Historical Mystery Lovers discussion

Paul Doherty is our featured author for December.

Paul also writes as Celia L. Grace, Ann Dukthas, Michael Clynes and Anna Apostolou

Author website: http://www.paulcdoherty.com

Feel free to make book suggestions in this thread.

Come and tell us which book you picked and once you've read it let us know what you thought of it (is it a new to you author, would you read her work again, etc.)

I'll actually get to read one this month. I have



checked out from the library right now :)

Ooh! So many series to choose from!

happy wrote: "I'll actually get to read one this month. I have



checked out from the library right now :)"

That's great, happy. Looking forward to your impressions :0)

Meghan wrote: "Ooh! So many series to choose from!"

he certainly is prolific! He is one of the first medeival mystery writers I read. If you haven't read him I would recommend starting with either the Hugh Corbett series, the first series of his that I read - currently at 17 books

https://www.goodreads.com/series/4103...

or the Bro Athelstan series - currently at 14 books

https://www.goodreads.com/series/4141...

Thanks for the info, happy. I haven't decided which one to read yet. I'm leaning toward the A Shrine of Murders written under his Celia L. Grace pseudonym. Have you read it?

happy wrote: "Meghan wrote: "Ooh! So many series to choose from!"

he certainly is prolific! He is one of the first medeival mystery writers I read. If you haven't read him I would recommend starting with either..."

In addition to Brother Athelstan, I liked his Alexander the Great mysteries https://www.goodreads.com/series/4271...

I'll second that :)

@Lauren - I haven't yet

I have so many Doherty books on my tbr. I have no idea which one to pick. I might just close my eyes and pick one.

Gretchen wrote: "I have so many Doherty books on my tbr. I have no idea which one to pick. I might just close my eyes and pick one."

That's always a good way to do it. Most of Paul's books are brilliant reads. :)

I might just have to order a pile from the library and pick one. It will give me a chance to test out the new library once we get moved.

happy wrote: "I'll actually get to read one this month. I have



checked out from the library right now :)"

I really enjoyed that one.

happy wrote: "Meghan wrote: "Ooh! So many series to choose from!"

he certainly is prolific! He is one of the first medeival mystery writers I read. If you haven't read him I would recommend starting with either..."

15... there is a new one due out in January.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

Oh, goody :)

happy wrote: "I'll second that :)

@Lauren - I haven't yet"

In the end my library doesn't have it. They do have the Hugh Corbett mysteries so I will read Satan in St Mary's

Lauren wrote: "Thanks for the info, happy. I haven't decided which one to read yet. I'm leaning toward the A Shrine of Murders written under his Celia L. Grace pseudonym. Have you read it?"

I didn't realize that was him. I read that one years ago and definitely did not like it, but I'm willing to try one of his other series.

I read a Hugh Corbett once and wasn't impressed. I think it was Corpse Candle.

Anxious to try him out!

Susanna - Censored by GoodReads wrote: "I read a Hugh Corbett once and wasn't impressed. I think it was Corpse Candle."

The earlier Hugh Corbett books are better.

OK, I'll keep that in mind.

happy wrote: "I'll actually get to read one this month. I have



checked out from the library right now :)"

I'm starting this one today

Great. Looking forward to your thoughts, happy :0)

happy wrote: "happy wrote: "I'll actually get to read one this month. I have



checked out from the library right now :)"

I'm starting this one today"

Let me know what you think of it.

wilco!

I really enjoyed A Time For The Death Of A King. I've been on the lookout for the rest of the series, but have been unsuccessful so far.

I finished Roseblood.

Not really a mystery, more of a political thriller. Lots of atmosphere and descriptive detail of 15th Century London and the political situation post 100 yrs war and prior to the beginning of the Wars of the Roses

If GR allowed partial stars 3.75 because the confusing beginning so I rounded it to 4

There are not a whole lot of Doherty novels available in my local library system. I did manage to track down a few novels under other names from other libraries in my state. I'm getting A Time For The Death Of A King and A Shrine of Murders

Wow! I cannot believe it's mid-month already. I will not be able to check out this author this month. I am enjoying the commentary though.

Does anyone know?

Some of the reasons authors write under other names? Their idea or publishing team?

From what I understand, one of the reasons is that the publishers don't want to over expose an author - ideally publish 1 book a year. Ergo if an author is prolific, he/she publishes under multiple names.

Also Robert Heinlein said he used pen names for quality purposes. His "good" stuff he used his own name. Stuff that he didn't feel was as good he used the name Anson MacDonald. Back then this also allowed him to have more than one story in the same issue of a magazine.

In the case of J.K Rowling, I read she adopted a pen name because of her Harry Potter novels and how poorly received her first book outside Harry Potter was. However, someone failed to keep her secret.

In the case of J.K Rowling, I read she adopted a pen name because of her Harry Potter novels and how poorly received her first book outside Harry Potter was. However, someone failed to keep her secret.

MsG wrote: "Wow! I cannot believe it's mid-month already. I will not be able to check out this author this month. I am enjoying the commentary though.

Does anyone know?

Some of the reasons authors write unde..."

Paul wrote originally under different names because his then publisher (Hodder Headline) didn't want to flood the market with books by one author. Once he became established most of his books were reprinted under his own name.

I used to correspond with Paul for many years. He is pretty damn amazing. Writing all those brilliant books whilst still a full time headmaster!

Wow, that neat Margaret

I agree - it's amazing he could write as much and still be a full time educator

I think he's still working as the headmaster at the same school. His capacity for work is awe inspiring.

That is amazing. Thanks Margaret :0)

Am a happy camper. The library had the new Brother Athelstan novel The Herald of Hell: A Brother Athelstan Novel of Medieval London for me, so I'll be taking part in the monthly read after all. :)

Just got that one too. I love this author.

Paul is probably my favourite author...at least judging by the fact he sits at No 1 on my Most Read Authors list. :)

I've read almost everything he's written, including many of the obscure, one-off, small print run books.

I'm about 50 pages from finishing Satan in St Mary's and while I haven't loved it so far, I've liked it more than A Shrine of Murders. I probably won't continue with this author, but it's been a decent read.

Meghan wrote: "I'm about 50 pages from finishing Satan in St Mary's and while I haven't loved it so far, I've liked it more than A Shrine of Murders. I probably won't continue with thi..."

Satan in St Mary's in not the best place to start with Paul's works. Like many author's his later books are often more readable. Also, Hugh Corbett is an annoying prig. The Brother Athelstan series is much better.

I'm about half way through "The Herald of Hell". really enjoying it as I have no idea who the killer is or why. :D

Had to laugh though. Paul does love his in jokes. He's referenced the first Hugh Corbett novel "Satan in St Marys." :D

Margaret wrote: "Meghan wrote: "I'm about 50 pages from finishing Satan in St Mary's and while I haven't loved it so far, I've liked it more than A Shrine of Murders. I probably won't co..."

Eh, I didn't mind Hugh Corbett the character as much as the writing itself bothered me. I had similar issues with A Shrine of Murders, so I guess this author (regardless of which series) is just not for me. Glad you're enjoying him, though!

Everyone has different tastes, That's what makes life interesting :)

Finished "The Herald of Hell" last night.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

It was already on my list, but it will definately have to move up after that reveiw!

The reasons authors change names is in one case
1. The genres may be different and the author wants his readers to clearly recognize what type of book they are getting. Ex. Robin Hobb explained in an article I read in Locus that she felt that the books she wrote under Robin Hobb were completely different than the type of books she wrote under her other name. (Which she still uses sometimes,but it is not nearly as popular - hence why I can't remember it)

Or a second reason may be that
2.The earlier name and writings have not been as popular as the publisher/author hopes a new work will be,but they are afraid readers will associate the newer book with the bad sales of the previous work. So to get a fresh start 'so to speak' they pick a new name, do new advertising, and hope the other name doesn't come out until the newer book is on the bestseller list! A mystery writer did this year's ago, but I don't want to mention the name until I double check it.

Today I started A Time For The Death Of A King which is written by Doherty under a different name. I'm not generally big on time slip novels but there is something about the format of this book that has me hooked. I find the intentional use of the name Ann Dukthas very imaginative.

Sounds intriguing!

I finished A Time For The Death Of A King. It was a nice quick read. I wouldn't recommend this book to people who like fleshed out characters. There was little to no character development in regards to Segall in this book but the mystery was good. I like historical cold cases. This novel does an excellent job giving another perspective to the murder of Lord Darnley.

The library has the new Paul Doherty Brother Athelstan novel "The Great Revolt" for me.

I am nervous about this one as I am positive we can't get through a book set during the Peasant's Revolt without losing at least one well loved character.