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The Sorrowful Mysteries of Brother Athelstan #19
Le masque d'Oriflamme
Past crimes lead to new murder in the latest gripping Brother Athelstan mystery, set in 14th century London. November, 1381. London has been rocked by a series of bizarre and brutal murders. The corpses of a number of prostitutes have been discovered, their throats slit, their bodies stripped; in each case, a blood-red wig has been placed on their heads. At the same time, a mysterious explosion rips through a royal war cog bound for Calais, killing all on board. Could there be a connection? Summoned to assist in the investigations by Sir John Cranston, Brother Athelstan uncovers rumours that the mysterious Oriflamme is responsible. But who – or what - exactly is he … and why has he suddenly reappeared after almost twenty years?
344 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 1, 2019
75 people are currently reading
186 people want to read
About the author
Paul Doherty
236 books609 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
He has been published under several pseudonyms: P.C. Doherty, Celia L. Grace, Paul Harding, Ann Dukthas, Vanessa Alexander, Michael Clynes and Anna Apostolou but now writes only under his own name.
Paul Doherty was born in Middlesbrough (North-Eastern England) in 1946. He had the usual education before studying at Durham for three years for the Catholic priesthood but decided not to proceed. He went to Liverpool University where he gained a First Class Honours Degree in History and won a state scholarship to Exeter College, Oxford, whilst there he met his wife Carla Lynn Corbitt. He continued his studies but decided that the academic world was not for him and became a secondary school teacher.
Paul worked in Ascot, Nottingham and Crawley West Sussex before being appointed as Headmaster to Trinity Catholic School in September 1981. Trinity is a large comprehensive [1700 on roll] which teaches the full ability range, ages 11-18. The school has been described as one of the leading comprehensives in the U.K. In April, 2000 H. M. Inspectorate describe it as an 'Outstanding School', and it was given Beacon status as a Centre of Excellence whilst, in the Chief Inspector’s Report to the Secretary of State for January 2001, Trinity Catholic High School was singled out for praise and received a public accolade.
Paul’s other incarnation is as a novelist. He finished his doctorate on the reign of Edward II of England and, in 1987, began to publish a series of outstanding historical mysteries set in the Middle Age, Classical, Greek, Ancient Egypt and elsewhere. These have been published in the United States by St. Martin’s Press of New York, Edhasa in Spain, and Eichborn, Heyne, Knaur and others in Germany. They have also been published in Holland, Belgium, France, Italy, Romania, Estonia, Czechoslovakia, Russia, Bulgaria, Portugal and China, as well as Argentina and Mexico.
He has been published under several pseudonyms (see the bibliography): C. L. Grace, Paul Harding, Ann Dukthas and Anna Apostolou but now writes only under his own name. He recently launched a very successful series based around the life of Alexander the Great, published by Constable & Robinson in the U.K., and Carroll and Graf in the U.S.A., whilst his novels set in Ancient Egypt have won critical acclaim. Paul has also written several non-fiction titles; A Life of Isabella the She-wolf of France, Wife of Edward II of England, as well as study of the possible murder of Tutankhamun, the boy Pharaoh of Egypt’s 18th Dynasty, and a study on the true fate of Alexander the Great.
Paul and Carla live on the borders of London and Essex, not far from Epping Forest and six of their children have been through his own school. His wife Carla currently owns two horses and is training, for showing and dressage, a beautiful Arab filly named Polly.
Paul lectures for a number of organisations, particularly on historical mysteries, many of which later feature in his writings. A born speaker and trained lecturer Paul Doherty can hold and entertain audiences.
His one great ambition is to petition the Privy Council of England to open the Purbeck marble tomb of Edward II in Gloucester Cathedral. Paul believes the tomb does not house the body
He has been published under several pseudonyms: P.C. Doherty, Celia L. Grace, Paul Harding, Ann Dukthas, Vanessa Alexander, Michael Clynes and Anna Apostolou but now writes only under his own name.
Paul Doherty was born in Middlesbrough (North-Eastern England) in 1946. He had the usual education before studying at Durham for three years for the Catholic priesthood but decided not to proceed. He went to Liverpool University where he gained a First Class Honours Degree in History and won a state scholarship to Exeter College, Oxford, whilst there he met his wife Carla Lynn Corbitt. He continued his studies but decided that the academic world was not for him and became a secondary school teacher.
Paul worked in Ascot, Nottingham and Crawley West Sussex before being appointed as Headmaster to Trinity Catholic School in September 1981. Trinity is a large comprehensive [1700 on roll] which teaches the full ability range, ages 11-18. The school has been described as one of the leading comprehensives in the U.K. In April, 2000 H. M. Inspectorate describe it as an 'Outstanding School', and it was given Beacon status as a Centre of Excellence whilst, in the Chief Inspector’s Report to the Secretary of State for January 2001, Trinity Catholic High School was singled out for praise and received a public accolade.
Paul’s other incarnation is as a novelist. He finished his doctorate on the reign of Edward II of England and, in 1987, began to publish a series of outstanding historical mysteries set in the Middle Age, Classical, Greek, Ancient Egypt and elsewhere. These have been published in the United States by St. Martin’s Press of New York, Edhasa in Spain, and Eichborn, Heyne, Knaur and others in Germany. They have also been published in Holland, Belgium, France, Italy, Romania, Estonia, Czechoslovakia, Russia, Bulgaria, Portugal and China, as well as Argentina and Mexico.
He has been published under several pseudonyms (see the bibliography): C. L. Grace, Paul Harding, Ann Dukthas and Anna Apostolou but now writes only under his own name. He recently launched a very successful series based around the life of Alexander the Great, published by Constable & Robinson in the U.K., and Carroll and Graf in the U.S.A., whilst his novels set in Ancient Egypt have won critical acclaim. Paul has also written several non-fiction titles; A Life of Isabella the She-wolf of France, Wife of Edward II of England, as well as study of the possible murder of Tutankhamun, the boy Pharaoh of Egypt’s 18th Dynasty, and a study on the true fate of Alexander the Great.
Paul and Carla live on the borders of London and Essex, not far from Epping Forest and six of their children have been through his own school. His wife Carla currently owns two horses and is training, for showing and dressage, a beautiful Arab filly named Polly.
Paul lectures for a number of organisations, particularly on historical mysteries, many of which later feature in his writings. A born speaker and trained lecturer Paul Doherty can hold and entertain audiences.
His one great ambition is to petition the Privy Council of England to open the Purbeck marble tomb of Edward II in Gloucester Cathedral. Paul believes the tomb does not house the body
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
October 13, 2024
This little gripping historical tale is the 19th volume of the amazing "Brother Athelstan" mystery series, along with the "Hugh Corbett" series my two favourites, from the wonderful author, Paul Doherty.
The historical details concerning this story can be found in the Historical Notes at the beginning and within the Author's Notes at the end of the book, and as ever these are very well researched, documented and explained by the author.
Storytelling is once again of a superb quality, the characters, whether they are real historical or lifelike fictional ones, come all vividly to life within this mystery of murder and mayhem.
The feel and atmosphere of these medieval times come splendidly off the pages during the reign of the Boy-King Richard II, but who's under the supervision of his regent, John of Gaunt.
The book starts off with a murderous prologue which is set in the year AD 1363, during the first peace of the Hundred Years War between England and France, and it will continue with the full story, which is situated in November AD 1381, in London, and with the War resumed, when corpses of prostitutes are found murdered with their throats slit and a red wig on their heads for emphasis.
At around the same time a war cog, which is bound for Calais, explodes, killing all on board, and so it's time for Brother Athelstan to come into action and show his investigating skills, when he's summoned by his great friend, the formidable Sir John Cranston, Lord High Coroner of London, and possessor of a miraculous wineskin.
What follows is an investigation in which the "Oriflamme" will play, after almost twenty years, a significant part in these murders, and after an action-packed adventure, Brother Athelstan and Sir John Cranston will in their own remarkable and clever way entangle the threats of the web of murder and mayhem, before being able to catch the culprit of these heinous murders and other serious crimes, and finally bring him to justice.
Highly recommended, for this is an excellent and enjoyable medieval historical series, and what this book is concerned I like to call it: "A Faithful Captivating Brother Athelstan Mystery"!
The historical details concerning this story can be found in the Historical Notes at the beginning and within the Author's Notes at the end of the book, and as ever these are very well researched, documented and explained by the author.
Storytelling is once again of a superb quality, the characters, whether they are real historical or lifelike fictional ones, come all vividly to life within this mystery of murder and mayhem.
The feel and atmosphere of these medieval times come splendidly off the pages during the reign of the Boy-King Richard II, but who's under the supervision of his regent, John of Gaunt.
The book starts off with a murderous prologue which is set in the year AD 1363, during the first peace of the Hundred Years War between England and France, and it will continue with the full story, which is situated in November AD 1381, in London, and with the War resumed, when corpses of prostitutes are found murdered with their throats slit and a red wig on their heads for emphasis.
At around the same time a war cog, which is bound for Calais, explodes, killing all on board, and so it's time for Brother Athelstan to come into action and show his investigating skills, when he's summoned by his great friend, the formidable Sir John Cranston, Lord High Coroner of London, and possessor of a miraculous wineskin.
What follows is an investigation in which the "Oriflamme" will play, after almost twenty years, a significant part in these murders, and after an action-packed adventure, Brother Athelstan and Sir John Cranston will in their own remarkable and clever way entangle the threats of the web of murder and mayhem, before being able to catch the culprit of these heinous murders and other serious crimes, and finally bring him to justice.
Highly recommended, for this is an excellent and enjoyable medieval historical series, and what this book is concerned I like to call it: "A Faithful Captivating Brother Athelstan Mystery"!
January 30, 2019
Book number nineteen in the Brother Athelstan series takes place in the autumn of 1381 when political unrest has calmed and the parishioners of St Erconwald's in Southwark are working hard at returning their lives to normal when events from Normandy in 1363 come back into notice. Some of Brother Athelstan's flock were involved in atrocities committed in France and that history is coming back to haunt them in the form of the Oriflamme. Sir John Cranston, Lord High Coroner of London, has been given the task of finding the Oriflamme who is believed to be in England; a French delegation is waiting to take him back to France for execution. Brother Athelstan has quite enough problems to keep him busy. Not only does Sir John ask for his help in finding out the identity of the Oriflamme, but now a map has been produced purporting to show hidden treasure in The Piebald tavern. How can this be anything but trouble?
Brother Athelstan is a favorite fictional character for me and I always enjoy watching him solve the crimes and puzzles that take place in this small area of London. The atmosphere of time and place is fully attained by the author's descriptions of what living conditions were like. I must confess that I don't enjoy reading about the human and animal filth endured in public areas by citizens of this time period so I try to skim over those descriptions whenever possible. If you enjoy locked room stories, this novel will give you one of those but there are many tangled plot threads which Brother Athelstan and Sir John must set right. The action moves at a rapid pace throughout the book, but the descriptions of the deaths may be unsettling for some readers.
Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House Publishing for an eGalley of this novel.
Brother Athelstan is a favorite fictional character for me and I always enjoy watching him solve the crimes and puzzles that take place in this small area of London. The atmosphere of time and place is fully attained by the author's descriptions of what living conditions were like. I must confess that I don't enjoy reading about the human and animal filth endured in public areas by citizens of this time period so I try to skim over those descriptions whenever possible. If you enjoy locked room stories, this novel will give you one of those but there are many tangled plot threads which Brother Athelstan and Sir John must set right. The action moves at a rapid pace throughout the book, but the descriptions of the deaths may be unsettling for some readers.
Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House Publishing for an eGalley of this novel.
August 22, 2019
I have read every book in this long-running series, and, as is natural with such a long series, I have enjoyed some entries more than others. This book, although interesting and gripping, offered a gruesome but fascinating look at the impact the Hundred Years’ War had on the regular people of England and France - didn’t quite suit my mood for light summer reading, but was very well done as usual by Paul Doherty.
I have stuck with this series because of my fondness for Doherty’s two unique heroes, Sir John Cranston and Brother Athelstan, his clerk. I enjoy their humor, their camaraderie, and their deep and abiding faith in humanity. I also enjoy revisiting a recurring cast of characters, mostly Athelstan’s quirky parishioners at St. Erconwald’s, who readers have learned more about in the last several mysteries set in the period around the Peasants’ Revolt. In this book we learn more about some of the parishioners involvement in both the Revolt and the Hundred Years’ War.
The descriptions offered by Doherty of 1380s London can be very dense, repetitive, and frankly, rather gross – the filth, the casual cruelty, the desperate poverty can be overwhelming. But I always come away grateful and aware that no matter how awful today’s headlines may seem, we have been here before (and faced worse, without benefit of modern science and technology to help humanity out of yet another self-inflicted scourge).
In Doherty’s helpful Author’s Note at the end, he points out that some historians believe the pillage and violence inflicted by the English army on the French during the Hundred Years’ War was worse than the Nazi Occupation of WWII. He points out that the King’s Army was reputed to be populated by criminals and psychopaths, basically the dregs of England’s prisons, free to roam and wreak havoc at will, particularly in Normandy.
Doherty sets the stage in his opening Historical Note - when the story opens in Autumn 1381, the Peasants’ Revolt of the late spring has been ruthlessly suppressed, rebel leaders are dead or hiding. John of Gaunt is still regent, uncle to boy-king Richard II; English wealth depends on wool exports, but fortunes had also been made during the long, brutal war with France. The soldiers who committed such awful plundering and atrocities have returned and tried to blend in to English life, leaving their crimes behind - but the violence hasn’t been forgotten.
The French want one particularly vicious, mysterious figure, known as the Oriflamme, to face trial in Paris for the attack and murder of a French nobleman’s daughter at the family chateau toward the end of the war, almost 20 years before. This horrifying murderer led a vicious free company through Normandy plundering at the end of the war, but had a particular cruel streak, targeting and torturing women, while bizarrely donning a white mask, shapeless woman’s gray gown, and dyed red horsehair wig (symbol of prostitutes at the time) to do his dirty work.
Now, the Oriflamme is suspected of operating in London; his particular pattern of torture and decorating the corpses with bright red wigs is apparent in the murder of several prostitutes found along the Thames. The women all worked for one madam, and were favorites of the French courtiers in London to hunt down the Oriflamme - coincidence, or is a serial killer at work? Meanwhile, a war cog supposedly carrying treasure (and explosives) is blown to bits as it heads toward France - the only survivor raving about a red-wigged, white-faced demon attacking him before the explosion. This survivor dies from his wounds, but he was part of the Oriflamme’s vicious free company in the war. Sir John and Brother Athelstan are called in to hunt the killer, bringing together all the disparate strands of old secrets and crimes from the war.
As usual, Doherty creates a vibrant, dirty, bustling world in London 1381, and brings history alive, showing the ongoing damage from a horrific war. I look forward to his next book, and hope he continues to look at the impact of the Hundred Years’ War and the Peasants’ Revolt; Brother Athelstan and Sir John are a very satisfying duo of evil-fighters!
I have stuck with this series because of my fondness for Doherty’s two unique heroes, Sir John Cranston and Brother Athelstan, his clerk. I enjoy their humor, their camaraderie, and their deep and abiding faith in humanity. I also enjoy revisiting a recurring cast of characters, mostly Athelstan’s quirky parishioners at St. Erconwald’s, who readers have learned more about in the last several mysteries set in the period around the Peasants’ Revolt. In this book we learn more about some of the parishioners involvement in both the Revolt and the Hundred Years’ War.
The descriptions offered by Doherty of 1380s London can be very dense, repetitive, and frankly, rather gross – the filth, the casual cruelty, the desperate poverty can be overwhelming. But I always come away grateful and aware that no matter how awful today’s headlines may seem, we have been here before (and faced worse, without benefit of modern science and technology to help humanity out of yet another self-inflicted scourge).
In Doherty’s helpful Author’s Note at the end, he points out that some historians believe the pillage and violence inflicted by the English army on the French during the Hundred Years’ War was worse than the Nazi Occupation of WWII. He points out that the King’s Army was reputed to be populated by criminals and psychopaths, basically the dregs of England’s prisons, free to roam and wreak havoc at will, particularly in Normandy.
Doherty sets the stage in his opening Historical Note - when the story opens in Autumn 1381, the Peasants’ Revolt of the late spring has been ruthlessly suppressed, rebel leaders are dead or hiding. John of Gaunt is still regent, uncle to boy-king Richard II; English wealth depends on wool exports, but fortunes had also been made during the long, brutal war with France. The soldiers who committed such awful plundering and atrocities have returned and tried to blend in to English life, leaving their crimes behind - but the violence hasn’t been forgotten.
The French want one particularly vicious, mysterious figure, known as the Oriflamme, to face trial in Paris for the attack and murder of a French nobleman’s daughter at the family chateau toward the end of the war, almost 20 years before. This horrifying murderer led a vicious free company through Normandy plundering at the end of the war, but had a particular cruel streak, targeting and torturing women, while bizarrely donning a white mask, shapeless woman’s gray gown, and dyed red horsehair wig (symbol of prostitutes at the time) to do his dirty work.
Now, the Oriflamme is suspected of operating in London; his particular pattern of torture and decorating the corpses with bright red wigs is apparent in the murder of several prostitutes found along the Thames. The women all worked for one madam, and were favorites of the French courtiers in London to hunt down the Oriflamme - coincidence, or is a serial killer at work? Meanwhile, a war cog supposedly carrying treasure (and explosives) is blown to bits as it heads toward France - the only survivor raving about a red-wigged, white-faced demon attacking him before the explosion. This survivor dies from his wounds, but he was part of the Oriflamme’s vicious free company in the war. Sir John and Brother Athelstan are called in to hunt the killer, bringing together all the disparate strands of old secrets and crimes from the war.
As usual, Doherty creates a vibrant, dirty, bustling world in London 1381, and brings history alive, showing the ongoing damage from a horrific war. I look forward to his next book, and hope he continues to look at the impact of the Hundred Years’ War and the Peasants’ Revolt; Brother Athelstan and Sir John are a very satisfying duo of evil-fighters!
April 2, 2019
Let loose "Canes Belli: the Dogs of War!"
Once again the medieval site of of 1381 London becomes the backdrop for another horrific Brother Athelstan and Sir John Cranston murder investigation.
Truly, with this particular spate of grotesque killings it seems like the minions of hell have escaped the netherworld to inhabit the darkness of the city. Prostitutes have been found dispatched, stripped and crowned with red wigs and floating on the Thames in sciffs.
Meanwhile, a king's war cog making for Calais has blown up and there are rumors of a figure adorned with a red wig having been seen. These happenings seem linked. But how?
As Athelston and Cranston move through the dank streets seeking answers I felt like I'd descended into a Dantesque Inferno and as the plot proceeds I'm not far off. The red bewigged figures harken some twenty years back to the rape and pillage of Normandy in 1363 by "mercenary free companies, one in particular, ‘The Godless’, who took their name from the war barge" they’d served on. It's seems they were led by a fearful secretive figure referred to as Oriflamme. And now that likeness has arisen in London. This becomes even more worrying for Athelstan as he learns that some of his flock appeared to have had connections to those terrible times.
Doherty's descriptive narrative is both wonderful and harrowing as Athelstan and Cranston conduct their business through "tangles of filthy, reeking alleyways" and "narrow streets" and places where they rubbed shoulders with, "the screams of half-naked children dancing around the midden heaps ... funeral processions ... [and] wedding parties thronged in alehouses. A gang of mummers tried to attract an audience with their grisly depiction of the martyrdom of St Agnes. Smells billowed backwards and forwards, the delicate sweetness of the pastry shops mingling with the rank odour of cheap fat sizzling in pans and skillets set over moveable stoves."
Hieronymus Bosch illustrations come alive!
As always Athelstan worries about his beloved flock at St Erconwald's in Southwark who hide their own secrets and fears. Some that impinge on this latest visitation from death's dark door.
So we have war criminals, a series of bizarre murders, the destruction of a royal cog, threatened parishioners, strangers in Athelstan's parish and a selection of mysterious denizens who ply their trade on the Thames. Oh, and did I mention the vengeful French?
Alrogether, another gratifying and gripping trip through the dark side of medieval London.
A Severn ARC via NetGalley
Once again the medieval site of of 1381 London becomes the backdrop for another horrific Brother Athelstan and Sir John Cranston murder investigation.
Truly, with this particular spate of grotesque killings it seems like the minions of hell have escaped the netherworld to inhabit the darkness of the city. Prostitutes have been found dispatched, stripped and crowned with red wigs and floating on the Thames in sciffs.
Meanwhile, a king's war cog making for Calais has blown up and there are rumors of a figure adorned with a red wig having been seen. These happenings seem linked. But how?
As Athelston and Cranston move through the dank streets seeking answers I felt like I'd descended into a Dantesque Inferno and as the plot proceeds I'm not far off. The red bewigged figures harken some twenty years back to the rape and pillage of Normandy in 1363 by "mercenary free companies, one in particular, ‘The Godless’, who took their name from the war barge" they’d served on. It's seems they were led by a fearful secretive figure referred to as Oriflamme. And now that likeness has arisen in London. This becomes even more worrying for Athelstan as he learns that some of his flock appeared to have had connections to those terrible times.
Doherty's descriptive narrative is both wonderful and harrowing as Athelstan and Cranston conduct their business through "tangles of filthy, reeking alleyways" and "narrow streets" and places where they rubbed shoulders with, "the screams of half-naked children dancing around the midden heaps ... funeral processions ... [and] wedding parties thronged in alehouses. A gang of mummers tried to attract an audience with their grisly depiction of the martyrdom of St Agnes. Smells billowed backwards and forwards, the delicate sweetness of the pastry shops mingling with the rank odour of cheap fat sizzling in pans and skillets set over moveable stoves."
Hieronymus Bosch illustrations come alive!
As always Athelstan worries about his beloved flock at St Erconwald's in Southwark who hide their own secrets and fears. Some that impinge on this latest visitation from death's dark door.
So we have war criminals, a series of bizarre murders, the destruction of a royal cog, threatened parishioners, strangers in Athelstan's parish and a selection of mysterious denizens who ply their trade on the Thames. Oh, and did I mention the vengeful French?
Alrogether, another gratifying and gripping trip through the dark side of medieval London.
A Severn ARC via NetGalley
April 10, 2019
still 1381, hmmm- Quite a few books represent that year.
Interest engaged in prologue describing events of 1363 in Normandy - grotesque murders by a band of truly horrendous creeps I refuse to refer to as soldiers. A uniquely evil man grew up in England, somehow convinced a band of men to follow his murderous ways and managed to hide from authorities. He makes a reappearance in Southwark going about in costume and/or plain sight continuing to enact his terrorizing and murders. The initial acts are against the whores of London, each victim showing up in Thames with sliced throats and red wigs jammed on their heads.
That's enough of that, also unpleasant to read I must say. Athelstan and the Coroner again have to work together to uncover and stop this fiend.
I didn't like this one much, thanks. Lost count of the women raped and murdered.
I do hope book 20 may have a bit more God vs godless. The Godless was the name of boat the fiend used.
Interest engaged in prologue describing events of 1363 in Normandy - grotesque murders by a band of truly horrendous creeps I refuse to refer to as soldiers. A uniquely evil man grew up in England, somehow convinced a band of men to follow his murderous ways and managed to hide from authorities. He makes a reappearance in Southwark going about in costume and/or plain sight continuing to enact his terrorizing and murders. The initial acts are against the whores of London, each victim showing up in Thames with sliced throats and red wigs jammed on their heads.
That's enough of that, also unpleasant to read I must say. Athelstan and the Coroner again have to work together to uncover and stop this fiend.
I didn't like this one much, thanks. Lost count of the women raped and murdered.
I do hope book 20 may have a bit more God vs godless. The Godless was the name of boat the fiend used.
April 1, 2019
The Godless is the nineteenth novel in the superbly gripping Brother Athelstan series, and this is one of the best so far. Mr Doherty knows exactly how to grab your attention and keep you enthralled for the duration and the plot, as always, is twisty and well thought out. The characters are all developed beautifully but Brother Athelstan, in particular, is a genius creation and it's a pleasure to follow him on his investigating adventures. Set in 1381 London the author has extensively researched the time period to ensure authenticity, which heightened my enjoyment of the story.
It's a well written, complex and expertly paced murder mystery that joins the previous eighteen in this cracking historical crime series. Each book can be read as a standalone, but once you read one you're going to crave the rest.
Many thanks to Crème de la Crime for an ARC.
It's a well written, complex and expertly paced murder mystery that joins the previous eighteen in this cracking historical crime series. Each book can be read as a standalone, but once you read one you're going to crave the rest.
Many thanks to Crème de la Crime for an ARC.
May 11, 2024
A very gruesome addition to the Sorrowful mysteries of Bro Athelstan.
The body count was so high I lost count!!
It included some parishioners of Brother Athelstan - poor Godbless and Thaddeus the younger, - and many others who had committed crimes during the Hundred Years War (nothing has changed over 700 years!!!)
But to the rescue Sir Jack Cranston and the clever, clever Athelstan.
Paul Doherty's story telling has grown so much over these 19 books in this series I just may indulge in a reread or 4.
A fantastic reread.
The body count was so high I lost count!!
It included some parishioners of Brother Athelstan - poor Godbless and Thaddeus the younger, - and many others who had committed crimes during the Hundred Years War (nothing has changed over 700 years!!!)
But to the rescue Sir Jack Cranston and the clever, clever Athelstan.
Paul Doherty's story telling has grown so much over these 19 books in this series I just may indulge in a reread or 4.
A fantastic reread.
December 24, 2018
I would like to thank Netgalley and Severn House for an advance copy of The Godless, the nineteenth novel to feature Brother Athelstan, set in London 1381.
London is recovering from social unrest and rebellion when another threat is uncovered. Prostitutes are being murdered and displayed wearing a red wig., the only link to an unexplained explosion on a boat carrying supplies to France. At the same time the French have arrived in town looking to avenge a twenty year old massacre and its perpetrator, The Oriflamme.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Godless which is a great mystery in a historical setting. I say it every time I read one of these books but you can literally feel and smell the surroundings, so vivid are the descriptions. I shuddered my way through the novel at the filth, poverty and desperation of every day life in the fourteenth century. It is definitely not for me but I really admire Mr Doherty’s ability to so skilfully evoke the conditions.
Brother Athelstan’s investigation is fascinating. I openly admit to not having a clue about the perpetrator and could only wonder at his facility to know so much and move so freely (including in and out of locked rooms). It held my attention throughout as I feverishly turned the pages to see what was coming next. It is an excellent mystery. In a strange way the novel is a bit of a psychological thriller, not my favourite but I will make an exception in this case, because Athelstan soon realises that the killer’s past is the key, not only to his motive but to his capture.
I found the concept and execution of the novel to be first class and although it’s late in the year (December 2018) I think this is one of the best books I have read this year. I, therefore, have no hesitation in recommending it as a great read.
London is recovering from social unrest and rebellion when another threat is uncovered. Prostitutes are being murdered and displayed wearing a red wig., the only link to an unexplained explosion on a boat carrying supplies to France. At the same time the French have arrived in town looking to avenge a twenty year old massacre and its perpetrator, The Oriflamme.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Godless which is a great mystery in a historical setting. I say it every time I read one of these books but you can literally feel and smell the surroundings, so vivid are the descriptions. I shuddered my way through the novel at the filth, poverty and desperation of every day life in the fourteenth century. It is definitely not for me but I really admire Mr Doherty’s ability to so skilfully evoke the conditions.
Brother Athelstan’s investigation is fascinating. I openly admit to not having a clue about the perpetrator and could only wonder at his facility to know so much and move so freely (including in and out of locked rooms). It held my attention throughout as I feverishly turned the pages to see what was coming next. It is an excellent mystery. In a strange way the novel is a bit of a psychological thriller, not my favourite but I will make an exception in this case, because Athelstan soon realises that the killer’s past is the key, not only to his motive but to his capture.
I found the concept and execution of the novel to be first class and although it’s late in the year (December 2018) I think this is one of the best books I have read this year. I, therefore, have no hesitation in recommending it as a great read.
April 8, 2019
I enjoy reading historical mysteries and the Brother Athelstan and Sir John Cranston series is solidly in first place on my favorite series list. Here is #19 and it was a wonderful read. The time is 1381 and the partnership of Brother Athelstan and Cranston is faced with another murderous puzzle to solve. Prostitutes are being murdered and left wearing red wigs. The message sent takes them back to 1363 and an event in Normandy - of rape and pillage. Now that horrible event has brought its ugliness to London. Brother Athelstan discovers it has arrived at his doorstep - some of his parishioners have ties to the event.
The historical background of this series is solid and not sugar coated. London of the time is painted in all of its not so pretty glory. The writing is vivid, giving the reader an immersive read complete with all of the nasty, depressing sights and smells as well as seeing how the other half lives. The City is a living, breathing character in this series. Add to that the well developed main characters of Brother Athelstan and Sir John and a superb puzzle to solve - full of twists, turns and the occasional red herring - if you like historical mysteries, this series should be on your TBR list. Each entry can be read as a stand alone.
My thanks to the publisher, Severn House and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
The historical background of this series is solid and not sugar coated. London of the time is painted in all of its not so pretty glory. The writing is vivid, giving the reader an immersive read complete with all of the nasty, depressing sights and smells as well as seeing how the other half lives. The City is a living, breathing character in this series. Add to that the well developed main characters of Brother Athelstan and Sir John and a superb puzzle to solve - full of twists, turns and the occasional red herring - if you like historical mysteries, this series should be on your TBR list. Each entry can be read as a stand alone.
My thanks to the publisher, Severn House and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
January 8, 2025
Nope. The opening pages and the resulting gore, which continues did not make for relaxing reading. I have read all Paul Doherty and enjoyed them, but baulk at the Brother Athelstan series. Being a historian, I know these things actually happened. I read for relaxation these days, and this book did not fall into that criteria. I must be getting old !
May 5, 2019
I would like to thank Severn House for providing me with a free electronic ARC of this book, via Netgalley. Although I required their approval, the decision to read this book is my choice and any reviews given are obligation free.
‘The Godless’ is book nineteen in the ‘A Brother Athelstan Mystery’ and I admit here and now that, although I have read other books in this series, I’ve not read them all, nor read them in order. Historical crime fiction is my favourite genre and authors like Mr Doherty were my introduction to this genre and, I feel, a big reason I love it so much.
As with the other books I have read in this series, Mr Doherty seems to bring 14th century London alive. Yes, modern language is used (as how many people today would be able to understand 14th century English?) but other than that, I felt myself become fully absorbed into the world the author so artfully wove.
Yes, I kind of guessed the whodunit early on, but it’s a savant part of my idiot to be able to do this (joke about my neuro-diversity people). :-D But it was written in such a way that I was still guessing until the end to see if I had guessed correctly or was mistaken. To me, that’s the best way to write a whodunit – make it plausible enough that the reader may have figured it out… but then give them enough doubts that they simply MUST read to the end to see if they were right. I simply ADORE that sort of crime fiction, historical or otherwise.
The characters were engaging, the world described so full of the five senses you can easily imagine yourself there, and the personalities in tune with the era. I do hate a historical fiction where the characters have modern day ethics… and so really loved how Mr Doherty kept the characters true to what we know about the 14th century.
Book nerd side of things – nothing to complain about. I have come to expect near perfect formatting for Kindle from Severn House and this is what I got. The copy editing was excellent too and I can’t remember a single clanger. I always expect high quality stories from this publisher and was not disappointed. And, no, they do not pay me to say that. In fact, they’ve recently declined my requests for a few books and I’m still happy to say nice things about them as they produce such high quality works.
Would I recommend this book to others?
Yes I would. As I’ve not read this series in a while, it was like reading it as a stand-alone novel, and it was fine to read as such. Each Brother Athelstone book I’ve read is pretty much a stand-alone within the series. As in, same characters and usually same setting, but the story is rarely carried from one book to the next so that you feel like you’re missing out on something.
Would I buy this book for myself?
As much as I love this series, and enjoy the writing style of Mr Doherty, I don’t think I would. And this is simply because I don’t think buying a kindle copy for $25 AUD for a single book in this series worth it. I mean, if I was buying it as a paperback? Yes… but any eBook that costs over $10 AUD always worries me and I know how much it costs to publish paper vs electronic books and really don’t see how authors/ publishers can justify such a high price for an eBook. Sorry… you may be an excellent publishing house, but not THAT excellent.
I will stick to hunting out my historical crime fiction novels from the local libraries, more within my budget. ;-)
In summary: An enjoyable historical crime fiction, true to the series it is part of.
‘The Godless’ is book nineteen in the ‘A Brother Athelstan Mystery’ and I admit here and now that, although I have read other books in this series, I’ve not read them all, nor read them in order. Historical crime fiction is my favourite genre and authors like Mr Doherty were my introduction to this genre and, I feel, a big reason I love it so much.
As with the other books I have read in this series, Mr Doherty seems to bring 14th century London alive. Yes, modern language is used (as how many people today would be able to understand 14th century English?) but other than that, I felt myself become fully absorbed into the world the author so artfully wove.
Yes, I kind of guessed the whodunit early on, but it’s a savant part of my idiot to be able to do this (joke about my neuro-diversity people). :-D But it was written in such a way that I was still guessing until the end to see if I had guessed correctly or was mistaken. To me, that’s the best way to write a whodunit – make it plausible enough that the reader may have figured it out… but then give them enough doubts that they simply MUST read to the end to see if they were right. I simply ADORE that sort of crime fiction, historical or otherwise.
The characters were engaging, the world described so full of the five senses you can easily imagine yourself there, and the personalities in tune with the era. I do hate a historical fiction where the characters have modern day ethics… and so really loved how Mr Doherty kept the characters true to what we know about the 14th century.
Book nerd side of things – nothing to complain about. I have come to expect near perfect formatting for Kindle from Severn House and this is what I got. The copy editing was excellent too and I can’t remember a single clanger. I always expect high quality stories from this publisher and was not disappointed. And, no, they do not pay me to say that. In fact, they’ve recently declined my requests for a few books and I’m still happy to say nice things about them as they produce such high quality works.
Would I recommend this book to others?
Yes I would. As I’ve not read this series in a while, it was like reading it as a stand-alone novel, and it was fine to read as such. Each Brother Athelstone book I’ve read is pretty much a stand-alone within the series. As in, same characters and usually same setting, but the story is rarely carried from one book to the next so that you feel like you’re missing out on something.
Would I buy this book for myself?
As much as I love this series, and enjoy the writing style of Mr Doherty, I don’t think I would. And this is simply because I don’t think buying a kindle copy for $25 AUD for a single book in this series worth it. I mean, if I was buying it as a paperback? Yes… but any eBook that costs over $10 AUD always worries me and I know how much it costs to publish paper vs electronic books and really don’t see how authors/ publishers can justify such a high price for an eBook. Sorry… you may be an excellent publishing house, but not THAT excellent.
I will stick to hunting out my historical crime fiction novels from the local libraries, more within my budget. ;-)
In summary: An enjoyable historical crime fiction, true to the series it is part of.
April 16, 2019
Not The Brother Athelstan Novel That I Am Used To
The novel opens during the Hundred Years War in France with two incidences of the torture and murder of women.. Others present were just killed. There are 16 novels of this series that I have not read, so it is not what I was used to, but I cannot say if the author had swam through these literary waters before.
Shift the timeframe forward 18 years, and a royal ship surreptitiously transporting gold to Calais blows up in the Thames. Only the master survived for a while. He rambled about a red-haired demon garbed like a woman with a painted white face. Then, there appears to be a serial murderer loose in London who is killing prostitutes, strips them naked, puts a red wig on them and sets them adrift in a small boat on the Thames. Unfortunately, the murders expand beyond prostitutes and closer to Brother Athelstan. The novel takes off from here with Brother Athelstan and the Lord High Coroner, Sir John Cranston in the thick of it.
The main storyline proceeds with many twists and turns to keep the reader’s interest. The author weaves several parallel storylines including a treasure hunt in the Brother Athelstan’s church cemetery and group of French Officials seeking the leader of the torture and killings of 18 years earlier.
The B-storyline now in the 19th novel in the series appears to be well set. There is some history revealed about Brother Athelstan, Sir John Cranston, his bailiff, Flaxwith. The Parish Council is there along with the housekeeper. Making an appearance in this novel is the Fisher of Men and his crew who ply the waters of the Thames looking for those poor souls who drowned or whose bodies were disposed by dumping them into the Thames.
It is true that there is much violence and most of it described in the present tense, i.e., as it is happening, vice being described later. The description of violence is not overly graphic or gratuitous. There is some swearing, but of the 14th century kind. Readers who do not want to read novels with graphic sex, violence, and offensive language should not have any problems with this novel. The one thing that reader should be warned is the use of medieval terms. The author uses these terms quite often. Having access to the Kindle dictionary is a blessing. While this dictionary holds its own for modern British police procedurals, but more often than not I had to go to the Internet to ensure I knew the meaning of words. I strongly recommend that not only this novel but probably all of this series be read on a Kindle for the above reasons.
All of the various threads were tied up nicely by the end of the novel and with a nice twist at the end to top it off. Make sure you read the Author’s Notes at the end. The one problem I did have with this novel in that it did not grab my attention and hold it so that I could not put it down. To be honest, this problem may have its roots in events happening around me, but the fact remains, it took me much longer to read this novel than usual. I still strongly recommend reading it even if this would be the first novel of this period. I rate this novel with four stars.
I have received a free kindle version of this novel through NetGalley from Severn House with a request for an honest, unbiased review. I wish to thank Severn House for the opportunity to read this novel early.
The novel opens during the Hundred Years War in France with two incidences of the torture and murder of women.. Others present were just killed. There are 16 novels of this series that I have not read, so it is not what I was used to, but I cannot say if the author had swam through these literary waters before.
Shift the timeframe forward 18 years, and a royal ship surreptitiously transporting gold to Calais blows up in the Thames. Only the master survived for a while. He rambled about a red-haired demon garbed like a woman with a painted white face. Then, there appears to be a serial murderer loose in London who is killing prostitutes, strips them naked, puts a red wig on them and sets them adrift in a small boat on the Thames. Unfortunately, the murders expand beyond prostitutes and closer to Brother Athelstan. The novel takes off from here with Brother Athelstan and the Lord High Coroner, Sir John Cranston in the thick of it.
The main storyline proceeds with many twists and turns to keep the reader’s interest. The author weaves several parallel storylines including a treasure hunt in the Brother Athelstan’s church cemetery and group of French Officials seeking the leader of the torture and killings of 18 years earlier.
The B-storyline now in the 19th novel in the series appears to be well set. There is some history revealed about Brother Athelstan, Sir John Cranston, his bailiff, Flaxwith. The Parish Council is there along with the housekeeper. Making an appearance in this novel is the Fisher of Men and his crew who ply the waters of the Thames looking for those poor souls who drowned or whose bodies were disposed by dumping them into the Thames.
It is true that there is much violence and most of it described in the present tense, i.e., as it is happening, vice being described later. The description of violence is not overly graphic or gratuitous. There is some swearing, but of the 14th century kind. Readers who do not want to read novels with graphic sex, violence, and offensive language should not have any problems with this novel. The one thing that reader should be warned is the use of medieval terms. The author uses these terms quite often. Having access to the Kindle dictionary is a blessing. While this dictionary holds its own for modern British police procedurals, but more often than not I had to go to the Internet to ensure I knew the meaning of words. I strongly recommend that not only this novel but probably all of this series be read on a Kindle for the above reasons.
All of the various threads were tied up nicely by the end of the novel and with a nice twist at the end to top it off. Make sure you read the Author’s Notes at the end. The one problem I did have with this novel in that it did not grab my attention and hold it so that I could not put it down. To be honest, this problem may have its roots in events happening around me, but the fact remains, it took me much longer to read this novel than usual. I still strongly recommend reading it even if this would be the first novel of this period. I rate this novel with four stars.
I have received a free kindle version of this novel through NetGalley from Severn House with a request for an honest, unbiased review. I wish to thank Severn House for the opportunity to read this novel early.
April 13, 2019
To me, as time passes, and the list of Brother Athelstan tales grows, the storys get darker and darker. Others have given the outline to the story, so I will not repeat it. The evil past of men who fought on the English side during the early part of the 100 Years War for Edward III & Richard II catches up with them, men whose consciences have been troubling them: inevitable one thinks of those who have fought in more recent wars and how their experiences affect their mental stability. If you add in the fact that in the 14thC most, if not all, in the land were at least nominal Christians, there is an underlying spiritual fear to their misdeeds, especially given the teachings of the church at that time and the images it projected. Stalking them, and local whores is an evil presence that operates without any mercy.
As always I get pleasure from trying to pick the killer or killers involved and this time (for often I get it wrong), I was right, though I did not pick up some of the twists and implications and had to wait for Brother Athelstan's exposee towards the end of the book.
I read it in a day and a half - if I had not had jobs to do I would have read it in a day as I found it hard to put down.
Confession time: I am a Brother Athelstone addict.
As always I get pleasure from trying to pick the killer or killers involved and this time (for often I get it wrong), I was right, though I did not pick up some of the twists and implications and had to wait for Brother Athelstan's exposee towards the end of the book.
I read it in a day and a half - if I had not had jobs to do I would have read it in a day as I found it hard to put down.
Confession time: I am a Brother Athelstone addict.
December 27, 2018
This is yet another excellent medieval mystery featuring Brother Athelstan and Sir John Cranston.
November 1381. London has been rocked by a series of bizarre and brutal murders. The corpses of a number of prostitutes have been discovered, their throats slit, their bodies stripped; in each case, a blood-red wig has been placed on their heads. At the same time, a mysterious explosion rips through a royal war cog bound for Calais, killing all on board. Could there be a connection? Summoned to assist in the investigations by Sir John Cranston, Brother Athelstan uncovers rumours that the mysterious Oriflamme is responsible. But who - or what - exactly is he ... and why has he suddenly reappeared after almost twenty years?
Doherty knows how to weave a good story. He conjures up medieval England, sights, sounds and smells. The mystery is gripping and the interaction between Cranston and Athelstan is excellent. This series shows no signs of flagging. Another great addition to the series.
November 1381. London has been rocked by a series of bizarre and brutal murders. The corpses of a number of prostitutes have been discovered, their throats slit, their bodies stripped; in each case, a blood-red wig has been placed on their heads. At the same time, a mysterious explosion rips through a royal war cog bound for Calais, killing all on board. Could there be a connection? Summoned to assist in the investigations by Sir John Cranston, Brother Athelstan uncovers rumours that the mysterious Oriflamme is responsible. But who - or what - exactly is he ... and why has he suddenly reappeared after almost twenty years?
Doherty knows how to weave a good story. He conjures up medieval England, sights, sounds and smells. The mystery is gripping and the interaction between Cranston and Athelstan is excellent. This series shows no signs of flagging. Another great addition to the series.
May 21, 2019
I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with these books. The stories are interesting and the characters have huge potential. I want to love them so much.
However, I find it really difficult to stay engaged in the story because of the repetitiveness of the dialogue. The phrase "miraculous wineskin" appears 9 times in this book which actually seems to be an improvement over the previous entries in this series. The "monk" vs. "friar" joke is also present in every single book, several times. It seems rote and dated at this point.
Finally, the conversation between characters is stilted. Presumably, these are people that have known and interacted with each other for a good deal of time. The tone, however, is very formal and I never feel as though there is any progression in their day to day relationships.
Based on the mostly great reviews for Paul Doherty's books, I'm definitely willing to accept that these are issues that pertain only to me and my eccentricities. But it really is a shame because I so want to enjoy these stories.
However, I find it really difficult to stay engaged in the story because of the repetitiveness of the dialogue. The phrase "miraculous wineskin" appears 9 times in this book which actually seems to be an improvement over the previous entries in this series. The "monk" vs. "friar" joke is also present in every single book, several times. It seems rote and dated at this point.
Finally, the conversation between characters is stilted. Presumably, these are people that have known and interacted with each other for a good deal of time. The tone, however, is very formal and I never feel as though there is any progression in their day to day relationships.
Based on the mostly great reviews for Paul Doherty's books, I'm definitely willing to accept that these are issues that pertain only to me and my eccentricities. But it really is a shame because I so want to enjoy these stories.
May 26, 2021
Another excellently crafted sorrowful mystery of Brother Athelstan, this time a truly gruesome series of crimes tied to the events of the Hundred Years’ War. As Doherty himself points out in his Author’s Nite, serial killers are not a new phenomenon, we are just able to track them more efficiently today. And this time, Athelstan and Sir John Cranston are tracking a brutal and psychopathic serial killer who is attacking both whores and members of the Guild of Watermen, many of whom were members of a war barge called “Le Sans Dieu”, and who pillaged, killed, and plundered their way back to England in the 1360s. Some of these men, however, led by a character called the Oriflamme, raped and tortured too, and left their victims wearing the red wigs traditionally worn by whores. Now, it seems, the Oriflamme is back at work in London, leaving his MO all over the victims, and seemingly coming and going like a ghost. Will Athelstan and Sir John be able to figure out who the Oriflamme actually is, and will they catch him before the body count reaches epic proportions?
April 4, 2019
Brilliant
As usual, Paul Doherty brings life to history. The crimes reflect the hurling times, yet are made personal through the involvement of Brother Athelstan and his parishioners. The dreadful actions range across the Thames and the Channel, bringing the past to the present, disturbing the memories and lives of many. The ingenuity of the perpetrators is finally unraveled and laid out in damning detail, only to be blocked by an insurmountable defense. Brother Athelstan must devise a way to thwart this and bring justice for the living and the dead.
As usual, Paul Doherty brings life to history. The crimes reflect the hurling times, yet are made personal through the involvement of Brother Athelstan and his parishioners. The dreadful actions range across the Thames and the Channel, bringing the past to the present, disturbing the memories and lives of many. The ingenuity of the perpetrators is finally unraveled and laid out in damning detail, only to be blocked by an insurmountable defense. Brother Athelstan must devise a way to thwart this and bring justice for the living and the dead.
March 7, 2019
1381 and it would seem that the sins of the past have come to London as a series of brutal murders of women have been discovered. Does this have an connection to the mysterious explosion aboard a ship heading for Calais, killing all the crew. Then more deaths are perpetrated. Sir John Cranston and Brother Athelstan investigate.
An interesting and enjoyable well-written mystery with these two delightful characters. The book can easily be read as a standalone story.
A NetGalley Book
An interesting and enjoyable well-written mystery with these two delightful characters. The book can easily be read as a standalone story.
A NetGalley Book
August 23, 2019
Why the low stars if this is one of the best series Doherty has written? (Which it is.) It's worthy of being turned into a TV series like Cadfael. The problems: Doherty is stuck in a rut, or in Doherty's case, a locked room. It's been the scenario for several books in the series now. That, and he senselessly kills off a beloved character, and puts them in said locked room. Overkill. One gets the sense Doherty doesn't care about this series anymore.
September 27, 2019
It is a good and clever medieval mystery and I enjoyed the book. Only a few anachronisms annoyed me, The Knave of Hearts would have been called The Knave of Cups, modern suits not having been developed until much later. The other one was The Prospect of Whitby, which is not in Queenhithe and was named that after being rebuilt in the 19th century. The name comes from a Tyne collier that used to berth next to the pub.
April 8, 2023
Dark book. If the descriptions of 14th century London are accurate, it’s a wonder humankind made it to the 21st century. I almost didn’t read it because the prologue was dark and I don’t like to read explicit violence (I make too many images in my head to get forget…).
The author tells a great story and you end up needing to know how the story can possibly get tied up with justice. Evil is real, be prepared.
The author tells a great story and you end up needing to know how the story can possibly get tied up with justice. Evil is real, be prepared.
July 29, 2023
I haven't read a Brother Athelstan mystery for a while, and I think that I may have missed a few intervening novels in the series. However, it seems that the series is running out of steam. What made the series enjoyable, the interaction between Athelstan and his parishioners and the antics of Sir John Cranston, King's Coroner are minimal here. The basic story is interesting but it seems to require too much explanation at the end.
June 28, 2025
The Godless
Women, prostitutes, are being murdered. Their throats cut and a red wig had been put on their heads. A cog blows up while sailing down the Thames. Members of an old crew of mercenaries are all so being murdered. Athelstan must find the killer by looking into the past. Members of his parish are threatened too. We learn about the hidden past of Mole skin and Godbless. A great read. I enjoyed it.
Women, prostitutes, are being murdered. Their throats cut and a red wig had been put on their heads. A cog blows up while sailing down the Thames. Members of an old crew of mercenaries are all so being murdered. Athelstan must find the killer by looking into the past. Members of his parish are threatened too. We learn about the hidden past of Mole skin and Godbless. A great read. I enjoyed it.
April 10, 2019
Another Excellent Mystery
These never get old. Wonderfully crafted tale. You really feel like you're in 14th century London. This time I managed to guess "who done it" before the reveal, but not HOW it was done. I recommend this entire series to you.
These never get old. Wonderfully crafted tale. You really feel like you're in 14th century London. This time I managed to guess "who done it" before the reveal, but not HOW it was done. I recommend this entire series to you.
July 11, 2019
I used to love this series but the last few have been so heavy on description and history of the time period that the story and character development are lost. Sadly they are no longer holding my interest.
September 19, 2019
Tedious. I have read many Paul Doherty books and really liked the Brother Athelstan books but they are getting silly and fantastical and I couldn't even get through this one. I will be moving on to his other series and hoping they are more straightforward and realistic.
December 15, 2023
Very interesting story
Fascinating history and characters. My only disappointment is the availability of victims convenient to the plot. Very common in mysteries but leaving predictable victims unprotected… a bit weak. Still a great read though.
Fascinating history and characters. My only disappointment is the availability of victims convenient to the plot. Very common in mysteries but leaving predictable victims unprotected… a bit weak. Still a great read though.
December 10, 2018
One of the finest Athelstan mysteries - full review of my preview copy at classicmystery.blog
January 24, 2019
Another excellent Brother Athelston mystery. Full of the smells, sounds and diverse peoples of medieval London.
February 26, 2019
This one was somewhat flat.
Even a big reveal about one of Athelstan's parishoners couldn't raise this one above mediocre.
Even a big reveal about one of Athelstan's parishoners couldn't raise this one above mediocre.
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