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Gabriel Taverner Mystery #3
The Indigo Ghosts
In this gripping forensic mystery set in Stuart England, Gabriel Taverner uncovers a series of shocking secrets when he's summoned by his former naval captain to investigate strange goings-on aboard his ship.
October, 1604. Former ship's surgeon turned country physician Gabriel Taverner is surprised to receive an urgent summons from his old naval captain. Now docked in Plymouth harbour, having recently returned from the Caribbean, Captain Colt believes his ship is haunted by an evil spirit, and has asked Gabriel to investigate.
Dismissive of the crew's wild talk of mysterious blue-skinned ghosts, Gabriel is convinced there must be a rational explanation behind the mass hallucinations. But matters take a disturbing turn when he and the captain discover a body hidden behind one of the bulkheads. Calling on the help of his old friend, Coroner Theophilus Davey, piece by piece Gabriel uncovers a terrifying tale of treachery, dark magic, unimaginable cruelty - and cold-blooded murder.
October, 1604. Former ship's surgeon turned country physician Gabriel Taverner is surprised to receive an urgent summons from his old naval captain. Now docked in Plymouth harbour, having recently returned from the Caribbean, Captain Colt believes his ship is haunted by an evil spirit, and has asked Gabriel to investigate.
Dismissive of the crew's wild talk of mysterious blue-skinned ghosts, Gabriel is convinced there must be a rational explanation behind the mass hallucinations. But matters take a disturbing turn when he and the captain discover a body hidden behind one of the bulkheads. Calling on the help of his old friend, Coroner Theophilus Davey, piece by piece Gabriel uncovers a terrifying tale of treachery, dark magic, unimaginable cruelty - and cold-blooded murder.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2020
25 people are currently reading
134 people want to read
About the author
Alys Clare
46 books222 followersAlys Clare is the pen name used by Elizabeth Harris for the Hawkenlye series of historical mysteries.
Alys Clare is the pseudonym of a novelist with some 20 published works to her name. Brought up in the countryside close to where the Hawkenlye Novels are set, she went to school in Tonbridge and later studied archaeology at the University of Kent. She lives for part of the year in Brittany, in a remote cottage deep in an ancient landscape where many past inhabitants have left their mark; on her doorstep are relics that date from the stone circles and dolmens of the Neolithic to the commanderies, chapels and ancient tracks of those infamous warrior monks, the Knights Templar. In England, Alys's study overlooks a stretch of parkland which includes a valley with a little spring. The waters of this spring are similar in colour and taste to Tunbridge Wells's famous Chalybeat Spring, and it was this that prompted Alys's setting of her fictional Hawkenlye Abbey in the very spot where her own house now stands.
Alys Clare is the pseudonym of a novelist with some 20 published works to her name. Brought up in the countryside close to where the Hawkenlye Novels are set, she went to school in Tonbridge and later studied archaeology at the University of Kent. She lives for part of the year in Brittany, in a remote cottage deep in an ancient landscape where many past inhabitants have left their mark; on her doorstep are relics that date from the stone circles and dolmens of the Neolithic to the commanderies, chapels and ancient tracks of those infamous warrior monks, the Knights Templar. In England, Alys's study overlooks a stretch of parkland which includes a valley with a little spring. The waters of this spring are similar in colour and taste to Tunbridge Wells's famous Chalybeat Spring, and it was this that prompted Alys's setting of her fictional Hawkenlye Abbey in the very spot where her own house now stands.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
February 27, 2020
This was the best in the series so far, in my opinion. As the series develops, the reader gains the benefit of knowing the main characters more deeply and watching their relationships change and deepen. The mystery centred around the slave trade and the Spanish Inquisition, voodoo and stowaways. Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.
March 27, 2023
Indigo Ghosts! 1604 Historical mystery!
An astonishing tale that relates to a dead body found in an unexpected place aboard a ship Gabriel Tavener had once sailed on' currently moored a Plymouth.
Taverner receives a request from an old friend, Captain Zeke in charge of the Falco, a ship he'd been the doctor on. The crew is on edge. A small body has been discovered in a minuscule space in the lowest deck. When Tavener enters the wretched space he bangs his head, feels overwhelmed by evil, and has a strange vision.
This is just the beginning for this man of science.
We learn more about Jonathan Carew, the local vicar. Taverner realises during this time that Jonathan "is proving to be a good village priest."
But more than that, these are "deep matters of great antiquity" requiring "a lifetime’s study." And in this investigation Gabriel saw in Jonathan, "a hunger for knowledge, for knowing, a fierce desire to pore over abstruse writings and ancient texts, devouring them, taking them inside his own soul, using the sparkling intelligence and the keen insight that his Maker had bestowed upon him."
With these insights my appreciation of both Gabriel and Jonathan quadrupled.
All the other central characters make an appearance:
Celia, Gabriel's sister
Judith Penwarden, the midwife and healer
Black Carlotta, the local wise woman (and more)
What they are dealing with comes straight from the island of Hispaniola, near Dominica in the West Indies, a secret that involves superstitions, benign and not so well disposed spirits, evil, and men who'd survived unspeakable lives.
Then there's the 'triangular' trade!
This is a most satisfying if not downright compelling Jacobean mystery! After reading, I really appreciated the title' particularly as it added to my knowledge.
A Severn House ARC via NetGalley
An astonishing tale that relates to a dead body found in an unexpected place aboard a ship Gabriel Tavener had once sailed on' currently moored a Plymouth.
Taverner receives a request from an old friend, Captain Zeke in charge of the Falco, a ship he'd been the doctor on. The crew is on edge. A small body has been discovered in a minuscule space in the lowest deck. When Tavener enters the wretched space he bangs his head, feels overwhelmed by evil, and has a strange vision.
This is just the beginning for this man of science.
We learn more about Jonathan Carew, the local vicar. Taverner realises during this time that Jonathan "is proving to be a good village priest."
But more than that, these are "deep matters of great antiquity" requiring "a lifetime’s study." And in this investigation Gabriel saw in Jonathan, "a hunger for knowledge, for knowing, a fierce desire to pore over abstruse writings and ancient texts, devouring them, taking them inside his own soul, using the sparkling intelligence and the keen insight that his Maker had bestowed upon him."
With these insights my appreciation of both Gabriel and Jonathan quadrupled.
All the other central characters make an appearance:
Celia, Gabriel's sister
Judith Penwarden, the midwife and healer
Black Carlotta, the local wise woman (and more)
What they are dealing with comes straight from the island of Hispaniola, near Dominica in the West Indies, a secret that involves superstitions, benign and not so well disposed spirits, evil, and men who'd survived unspeakable lives.
Then there's the 'triangular' trade!
This is a most satisfying if not downright compelling Jacobean mystery! After reading, I really appreciated the title' particularly as it added to my knowledge.
A Severn House ARC via NetGalley
January 10, 2022
The blurb is a good one and sets the tone; it is well worth reading.
Clare just goes from strength to strength--the third book in this series is just as clever and twisty as the first two.
The 'uncanny' plays a major part in driving the action. Gabe Taverner, physician and man of science, firmly believes that there are no ghosts. His friend Jonathan Carew, local clergyman and man of ecumenical faith, sees no reason to doubt the existence of the spirit world. Theophilus Davey, local coroner and friend to both, just wants to know what the heck is going on; bodies are disappearing from his keeping and he wants to know why.
Gabe's sister Celia has a strong supporting role, as does Judyth (the local midwife) and Black Carlotta (the local wise woman). The interactions between Gabe and his sister are especially entertaining and serve to lighten or heighten the mood, as the story demands.
A book best read in strong daylight, as the author excels at ratcheting up the sense of the unnatural.
Well done!
ETA 9 Jan 2022--re-read in anticipation of book 4Magic in the Weave. Still very unsettling. Clare does an excellent job of making the uncanny seem plausible.
Clare just goes from strength to strength--the third book in this series is just as clever and twisty as the first two.
The 'uncanny' plays a major part in driving the action. Gabe Taverner, physician and man of science, firmly believes that there are no ghosts. His friend Jonathan Carew, local clergyman and man of ecumenical faith, sees no reason to doubt the existence of the spirit world. Theophilus Davey, local coroner and friend to both, just wants to know what the heck is going on; bodies are disappearing from his keeping and he wants to know why.
Gabe's sister Celia has a strong supporting role, as does Judyth (the local midwife) and Black Carlotta (the local wise woman). The interactions between Gabe and his sister are especially entertaining and serve to lighten or heighten the mood, as the story demands.
A book best read in strong daylight, as the author excels at ratcheting up the sense of the unnatural.
Well done!
ETA 9 Jan 2022--re-read in anticipation of book 4Magic in the Weave. Still very unsettling. Clare does an excellent job of making the uncanny seem plausible.
June 22, 2020
Alys Clare's The Indigo Ghosts is a read that's an unusual combination of both fun and haunting. It deftly straddles the line between historical mystery and gothic (though not actually ocurring in the Gothic historical period—it's set during the reign of King James I). Dr. Gabriel Taverner is called in to investigate hauntings aboard a ship he used to serve on. Sailors have been seeing blue ghosts, and as Taverner and his former captain explore the holds they find a claustrophobic space in which stowaways have hidden and have left behind a desiccated, long-dead body nailed to one of the ship's ribs. That's where the mystery begins.
What I most enjoyed about this book was the way it both considers and questions the possibility of paranormal explanations for some of the events Taverner is investigating. This balance gives readers interesting insights into the inner lives of characters, the differences between what they want to believe and what they do (or may?) believe. The characters are well fleshed-out with strong relationships among them. They all have their own mix of quirks—none is a stock character. I also appreciate that the female characters in this book are presented as strong and independent.
If you enjoy historical mysteries, this is one you'll want to pick up right away.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from Severn House via NetGalley. The opinions are my own.
What I most enjoyed about this book was the way it both considers and questions the possibility of paranormal explanations for some of the events Taverner is investigating. This balance gives readers interesting insights into the inner lives of characters, the differences between what they want to believe and what they do (or may?) believe. The characters are well fleshed-out with strong relationships among them. They all have their own mix of quirks—none is a stock character. I also appreciate that the female characters in this book are presented as strong and independent.
If you enjoy historical mysteries, this is one you'll want to pick up right away.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from Severn House via NetGalley. The opinions are my own.
April 20, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House Publishing for an e-galley of this novel.
The setting is 1604, the small villages around Plymouth, England. Gabriel Taverner is summoned to the sailing ship Falco by the captain to help figure out what has made their last passage a complete nightmare. Surely every member of the crew can't be imagining the presence of a blue ghost. Gabe and Theophilus Davey, the Coroner, begin their investigation when a body is found in a stow away hiding place on the Falco. Dark matters happened on the island of Hispaniola and the danger is now loose in Plymouth.
This third book in the Gabriel Taverner series is every bit as good as the previous two stories. Gabe is a man of science; he is a trained physician so he has a problem with understanding what the crew and captain of the Falco are practically frightened to death over. I understand his feelings but this novel is so well written that I began to cast a wary eye at shadows in the rooms of my home as I was reading this story. The novel centers around actions that took place during the Francis Drake landing on Hispaniola in the Caribbean and how those events have now continued to the port of Plymouth. There is a strong sense of mysticism and "vodou" driving the story as the reader watches while Gabe, a man of science, finds himself as susceptible as anyone else to the atmosphere that accompanies that oddity found aboard the ship. This one is good for some shivers and tingles down your spine regardless of how rational you think yourself to be. Well, it will if you are at all sensitive to atmosphere.
Another very good reading experience with a book written by Alys Clare. These characters seem to flow effortlessly from Ms. Clare's pen/keyboard. I never, ever would have figured out the reason for the book title and I sincerely hope book reviewers will leave that little secret alone and allow each reader to understand where Ms. Clare is leading and what she is revealing. Some good stuff here!
The setting is 1604, the small villages around Plymouth, England. Gabriel Taverner is summoned to the sailing ship Falco by the captain to help figure out what has made their last passage a complete nightmare. Surely every member of the crew can't be imagining the presence of a blue ghost. Gabe and Theophilus Davey, the Coroner, begin their investigation when a body is found in a stow away hiding place on the Falco. Dark matters happened on the island of Hispaniola and the danger is now loose in Plymouth.
This third book in the Gabriel Taverner series is every bit as good as the previous two stories. Gabe is a man of science; he is a trained physician so he has a problem with understanding what the crew and captain of the Falco are practically frightened to death over. I understand his feelings but this novel is so well written that I began to cast a wary eye at shadows in the rooms of my home as I was reading this story. The novel centers around actions that took place during the Francis Drake landing on Hispaniola in the Caribbean and how those events have now continued to the port of Plymouth. There is a strong sense of mysticism and "vodou" driving the story as the reader watches while Gabe, a man of science, finds himself as susceptible as anyone else to the atmosphere that accompanies that oddity found aboard the ship. This one is good for some shivers and tingles down your spine regardless of how rational you think yourself to be. Well, it will if you are at all sensitive to atmosphere.
Another very good reading experience with a book written by Alys Clare. These characters seem to flow effortlessly from Ms. Clare's pen/keyboard. I never, ever would have figured out the reason for the book title and I sincerely hope book reviewers will leave that little secret alone and allow each reader to understand where Ms. Clare is leading and what she is revealing. Some good stuff here!
February 1, 2021
This was the first book I read by this author and I must say I did enjoy it. While there was no real suspense the story certainly was mysterious enough to keep me turning the pages. And now I want to read the two previous books about Gabriel Taverner to see his other adventures and what sort of crimes (mysteries) they involved. But I had no problems jumping into this third book of the series without reading the other two first.
This is a historical mystery set in 1604. It involves a ship that came into port at Plymouth England. The crew and the captain are scared out of their minds by a ghostly, dark presence on their ship. Even Gabriel senses something on the ship - and sees something too! He also works with his friends, Jonathan from the church and Theo from the coroner's office and his sister Celia. And even though it was my first time meeting all of these characters, I loved them! And I very easily fell into their small world of horses, wagons, herbs for medicine and candles. The setting is very well described and really brings the time period to life. At times the sense of danger was very real, especially with the one scene with the midwife going through the woods.
The mystery itself was quite good! It was creepy and had a touch of the supernatural. But I was also able to use my mind to figure out bits of the mystery too, like why the ghosts were a blue color. And once I had enough of information I was able to guess another bit of the mystery too, with what I knew about history...and then at the end everything was explained.
Oh...and parts of this book made me laugh! I was laughing like crazy at the one thing they found on the ship! I don't know if I was supposed to be laughing at it but I thought it was hilarious! It was like someone had played a big practical joke on poor Captain Zeke! It's been awhile since I had laughed like that.
It's also interesting to see how a doctor lived and worked back then, all the traveling he had to do.
And it was the ships on the cover that attracted me to this book! There are some vivid descriptions in here of a harrowing sea voyage under very rough conditions. The main character may not actually go on a trip in this book (he used to be the ship's doctor) but we hear plenty about various sailing voyages from other characters.
The one ship on the cover, if you look closely at it, it actually looks weird...like it has holes or something wrong with it. I didn't notice that at first when I had ordered this book from my library (my brain just simply thought "three masted frigates!!") but I'm glad I noticed it. Going to use it for the popsugar challenge. Maybe the ship is designed that way...it could be railings or something, but I don't know why it would be so low on the ship's stern. The round dark circular things just above the water line are clearly cannons. Too bad I can't see a larger image of this... I suppose they want to make the ship look kind of haunted.
This is a historical mystery set in 1604. It involves a ship that came into port at Plymouth England. The crew and the captain are scared out of their minds by a ghostly, dark presence on their ship. Even Gabriel senses something on the ship - and sees something too! He also works with his friends, Jonathan from the church and Theo from the coroner's office and his sister Celia. And even though it was my first time meeting all of these characters, I loved them! And I very easily fell into their small world of horses, wagons, herbs for medicine and candles. The setting is very well described and really brings the time period to life. At times the sense of danger was very real, especially with the one scene with the midwife going through the woods.
The mystery itself was quite good! It was creepy and had a touch of the supernatural. But I was also able to use my mind to figure out bits of the mystery too, like why the ghosts were a blue color. And once I had enough of information I was able to guess another bit of the mystery too, with what I knew about history...and then at the end everything was explained.
Oh...and parts of this book made me laugh! I was laughing like crazy at the one thing they found on the ship! I don't know if I was supposed to be laughing at it but I thought it was hilarious! It was like someone had played a big practical joke on poor Captain Zeke! It's been awhile since I had laughed like that.
It's also interesting to see how a doctor lived and worked back then, all the traveling he had to do.
And it was the ships on the cover that attracted me to this book! There are some vivid descriptions in here of a harrowing sea voyage under very rough conditions. The main character may not actually go on a trip in this book (he used to be the ship's doctor) but we hear plenty about various sailing voyages from other characters.
The one ship on the cover, if you look closely at it, it actually looks weird...like it has holes or something wrong with it. I didn't notice that at first when I had ordered this book from my library (my brain just simply thought "three masted frigates!!") but I'm glad I noticed it. Going to use it for the popsugar challenge. Maybe the ship is designed that way...it could be railings or something, but I don't know why it would be so low on the ship's stern. The round dark circular things just above the water line are clearly cannons. Too bad I can't see a larger image of this... I suppose they want to make the ship look kind of haunted.
September 22, 2020
This is just the second book from the Taverner series that I have read and I do wish there were more. I guess I can track back to the first and try to check that one out, but there is a great cast of characters and good action in these historical "mystery" books. In this episode our good doctor is reunited with his old captain when asked to resolve a problem in his hold where Gabriel quickly discerns there had been stowaways on the ship. It is quite an interesting puzzle that includes voodoo. Good fun had by all!
Library Loan
Library Loan
January 24, 2022
there is one word that describes this novel that took a long time to get to what it was about each step of the way, prolonging outcomes unnecessarily through round-about lengthy withholding of information to draw out the story in an annoying fashion that might have been intriguing but only served as an awkward attempt at suspense. I looked the word up in the dictionary to be sure i had the correct word and can affirm that the one word serves to epitomize the character of this book in its explanations, narration and monologues, a word i am about to disclose at the end of this tirade to enlighten readers what to expect if considering this tale of uncharming characters on a repugnant venture made long such that i didn't care if i finished the story > verbose.
January 26, 2021
Interesting mystery involving stowaways, indigo, and voodoo. Strong and intelligent women characters, although others were appealing.
September 22, 2021
This series has been a lovely surprise and this mystery is one of the best I’ve read in a very, very long time. I had no idea what was going to happen in a way that caused me to ignore some dishes and social media
July 12, 2020
I really enjoy Alys Clare’s several historical mystery series - she always transports me to another time and place, gives me likable, multidimensional characters, and a satisfying puzzle. What’s not to like?
In this creepy, atmospheric mystery, set in rural Devon around the bustling port of Plymouth in the early 1600s, country doctor (and former ship’s doctor) Gabriel Taverner is surprised to receive an urgent summons from his former captain. His old ship, the Falco, has just returned from a terrible Caribbean voyage, and Gabe arrives to find the captain and crew spooked; the men have been terrified by what they think are ghosts on the ship, the young ship’s doctor, who tried to calm their fears with reason and healthy activities took sick, lost his mind and jumped ship. Gabe and the captain search the ship, make grizzly (and gross) discoveries, which send Gabe and coroner Theophilus Davy on an investigation of death, which leads to decades-old betrayals and spiritual powers beyond their understanding (voudoo).
The tension is palpable and the pace exciting, and yet there are enjoyable scenes with recurring friends like Jonathan Carew, the scholarly, wise local vicar; village healers Black Carlotta and Judith, and Gabe’s delightful sister, Celia. I learned about unsavory Spanish and British colonial activities and privateering in the Caribbean, how privateers tried to whitewash the basis of family fortunes and become respectable back home, and the spiritual power of voudoo over believers. I’m not much of a horror fan, so I don’t mind if Clare goes back to the more traditional, timeless crimes and evils men visit on each other for Taverner’s next outing - but I look forward to it very much!
In this creepy, atmospheric mystery, set in rural Devon around the bustling port of Plymouth in the early 1600s, country doctor (and former ship’s doctor) Gabriel Taverner is surprised to receive an urgent summons from his former captain. His old ship, the Falco, has just returned from a terrible Caribbean voyage, and Gabe arrives to find the captain and crew spooked; the men have been terrified by what they think are ghosts on the ship, the young ship’s doctor, who tried to calm their fears with reason and healthy activities took sick, lost his mind and jumped ship. Gabe and the captain search the ship, make grizzly (and gross) discoveries, which send Gabe and coroner Theophilus Davy on an investigation of death, which leads to decades-old betrayals and spiritual powers beyond their understanding (voudoo).
The tension is palpable and the pace exciting, and yet there are enjoyable scenes with recurring friends like Jonathan Carew, the scholarly, wise local vicar; village healers Black Carlotta and Judith, and Gabe’s delightful sister, Celia. I learned about unsavory Spanish and British colonial activities and privateering in the Caribbean, how privateers tried to whitewash the basis of family fortunes and become respectable back home, and the spiritual power of voudoo over believers. I’m not much of a horror fan, so I don’t mind if Clare goes back to the more traditional, timeless crimes and evils men visit on each other for Taverner’s next outing - but I look forward to it very much!
May 11, 2020
1604 Gabriel Taverner is summoned by Ezekiel Colt, captain of his old ship, the Falco currently docked in Plymouth, having just returned from the Caribbean. Colt has a tale to tell his old ship's surgean, a tale of a crew including him, frightened, seeing and hearing things in the bowles of the ship. They all believe that the ship is haunted. Taverner is determined to find a logical explanation to the events but then he and the captain discover a body. It will not be the last.
An enjoyable and well-written historical mystery, another interesting story with its likeable characters in this series. A book which can easily be read as a standalone story but having enjoyed the first two I would recommend reading them in order.
A NetGalley Book
An enjoyable and well-written historical mystery, another interesting story with its likeable characters in this series. A book which can easily be read as a standalone story but having enjoyed the first two I would recommend reading them in order.
A NetGalley Book
December 15, 2021
Why did they give away one of the ‘mysteries’ in the title?? Lots of paranormal aspects along with mind-altering substances and voodoo practices. Enjoyed seeing more of Reverend Jonathan, he of the broad, liberal interest in all beliefs and knowledge. Gabriel’s sister, Celia was also prominent but we got less of Theo, Gabe’s coroner friend and only a passing nod to his unspoken love interest, the midwife Judyth. Some unusual history is brought out. For me, this is Clare’s best series.
December 16, 2021
Not ashamed to admit I have a little crush on the good doctor.
February 26, 2020
Thank you NetGalley and Severn House for the eARC.
It's 1604 and in Devon Dr. Gabriel Taverner is asked to visit the ship Falco by his former Naval Captain who is deeply worried by suspicious events on his ship. There is a feeling of dread among the crew, they believe the Falco is haunted and several men have seen what looked like blue ghosts. Gabriel doesn't believe in the supernatural, but leaves the ship feeling uneasy.
The book is crammed with information about the slave trade, herbal remedies and the medical practices of the day. Gabriel is determined to disprove the paranormal and brings in his good friends, Theo, a Coroner, and Jonathon, a Minister, who ends up blessing the ship and crew. Gabriel is a great protagonist, a level headed, good man who lives with his feisty sister and their housekeeper and works hard for his patients.
An excellent, fascinating read which I enjoyed a lot. Definitely recommended.
It's 1604 and in Devon Dr. Gabriel Taverner is asked to visit the ship Falco by his former Naval Captain who is deeply worried by suspicious events on his ship. There is a feeling of dread among the crew, they believe the Falco is haunted and several men have seen what looked like blue ghosts. Gabriel doesn't believe in the supernatural, but leaves the ship feeling uneasy.
The book is crammed with information about the slave trade, herbal remedies and the medical practices of the day. Gabriel is determined to disprove the paranormal and brings in his good friends, Theo, a Coroner, and Jonathon, a Minister, who ends up blessing the ship and crew. Gabriel is a great protagonist, a level headed, good man who lives with his feisty sister and their housekeeper and works hard for his patients.
An excellent, fascinating read which I enjoyed a lot. Definitely recommended.
February 13, 2020
I would like to thank Netgalley and Severn House Publishers for an advance copy of The Indigo Ghosts, the third historical novel to feature Dr Gabriel Taverner, set in Devon in 1604.
Gabe receives a message from his old captain who thinks his boat, The Falco, is haunted. On the return journey from Hispaniola the crew reported seeing blue ghosts and a sense of dread and evil. Feeling the atmosphere Gabe is dismissive of the supernatural and seeks a rational explanation only to find a dead body hidden in a bulwark.
I thoroughly enjoyed Indigo Ghosts which a compelling tale, crammed full of informative historical detail. It is told from Gabe’s point of view in the first person so the reader gets up close and personal with the thinking and values of the time although it should be noted that he is a progressive rather than an everyday man.
This where I get stuck as I don’t want to issue spoilers. It is difficult to discuss the novel without revealing that it revolves around the culture of Hispaniola so I’ll admit to that. I found the detail extremely interesting and informative although the cruelty is sickening. There are many superstitions in this culture so the novel has a strong supernatural element. I think that this background, the era and Hispaniola, makes it easy to incorporate these elements and for the characters to reluctantly accept them, just don’t ask me to believe it!
I found the novel to be compulsive reading. I was desperate to know what was coming next as each development added another wrinkle. It is cleverly done and I find myself looking forward to each new adventure for Gabe and his friends.
The Indigo Ghosts is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
Gabe receives a message from his old captain who thinks his boat, The Falco, is haunted. On the return journey from Hispaniola the crew reported seeing blue ghosts and a sense of dread and evil. Feeling the atmosphere Gabe is dismissive of the supernatural and seeks a rational explanation only to find a dead body hidden in a bulwark.
I thoroughly enjoyed Indigo Ghosts which a compelling tale, crammed full of informative historical detail. It is told from Gabe’s point of view in the first person so the reader gets up close and personal with the thinking and values of the time although it should be noted that he is a progressive rather than an everyday man.
This where I get stuck as I don’t want to issue spoilers. It is difficult to discuss the novel without revealing that it revolves around the culture of Hispaniola so I’ll admit to that. I found the detail extremely interesting and informative although the cruelty is sickening. There are many superstitions in this culture so the novel has a strong supernatural element. I think that this background, the era and Hispaniola, makes it easy to incorporate these elements and for the characters to reluctantly accept them, just don’t ask me to believe it!
I found the novel to be compulsive reading. I was desperate to know what was coming next as each development added another wrinkle. It is cleverly done and I find myself looking forward to each new adventure for Gabe and his friends.
The Indigo Ghosts is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
February 20, 2020
#TheIndigoGhosts is the third mystery set in Devon with Dr. Gabriel Taverner in 1604 Devon.
Thanks to #NetGalley and Severn House who provided me with this ARC for my review. A bit darker mystery than I care for, with supernatural events, that hopefully were explained away in the epilogue and last chapter.
Alys Clare often has a mix of real and unreal which end satisfactorily, am thinking that is the case here. Gabe Taverner is called by his former naval captain to his ship, the Falco, in Plymouth Harbor. He is told the ship is haunted, something that the Doctor sets out to disprove along with his coroner friend Theo. Jonathon Carew, minister and friend is not so sure of that fact. as he feels a different presence.
Gabriel's both sister Celia and his friend Judyth the midwife became involved, which lends love interests and to a happy conclusion.
Thanks to #NetGalley and Severn House who provided me with this ARC for my review. A bit darker mystery than I care for, with supernatural events, that hopefully were explained away in the epilogue and last chapter.
Alys Clare often has a mix of real and unreal which end satisfactorily, am thinking that is the case here. Gabe Taverner is called by his former naval captain to his ship, the Falco, in Plymouth Harbor. He is told the ship is haunted, something that the Doctor sets out to disprove along with his coroner friend Theo. Jonathon Carew, minister and friend is not so sure of that fact. as he feels a different presence.
Gabriel's both sister Celia and his friend Judyth the midwife became involved, which lends love interests and to a happy conclusion.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 5, 2020
Boring.
There was no ghosts like what was suggested in the summary l and the only ‘magic’ was poorly explained and only discussed in the final 20 pages of the book.
All this book had was escaped slaves and a guy running around half-healing people and talking.
To be honest it was just a big disappointment.
There was no ghosts like what was suggested in the summary l and the only ‘magic’ was poorly explained and only discussed in the final 20 pages of the book.
All this book had was escaped slaves and a guy running around half-healing people and talking.
To be honest it was just a big disappointment.
April 5, 2020
I have enjoyed both the Hawkenlye and Aelf Fen series but have been slow to warm to this series.This book, the third in the series, has changed my mind.The main characters are beginning to gain depth and the elements of historical accuracy and mysticism are nicely combined in the plot. Good effort.
August 10, 2022
Discovering a new author is a delight to me. This can be said of Alys Clare. A few days ago I visited my Public Library and played an old game which has served me well many times. I randomly walk along the bookshelves, trailing my fingers on the spines, until an instinct makes me stop! Then I take out the book my fingers have stopped on and check it out of the Library. Often I don't even read the jacket until I get it home. This little game hasn't failed me yet and I've found many terrific books this way. 'The Indigo Ghosts' is the latest reward from that game.
Even though this is the third mystery with Gabriel Taverner, you don't get totally lost-it reads just as well as a stand-alone book. This is a 'period' mystery, but for once it's not set in WWII or isn't one of those 'split timeline' books. The book is set in England in 1604 (first time I've read a book in that time period). Gabriel Taverner is country physician, a bachelor who lives with his widowed sister. I'm not quite sure where to put this book in the range of mystery 'sub-genres.' It's not a cozy because he's a trained professional, it's not a police procedural because he's not strictly a member of the police force, and it's not really a 'historical mystery' because it doesn't have any noted historical figures or events. If anything, I'd say it more closely resembles the 'Brother Cadfael' mysteries.
Anyway, Gabriel ('Gabe') is called to Plymouth to visit the newly-returned ship which he used to sail upon many years before. His old Captain is worried that his ship is possessed and his men have reported seeing 'blue ghosts' in the hold of the vessel. A search of the ship reveals no blue-skinned men, but does reveal a chilling find: the corpse of a long deceased old woman nailed to a rib in the hull with a metal spike, hidden in a false panel in the bow of the ship.
Gabe's investigation leads into several more corpses, a murder, an assault, international intrigue, and maritime adventures. Clare's writing is contemporary in style so as to appeal to modern readers but is still respectful of the vernacular of the time period. Her characterization is very strong and all of the characters are so well-fleshed out so as to be interesting and relatable. Her descriptions of the English countryside are pretty accurate and I did feel transported.
Overall, this is a very enjoyable mystery novel and I've already reserved the First Book in the Series to read next. This is an author to follow....
Even though this is the third mystery with Gabriel Taverner, you don't get totally lost-it reads just as well as a stand-alone book. This is a 'period' mystery, but for once it's not set in WWII or isn't one of those 'split timeline' books. The book is set in England in 1604 (first time I've read a book in that time period). Gabriel Taverner is country physician, a bachelor who lives with his widowed sister. I'm not quite sure where to put this book in the range of mystery 'sub-genres.' It's not a cozy because he's a trained professional, it's not a police procedural because he's not strictly a member of the police force, and it's not really a 'historical mystery' because it doesn't have any noted historical figures or events. If anything, I'd say it more closely resembles the 'Brother Cadfael' mysteries.
Anyway, Gabriel ('Gabe') is called to Plymouth to visit the newly-returned ship which he used to sail upon many years before. His old Captain is worried that his ship is possessed and his men have reported seeing 'blue ghosts' in the hold of the vessel. A search of the ship reveals no blue-skinned men, but does reveal a chilling find: the corpse of a long deceased old woman nailed to a rib in the hull with a metal spike, hidden in a false panel in the bow of the ship.
Gabe's investigation leads into several more corpses, a murder, an assault, international intrigue, and maritime adventures. Clare's writing is contemporary in style so as to appeal to modern readers but is still respectful of the vernacular of the time period. Her characterization is very strong and all of the characters are so well-fleshed out so as to be interesting and relatable. Her descriptions of the English countryside are pretty accurate and I did feel transported.
Overall, this is a very enjoyable mystery novel and I've already reserved the First Book in the Series to read next. This is an author to follow....
January 11, 2026
This series keeps getting better and better, 'The Indigo Ghosts' by Alys Clare is so captivating I read it in twenty-four hours, picking it up at every opportunity. Third in the Gabriel Tavernier historical mystery series, former ship's surgeon and now Devon doctor Gabriel faces an inexplicable case that challenges all he believes in, and all he knows to be scientifically true.
October 1604. Called urgently by his old captain, Zeke Colt, to visit his former ship the Falco, now docked in Plymouth, Gabe walks into an atmosphere of fear, panic and superstition. The ship, everyone on board says, is haunted by a bad spirit, malevolent, making everyone ill. There have been deaths, visions, blue-skinned ghosts, a disgusting miasma that has overwhelmed the air.
Firmly disbelieving the ghost theory, Gabe is confident there will be a factual, scientific answer. But exploring the darkest, tiniest space in the hold - three paces by two - he discovers the source of the stink, finds a dead body, and sees a crocodile. Gabe returns to the Falco the next day with local coroner, his friend Theophilus Davey, and the body is removed for examination. Meanwhile the ship's crew empty the barrel of waste and clean the area. More discoveries are made, nothing makes sense.
A trail of discoveries unveils an explanation both rational and wild. There is talk of spirits, possession, dark magic and cruelty impossible to imagine. In search of facts, Gabe traces the Falco's final journey around the Caribbean and back home to Devon, and then re-reads the journals he kept when he was a young seafaring doctor sailing the Caribbean Sea. A solution suggests itself but seems too far-fetched to be possible. Assisted by the silent detection of Theo's assistant, spiritual support and guidance from the local minister, and suggestions from his sister Celia, Gabe edges towards an answer.
A smashing book. 'The Indigo Ghosts' is a tale of slavery, torture, fear and the worst that man can do to man. It's about faith and what it can make a man do. And its about the goodness of Gaberiel Taverner, searching for the truth while defending his family and loved ones. This is a very readable series, a bit different from anything else out there that I've found.
Read more of my book reviews at http://www.sandradanby.com/book-revie...
October 1604. Called urgently by his old captain, Zeke Colt, to visit his former ship the Falco, now docked in Plymouth, Gabe walks into an atmosphere of fear, panic and superstition. The ship, everyone on board says, is haunted by a bad spirit, malevolent, making everyone ill. There have been deaths, visions, blue-skinned ghosts, a disgusting miasma that has overwhelmed the air.
Firmly disbelieving the ghost theory, Gabe is confident there will be a factual, scientific answer. But exploring the darkest, tiniest space in the hold - three paces by two - he discovers the source of the stink, finds a dead body, and sees a crocodile. Gabe returns to the Falco the next day with local coroner, his friend Theophilus Davey, and the body is removed for examination. Meanwhile the ship's crew empty the barrel of waste and clean the area. More discoveries are made, nothing makes sense.
A trail of discoveries unveils an explanation both rational and wild. There is talk of spirits, possession, dark magic and cruelty impossible to imagine. In search of facts, Gabe traces the Falco's final journey around the Caribbean and back home to Devon, and then re-reads the journals he kept when he was a young seafaring doctor sailing the Caribbean Sea. A solution suggests itself but seems too far-fetched to be possible. Assisted by the silent detection of Theo's assistant, spiritual support and guidance from the local minister, and suggestions from his sister Celia, Gabe edges towards an answer.
A smashing book. 'The Indigo Ghosts' is a tale of slavery, torture, fear and the worst that man can do to man. It's about faith and what it can make a man do. And its about the goodness of Gaberiel Taverner, searching for the truth while defending his family and loved ones. This is a very readable series, a bit different from anything else out there that I've found.
Read more of my book reviews at http://www.sandradanby.com/book-revie...
June 2, 2020
The year is 1604, and our physician, Gabriel Tavener finds himself called to his old ship Falco by the captain. The man and his crew have seen things that they insist aren’t real, and since sailors are a very superstitious lot, the captain wants Gabe to help with ridding the ship of its ghostly inhabitants, which he is convinced are aboard. The ship’s doctor has even killed himself because of it. What evil is this, Gabe thinks, since he doesn’t believe in such things. Thus begins The Indigo Ghosts, and a convoluted tale it is, stretching from the fetid jungles of the Caribbean to the docks of Plymouth, then to Gabe’s home and beyond.
Is there evil aboard this ship? That is as may be, because a long dead body of a woman, a very old woman, is soon found aboard. Followed soon by a body in a barrel. There is rather unpleasant evidence that someone was hiding aboard the ship as it made its way across the Atlantic to home. The dead man’s skin is tinted blue – ah, our title is beginning to make sense.
Readers are treated to scenes from another’s perspective – warnings almost. There’s definitely something going on here that we’re supposed to wonder about, obviously, but all it did for me was to slow the story down even more. We also get scenes of the author’s research about hallucinatory drugs, about the slave trade, about life on a Caribbean indigo plantation which is frankly, horrific, about the Elizabethan “pirate kings” Richard Hawkins and Francis Drake, all interspersed with darkly foreboding scenes of magic and as I mentioned, the supernatural. Certainly, a reader will get a sense of what was going on at the time, but for me, there was just too much thrown into this book to make it enjoyable reading.
So, Gabriel and his friend Jonathan Carew set about to sort out all of it, and they do. It’s too late for some, unfortunately. And at our end the “big secret” is revealed, which seemed sort of anti-climactic. Alys Clare’s Gabriel Taverner book #3 is a study in the supernatural, and it wasn’t to my liking, sad to say, because I have enjoyed the others in the series very well.
Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for a copy of this book, in exchange for this review.
Is there evil aboard this ship? That is as may be, because a long dead body of a woman, a very old woman, is soon found aboard. Followed soon by a body in a barrel. There is rather unpleasant evidence that someone was hiding aboard the ship as it made its way across the Atlantic to home. The dead man’s skin is tinted blue – ah, our title is beginning to make sense.
Readers are treated to scenes from another’s perspective – warnings almost. There’s definitely something going on here that we’re supposed to wonder about, obviously, but all it did for me was to slow the story down even more. We also get scenes of the author’s research about hallucinatory drugs, about the slave trade, about life on a Caribbean indigo plantation which is frankly, horrific, about the Elizabethan “pirate kings” Richard Hawkins and Francis Drake, all interspersed with darkly foreboding scenes of magic and as I mentioned, the supernatural. Certainly, a reader will get a sense of what was going on at the time, but for me, there was just too much thrown into this book to make it enjoyable reading.
So, Gabriel and his friend Jonathan Carew set about to sort out all of it, and they do. It’s too late for some, unfortunately. And at our end the “big secret” is revealed, which seemed sort of anti-climactic. Alys Clare’s Gabriel Taverner book #3 is a study in the supernatural, and it wasn’t to my liking, sad to say, because I have enjoyed the others in the series very well.
Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for a copy of this book, in exchange for this review.
April 2, 2020
This is the third book in the series and whilst it can be read as a standalone I would recommend reading the previous books to give the characters a better place in the times and setting .
We return to the life of Dr Gabriel Taverner - asked by a friend to investigate deeply troubling events on a ship
he travels to Devon .
The sailors believe their ship , Falco , haunted , with several men reported as seeing blue ghosts and the ship's Doctor overcome by apparent madness jumping to his death overboard .
After his visit to the ship Gabriel is left feeling very uneasy and determines to call upon the services of his friends Theo, a Coroner, and Jonathon, a Minister to help him solve the puzzle .
They discover a secret area within the hold where several men had clearly been hidden but most disturbingly a body of an old women , long dead . Who were these men ? Where were they now ? and what was the purpose of bringing the dead woman with them ?
The journey to discover the truth is met with many trials and tribulations but tempered by the budding romance between Gabriel and the local healer .
The book is full of information about the slave trade, herbal remedies and the medical practices of the day - the sounds and sights brought to the fore , enhancing the readers enjoyment .
I would thoroughly recommend this book to all readers who enjoy historical , crime thrillers and look forward to the next book in the series .
I was given an ARC of this book by Netgalley and the Publisher in exchange for an honest review
We return to the life of Dr Gabriel Taverner - asked by a friend to investigate deeply troubling events on a ship
he travels to Devon .
The sailors believe their ship , Falco , haunted , with several men reported as seeing blue ghosts and the ship's Doctor overcome by apparent madness jumping to his death overboard .
After his visit to the ship Gabriel is left feeling very uneasy and determines to call upon the services of his friends Theo, a Coroner, and Jonathon, a Minister to help him solve the puzzle .
They discover a secret area within the hold where several men had clearly been hidden but most disturbingly a body of an old women , long dead . Who were these men ? Where were they now ? and what was the purpose of bringing the dead woman with them ?
The journey to discover the truth is met with many trials and tribulations but tempered by the budding romance between Gabriel and the local healer .
The book is full of information about the slave trade, herbal remedies and the medical practices of the day - the sounds and sights brought to the fore , enhancing the readers enjoyment .
I would thoroughly recommend this book to all readers who enjoy historical , crime thrillers and look forward to the next book in the series .
I was given an ARC of this book by Netgalley and the Publisher in exchange for an honest review
Read
May 2, 2023This is the 3rd installment in this series, and while it's entertaining, I don't think it's quite up to the first two.
The core of this book relates to the practice of slavery by the Spanish in the New World, primarily in the Caribbean. An English privateer is forced to abandon a good number of his crew on a small island, where most of the men die from disease and starvation, Ultimately, they are found by the Spanish, depositing them with priests who having no use for them sell the men on into slavery on an Indigo plantation. As the years go by these men fall under the sway of spiritual practices of the African slaves. The last surviving handful of the crew devise a plan to escape and make it back to England, bringing with the desiccated body of their proto-voodoo priestess. As it turns out, the ship they stowaway on is the one the Dr. Taverner served on for years. The ship's captain lands at Plymouth to seek Gabriel out. because his crewmen have seen blue-armed ghosts aboard and he wants Gabriel's help in explaining these sightings. In addition, there is a cruel Inquisitor and two aides who have sussed out this escape and have pursued them across the sea, so as to recover an object of great importance.
In the end the bad guys are eliminated--the Inquisitor dies from being convinced he is burning to death--and the object is revealed to be what we might call an ordinance map.
The core of this book relates to the practice of slavery by the Spanish in the New World, primarily in the Caribbean. An English privateer is forced to abandon a good number of his crew on a small island, where most of the men die from disease and starvation, Ultimately, they are found by the Spanish, depositing them with priests who having no use for them sell the men on into slavery on an Indigo plantation. As the years go by these men fall under the sway of spiritual practices of the African slaves. The last surviving handful of the crew devise a plan to escape and make it back to England, bringing with the desiccated body of their proto-voodoo priestess. As it turns out, the ship they stowaway on is the one the Dr. Taverner served on for years. The ship's captain lands at Plymouth to seek Gabriel out. because his crewmen have seen blue-armed ghosts aboard and he wants Gabriel's help in explaining these sightings. In addition, there is a cruel Inquisitor and two aides who have sussed out this escape and have pursued them across the sea, so as to recover an object of great importance.
In the end the bad guys are eliminated--the Inquisitor dies from being convinced he is burning to death--and the object is revealed to be what we might call an ordinance map.
April 25, 2020
Set in Stuart, England, Dr. Gabriel Taverner is asked by his former naval captain, Ezekiel Colt, to investigate his crew's strange claims of blue-skinned ghosts in his ship. This puzzles Taverner and to complicate things further, a tiny body is discovered in a secret space in the ship. With the help of his friend, Coroner Theophilus Davey, they will soon unravel a dark mystery with shocking and terrifying secrets.
The Indigo Ghosts is the third book in the Gabriel Taverner Mystery series and I actually prefered this more than the previous book - The Angel In The Glass. It's a historical forensic mystery (definitely my kind of thing!) and I am glad that the forensic elements was better and slightly more in this book. It is a plot driven story with some surprise twists and predictable ones too. I do wish that there are more depth in the characters as I still struggle to connect with them and they still feel like strangers to me, even in this third book. Overall, this is quite an enjoyable fast-paced, quick read and the series is pretty interesting so far.
Pub. Date: 2 Jun, 2020
***Thank you Severn House Publishers and NetGalley for this gifted review copy in exchange for an honest review. All views expressed in this review are my own and was not influenced by the author, publisher or any third party.***
The Indigo Ghosts is the third book in the Gabriel Taverner Mystery series and I actually prefered this more than the previous book - The Angel In The Glass. It's a historical forensic mystery (definitely my kind of thing!) and I am glad that the forensic elements was better and slightly more in this book. It is a plot driven story with some surprise twists and predictable ones too. I do wish that there are more depth in the characters as I still struggle to connect with them and they still feel like strangers to me, even in this third book. Overall, this is quite an enjoyable fast-paced, quick read and the series is pretty interesting so far.
Pub. Date: 2 Jun, 2020
***Thank you Severn House Publishers and NetGalley for this gifted review copy in exchange for an honest review. All views expressed in this review are my own and was not influenced by the author, publisher or any third party.***
March 17, 2024
The third in the series of Gabriel Taverner mysteries reads more like an adventure-yarn … His former Captain Zeke Colt has docked in Plymouth, and urgently requests that the doctor visit him … Late, due to his morning round of patients, Gabriel discovers that Captain Zeke does indeed have a problem on his hands … Unfortunately, I had to turn on my “willful suspension of disbelief” to finish this one; still, fast-paced and well-plotted …
by
Alys Clare
by
Alys Clare
by
Alys Clare
by
Alys ClareOctober 29, 2024
Gabriel had an urgent summons from the Captain of his old ship, the Falco. They have just arrived from to the Spanish Main particularly the Caribbean. It seems that the crew were seeing blue men in the bowels of their ship that frightened them plus their ship's doctor went amok and jumped overboard just when they almost reached Plymouth after a long voyage further extended by a sinister storm that took them off~course and forced them to stop at the Hispaniola for repairs and supplies until the storm passed. This is full of strange supernatural phenomenon that are difficult to believe yet they did happen. Voduo (as spelled in the book) was brought to England by the English sailors who were left by Queen Elizabeth's leading privateers ~ Drake and Hawkins in the Caribbean Islands after a sea battle. What happened to them after their capture after half a century in the hands of the **Spaniards who had claim on these islands is the main subject of this story ~ at least the consequences of their abandonment started a chain of events that resulted in strange deaths that baffled both Theo and Gabriel. Another good one from this author with a touch of Dark Magic.
**These events happened during the Spanish Inquisition and obviously Priests were involved.
**These events happened during the Spanish Inquisition and obviously Priests were involved.
May 23, 2020
Blue ghosts? That's what Dr. Gabriel Taverner is brought in by Captain Ezekial Colt to investigate on his old ship the Falco. It's 1604 and Gabriel, along with his friend Theo, a coroner, go through the ship without the benefit of any of the forensic tools which would have made this easy and they find a body. A dessicated body. There's also evidence that men have been hidden in spots. This blends a bit of a ghost story (duh) with cultural influences from the Caribbean with history. No spoilers but know that you might find yourself doing a bit of research on the period if only to enhance your understanding of events. This is a unique series with a good protagonist in Gabriel. The other characters, including his sister, are also well drawn. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. For fans of historical mysteries.
July 5, 2020
In Stuart England time men were still looking for sailing routes and one of the most elusive was the Northwest Passage. Our mystery starts in the Caribbean where magic and voodoo was to follow our small group of men to hide in Captain Colt’s ship on its return to Plymouth. This is a terrible journey which would haunt the crew seeing visions and blue ghosts. Gabriel Taverner a physican and old friend of the Captain is called when a small skeleton is found. This was to lead to a baffling mystery with more blue bodies found and the horror of the Spanish Priests hanging over them. It will take all Gabriel strength to protect family and friends as he also sees the visions.
This is a good paced story with the horror of slavery and torture at its core.
I was given an arc of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This is a good paced story with the horror of slavery and torture at its core.
I was given an arc of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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January 20, 2022This is quite an interesting tale in an era of history (early 1600's) about which we read less in the current historical fiction. I've read the first two books in this historical mystery series & enjoyed them, so I looked forward to reading the 3rd volume. There continues to be solid character development among Dr. Tavener & the several continuing people in his life & story. I was caught up in the story fairly quickly, and really hated to put it down for the night.
It's been almost 3 years since I read the first two books in the series, so I may want to refresh my memories of some of the 'formation' details of the main characters' history in the first book before I read the newest book, since they aren't really revealed any longer in the third book . I see a 4th book has just been published, so there is that to look forward to.
It's been almost 3 years since I read the first two books in the series, so I may want to refresh my memories of some of the 'formation' details of the main characters' history in the first book before I read the newest book, since they aren't really revealed any longer in the third book . I see a 4th book has just been published, so there is that to look forward to.
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