellow, as he’s often referred to.
Dodd is definitely a feature of this story, and he is as delightfully bull-headed and fearless as ever – except for his terror of getting lost in London, and except for a gut-curdling dread of the plague, which he remembers from his own childhood.
The plague of the title is the real plague, bubonic, black, whatever you want to call it. The angels, though, are the gold coins in currency at the time, and there are some questionable ones floating about.
All in all, a lot of fun, with Dodd being clothed in Sir Robert’s outfits for formal occasions and having no idea what he’s eating at banquets. But overall, the filth and gaols of London often made me a bit homesick like Dodd.
“Suddenly he felt choked by all the buildings rising up around him, hemmed in and trapped. Your eyes were always coming up short against a wall, and he was trammelled and crowded with people; the stink would fell an ox.”
I know the feeling well.
“He stood on the grass, blinking up at the stars. Though it was a balmy summer night not all of them were visible, but he could make out the North Star right enough and he looked at it with longing. That was the way home. That was where there would be doings tonight; on such a clear night, the reivers’ trails would be busy with soft-footed horses and their bridles padded with cloth to stop any jingling. He sighed.”
I missed the countryside, too, but it was still an excellent addition to the series.
“The man’s eyes were swivelling in his head and he was gobbling. Dodd slammed him again. ‘By Christ, did ye think I wear ma sword for a f**king decoration, ye long slimy toad’s pizzle, who the hell d’ye think…’”
Sir Robert Carey has been called down from the Borders to London by his father, Lord Hunsdon, and brought his stalwart companion Sergeant Dodd and his valet Barnabus with him. It’s a somewhat different view of our handsome courtier. I don’t think I can improve on this wonderful praise from the introduction:
“From opening line to bottom line, the felicity of the language leads us through a neatly dove-tailed plot that ranges from high comedy to genuine pathos, but never loses its sense of engagement—because it’s dealing with characters who are Real People. And the real bottom line is that while I adore Sir Robert Carey and his father, I am just hopelessly in love with Sergeant Dodd.
- - Diana Gabaldon Scottsdale July 3, 2000”
The author capitalises on the fish-out-of-water state of Sergeant Dodd’s reluctant visit to London. Dodd is impressed with the livestock and wishes they weren’t so far from home. He hates missing an opportunity to improve his flock!
“. . . they passed fields full of sheep and kine and only children guarding them, so it made you sad to think how many you could reive if only the distances weren’t so great.”
Once in London, he cannot understand how Lord Hundson's mansion can be built without a tower and a moat and obvious manpower to defend it. Carey's family home wouldn’t last a minute in the north. He also can’t understand how Carey can cry poor when he sees the luxurious furnishings and clothing.
Mistress Bassano's clothing particularly catches his eye. He is loyal to a fault to his beloved wife, but he’s only a man, after all.
“Dodd tried to stop himself from staring at those milky plump breasts that seemed fashionably on the point of bursting out of the bodice. Would they? Could they?”
He is not alone. Will Shakespeare is a young player and would-be poet and playwright who blushes furiously in Mistress Bassano’s presence and writes her sonnets which she shreds with great ceremony and drops into a “jordan” (a chamberpot).
Both Shakespeare and Marlowe (‘Kit’) are active characters in this particular escapade, and both are unpleasant; Marlowe is a self-absorbed dandy and Will is a shy but sneaky little bald fellow, as he’s often referred to.
Dodd is definitely a feature of this story, and he is as delightfully bull-headed and fearless as ever – except for his terror of getting lost in London, and except for a gut-curdling dread of the plague, which he remembers from his own childhood.
The plague of the title is the real plague, bubonic, black, whatever you want to call it. The angels, though, are the gold coins in currency at the time, and there are some questionable ones floating about.
All in all, a lot of fun, with Dodd being clothed in Sir Robert’s outfits for formal occasions and having no idea what he’s eating at banquets. But overall, the filth and gaols of London often made me a bit homesick like Dodd.
“Suddenly he felt choked by all the buildings rising up around him, hemmed in and trapped. Your eyes were always coming up short against a wall, and he was trammelled and crowded with people; the stink would fell an ox.”
I know the feeling well.
“He stood on the grass, blinking up at the stars. Though it was a balmy summer night not all of them were visible, but he could make out the North Star right enough and he looked at it with longing. That was the way home. That was where there would be doings tonight; on such a clear night, the reivers’ trails would be busy with soft-footed horses and their bridles padded with cloth to stop any jingling. He sighed.”
I missed the countryside, too, but it was still an excellent addition to the series.
May 13, 2016
This book starts with a very flattering introduction written by Diana Gabaldon. I can understand why she likes it so much because there are certainly similarities between this and her Outlander series. Both authors love to write ghoulishly about medical treatments and also about the lack of plumbing and the alternatives thereto. They also both know how to write heroic, daring and totally charming male characters.
I am hooked on this series and therefore find no fault with it. I enjoyed the change of scenery from the Scottish borders to Elizabethan London. It was entertaining to have Will Shakespeare and Kit Marlowe as characters. Sergeant Dodd was a fish out of water but still managed to do himself proud. All good fun, neatly written and very enjoyable.
I am hooked on this series and therefore find no fault with it. I enjoyed the change of scenery from the Scottish borders to Elizabethan London. It was entertaining to have Will Shakespeare and Kit Marlowe as characters. Sergeant Dodd was a fish out of water but still managed to do himself proud. All good fun, neatly written and very enjoyable.
March 28, 2016
The year is 1592 and Sir Robert Carey is called back to London from his post on the Scottish Borders to help look for his brother Edmund who has gone missing. As well as his servants, Robert brings his Sergent Henry Dodds with him and much of their time in London is described by Dodds who does not take well to the hustle and bustle and thieving ways of the locals, despite the grandeur and luxury enjoyed by the Careys and their peers. Edmund has got himself mixed up in a plot involving fraud with political repercussions and then disappeared when things got hot. A number of playwrights and poets including Will Shakespeare and Kit Marlowe (known to be a spy) are somehow involved and Robert must try to work out what has really been going on to find his brother. He must also try to evade his many creditors who have heard he is back in town, avoid catching the plague and work our where all the counterfeit gold coins (angels) are coming from. An enjoyable Elizabethan mystery , although I am looking forward to Robert and Dodds being back on the Scottish borders chasing the wiley Scots.
September 8, 2022
Sergeant Dodd was definitely the star of this show. Carey and crew take a road trip to London whereupon chaos ensues. Shakespeare makes an appearance and we get to see him in a new light!
June 14, 2020
Wow! So far my favorite in this series set in late 16th century England during the reign of Elizabeth I. The first 3 books were told from the point of view of the main character, Sir Robert Carey. In this episode the events are seen through Sergeant Dodd which makes for a VERY entertaining story!
At first I was disappointed when I realized that this mystery would take place in London instead of Northern England on the Scottish Border. But that worry was laid to rest! Dodd's observations of London society are the most entertaining parts of the story. We finally meet Sir Robert Carey's father plus Kit Marlowe and Shakespeare are featured in the mystery.
Lots of laugh out loud dialogue but also the realization that these were dangerous times with all of the political intrigue of the Tudor era. Not going to give away any spoilers but will add that this series is not a cozy mystery. Very realistic setting with that feeling that no one can be trusted.
Oh and the Introduction is written by one of my favorite authors, Diana Gabaldon (Outlander)!
At first I was disappointed when I realized that this mystery would take place in London instead of Northern England on the Scottish Border. But that worry was laid to rest! Dodd's observations of London society are the most entertaining parts of the story. We finally meet Sir Robert Carey's father plus Kit Marlowe and Shakespeare are featured in the mystery.
Lots of laugh out loud dialogue but also the realization that these were dangerous times with all of the political intrigue of the Tudor era. Not going to give away any spoilers but will add that this series is not a cozy mystery. Very realistic setting with that feeling that no one can be trusted.
Oh and the Introduction is written by one of my favorite authors, Diana Gabaldon (Outlander)!
November 5, 2016
This is my least favorite of this series so far, although it’s still quite good. I especially enjoyed seeing London from the point of view of Sergeant Dodd. The biggest problem, I think, is the incidental appearance of famous figures, something I rarely find enhances a historical novel but rather makes it feel contrived.
Unusually, Carey’s viewpoint is never presented in this story, which takes place in London. It’s mostly told from the point of view of Dodd, who is simultaneously awed and disgusted by the famous city. Carey and his retinue dodge Carey’s creditors while searching for his missing brother and investigating a nefarious counterfeiting scheme. They find time to get drunk with Shakespeare and Marlowe, and I was not thrilled by the depiction of the writers. However, I very much enjoyed Carey’s interaction with his father, who was (probably) Queen Elizabeth’s half-brother.
I’m puzzled about the family of Carey’s brother Edmund, because their names in this novel don’t match the names I find online. It’s a strange discrepancy.
Unusually, Carey’s viewpoint is never presented in this story, which takes place in London. It’s mostly told from the point of view of Dodd, who is simultaneously awed and disgusted by the famous city. Carey and his retinue dodge Carey’s creditors while searching for his missing brother and investigating a nefarious counterfeiting scheme. They find time to get drunk with Shakespeare and Marlowe, and I was not thrilled by the depiction of the writers. However, I very much enjoyed Carey’s interaction with his father, who was (probably) Queen Elizabeth’s half-brother.
I’m puzzled about the family of Carey’s brother Edmund, because their names in this novel don’t match the names I find online. It’s a strange discrepancy.
March 4, 2019
Murder, forgery, treason and alchemy... and poetry. Unlike the previous Sir Robert Carey mysteries, A Plague of Angels is set in Elizabethan London (rather than on the Scottish border). Also, it features several well-known historical figures, including William Shakespeare, Christopher Marlowe, and Henry Carey, Baron Hunsdon (Sir Robert's father). An excellent addition to the series.
November 6, 2009
A fitting and rollicking climax to Chisholm's quartet of novels about Sir Robert Carey. This yarn brings him south from his usual stamping ground to London and a vivid picture is painted of Elizabethan London riddled with plague, coney catchers, intelligencers, footpads and alchemists. Along the way, she weaves a few famous figures into her tale providing delightful libels of Robert Greene and Will Shakespeare and an interesting spin on the mystery surrounding the activities of Kit Marlowe, Ingram Frizer and Robert Poley. You don't have to be a student of Elizabethan London to enjoy this work but, if you are, there are lots of references and reinterpretations of historical figures and events to keep you greatly amused. More importantly, we have her excellently rounded if fictionalised portrait of her hero and his diverse entourage.
It is doubtful that we shall have more Carey novels to enjoy. This last finishes in the autumn of 1592 and the real Carey became more responsible and respectable from 1593 onwards becoming a Member of Parliament and filling various government posts finishing up as 1st Earl of Monmouth.
It is doubtful that we shall have more Carey novels to enjoy. This last finishes in the autumn of 1592 and the real Carey became more responsible and respectable from 1593 onwards becoming a Member of Parliament and filling various government posts finishing up as 1st Earl of Monmouth.
August 29, 2018
Another tightly written mystery by P. F. Crisholm here that throws you into Elizabethan life. I personally enjoyed the books set in Carlisle more, but I can't deny this has everything a good historical mystery needs.
September 4, 2015
Many, many laugh-out-loud moments particularly as the characters develop: I thoroughly enjoyed this book, though if I read many more fictional portrayals of Christopher Marlowe I may go quite mad!
September 19, 2019
I enjoyed this short adventure (well, short when you look at most of the books I read!), it's in an omnibus edition, so I'll be reading the next few later. The author has a great writing style that grabs your attention, especially mine, as the main characters are just a little more northern than I am and their speech was easy for me to read. Us northerners have as much a baffling way of talking, apparently, as the Scots! Not surprising when you think the border is just there (Lancashire and Cumbria, and Carlisle, where the main characters hail from, is a mere hop, skip and jump from me).
The author must have some connections to our neck of the woods, I'm thinking, it'd be nice to know!
I'm going to a different era to read something else next, but I'll be back to these adventures, there's plenty going on, and always a twist you're not expecting, whether it's a love interest or a betrayal, and the writing is never boring - fast faced and a great tour of late sixteenth century London from a north-westerners' point of view, and well worth the read! xx
The author must have some connections to our neck of the woods, I'm thinking, it'd be nice to know!
I'm going to a different era to read something else next, but I'll be back to these adventures, there's plenty going on, and always a twist you're not expecting, whether it's a love interest or a betrayal, and the writing is never boring - fast faced and a great tour of late sixteenth century London from a north-westerners' point of view, and well worth the read! xx
June 5, 2021
How is this series about Sir Robert Carey not much more widely known and much more popular? The reviews on goodreads are mostly very positive - and well deserved, in my opinion, but why so few? I'm really flummoxed. Is it BECAUSE it is so well-written, intelligent and absolutely solid on the historical context? Are there not enough readers to appreciate this? I am always desperately looking for writers who are willing to dig deep into history but then wear their learning lightly and are able to transform mere facts into vividly imagined worlds of the past, but it's rarely that I find such gems.
Extra kudos for focusing on the Borders. A Plague of Angels is set in London, but the previous three and most of the ones afterwards are set in and near Carlisle and in Scotland; and SURELY Sergeant Dodd's pronouncements on London deserve a place in the Hall of Fame of "A Northerner comes south".
Not everyone apparently liked the appearances of Kit Marlowe, Will Shakespeare and Robert Greene; I enjoyed them hugely for a feat in imaginative revisionism.
Extra kudos for focusing on the Borders. A Plague of Angels is set in London, but the previous three and most of the ones afterwards are set in and near Carlisle and in Scotland; and SURELY Sergeant Dodd's pronouncements on London deserve a place in the Hall of Fame of "A Northerner comes south".
Not everyone apparently liked the appearances of Kit Marlowe, Will Shakespeare and Robert Greene; I enjoyed them hugely for a feat in imaginative revisionism.
August 21, 2018
Each book is better than the last. Sir Robert is called back to London by his Father to take on an important task that can only be trusted to a family member. Sergeant Dodd, Barnabus and Simon travel together meeting trouble even before they get to the city. Sergeant Dodd learns the ways of the southerners reluctantly but his native intelligence wins through. Barnabus discovers his family is in trouble and focuses his attention on helping them through a rough time. Dead rats, the plague and alchemy underlay the action. Will Shakespeare plays a major acting role. Dodd says at the end, "I've allus said ye cannae trust poets." Great adventure in a unfamiliar world.
June 16, 2018
The whole Sir Robert Carey series is fabulous and A Plague of Angels doesn't disappoint. Ms. Chisholm unfolds the story primarily through the perspective of the long-suffering Sergeant Dodd this time and the story works very well that way as it partly shields the reader from the intricacies of the politics and subterfuge known primarily to the Careys and Heneage.
It's another rollicking good story!
It's another rollicking good story!
August 7, 2020
This is a great series. Each book seems better than the one before. This one is written mostly from the perspective of Sergeant Dodd, a wonderful, dour Northerner who is mystified by the strange activities of Londoners, Carey having dragged him to London on a mission for his father. The themes and characters continue from one book to the next in a familiar way while the plot is sufficiently complex to keep you interested.
November 24, 2018
El padre de Sir Robert llama de urgencia a su hijo a Londres para que le ayude a encontrar a su hermano mayor, Edmund. Con dos personajes históricos (Shakespeare y Marlowe) jugando un siniestro papel en una intriga política, Carey y Dodd tendrán que enfrentarse a la jungla cortesana de la capital.
July 27, 2019
London’s a dangerous place to be in 1592. Shakespeare and Marlowe make an appearance in this one. Cockneys, counterfeiters, creditors, alchemists and plague to boot. Hopefully back up north after this one.
March 20, 2021
Uncanny. fantastic. Loved this one.
PF Chisholm is amazing. Cant wait to read the rest of the series...though book 2 for some reason cannot be purchased as a kindle book...only available in hardcover or paperback versions so ordered it and will read it next!!!!
PF Chisholm is amazing. Cant wait to read the rest of the series...though book 2 for some reason cannot be purchased as a kindle book...only available in hardcover or paperback versions so ordered it and will read it next!!!!
June 10, 2017
fun read as usual
November 13, 2020
Glad to return to this series after ignoring it for a couple of years. Dodd in London is a hoot.
November 19, 2020
Sir Robert is in London, and he has brought Sergeant Dodd with him.
Seeing the capital through the eyes of the boarderer adds another layer to the intrigue.
Seeing the capital through the eyes of the boarderer adds another layer to the intrigue.
May 5, 2023
Full of intrigue and foreboding.
September 19, 2016
As Diana Gabaldon's glowing, fangirly intro notes, this is fantastic historic fiction in many ways. The historic details are right - you can smell, see, taste and walk along in London circa 1590-something. The characters are alive and realistically human. The action moves briskly along, but never stoops to obvious plot devices (in fact at one point where every other historic book would have gone in a certain direction, the character thinks to himself "huh, this is too obvious" and swerves.) And the actual prose - this author is the Dorothy Dunnett of our generation; which means beautifully and humorously written but more accessible/less densely-worded than Dunnett.
It's also a fun addition to the series because this time the POV is all Dodd. Dodd as the stranger in a strange land to him, so a nice decision on the author's part.
So, why isn't this a 5-star for me? I woke up in the middle of the night working away at this problem. I think perhaps it comes down to not caring. Dodd's lack of emotional involvement in the mystery and the plot as a whole. His entire motivation and desire is to go back up north to be home. He is only in London under duress, and mostly a secondary figure in the solving of mystery-de-jour which is that of figuring out where Carey's older brother has disappeared to. So, he's mainly in tag-along observer capacity.
Maybe you can have a book sweep you in emotionally when the protagonist is a tag along observer - in particular if that tag along becomes emotionally involved themselves during its course. In this case, Dodd doesn't. Not really. It's an adventure for him, but his heart, soul and thoughts are still of his home and role up North. I don't even see that he is much changed by the adventure, aside from having had an adventure (and, it must be said, a bath.)
This book is absolutely a fun romp. If you are a fan of Shakespeare as a historic figure, then it's pretty much a must-read.
Otherwise, huh. I feel slightly disappointed. Maybe I just want/need more of an emotional arc to my stories.
It's also a fun addition to the series because this time the POV is all Dodd. Dodd as the stranger in a strange land to him, so a nice decision on the author's part.
So, why isn't this a 5-star for me? I woke up in the middle of the night working away at this problem. I think perhaps it comes down to not caring. Dodd's lack of emotional involvement in the mystery and the plot as a whole. His entire motivation and desire is to go back up north to be home. He is only in London under duress, and mostly a secondary figure in the solving of mystery-de-jour which is that of figuring out where Carey's older brother has disappeared to. So, he's mainly in tag-along observer capacity.
Maybe you can have a book sweep you in emotionally when the protagonist is a tag along observer - in particular if that tag along becomes emotionally involved themselves during its course. In this case, Dodd doesn't. Not really. It's an adventure for him, but his heart, soul and thoughts are still of his home and role up North. I don't even see that he is much changed by the adventure, aside from having had an adventure (and, it must be said, a bath.)
This book is absolutely a fun romp. If you are a fan of Shakespeare as a historic figure, then it's pretty much a must-read.
Otherwise, huh. I feel slightly disappointed. Maybe I just want/need more of an emotional arc to my stories.
April 3, 2013
This is my favorite (so far) of the Sir Robert Carey mysteries and that's saying quite a lot, as I love this series. The action moves to London, but what makes this book the shining star of the series is the crisp and complex plot, the sharp and witty dialogue, and the fully fleshed out relationships between the main protagonists. The period detail is, as always, impeccably researched and detailed, but smoothly incorporated into the book, so you never feel like you're being lectured about medieval life. Particularly well done is the complex like/dislike relationship between Sir Robert Carey and Sargent Dodd, who really comes into his own in this book. The series is best read in order, but I highly recommend this particular installment.
October 25, 2016
Finished 08/12/2014. Sir Robert (Robin) Carey is recalled from the borderlands to find his brother Edmond & brings with him his Land Sergeant of Gilsland, Sergeant Henry Dodd. They are pursued by Robin's many creditors, but find sanctuary in Lord Hunsdon's home near the Thames. H is the queen's chancellor and has a rival in Heneage, the Vice. H is the Queen's illegitimate half brother. Plague is rampant in parts of London, but what kills R's servant & a poet is poison. D is imprisoned & finds E in the prison. D is taken by Heneage to be tortured to find where E & R may be. Lord H comes to the rescue. And they free a young lady from the debtors prison. ++
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 12, 2013
Another great novel in this fast-paced Elizabethan murder-mystery series. Sir Robert Carey is summoned to London by his father to find his missing brother. He is accompanied by Sergeant Dodd. The plot is intricate and the historic detail accurate. Much of the enjoyment comes from Dodd's reactions to London, as he is forced to abandon his comfortable homespun clothing for fashionable clothes, and his reiving instincts have to be controlled when he sees the sleek dairy herds and views the gold displays in the expensive shops.
June 16, 2016
A nice twisty plot set in Elizabethan times, with great atmosphere evocative of the era. There are wheels within wheels, and lots of ambiguous characters, and the plot takes us from the aristocracy down into the lowest level of prisons.
I am giving this 4 stars instead of 5 mostly because i did not care for the depictions of either Marlowe or Shakespeare here. Neither was especially nuanced, and they were clearly complicated people.
Still- this was an entertaining book in an entertaining series, with a good feel for the period in which they are set.
I am giving this 4 stars instead of 5 mostly because i did not care for the depictions of either Marlowe or Shakespeare here. Neither was especially nuanced, and they were clearly complicated people.
Still- this was an entertaining book in an entertaining series, with a good feel for the period in which they are set.
March 6, 2014
You could always tell when you were near a town from the bodies hanging on the gibbets by the main road, thought Sergeant Dodd.
Hot Damn but I wished I had bought the first in this series rather than being a cheapskate git and opting for the fourth 'cos it only cost one penny.
My reasoning was that I just wanted a taster of this author.
Well, I'm ah but 36 pages in and I know I want more of this ilk
Hot Damn but I wished I had bought the first in this series rather than being a cheapskate git and opting for the fourth 'cos it only cost one penny.
My reasoning was that I just wanted a taster of this author.
Well, I'm ah but 36 pages in and I know I want more of this ilk
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 19, 2020
Autumn 1592. Sir Robert Carey and Sergeant Henry Dodd are riding to London. There, Carey runs the gauntlet of his many creditors and his pregnant mistress. Then there is the matter of the plague. But how can Carey solve his problems when he is thrown in jail? And he still has to contend with spies such as playwrights Christopher Marlowe and George Greene, not to mention their lovesick colleague, the lacrimus William Shakespeare.
June 19, 2008
A rollicking good book, full of twists and turns and fascinating characters, including the real-life poets Greene, Marlowe, and Shakespeare (who, if Chisholm is anywhere near right in her conjectures, is NOTHING like we expected). I'm also glad I'm alive now and not then, with the threat of plague and baths once a year being the norm.
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