The Pendragon Banner

Sir Richard Straccan #2

by Sylvian Hamilton

Former crusader turned bone-pedlar Richard Straccan is up to his neck in trouble. The woman he loves has been accused of sorcery and is in mortal danger, but he cannot go to her. Nor can he abandon the stranger found unconscious in the street. He has lost his memory, so how can he defend himself against the charge of murder at a trial in which the only other witness is the corpse? Then there is the King, whose demands will lead Straccan into still greater peril. Straccan is trying to track down the Pendragon Banner, a priceless relic sewn by Guinevere for King Arthur, but it has been lost for seven hundred years. The trail is long cold, and there is opposition at every turn. For, hard on Straccan's heels is the brutal Breos, whose deadly secret Straccan accidentally stumbles on ...

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Fiction, Historical Mystery, Historical, British Literature

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Sylvian Hamilton has been at different times a secretary, mother, lexicographer, journalist, farmer, second-hand bookseller and antiques dealer. She is a devoted a Star Trek fan. Since arthritis clipped her wings, she spends much of her time at home, a tiny cottage in the Scottish border country, with a very patient husband, two cats and about five thousand books.

Reviews

[LJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE PENDRAGON BANNER (Historical-England-1100s) – VG
Sylvian Hamilton – 2nd in series
Orion, 2001 – U.K. Hardcover
Former crusader Richard Straccan is now a merchant of holy relics, and has been ordered by King John to find and bring him the banner carried by King Arthur containing a piece of cloth which bears the blood of Christ. On his search he becomes responsible for a man accused of theft and murder but has lost his memory, the daughter of the murdered man and a leper.
*** Ms. Hamilton, who is currently writing the 4th book in the series but is quite ill so there is no knowing when it may be done, does a masterful job portraying the period and the conflicting roles religion and magic played in people’s lives. There is humor and suspense in a fast-moving story. This is a marvelous book in an excellent series.

[OT · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing was much more fluids, witty, humoristic. Still too many plots going on at the same time and very difficult to follow the different personalities involved.

[Yrinsyde · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rip-roaring fun read of the adventures of a relic hunter/trader during the times of King John and before the Magna Carta. Not historically super-accurate, but again, what does that matter? I loved the smooth but rollicking way that the story unfolded, and parts made me laugh out loud! I was sad to find out however, that the author has passed on and therefore, is unfortunately unable to finish the series of Sir Straccan and his adventures. If you like relic hunting and fun stories of medieval times, I highly recommend this book!

[Josephine (Jo) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Former crusader turned bone-pedlar Richard Straccan has more on his plate than he can cope with. The woman who he loves is accused of sorcery, he is accused of murder but cannot defend himself as he has lost his memory and then the King charges Richard with an even greater task, to retrieve the Pendragon Banner sewn by none other than Queen Guinevere for King Arthur.
A little bit of sorcery, a little bit of Arthurian legend. good escapism.

[Betsy]

picked this up at a goodwill store for a buck - we'll see how it goes

[Annie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not true - I just didn't have time before it was due back at the library, and I was in the middle of other books. My husband said it was a fair read, but draggy at times.

[Such A Kassandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable read, and a good historical mystery. However, it felt like there were one too many stories playing all at once.