"Ancient Roman sleuth Marcus Corvinus is despatched to Gaul on a personal mission for the emperor."
My very first David Wishart book so I was happy to have had the opportunity to read it via NetGalley. Ancient Rome and Roman Britain are favorite time periods for me and Gaul fo the period was described well. Travel was horribly slow so it was amazing the trip was undertaken.I looked up that area of Gaul on maps as I was not familiar with how one would sail from Rome to Gaul. I learned a lot!
Solving the murder was complicated apparently and had many twists and turns! More bodies turned up to perhaps complicate Marcus' mission. The ending was a bit unexpected so that was a plus. One minus for me was the slang, a more moderate dialogue could work, I think. Recommended to those who like ancient historical mysteries.
I have read perhaps four of Michael Jecks books before this one and liked the Templars characters a bit better than Jack. That being said, I think the attention to period detail was quite good especially the portrayal of Queen Mary as dumpy with fading reddish hair.
The publisher's blurb had this to say:"Introducing Elizabethan cutpurse and adventurer Jack Blackjack in the first of a brand-new historical mystery series..In fact, almost everyone seems to be after Jack Blackjack. " Wow wasn't that the truth! I had a hard time following the pursuers of Jack as they popped in and out of his presence, sometimes in succession.
I am happy to say that Jack evades all the would be assassins and lives to set the stage for the rest of the series. How is that possible? Well it seems to be perceived that he vanquished all his pursuers with his own hands, although he detests bloodshed, so he is set up to be a paid assassin himself.
The images of the fighting between the rebel army and the defenders of London were chilling but surely quite accurate. Recommended for those who enjoy this era
"An ingenious killer disposes of a strangled corpse on a battlefield. Brother Cadfael discovers the body, and must then piece together disparate clues"
I am rereading all of the Brother Cadfael books in order to get a more coherent look at the series, which is a top favorite.. I thought I read this years ago but did not remember any of it so perhaps not.
It was wonderful to read about how he and Hugh Beringar made their acquaintance, although it is often alluded to. A sad and desperate time in England with King Stephen and Empress Matilda warring over the throne. About Shropshire I learned this: "Historically, the county has been known as Shropshire as well as by its older, Norman-derived name of Salop." Since my L'Enfant family was here at some early stage from Normandy, it speaks to me.
Cadfael's evolution from soldier and adventurer in the Crusades to monk in Shrewsbury gets fleshed out even more. Love this series and understand why it was made into a series of TV movies.
This was the best Medicus yet and I did so hate for it to end. I know another one will be coming out soon..this"Ruso and Tilla's excitement at arriving in Rome with their new baby daughter " tells me it is starting right where I left off.. Cannot wait!
Hadrian's Wall and the borderlands take the reader to a bygone time that I am so happy to revisit. I adore this series and it is both well written and well researcher. Ruth Downie is a very skillful writer, with the ability to combine humor and great depth of characters, with the history and mystery we always hope to have in historical mysteries.
Preorder the next one, I have! "Vita Brevis: A Crime Novel of the Roman Empire"
Once I got into the rhythm of this tale and how it was told, I loved it! I immediately had to learn what I could about where Eye was and who had lived there( that is what I do when I read).
Eleanor Duchess of Gloucester's fate was known to me peripherally, by reading a lot of books about the precursors to the Wars of the Roses, but not in this detail.I want to learn more about her and about Barnabas and Alys of course.
Some of the book is about the rise ( and fall) of Eleanor Cobham and her husband Humphrey the Duke of Gloucester. It touches on Henry VI and surely of that period in which tales of witches and fortunetelling were powerful and dangerous. ( Remember Jacquetta of Luxembourg . mother of Elizabeth Grey who married King Edward?) It also alternates with the hero of the book,Barnabas who reluctantly worked for Margery Jourdemayne, the "Witch of Eye" and Thomas Southwell, a canon and rector.
The alternating of narratives in chapters worked very well and had a pace that worked. Recommending this book for historical novel devotees and those who appreciate attention to period.I am off for the next in the series.
4+ Stars ~ " Owen Tudor, a Welsh servant, waits in Windsor Castle to meet his new mistress,Queen Catherine of Valois, widow of the warrior king, Henry V"
It was an enjoyable and enlightening book about Owen Tudor himself. I have read The Forbidden Bride and books about the Beauforts, but this one was solely about Tudor himself, which was different. Sometimes I do prefer the female viewpoint so I will explore what Book 2 of the Tudors which is "Jasper".
It was written well enough for me to look at his other books and I am currently exploring Eleanor Cobham as book subject, so will give that a go also.
Little is known of the youth and early history of Owen Tudor so I think that the book was factual and interesting without being at all heavy. Recommended for all who enjoy this period of time and other historical characters outside of the main Tudor family.
4.5 stars I think and nicely done. Not sure that Victoria Thompson has quite decided who will be the principal players and it was hard for me, at least, to make the switch. That being stated, Maeve and Gino with the assistance of Felix and Elizabeth Decker, carried on quite well as Sarah and Malloy sail home from their European honeymoon.
The mystery was wrapped up in a just a few pages and I am not sure what is happening to the perpetrator of the murders,Eddie the boot-boy and his love object Una O'Neill. Possibly that will be revisited in another story or at least we can be apprised of what the laws would have done in that case.
This book was a bonus book in the series and came out in time for Christmas.As others have indicated, it was a very fine bonus. I am anxiously awaiting the next in the series "Murder in Morningside Heights " which may be out tomorrow? Get yours now!
