ISBN: 1-84197-2002 Order from: Amazon.com
Skilled in its portrayal of medieval London, this mystery seems to plod to its conclusion.
Reviewed by David on August 24, 2004
Genre: Mystery (Historical)
Synopsis: When during a tense service, a prominent cleric and a political enemy of King Edward I dies from poison, the suspicion falls on the king. Edward, trying to gain support for increased taxes, cannot afford the rumors and accusations. He appoints his clerk, Hugh Corbett, to find the killer.
Hugh's job is made complex by the suspicious and powerful priests, nor is his royal patron entirely trustworthy. Nonetheless, Hugh will do his intelligent and dedicated best to find the truth.
Full Review: In some ways like a medieval police procedural, the bleak atmosphere is solid, but does little to alleviate the slow process of detection.
Hugh is an admirable, consciencious investigator, with little power. Alas, there is little leavening of humor or beauty, either in the narrative or in the characters. There are plenty of motives and suspicious actions, as well as solid intellectual puzzles, but the unrelieved bleakness of both the weather and the motivations allows little reading pleasure.
Overall: 5; Plot: 5; Characters: 5; Style: 5.5; World-building: 6.5; Originality: 6;
Copyright date 1989, W. F. Howes Ltd. (Clipper Audio), 2000, Audio cassette, 6 Compact Discs
ISBN: 1-84197-2002 Order from: Amazon.com