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Sir Robert Carey #1
A Famine of Horses
Carlisle 1592.
The only law on the Scottish Border is the elegant Sir Robert Carey - newly appointed Deputy Warden - and his seven dubious henchmen. He has wangled his appointment to be nearer his true love. And of course, he can use the money....
His first case is dealing with the corpse of the youngest, dearest and most violent member of the notorious Graham clan. And there is the question of horses. Hundreds of horses being stolen from all over the Border...
Rich in atmosphere and packed with vivid real and fictional characters, few novels are as well imagined or as much fun as this romp through roguish courtiers, rival gangs, rustling, treason, and high ambition.
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 156 reviews
January 4, 2019
5★
“‘Can ye ride, sir?’ Dodd asked solicitously. Carey lowered himself down in the saddle like a maiden sitting for the first time on her wedding morning, took a deep breath, held it and nodded. Dodd was sorry to see that the bounce seemed to have quite gone out of him.”
Trust me, the bounce would have gone out of you if you’d been as battered and bruised as Robert Carey had been, but I’m getting ahead of myself. This is the beginning of what looks like becoming a favourite historical series. I don’t think you have to have Scottish blood to appreciate the raw history of the border wars that went on between England and Scotland (not to mention the Debateable Lands) for centuries.
I get thoroughly absorbed in good historical fiction if it’s entertaining and well-researched. I can vouch for the first part, and everything I’ve checked about the research seems to stand up. The author wrote an excellent forward that says what attracted her to this project. (She writes other works under her real name, Patricia Finney, and another series for Young Adults as Grace Cavendish, Grace being the young girl who narrates that series.)
“This was irresistible to me. In anachronistic terms, here was this fancy-dressing, fancy-talking Court dude turning up in England’s Wild West. The Anglo-Scottish Border at that time made Dodge City look like a health farm. It was the most chaotic part of the kingdom and was full of cattle-rustlers, murderers, arsonists, horse-thieves, kidnappers and general all-purpose outlaws. This was where they invented the word ‘gang’—or the men ‘ye gang oot wi’’ —and also the word ‘blackmail’ which then simply meant protection money.”
I learned something right there. I did not know that’s where the word gang comes from, and I’ve found no reason to doubt her. I know “gehen” in German, meaning “to go”, so it’s an easy jump to the men you go out with. And I must say, my experience is that the Scottish accent, or burr, seems to stick (like a burr, yes) longer than other accents. Most people seem to modify it enough that other English-speakers can (mostly) understand them, but back in the company of their own, goodness help you, as Sir Robert’s servant discovered.
“Barnabus Cooke had been too much of a fool to grab the offer and stay in London where he could understand what men said.”
But Barnabus followed because he was responsible for his young nephew Simon, who is going with him to the border country, where Carey has accepted an appointment as Deputy Warden, second to the Warden, his brother-in-law. His sister, Philadelphia, is an absolutely delightful, slightly scatterbrained, girly sort of girl, who just adores her brother. Her husband? Not so adorable.
When Carey arrives, we are inundated with Scottish terms and names, but mostly I can figure them out, although Google is certainly a help. I’d appreciate some footnotes, but I’ll add a few at the end for anyone who might like them.
Carey is the instant enemy of Lowther, who expected to be promoted to Deputy, but Queen Elizabeth the First, yes Good Queen Bess, the Maiden Queen, daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, quite fancied handsome Sir Robert and enjoyed having him around. Fortunately for him, she fancied Essex more, so he wasn’t expected to grovel quite as much but could still count on support, and she needs support up on the borders.
Carey's father was the son of Anne Boleyn's older sister, Mary, (The Other Boleyn Girl). Not only that, Mary had been King Henry's mistress, and Carey's father was widely believed to be their son, not her husband's.
The plot thickens. He's at least a cousin to the Queen, possibly a half-brother, living in wild and woolly times. I like what the author said in her opening remarks.
“As I say in most of the historical talks I give, we like to think we’re terribly violent and dangerous people but really we’re a bunch of wusses. The murder rate has dropped to a tenth of what it was in the Middle Ages—and they didn’t have automatic pistols. It took real work to kill somebody.”
Of course, farming, hunting, and cooking meant knowing how to raise, kill, and skin animals. And many people died young of disease and injury, so perhaps life was a bit cheap then, as my mother used to say. Whatever, they were a blood-thirsty lot, and many’s the arrow that’s stuck in a limb, but we’re not overwhelmed with thriller-type gore.
There’s plenty of derring-do, secrets, double-dealing, a murder to solve, some clever ruses, and a couple of hair-raising adventures, one of which reminds me of the film of the Shawshank Redemption which came out the same year this was published, so just a coincidence, I imagine. Eugh!
I quite liked Carey's explanation of why the rule of law is needed. If a crime is committed, and a family takes it into their own hands to avenge it, that leads to an ongoing feud, much like our gang wars today, where it's an eye for an eye, even if it's not the right eye. And on it goes. However, if the accused is brought to trial, the burden of revenge is on the Queen (or the State) who is to ensure justice is done. If it's a death sentence, a family can't seek revenge against the Queen because that would be treason.
I found it just right for my tastes, and I’m really looking forward to the rest. There is enough of a romantic touch here and there, which is always fun. And there are characters I look forward to meeting in the next episode/instalment/book!
The names certainly take getting used to. Geordie Graham, known as Sweetmilk, youngest son of Jock of the Peartree; Cuthbert Graham, known as Bangtail; Red Sandy Dodd. The list goes on, but it’s not too hard to keep track.
Still, I’d have liked a cast of characters, relationships (EVERYBODY is related to each other in some way or other, even some mortal enemies), and a glossary, because I’m basically lazy.
Here are a few words or phrases, with thanks to Wikipedia for some definitions:
book-a-bosom man - “. . . one of the many ruined churches of Carlisle: this one had a churchman in it, a book-a-bosom man who spent most of his time travelling about the country catching up with the weddings and christenings.”
Of course, that’s how the priest would stand, with the prayer book held open up to his chest so he could read from it. Great descriptive phrase.
clyster - an enema that the surgeon offers to put in to guard against infection after bloodletting and cleaning up a wound. The offer was declined.
coney, coney-catcher - a con-man, trickster and someone who might call them out.
the Debateable Lands - an area between Scotland and England where neither side's rules seemed to apply
jack – a kind of sleeveless doublet into which plates of steel were stitched.
marches - these were areas around the border, and Carey was Deputy Warden of the West March
peel tower - a defensive structure on great houses in the border country of England for warning and defence against the marauding Scots. Apparently, there was an English law that these must have an iron basket on top and whatever was needed for a smoke signal.
reiver = raider, rustler, and a reived horse or cow is a stolen one
riding surname roughly equivalent to a clan name
shielings - huts in pastures where were the men stayed sometimes
This is also available in the Omnibus collection of the first three books, Guns in the North.
A few photos below of the area. Sorry they may not show up on Goodreads apps.
Carey is made Deputy Warden of the West March (aqua)
Carlisle Castle, Carey's base
Smailholm Tower
Courtesy of Dave souza - Own work, CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
A leather jack, worn by all the men when they expected to see action or were travelling
“‘Can ye ride, sir?’ Dodd asked solicitously. Carey lowered himself down in the saddle like a maiden sitting for the first time on her wedding morning, took a deep breath, held it and nodded. Dodd was sorry to see that the bounce seemed to have quite gone out of him.”
Trust me, the bounce would have gone out of you if you’d been as battered and bruised as Robert Carey had been, but I’m getting ahead of myself. This is the beginning of what looks like becoming a favourite historical series. I don’t think you have to have Scottish blood to appreciate the raw history of the border wars that went on between England and Scotland (not to mention the Debateable Lands) for centuries.
I get thoroughly absorbed in good historical fiction if it’s entertaining and well-researched. I can vouch for the first part, and everything I’ve checked about the research seems to stand up. The author wrote an excellent forward that says what attracted her to this project. (She writes other works under her real name, Patricia Finney, and another series for Young Adults as Grace Cavendish, Grace being the young girl who narrates that series.)
“This was irresistible to me. In anachronistic terms, here was this fancy-dressing, fancy-talking Court dude turning up in England’s Wild West. The Anglo-Scottish Border at that time made Dodge City look like a health farm. It was the most chaotic part of the kingdom and was full of cattle-rustlers, murderers, arsonists, horse-thieves, kidnappers and general all-purpose outlaws. This was where they invented the word ‘gang’—or the men ‘ye gang oot wi’’ —and also the word ‘blackmail’ which then simply meant protection money.”
I learned something right there. I did not know that’s where the word gang comes from, and I’ve found no reason to doubt her. I know “gehen” in German, meaning “to go”, so it’s an easy jump to the men you go out with. And I must say, my experience is that the Scottish accent, or burr, seems to stick (like a burr, yes) longer than other accents. Most people seem to modify it enough that other English-speakers can (mostly) understand them, but back in the company of their own, goodness help you, as Sir Robert’s servant discovered.
“Barnabus Cooke had been too much of a fool to grab the offer and stay in London where he could understand what men said.”
But Barnabus followed because he was responsible for his young nephew Simon, who is going with him to the border country, where Carey has accepted an appointment as Deputy Warden, second to the Warden, his brother-in-law. His sister, Philadelphia, is an absolutely delightful, slightly scatterbrained, girly sort of girl, who just adores her brother. Her husband? Not so adorable.
When Carey arrives, we are inundated with Scottish terms and names, but mostly I can figure them out, although Google is certainly a help. I’d appreciate some footnotes, but I’ll add a few at the end for anyone who might like them.
Carey is the instant enemy of Lowther, who expected to be promoted to Deputy, but Queen Elizabeth the First, yes Good Queen Bess, the Maiden Queen, daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, quite fancied handsome Sir Robert and enjoyed having him around. Fortunately for him, she fancied Essex more, so he wasn’t expected to grovel quite as much but could still count on support, and she needs support up on the borders.
Carey's father was the son of Anne Boleyn's older sister, Mary, (The Other Boleyn Girl). Not only that, Mary had been King Henry's mistress, and Carey's father was widely believed to be their son, not her husband's.
The plot thickens. He's at least a cousin to the Queen, possibly a half-brother, living in wild and woolly times. I like what the author said in her opening remarks.
“As I say in most of the historical talks I give, we like to think we’re terribly violent and dangerous people but really we’re a bunch of wusses. The murder rate has dropped to a tenth of what it was in the Middle Ages—and they didn’t have automatic pistols. It took real work to kill somebody.”
Of course, farming, hunting, and cooking meant knowing how to raise, kill, and skin animals. And many people died young of disease and injury, so perhaps life was a bit cheap then, as my mother used to say. Whatever, they were a blood-thirsty lot, and many’s the arrow that’s stuck in a limb, but we’re not overwhelmed with thriller-type gore.
There’s plenty of derring-do, secrets, double-dealing, a murder to solve, some clever ruses, and a couple of hair-raising adventures, one of which reminds me of the film of the Shawshank Redemption which came out the same year this was published, so just a coincidence, I imagine. Eugh!
I quite liked Carey's explanation of why the rule of law is needed. If a crime is committed, and a family takes it into their own hands to avenge it, that leads to an ongoing feud, much like our gang wars today, where it's an eye for an eye, even if it's not the right eye. And on it goes. However, if the accused is brought to trial, the burden of revenge is on the Queen (or the State) who is to ensure justice is done. If it's a death sentence, a family can't seek revenge against the Queen because that would be treason.
I found it just right for my tastes, and I’m really looking forward to the rest. There is enough of a romantic touch here and there, which is always fun. And there are characters I look forward to meeting in the next episode/instalment/book!
The names certainly take getting used to. Geordie Graham, known as Sweetmilk, youngest son of Jock of the Peartree; Cuthbert Graham, known as Bangtail; Red Sandy Dodd. The list goes on, but it’s not too hard to keep track.
Still, I’d have liked a cast of characters, relationships (EVERYBODY is related to each other in some way or other, even some mortal enemies), and a glossary, because I’m basically lazy.
Here are a few words or phrases, with thanks to Wikipedia for some definitions:
book-a-bosom man - “. . . one of the many ruined churches of Carlisle: this one had a churchman in it, a book-a-bosom man who spent most of his time travelling about the country catching up with the weddings and christenings.”
Of course, that’s how the priest would stand, with the prayer book held open up to his chest so he could read from it. Great descriptive phrase.
clyster - an enema that the surgeon offers to put in to guard against infection after bloodletting and cleaning up a wound. The offer was declined.
coney, coney-catcher - a con-man, trickster and someone who might call them out.
the Debateable Lands - an area between Scotland and England where neither side's rules seemed to apply
jack – a kind of sleeveless doublet into which plates of steel were stitched.
marches - these were areas around the border, and Carey was Deputy Warden of the West March
peel tower - a defensive structure on great houses in the border country of England for warning and defence against the marauding Scots. Apparently, there was an English law that these must have an iron basket on top and whatever was needed for a smoke signal.
reiver = raider, rustler, and a reived horse or cow is a stolen one
riding surname roughly equivalent to a clan name
shielings - huts in pastures where were the men stayed sometimes
This is also available in the Omnibus collection of the first three books, Guns in the North.
A few photos below of the area. Sorry they may not show up on Goodreads apps.
Carey is made Deputy Warden of the West March (aqua)
Carlisle Castle, Carey's base
Smailholm Tower
Courtesy of Dave souza - Own work, CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
A leather jack, worn by all the men when they expected to see action or were travelling
December 13, 2015
This was a promising start indeed to a new (to me) series. I always enjoy a good historical mystery and this one was very good indeed. The author writes beautifully and I immediately fell for the main character Sir Robert Carey. The story is set in Elizabethan times and the main characters are based on real people from those times. The descriptions of life at that time are gritty and realistic. Think of fleas in your bed, lice in your hair and weevils in your bread. Not good! Sir Robert is charming, smart and honest that last characteristic being in short supply amongst his neighbours. Definitely a five star book. Many thanks to Carolyn for making me aware of it:)
December 2, 2018
Patricia Finney is using the pen name "P.F. Chisholm" for the Robert Carey novels. In them, she may be channeling her inner "Deadwood" since 1592 on England's northern border is every bit as rough and ready as the American West's Dakota Territory in the latter stages of the 19th Century.
Robert Carey is a recognized figure at Court and something of a favorite of Queen Elizabeth. The device for moving him from the world of manners (and backstabbing) to the world of deeds (and front-stabbing) is unimportant. When he arrives at the borderlands garrison (Carlisle) run by his brother-in-law, he is already at odds with the guy who thinks that he should get the job of Deputy Warden.
Finney's historical credentials from Oxford shine though, and for the most part don't overshadow the plot. However, you will have to get used to the slang, contemporary sentence structure and nomenclature of the period. I am sure she is historically correct, but we are presented with a host of nicknames for most of the characters that range from Little Robert and Willie's Simon to Jock of the Peartree and Red Sandy. They also include: Sweetmilk Grahams, Long George, Bangtail, Bessie's Andrew and Young Hutchin (Hutchin the Bastard's boy).
Though the murder is discovered in the first pages, the pace is measured with much time devoted to fleshing out the elements of the garrison and the town. There is a funeral planned and a larger than normal number of horses missing. We follow Carey and his valet Barnabas through all of this. Much is being set up for future novels, but the action is interesting and the resolution of the mystery, satisfactory. Don't skip the introduction........it is essential reading.
Robert Carey is a recognized figure at Court and something of a favorite of Queen Elizabeth. The device for moving him from the world of manners (and backstabbing) to the world of deeds (and front-stabbing) is unimportant. When he arrives at the borderlands garrison (Carlisle) run by his brother-in-law, he is already at odds with the guy who thinks that he should get the job of Deputy Warden.
Finney's historical credentials from Oxford shine though, and for the most part don't overshadow the plot. However, you will have to get used to the slang, contemporary sentence structure and nomenclature of the period. I am sure she is historically correct, but we are presented with a host of nicknames for most of the characters that range from Little Robert and Willie's Simon to Jock of the Peartree and Red Sandy. They also include: Sweetmilk Grahams, Long George, Bangtail, Bessie's Andrew and Young Hutchin (Hutchin the Bastard's boy).
Though the murder is discovered in the first pages, the pace is measured with much time devoted to fleshing out the elements of the garrison and the town. There is a funeral planned and a larger than normal number of horses missing. We follow Carey and his valet Barnabas through all of this. Much is being set up for future novels, but the action is interesting and the resolution of the mystery, satisfactory. Don't skip the introduction........it is essential reading.
October 11, 2015
Based on the real life character of Robert Carey, cousin of Elizabeth I and most likely grandson of Henry VIII (his father was born to Mary Boleyn while she was Henry's mistress) and set in the unstable borderlands between Scotland and England in 1592. Elizabeth I is nearing the end of her reign in England and James VI is on the throne in Scotland. Robert Carey has left his place as a favourite in Elizabeth's court to flee his debtors and take up the position of Deputy Warden in Carlisle at the invitation of his brother in law, Lord Scrope, the Warden. Charged with keeping the peace and dealing with criminals, he has plenty on his hands with the warring factions in England and Scotland. When they're not raiding each others cattle and burning their towers they're busy plotting other ways of attacking each other. Robert arrives in Carlisle just as the body of the son of one of the most powerful groups, the Grahams, is found shot in the back. On top of something has been happening to all the horses, they are being spirited away over the border. Robert suspects they are being amassed at the Graham stronghold and a major raid is being planned but what is the target?
This was a very enjoyable historical mystery. Well written with a touch of humour and sufficient historical detail to fit the time and place but not overburden the story. Robert Carey is a great character, swashbuckling and handsome with an eye for the ladies and some sharp practices he picked up in London but also given to fits of temper. He has an arch enemy in the man he replaced as Deputy Warder, Sir Richard Lowther who will do all he can to see him dead or dishonoured. His unattainable lady, Elizabeth Widdrington is clever and sharp but married and resisting his advances so it will be interesting to see where this relationship heads in future books. Rogues aplenty abound on both sides of the border and Robert's servant Barnabus and his Sergent Dodds, both less than perfect but able to step up to the mark are also sure to develop further in future novels.
December 2, 2018
Absolutely brilliant!
November 9, 2020
I greatly enjoyed this novel. I thought the author did an excellent job of giving the reader a feel for what life in those days may have felt like. This was the first book by P.F. Chisholm that I have read, and it will not be very long before I read the second book in the Sir Robert Carey Mystery series. If you enjoy historical novels, I recommend you try this one.
October 21, 2016
Really enjoyed this! It’s just a lightweight historical mystery, but it’s well written and amusing, and has a great sense of time and place: the late Tudor period, at the chaotic Anglo-Scottish border. The food and clothing and social distinctions felt right, and so did the dialog, without resorting to mayhaps or methinks.
Robert Carey was a real person: his grandmother was Anne Boleyn’s sister Mary, so he was at least a cousin of Queen Elizabeth, and probably her nephew. Despite his connections Carey was a penniless younger son, and in this novel he has accepted an offer of employment as Deputy Warden (a sort of a combination sheriff and marshal) in the English Marches, which was the Wild West of Tudor England.
The author’s forward claims that in this series “about half of the characters really lived”, and the stories are “all based on actual incidents in the history of the Borders”.
The characterizations are very well done, and I especially enjoyed the women, who are capable and active participants in the story while sticking plausibly to their roles in Tudor society. I also really liked the contrasting viewpoints from Carey and Sergeant Dodd.
Robert Carey was a real person: his grandmother was Anne Boleyn’s sister Mary, so he was at least a cousin of Queen Elizabeth, and probably her nephew. Despite his connections Carey was a penniless younger son, and in this novel he has accepted an offer of employment as Deputy Warden (a sort of a combination sheriff and marshal) in the English Marches, which was the Wild West of Tudor England.
The author’s forward claims that in this series “about half of the characters really lived”, and the stories are “all based on actual incidents in the history of the Borders”.
The characterizations are very well done, and I especially enjoyed the women, who are capable and active participants in the story while sticking plausibly to their roles in Tudor society. I also really liked the contrasting viewpoints from Carey and Sergeant Dodd.
February 20, 2011
The first in a terrific series of novels based on Sir Robert Carey, an actual historical figure and a courtier in Queen Elizabeth I's court. The first four books in the series are wonderful. Carey was the second, impecunious son of the Baron Hunsdon, who was posted to the border reaches of northern England and southern Scotland, both as a means of advancing his career and removing him from the reach of his many creditors in London. Terrific secondary characters, grand Elizabethan political plots, and a married love interest (again true life) make for great reading. After the first four books, Chisholm went on to other writing projects, leaving Carey--and legions of Carey fans--in the lurch. She recently completed the fifth book in the series and it's quite frankly not as good, as it tells a terrific story from a different character's viewpoint. Good, but not nearly as good as the first four. I'm hoping Chisholm will take on a sixth Carey novel and get back to the good stuff: Carey, the border wars of the late 16th century, the love story, and court intrigues, that make the first four such great reads.
October 25, 2023
Have to send a shout out to Patty for her wonderful review of this series! An adventurous historical mystery set in late 16th century England. Sir Robert Carey has been assigned the position of Deputy Warden in Northern England on the border of Scotland. There are hints that he is somewhat relieved to be away from London and the court of Elizabeth I. Loved this as the author immerses the reader in the culture and language of the time; very bawdy! What I especially appreciated is how the author slowly develops the characters without "dumping" too much information in this first book in the series. I love when characters and their backstories and introduced to us a little at a time. In fact Carey isn't even the front and center; the secondary characters are very important to the plot and are well developed. Can't wait to read more of this series!
July 6, 2007
Read 3/20/05
A Famine of Horses is a lively, fact-paced story set
along the English/Scottish Borderlands circa 1592.
Sir Robert Carey arrives, fresh from Elizabeth I's
court, to take over the deputy wardenship of the
West March. Carey engagingly contends with horse
thieves, murder, corruption and shifting loyalties.
A charming and interesting book, I'll certainly
continue on with this series.
A Famine of Horses is a lively, fact-paced story set
along the English/Scottish Borderlands circa 1592.
Sir Robert Carey arrives, fresh from Elizabeth I's
court, to take over the deputy wardenship of the
West March. Carey engagingly contends with horse
thieves, murder, corruption and shifting loyalties.
A charming and interesting book, I'll certainly
continue on with this series.
October 18, 2010
The protagonist of this book is the real-life Sir Robert Carey, the grandson of King Henry VIII and his mistress, Mary Boleyn (Anne's sister). Set in 1592 on the Scots/English Border, Sir Robert comes north to become Deputy Warden of the West March, a place and time that makes the American Wild West look tame. The main and supporting characters are well drawn, some of them based on historical people. The plot is complex but understandable, the period detail interesting but not ponderous.
October 28, 2019
A Famine of Horses is a very good historical mystery. It is a series about Sir Robert Carey, a real person who was in Queen Elizabeth 1 service. He was related to Queen Elizabeth 1 as her mother was Anne Boleyn and Robert's grandmother was Mary Boleyn, the elder sister to Anne. He is sent on a mission to become Deputy Warden near the Scotland/England borders. Horse rustling is rampant in the area. The men who he is in charge of are at first resentful of him. In his first day there, he comes upon a murder of a young man who is in a family that is in skirmishes with the town he is in. There is a lot of action. There is a side plot about why so many horses are being taken. Initially, I had to get use to the nicknames of the the characters. I enjoyed using my dictionary in my Kindle looking up vocabulary from that time. The author did a lot or research. It was an enjoyable read.
set-aside
December 5, 2025I didn't get very far with this. I think the mystery was going to be OK, but the writing kept me from finding out.
September 24, 2011
It is now Oh Gods some fifteen years since I first came across the first of PF Chisholm's Sir Robert Carey novels set in the politically complex Tudor England of the 1590s’. Queen Elizabeth’s fleet has beaten back the famed Armada and that threat at least for time has diminished and the kingdom basks in relative peace. However the northern border with Scotland it is not so quiet. Murder, cattle reiving and tower burning are all too common occurrences. So one more dead body found in the Debatable Lands shouldn’t make that much difference, except when it’s a Graham, and the head of that surname has a nasty reputation for vengeance. In to this cauldron of trouble steps Sir Robert Carey newly appointed Deputy Warden of the Western Marches. What Sergeant Dodd of the Carlisle garrison thinks of his new commander probably shouldn’t be put in print, but between them Cary and Dodd they have to solve two mysteries the ill timed murder of a Graham and the sudden ‘Famine of Horses of the title’. Alright that hasn’t given away anything that isn’t apparent from a quick view of the back cover blurb. As to the quality of the story, in short it is superb. PF Chisholm has a fine grasp of the character’s traits, they are all so very human and compelling. Sergeant Dodd for one is the epitome of the dour northern with a wry sense of humour and an intelligence that shouldn’t be underrated. As for Cary he comes with a very interesting history, he has to head north to escape his London creditors and recoup the fortune he doesn’t have. I’m not give much away in saying that his father Lord Hunsdon is the son of Mary Boleyn and that it is said he bore an uncanny resemblance to Henry VIII. That hint alone should wet your interest. The difficulties and scrapes Robert Carey gets into and his ahh unique ‘solutions’ very much carry the tale along to its not quite expected conclusion. In it all PF Chisholm has worked very hard to recreate the Borders region of the 1590’s as a living breathing culture alive with plots, mischief and mayhem. She hasn’t stretched facts or come up with wildly improbable story lines like some period writers. Instead this is honestly engaging with a very dry sense of humour. Most of all it’s a damned enjoyable romp for anyone who likes historical fiction. And yes it is worth every one of the five stars I gave it!
Regards Greg
The Liberties of London
The Queen's Oranges
Regards Greg
The Liberties of London
The Queen's Oranges
December 11, 2020
This is a combination of historical fiction and mystery, which I enjoyed. I like reading about the Tudor period in Britain, and this is set in the time of Queen Elizabeth. It takes place at the Scottish/English border. The protagonist is Sir Robert Carey, a real historical figure. He escapes Elizabeth's court (he hates being at court) to become the Deputy Warden of the Western March, which means that he is responsible for keeping order at that part of the border. But he finds massive corruption, in which he is expected to participate. He wants to bring law and order to the area. The result is fascinating. The son of a member of a leading border family (and major raiding and cow and horse stealing group) is murdered. Rather than let the family deal with it, he wants to solve the murder and bring the murderer to justice. Along the way, he learns about a major raiding party being formed involving several families, which has resulted the massive horse stealing (hence the title), which he wants to derail. This is fun reading, and I'll be reading the series from now on.
March 23, 2015
This Sir Robert Carey mystery, set during the last years of Elizabeth 1st's reign, has the intrepid courtier and cousin to the Queen, Robert Carey, sent to the borderlands to take up the post of Deputy Warden. The new warden, Lord Scrope, also happens to be Carey's insipid brother-in-law from whom Carey cannot expect any support as he attempts to tackle the corruption extant on the border between Scotland and England, but also solve a brutal murder before simmering clan conflicts erupt once more.
Mistaken for a dandy with no spine and who can be taken advantage of, Carey soon earns the grudging respect of most of the men in his command, especially the gruff Sergeant Dodd (a major character in his later adventures). But when Carey learns why so many horses are being thieved and determines to foil a dastardly plot, not even his wits and the loyalty of his men will be enough to save him.
Impeccably researched, filled with fabulous characters and a tight, fast-paced plot, A Famine of Horses evokes an era where violence was a solution and cause of so many problems; where women were property (and sometimes valued less than equines) and life was cheap. The writing is tight and lovely, the details of life in the late 1500s subtlety and beautifully revealed, from fabrics worn, food consumed, hygiene, wounds and weather, to even the fact that Londoners 'drank' tobacco smoke (as opposed to inhaling or smoking).
I seem to have read these books out of order for in many ways this book feels like an introduction to Carey and his exploits, but that didn't and hasn't spoilt anything for me and I am keen to read another. Terrific books from a wonderful writer.
Mistaken for a dandy with no spine and who can be taken advantage of, Carey soon earns the grudging respect of most of the men in his command, especially the gruff Sergeant Dodd (a major character in his later adventures). But when Carey learns why so many horses are being thieved and determines to foil a dastardly plot, not even his wits and the loyalty of his men will be enough to save him.
Impeccably researched, filled with fabulous characters and a tight, fast-paced plot, A Famine of Horses evokes an era where violence was a solution and cause of so many problems; where women were property (and sometimes valued less than equines) and life was cheap. The writing is tight and lovely, the details of life in the late 1500s subtlety and beautifully revealed, from fabrics worn, food consumed, hygiene, wounds and weather, to even the fact that Londoners 'drank' tobacco smoke (as opposed to inhaling or smoking).
I seem to have read these books out of order for in many ways this book feels like an introduction to Carey and his exploits, but that didn't and hasn't spoilt anything for me and I am keen to read another. Terrific books from a wonderful writer.
September 22, 2013
Sir Robert Carey, the hero of A Famine of Horses, is a real historical figure, a bastard grandson of Henry VIII, and the youngest, and therefore poorest, son of an earl. Prior to the start of the story, he has been a courtier in Elizabeth I's court, and it's clear he was looking for a way out.
He gets himself appointed as Deputy Warden under his ineffectual brother-in-law up in Carlisle, England. Carlisle is the northern most bit of England just south of the "disputed" land between England and Scotland. There are clans, families and feuds aplenty.
When Carey arrives, Sweetmilk Grahame has been murdered, and his family wants revenge. Also, someone has been stealing all the horses for miles in each direction for an unknown, but most likely nefarious, reason. It is Carey's job to bring the Law to bear in both situations. He is up to the challenge.
The character of Carey is a pleasure. His years at Court have given him the ability to talk circles around just about everyone, and he has plenty of experience on the battlefield also. He knows when to be flattering and when to display the temper of his grandfather. He is smart and quick to use the talents of the men who work for him, who are an interesting band of misfits.
There is humor, action, and some good puzzles. The sense of place is fantastic, and you may want a hot cup of tea or soup to get through some of the wet weather Carey and his band encounter. If you like historical mysteries, it would be a shame not to read A Famine of Horses.
He gets himself appointed as Deputy Warden under his ineffectual brother-in-law up in Carlisle, England. Carlisle is the northern most bit of England just south of the "disputed" land between England and Scotland. There are clans, families and feuds aplenty.
When Carey arrives, Sweetmilk Grahame has been murdered, and his family wants revenge. Also, someone has been stealing all the horses for miles in each direction for an unknown, but most likely nefarious, reason. It is Carey's job to bring the Law to bear in both situations. He is up to the challenge.
The character of Carey is a pleasure. His years at Court have given him the ability to talk circles around just about everyone, and he has plenty of experience on the battlefield also. He knows when to be flattering and when to display the temper of his grandfather. He is smart and quick to use the talents of the men who work for him, who are an interesting band of misfits.
There is humor, action, and some good puzzles. The sense of place is fantastic, and you may want a hot cup of tea or soup to get through some of the wet weather Carey and his band encounter. If you like historical mysteries, it would be a shame not to read A Famine of Horses.
December 1, 2012
I truly enjoyed this tale. It made me laugh out loud several times. There is mystery and mayhem set in old England. With what one would believe to be a soft prissy cousin to the Queen, who takes on the job of deputy warden out on the West March and border lands of England and Scotland. However, my assumption was proven wrong straight away. Sir Robert Carey proves himself fit for the job and is quite ingenious in his dealings. The women in this story aren't anything to poo-poo at either! I look forward to reading the series.
Old England (1500 circa), family, loyalty, power - used to the good and abused, feuding neighbors, war, strong female characters, weaselly cutthroats and murder, last but not least... humor.
Old England (1500 circa), family, loyalty, power - used to the good and abused, feuding neighbors, war, strong female characters, weaselly cutthroats and murder, last but not least... humor.
February 27, 2014
The first book in a wonderful series! Since the 6th book was recently released, I decided to reread a them all from the beginning. Based on the real life journals of Sir Robert Carey, the 10th son of Lord Hunsdon, who was the cousin (and possibly the half-brother) of Elizabeth I, these mystery novels are set during the last 11 years or so of her reign, starting around 1592. Such wonderful characters, both real and fictional, and an exciting plot. Robert Carey was a fascinating, handsome man; brave, honorable and resourceful, if always in debt, and he had many, many adventures. Seriously, if I had lived back then, I would have been in love with Sir Robert Carey.
August 4, 2011
in just lending this book to someone yesterday who enjoys this sort of thing I realized I hadn't put this on my shelf. It is exciting up to a point, historically fascinating and has characters which I can see may well have developed in fascinating ways during the other books but interestingly, though I have two other books from the series which were given to me eight years ago, I still haven't read them. It might just be that they, like the Patrick O'Brian series, failed to grab me and therefore they remain gathering dust.
June 19, 2010
A surprisingly good book (at least to me) for what I thought would be another schlocky trade paperback. Enough history to bring the 16th century Scottish borderlands to life, enough action for any thriller fan. Very well-written and only one typo (that I could find) in the entire book -- a welcome rarity. I will be picking up "P.F. Chishom's" (Patricia Finney's) other "Sir Robert Carey Mystery" books soon.
April 24, 2015
Really enjoyed this. I've been a fan of Patricia Finney's books but actually bought this (it sounded interesting) before I realized that she and PF Chisholm were the same person. If you like Elizabethan history, well-written mysteries or tales of the Scottish border, I highly recommend this series. Although this statement is based on just this one book, but I suspect that the others are equally engaging.
April 30, 2007
This is a cracking good adventure tale. (I'm hearing myself say this review in a British accent.) I liked this book better than the other one by this writer (Firedrake's Eye) that I read earlier. It's less bogged down in 16th century detail & language and more exciting. You really feel like you're there. I'll be reading the rest of the books in this series.
July 8, 2008
P. F. Chisholm, whose mysteries written as Patricia Finney, are about a man who searches out traitors for Queen Elizabeth I, gets more humerous with the four books in this series. Robert Carey is the Queens cousin, escaping from his creditors in London and landing in Carlisle to become Deputy Warden of the West Marches, trying to keep peace among the Border families.
September 21, 2009
I read this out of order, having read the second instalment first. I liked this even more than the later book. It gives a vivid sense of the reiver society and the battles in the Borders to maintain order. Sir Robert Carey is a brilliant choice of an historical personage on whom to base a series of crime adventures.
December 29, 2014
This isn't the heights of the Robert Carey novels, there's a bit too much set-up, and transition, and the Borderlanders are a little too close to caricature for my liking, but it effectively introduces the main characters, and the description of the siege is pure gold - it is really Chisholm's keen sense of hilarity-derived-from-character that is the highlight here.
January 10, 2009
The first in the series set in the lands between Scotland and England circa 1600. Robert Carey as the newly arrived Londoner in this wild and rather lawless land. Great atmosphere and plot.
November 30, 2015
Quite funny, with some diverse and entertaining characters. The plot gets a bit lost in the color at times, but I think it's worth it.
May 1, 2009
Great historical mystery series
July 25, 2009
Loved it! Got to track down the rest of the series!
(It is so nice to find an author who can write something besides fluff.)
(It is so nice to find an author who can write something besides fluff.)
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