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Inges: A Jacobean Tragedy of Murder, Witchcraft, Revenge & Cats
Inges is not a good cat. Sure, he saves the day, helps the weak, tweaks the noses of kings and wins the hearts of beauties. But he’s no hero: he’s just looking after number one.
England 1621: A killer stalks the Yorkshire Dales and when Inges’ human is accused of witchcraft he is forced leave his quiet rural home for the grime and glamour of Jacobean London. His search for justice will entangle him in a sinister plot that has its claws in the highest levels of English society - and beyond.
With a cast of swaggering kings, heroic frogs, drunken playwrights and deadly assassins, Inges is a genre-hopping historical murder mystery set against the backdrop of religious war, political intrigue and paranoia in 17th Century Europe.
The untold and unlikely story of one of England’s most notorious witch trials as seen through the mismatched eyes of a self-absorbed, cynical, but ultimately likeable, cat.
Based on a true story. A Jacobean Tragedy. With cats.
England 1621: A killer stalks the Yorkshire Dales and when Inges’ human is accused of witchcraft he is forced leave his quiet rural home for the grime and glamour of Jacobean London. His search for justice will entangle him in a sinister plot that has its claws in the highest levels of English society - and beyond.
With a cast of swaggering kings, heroic frogs, drunken playwrights and deadly assassins, Inges is a genre-hopping historical murder mystery set against the backdrop of religious war, political intrigue and paranoia in 17th Century Europe.
The untold and unlikely story of one of England’s most notorious witch trials as seen through the mismatched eyes of a self-absorbed, cynical, but ultimately likeable, cat.
Based on a true story. A Jacobean Tragedy. With cats.
238 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 11, 2021
19 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
About the author
John Brunsdon
8 books2 followersJohn Brunsdon is a former BBC journalist and award-winning feature writer. He lives in the Cotswolds with his partner and their cat, Pi.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 16, 2021
I loved this book. Yes bad things happen to good frogs, and some cats die (which is usually a NO for me) but they are not shreddies, they make their own choices, some of them, for cats, surprisingly selfless choices too. I fell in love with the book by the 4th paragraph when Inges (the narrator) announced that the events took place in 1621 but he calls it Year Nine, because he was born nine years before 1621 and as far as he is concerned all the previous years have no importance.
Inges tells the complicated and bloody story of a huge conspiracy involving murder, witchcraft and - naturally cats, but also rats, a frog, a snail and some dogs - in the reign of James I. He is an imp in the body of a cat, which means he can talk, but he doesn't, or not (usually) to humans, and has intelligence and abilities a little beyond those of ordinary cats. The story is based on a genuine witch trial, but how genuine Ignes' story is is left to the reader.
It is tragic, but also very funny. Ignes, arriving in a London fish market sees a row of scallops - orange and white goodness - laid out on their shellls like little dishes - and naturally assumes it is a cat buffet. ...he gets through a surprising amount before the stallholder sees him...later he forms an unusual alliance with a Catholic rat, who came over with the Armada, who explains about scallop shells and St Iago, leaving Ignes not a great deal the wiser.
(I do feel bound to point out, in the interests of historical accuracy that Pope Gregory IXth did not send out a Papal Bull called 'Vox in Rama' ordering the general murder of cats - the document (not a Bull, by the way) is available in translation and anyone can check this and nor did Innocent VIII excommunicate cats (which would have involved, amongst other penalties, forbidding them to get married in church...which cats couldn't do anyway) nor did he order witches cats to be burned with them. But as this is related by a seriously mad cat perhaps we are not supposed to take it seriously)
I do hope this author writes more.
Inges tells the complicated and bloody story of a huge conspiracy involving murder, witchcraft and - naturally cats, but also rats, a frog, a snail and some dogs - in the reign of James I. He is an imp in the body of a cat, which means he can talk, but he doesn't, or not (usually) to humans, and has intelligence and abilities a little beyond those of ordinary cats. The story is based on a genuine witch trial, but how genuine Ignes' story is is left to the reader.
It is tragic, but also very funny. Ignes, arriving in a London fish market sees a row of scallops - orange and white goodness - laid out on their shellls like little dishes - and naturally assumes it is a cat buffet. ...he gets through a surprising amount before the stallholder sees him...later he forms an unusual alliance with a Catholic rat, who came over with the Armada, who explains about scallop shells and St Iago, leaving Ignes not a great deal the wiser.
(I do feel bound to point out, in the interests of historical accuracy that Pope Gregory IXth did not send out a Papal Bull called 'Vox in Rama' ordering the general murder of cats - the document (not a Bull, by the way) is available in translation and anyone can check this and nor did Innocent VIII excommunicate cats (which would have involved, amongst other penalties, forbidding them to get married in church...which cats couldn't do anyway) nor did he order witches cats to be burned with them. But as this is related by a seriously mad cat perhaps we are not supposed to take it seriously)
I do hope this author writes more.
April 17, 2021
I cannot recommend this book highly enough if you are interested in in either history or witches. It is the inside story of the Jacobean witch hunts from the point of view we never normally see- the familiar, or imp. In this case our hero is Inges, who is battling to save his 'soul' and some others from treachery and treason.
Often, stories written from an animal's viewpoint are twee and anthropomorphic. Not this one. Inges is definitely a cat, and two other imps he meets on the way, Barbara the frog and a snail called Alexander, also have their own quirks as befit their animal form.
So the book changes gear from tragedy to comedy, with a human cast playing parts that generally are far inferior to Inges. These are seamless switches, and sometimes so sudden you have to go back and re-read it to make sure what you have just read.
Brilliant read.
Often, stories written from an animal's viewpoint are twee and anthropomorphic. Not this one. Inges is definitely a cat, and two other imps he meets on the way, Barbara the frog and a snail called Alexander, also have their own quirks as befit their animal form.
So the book changes gear from tragedy to comedy, with a human cast playing parts that generally are far inferior to Inges. These are seamless switches, and sometimes so sudden you have to go back and re-read it to make sure what you have just read.
Brilliant read.
February 8, 2021
I enjoyed this book. It was clever, there was humor in it, and Inges was just as you would expect a cat to be. I would love to read more like this.
March 30, 2022
What a stunning book
I happened upon this book through my Kindle recommendations and I'm so glad I did. The story is wonderful, as are the characters. I especially love the way it is narrated by the hero of the story, who happens to be a cat! I'm recommending this book to all of my friends!
I happened upon this book through my Kindle recommendations and I'm so glad I did. The story is wonderful, as are the characters. I especially love the way it is narrated by the hero of the story, who happens to be a cat! I'm recommending this book to all of my friends!
October 10, 2024
I really enjoyed this, it was confusing in places but really unique and weird. A strange perspective but it made it really interesting - almost like stepping into another universe. I loved the concept of it too.
July 28, 2021
Clever idea, but ,,,,
I liked the story to start with but soon began to skim. It was a bit too convoluted, too many different characters. Not really sure who the book was aimed at.
I liked the story to start with but soon began to skim. It was a bit too convoluted, too many different characters. Not really sure who the book was aimed at.
September 23, 2021
Loved this
Hugely enjoyed this unusual tale of a cat called Inges. Highly recommend this to lovers of cats and fantasy alike.
Hugely enjoyed this unusual tale of a cat called Inges. Highly recommend this to lovers of cats and fantasy alike.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews