Chaucer and the House of Fame

Geoffrey Chaucer Mysteries #1

by Philip Gooden, Philippa Morgan

It is 1370, right in the middle of the Anglo-French conflict, the Hundred Years War. In danger of losing the Aquitaine territory, England sends Geoffrey Chaucer, protégé of the king's son, to France. As a poet on a diplomatic mission, Chaucer must persuade one of the most important noblemen of the region to remain loyal to England's king. But Henri, Comte de Guyac, whose wife Chaucer had previously fallen in love with when he was held prisoner by Henri, is not exactly neutral in his feelings for Chaucer. Wondering how he will feel when he sees Rosamund, the Comte's wife, Chaucer reaches de Guyac's castle and is greeted by turmoil. His mission is further complicated when Henri is killed during a boar hunt. Chaucer soon realizes the Comte's death is no hunting accident and that he must solve the murder before returning home. Enemies and suspects abound, from a troupe of travelling players to factions within the castle itself. Chaucer finds himself in the midst of a brightly colorful puzzle that turns him into a fugitive in a foreign country, unsure who his friends and enemies really are.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Historical Mystery, Medieval, France, Fiction

263 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 5, 2014

About the author

Philip Gooden lives in Bath. In addition to his Nick Revill series, Sleep of Death, he is the author of The Guinness Guide to Better English and the editor of The Mammoth Book of Literary Anecdotes. Each of his Nick Revill mysteries revolves around a Shakespearean play mirroring life - in Sleep of Death the play was Hamlet, in this offering it is Troilus and Cressida.
AKA Philippa Morgan.

Series:
* Shakespearean Murder
* Tom Ansell

Reviews

[Viragored · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't expecting to enjoy a tale set in Mediaeval Europe, and featuring such a well-known name as Geoffrey Chaucer. But not only did I enjoy the story, I enjoyed it a lot!

The tale moved along nicely, taking in lots of different places and finally reaching a conclusion. I did work out the actual perpetrator before the reveal, but wasn't absolutely sure. And now I'm looking forward to more from this author.

[Jacqui · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in the late 1300s, during the Hundred Years’ War in the reign of Edward III and takes place mainly in Aquitaine when the English throne was attempting to keep the sovereignty of its French lands.

The main character is Geoffrey Chaucer, poet (Canterbury Tales) vassal and friend to John of Gaunt, the King’s third son. A strange choice, one might think, but as a young man, Chaucer had been captured and held for ransom during the siege of Rheims. Because of the relationship forged between the Comte de Guyac, his “gaoler”, and himself, he is sent to Guyenne to persuade the Comte to remain loyal to the English throne.

A day after their arrival, the Comte dies in a supposed hunting accident. Chaucer must discover the killer and return the companions safe to England through all the turmoil and political manoeuvering.

The story describes Chaucer’s travels to the English coast, accompanied by two young gentlemen employed by Gaunt and from there across the Channel to France. They meet various people along the way; a troupe of players that the travellers join and a spy/assassin following behind are the ones that spring readily to mind.

I was impressed with the cameos of people, places and meetings, and the occasional bawdy conversations and wry humour are well written. They feel appropriate for the time.

The dialogue occasionally held me up as it jumps between several characters. I had to re-read to understand who was speaking. It wasn’t enough to annoy, but it did impact the story’s pace while I worked it out.

I did like this book, and the idea of placing a historical figure as the main protagonist isn’t new, but the particular choice was surprising to me, which is what made me download the book in the first place. Chaucer as a sometime spy! I’m glad I did.

[Ellie Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

My initial wariness at using a well-known historical detective as a sleuth disappeared almost immediately in this excellent historical novel. All the characters were so well developed and Chaucer himself was very clearly-drawn and made a more than plausible investigator in the murky late medieval world of politics. This was a great read and I have already downloaded the next in the series.

[C. Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

As one who has enjoyed reading some of Chaucer's literary works, and who has only recently
returned from living in the Aquitaine region of France (now part of Nouvelle Aquitaine), I found this novel to be interesting, and enjoyable. I took one star off because of the number of words that I didn't recognise - and with which neither the dictionary, nor Wikipedia could help!

[Jennifer Symons · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chaucer and the house of Fame

Well written and researched. Very plausible idea for how the Canterbury Tales came into being. Did not see this ending coming. This story fits in well with what is known of Chaucer’s life and times.

[Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Geoffrey Chaucer is sent by John of Gaunt into Aquitaine to try and convince one of the leaders in the area to remain on the side of England in the coming war with France. He is followed by a mysterious stranger.

[Barbara K · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love historical fiction. Therefore, I was intrigued by the idea of a mystery with Geoffrey Chaucer as the protagonist. This book did not disappoint. It was an engrossing murder mystery and, I must confess, I didn't guess "who done it." I plan to read the other books in the series.

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice use of Chaucer as a spy/detective travelling in Aquitaine which allows the exotic of a medieval chateau, different landscape, and an interpretation of history in the 100 Years War. The characters are plausible and the dialogue was not hammy "ye olde Middle Ages"

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written story of Chaucer and his companions, Ned and Alan, traveling to France as emissaries of John of Gaunt. It is well plotted with interesting characters and an enthralling premise.

[ELzabeth Livingstone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

My introduction has been a bit confused probably because of not
knowing much of the main character! A good storyline but, with the background of poetry, 'confusing!'

[Veronica Mcniff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of ingenious plotting.

Loved the clever idea of using the great Chaucer as a spy and his two merry companions. Will read next one.

[Melanie Casey · Rating 1 out of 5]

Plodding and dull

Didn’t love this one, although I wanted to. It moves so slowly, and the plot is kind of weak. I almost gave up several times but suffered through it til the end.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this. Interesting to have the now famous Geoffrey Chaucer as the main protagonist in a tale that takes us to Aquitaine, Bordeaux and Canterbury.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

1370 Geoffrey Chaucer is sent on a diplomatic mission by John of Gaunt to Henri, Comte de Guyac. To persuade him to side with the English king and not the French. A mission fraught with danger.
An entertaining and well-written historical thriller mystery with its likeable characters. A good start to this series.

[Tanveer Abdul-Razak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant, well written and witty

Really enjoyed it. Glimpse of life in the past. Different style of writing, and you won't discover the twist till the end.

[Laurel Bradshaw]

In Medieval Blood: The Geoffrey Chaucer Mysteries