The Parisian Prodigal

Fools' Guild #8

by Alan Gordon

“Only a fool would pass this one up.” —Laurie R. King

In 1205, Theophilos—a fool by trade, a family man by choice, and a spy by design—belongs, along with his family, to the Fools’ Guild, a group that secretly maintains the fragile order of society. In Toulouse, that order is threatened when, unexpectedly, a man claiming to be a full brother of the ruling count is found one morning in a local bordello next to a dead whore, killed with his own sword. Now, Theophilos and his family must uncover the truth.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Historical Mystery, Medieval, Adventure

336 pages, Hardcover

First published January 19, 2010

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Alan Gordon is the author of the Fools' Guild mysteries. His short fiction and essays have appeared in Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine, The Drood Review of Mystery and the Medieval Academy Newsletter. He lives in New York City with his wife, Judy Downer, and son, Robert. By day, he is a lawyer with the Legal Aid Society.

Series:
* Fools' Guild

Reviews

[Spuddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been holding back from reading this book for years. I'm not your typical reader who devours their favorite series books the minute it comes out--I typically delay reading the most recent one because once that's finished, then I am at the author's mercy as to when I can get my hands on the next one. I like to maintain that little modicum of control and will usually read the most recent once I hear about the next one's release date.

Sadly, for this series, that never came. I waited, and waited...and waited. It got to be years on, and I still could not make myself read this final missive in the series. This the last book in my second-favorite historical mystery series--but that's not meant to be a slight, since my very favorite series is the incomparable Ellis Peters' "Brother Cadfael." This is the only other mystery series (historical or otherwise!) that I went back and collected the entire series in hardcover for my Keeper shelf. I continue to harbor a vague hope that one day the series will continue.

From the first book (Thirteenth Night) on, the author captured me and carted me off to the medieval world of Theophilos the Fool and his friends and family of the Fools Guild, a secret spy organization. Theo has assumed many different names over the course of the books, and in this last book, he continues living in the city of Toulouse in the guise of Tan Pierre, Chief Fool of the city. His wife Claudia (now known as Domina Gile), their twelve-year-old apprentice Helga and their infant daughter Portia complete the family of Fools, and in this book, they all work together to discover who REALLY killed La Rossa, a beautiful redheaded prostitute at a local bordel. Because they're relatively certain it wasn't Baudoin, the man found sleeping next to her brutally murdered body. The fact that he has just recently arrived in the city claiming to be the full brother of the ruling count opens up a lot of possibilities as to who would want to set him up, but as usual, the political machinations of the medieval court are layers upon layers of deceptions, secrets and unknown motives.

If you enjoy a good literary mystery, full of fabulous wordplay and able to immerse you in the time and place in which it occurs, I implore you to read this series! Start at the beginning. A lot happens in the progression of time that (in my opinion) will make a lot more sense when read in order. The only positive thing about having read this last book in the series is that now I am free to start at the beginning and enjoy them all again!

[Alison C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Theophilos is now installed as the Chief Fool of Toulouse, still working on the plan of bringing Fosc in as the new bishop there. But first, a stranger arrives, claiming to be the Count’s long-lost full brother, a brother the Count of Toulouse did not know he had. Envoys are sent to Paris to discover the truth about this man, but in the meantime the stranger is found one morning at a bordello in bed with a prostitute, a very dead prostitute killed by his own ornate knife. Something about this sits wrong with Theophilos, so he decides to investigate, stirring up more trouble than even he had counted on….This is the eighth and, alas, the last of the Fools’ Guild Mysteries by Alan Gordon (at least, I assume it’s the last as there have been no new entries since this one, published in 2010). Theo, his jester wife Claudia, their brilliant apprentice Helga and their almost-a-toddler daughter Portia are all vividly drawn and entirely believable in this medieval setting; there is time spent on the casual cruel deflowering of servant girls by careless aristocrats and on the difficult conditions of prostitutes in this world, but there is also time spent on family togetherness and friendship bonds. Oh, and intrigue and murder and lots of foolery too. I recommend this series very highly, especially if the medieval period in Europe interests you, but please start at the beginning (“Thirteenth Night”) and carry on from there!

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Gordon's books, about a Fool who is foolish yet also deadly serious. Delicious.

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Theos and Claudia, under their assumed names have settled in as the fools in Toulouse. Very quickly, a previously unknown brother to the Count of Toulouse arrives and becomes implicated in the murder of a famously beautiful prostitute. Theos is manipulated into investigating this man’s innocence, Claudia chooses to help, then compete in this endeavor and the Count also has a mercenary, Sancho, following their activities while digging around himself. This tangled plot suggests first one then another suspect, even the erstwhile brother, with the action flying off in many directions.
Claudia and Theos meanwhile grow more attached to their apprentice Helga who proves her capability and worth many times.
A satisfying tale with plenty of possibilities and a charming saga of the fool family. I look forward to reading the earlier books in this series that I have missed and any sequels that are written!

[Red Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

As beautifully-written, evocative and meticulously-researched as all the rest of the series. And with as sad a conclusion to the mystery that nonetheless carries some hope too.

I very much hope Alan Gordon can get prevailed upon to keep writing this series. There is so much more to find out about these characters.

[Thea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent mystery in the superb Fools Guild series.

Another fascinating volume in a series rich in historical and literary allusions, with compelling characters, real humanity, and wonderful wordplay, wit, and humor. I hope so much that Mr. Gordon will continue to add to the series. His writing is brilliant, and the books are a joy to read.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read some of his earlier books in the series and enjoyed quite a bit
this one is just as entertaining, the Mystery is enough to keep one guessing albeit a little easy but he twists and turns enough that when the murder is found out and put to death you are satisfied that he deserved it

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

This appears to be the last in this series of mysteries dressed up in white face and motley. These were well worth reading if for no other reason than the humor, punning, word plays and general foolishness. Yet Gordon wove history into frivolity, making these educational as well as entertaining.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite series, done too soon.

[Mira · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourite series ever and this final instalment was perfect. I’m heartbroken that there are no more stories of Theo and his foolish family. 💔

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light historical mystery, cosy and amusing.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite series and this may be the last installment--or at least I haven't seen any others listed. Each book is stand alone but it is nice to have read the series from the start to see the progression in the life of Theophilos ( the name of one of my ancestors also and one that my husband nixed if we should have a son, sigh) a fool and spy belonging to the Fool's Guide of the 13th century. In this installment his daughter, Portia, is already 15 months old and quite precocious; his apprentice, Helga, is fast becoming ready to become a full-fledged fool as well as a teen with an eye for the boys; his wife, Claudia, is missing her royal children whom she left behind when her first husband, a duke, died and Theophilos is in the middle of a mystery involving the sudden appearance of a 40 year old Parisian who claims to be the long lost brother of the ruler of Toulouse, where Theo is the Chief Fool.

Seems the prodigal, Baudoin, is found asleep in a brothel, next to the corpse of his companion of the evening, La Rossa. His dagger is in her breast but he claims not to be the murderer, of course. In his usual fashion, Alan Gordon, takes us on a merry but dangerous caper to find the truth. This author is so amazing--whenever I read one of the books I feel as though I am right there alongside the characters and that I could walk the cobbled streets without them and be recognized. It is the most extraordinary sense of immersion I've ever experienced with any author. It all feels so real and the dialog so natural. Just a day's delight. I hope there will be a new installment soon.

[Tripleguess · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this book up at random in the library, since it had a medieval setting and involved jesters (something I've wanted to learn more about).

I seemed to have been plunged in mid-series... I got the big picture, but to be honest, after a while, the particulars of the different nobles started whooshing right by me and I'm still not certain which one tried to steal Theo's wife.

It was fairly interesting and humorous, but did it have to be quite that soaked in construction yard/Hooters type dialogue? Theo, admirably, is loyal to his wife, but sometimes sorta wishes he wasn't or didn't have to be, I'm not sure which. At least the dirtiest stuff takes place offscene.

[spoiler:]


La Rossa, IMHO, deserved what she got -- I think a little modern PCishness snuck in here trying to give her a certain amount of automatic sympathy because she was female and a prostitute, but that doesn't change the fact that she did in fact have her brother murdered, which was stupid on top of evil because he might have taken care of her had he returned alive. Nothing like cutting holes in your own life boat, no sir.

I'm still debating whether learning more about jesters is worth picking up more books in this series.

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

There is a certain style of books which I suspect is promoted by American creative writing courses, to which this, and probably the rest of the series it forms part of, belong. It has a certain smugness, of the main characters who are cleverer and in on secrets, in a very modern, but definitely not medieval fashion. The whore as all beautiful, the fools are all brilliant acrobats and entertainers and the nobles are either roud and good leaders or somehow sociopathic, but in a modern way. The anachronistic effect of such modern people in a medieval setting is really a theme which has been handled much better by L Sprague De Camp in Lest Darkness Falls, which while being a slightly different genre of alternative history, is really the model for fiction like this. It is meant to be a murder mystery, set in medieval France. The author continually lets us know that he is aware that southern France spoke Languedoc and not the Parisian French. Let up already! We know that in people in medieval France spoke many languages but because you have learned a little about this don't stuff it in our faces all the time-it didn't add to the plot, the characters or the background. In the end I finished this but was not surprised by the denouement. This is only for the fans I think.

[Christopher Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is last book in the series so far (hopefully more on the way!), but it is set between two previous books. This is one of the funniest of the series, and is a bit more light hearted than the earlier books.

This time out the mystery is two fold: is the new fellow that shows up the Count's brother, and who killed the star hooker in a brothel?

There is a minor flaw in that the point of view swaps between Theo and his wife, depending on who is doing what, and she goes from a rather likable character to a termagant. She never misses a chance to bash men, criticize and mock her husband, and generally be mean spirited except toward women. When she's viewed through Theo's eyes, she is a good woman who is pleasant and kind, but when we get inside her head she apparently despises all men and considers them the source of all wrong in the world.

And its not done in a humorish, foolish way, its just mean and bitter. Which detracts considerably from her charms and the book's tone.

But otherwise, its well written and enjoyable, if a bit too modern in its outlook and dialog, and tells the tale well.

[Rick Ludwig · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book of medieval times and investigating jesters. The use of two points of view in telling the story added an excellent depth. This is the most recent book in a series and has stimulated me to go back to the beginning of the series. Humorous and human characters coupled with a nicely woven plot made this a very rewarding read. I always like learning about times and places of which I know little through the conduit of an engaging story. I could have done without the historical footnote at the end as it seemed to close the door on an interesting character, but it was in keeping with the overall style of the book, so all is forgiven. I would recommend this to anyone who likes detective stories set in unusual time frames with unusual detectives involved. This book had a kinship with Steven Saylor's mysteries set in ancient rome and those set in ancient Egypt by others. The added dimension of the organization called the Fool's Guild gives this story another level of complexity that I look forward to exploring in the earlier books in this series.

[Tig · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting characters, the setting is Toulouse, France in 1205. The main character, Theophiles, is the Chief Fool in Toulouse, as well as being a spy and a married man with children. His wife, Claudia, a former Duchess, is also a Fool. They are members of the Fool's Guild, a group that is declared anathema by the Pope. The guild works behind the scenes to stabilize a turbulent Europe.

I liked the plot twists, the humor and the historical details. I did not figure out who did it until almost the end, which is very unusual for me. I typically noodle out the bad guy far too early in the story when it comes to mystery books.

This is the first book that I have read in the Fool's Guild Mystery series. I plan on reading some more titles by this author.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The chief fool of Toulouse must figure out a murder that may threaten the city-state's political stability in the latest Fool's Guild mystery. There's a lot of back story in this, and while it's explained quite well, this is a series that should really be started with the first book and read in order. With the help of his fool-wife, their apprentice (who is posing as their daughter), and various friends, Theophilus deals with the Count of Toulouse and a man who may be his long-lost younger brother--and who is now suspected of murdering a beautiful, tempestuous whore.

[A.M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Parisian Prodigal is the last published book of the Fools' Guild series - at least to date - and was an excellent read with an intriguing mystery. If you haven't embarked on this series, I strongly recommend reading the books in order of publication, starting with Thirteenth Night, because the "back story" is as significant and fascinating as the featured mystery.

I have not heard rumors of a #9, but one can always hope!

[Debye · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 8th book in the Fools Guild mysteries did not disappoint. I love the dialogue, the witty banter, the idea of fools & jesters as network of spies. It is really fun and though it's set in the late 12th c and early 13th century, the settings and historical characters are not the usual well-known people and places. It's the smaller settings that are intriguing. I highly recommend.

[Kathy Davie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, I have to buy the whole series. Feste and his family of fools dives right into your heart. I hope Alan Gordon isn't done with this series! Feste and Claudia's heartstopping encounters will have you racing through the pages. I hope I can learn something from their q-and-a sessions with their masters!

[Wesley Paine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alan Gordon's Fool Guild Mysteries intrigue me and make me laugh. I love novels set in medieval history, and in these the narrators have their tongues firmly in their cheeks. If you've not read any of the series, start with the first one, Thirteenth Night; after that the order doesn't matter as much.

[Traci · Rating 2 out of 5]

I couldn't actually get through this book. Medieval mysteries are not my favorite, but I decided to try this one. I was struggling to get through and it was due back, so I returned it without getting very far. I put it back on my library list in the event I'm desperate for a new author and want to give it another go.

[Jayw]

Dude in a fancy cape arrives in 1200 Toulouse from Paris, claiming he is the Count's secret brother. Soon after, the visitor wakes blood soaked in local brothel with dead whore by his side. Theo the Fool, his wife the bigger fool and apprentice sort out the guilty from innocent in this latest Fool's Guild Mystery.

[SchatzyT · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was surprised how much I enjoyed this book. The story and the characters really drew me in. After reading it, I found out it is the 8th book in a series. However, I didn't realize at the time because it is written in a way that made it a complete story on it's own. I didn't feel like I had jumped into the middle or end of a story.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another entertaining chapter in the Jester series. I understand the comment regarding Theo and Claudia's dialog and sensibilities being modern, not medieval, but their relationship and dialog is what makes the series so entertaining to me.

[Theresa]

good book. I wish he'd hurry up and write another one

[Susan Baumgartner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always thoroughly enjoy these tales. Excellent wit and fun storylines.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series, and the latest book does not disappoint. I can't wait for the next one!

[Fuschia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked this, entertaining! Didn't realize was part of a series, will read #7 next (as they seem to be related) then start at #1.