Bernard Knight - Crowner Royal

In this one, John De Wolfe, Gwyn and Stephen are in London, with not a lot to do until someone gets stabbed outside their window, and a trail of bodies seem to point to a conspiracy threatening the security of the country, and added to that, some gold goes missing which was previously the Crowner's responsibility.  The Bernard Knight Crowner John series was another "love at first read" rather than the more gradual affection I feel for Jecks, Gregory and Peters.  The medieval gigolo has had to leave Devon on the King's command to be coroner in London, and finds himself homesick and hindered by the ruffians of Westminster.  Really, what has changed?  I love the little history lessons he inserts into the conversations, such as the origin of 'robbing Peter to pay Paul', and how truly human he makes all characters.  He isn't quite as "smelly" as Jecks, but you can certainly visualise London as being merely a few miles wide with countryside and marshes all around, as far as that seems to stretch the imagination nowadays.  The ending makes me wonder if there will be any more, it is left open, albeit that it seems that John may be having a career crisis, if not marriage and love life crisis.  Absolutely great stuff, Knight is the very best writer of this genre.  

Rating 8/10

Next: Ava McCarthy - The Courier, for SHOTS, and I am painfully reminded that I am at least 3 reviews behind.

Paul Doherty - The Darkening Glass

Detective style set within the first couple of centuries after the Norman conquest.  Good, but there is far too much moving around leaving you probably as bewildered as the characters, when four knights in the employ of the King's Favourite are murdered.  Although there are loads of suspects, the actual murderer is a bit of a surprise, but since the victim is not Mr Popular, there is a risk of some apathy.  All I can say about this really is that it was enjoyable, but not remarkable.

Rating: 7/10

Next: Bernard Knight - Crowner Royal.  Forgot I got this out of the library actually and was overjoyed at the discovery.  Another weakness of mine.

Simon Brett - Mrs, Presumed Dead

You know where you are with Brett, frankly, simple tales that are not too hard on the brain but can keep you entertained for an afternoon.  Have to say though that the "little old lady wanders from place to place where, usefully, a murder has occurred and then sets about beating the police at their own game before moving on" type stylee is incredibly old hat.  It's also painfully stereotypical at times, and no, I'm not one of the PC brigade (otherwise I wouldn't be reading Ripley's books) - for instance, the book says that in the typical middle-class cul-de-sac, of 6 women only one of them works for a living?  Not in this day and age Brett, sorry.  The butler didn't do it.  A more modern equivalent did.  Sigh.  Still, this is what I get when I'm too random, or in too much of a hurry at the library.

My rating: 6/10

Next - Paul Doherty - The Darkening Glass

Edward Marston - The Frost Fair

Fairly standard historical detective story, not especially noteworthy, but not bad either.  The seemingly old favourite of "body in the ice" which I seem to have read loads of times, in particular an Ellis Peters and I think a Jecks (though in that case it was "buried under snow and snow melts").  Anyway, it's the hero's brother who is the main suspect as he was heard to threaten the victim hours prior to his death, but as you read on you find the victim was not exactly on everyone's Christmas card list, apart from one or two who are obvious villains themselves.  As it is the hero's brother in the frame, the hero himself comes in for a bit of stick, mostly from the family of his lady love, distressingly.  It's these scenes that made me feel a bit uncomfortable, as Marston lays on the bias too thick, you can barely believe all concerned can be so small minded.  Maybe the old expression "mud sticks" and superstition was more rife, which I can believe.  Anyway, Chris, the architect, has to sort out the mess with his policeman friend, which he does of course and the brother's name is cleared.  It's a pity that he didn't have any of those that were quick to condemn earlier in the story, squirming at the end, which may have made the ending more satisfying.  Okay as a distraction, but not particularly remarkable.

My rating: 7/10

Next: Bernhard Schlink - Self's Deception

Adam Creed - Willing Flesh, John Malcolm - Circles and Squares, Michael Jecks - The Traitor of St Giles

I am somewhat behind on blogging the books, largely due to some rather shocking news I received last week, increasing the apathy, but I know me, the blog will just enter the twilight zone until I don't want to bother with it all.

All the same, I can't be bothered to do the usual format of posts, so I'm going to summarise them all in one go.



What was this about again?  Oh yeah, murdered prostitute, then another murdered prostitute and one had a pimp who was a Turk, the other a Russian, and a cop has to sort it all out, but it is oh so political and he also has problems of his own with his own doomed relationship.  Erm...zzzzzzzzzzz.  It didn't suffer the ignominy of not being finished, I stuck with it, but sorry, I literally lost the plot with this one, as it got far too convoluted...for no reason.  Oh, I'm meant to be reviewing this for SHOTS.  Oops.  My rating: 5/10.



Tim Simpson is a sorta cross between Lovejoy and a bank clerk, he finds artwork for investment.  He plans to take a risk with a rather lesser known painter who is an acquired taste.  However, it seems that someone has got in ahead of him, and he doesn't like that.  I once read a Booker prize nominee, or at least started to read it, and had the horrible thought that Malcolm's would also descend into the terrible farce the BP nominee was, as that was also based around a missing painting.  It didn't, and it was a surprisingly enjoyable read, although at times he didn't know whether to make it darkly comic or semi-serious.  My rating: 7/10.



A young man is forced to abjure the realm after confessing to the murder of his fiancee.  The family of the murdered girl are unhappy with the decision and seek justice of their own.  The morning after the man leaves, and a knight is found dead beside the headless corpse of the man, along with his two dogs, one also dead.  The Coroner is convinced that the felon killed the knight and was later lawfully executed, as he did not follow the highway.  Sir Baldwin and Simon Puttock have other ideas, and their investigation puts them in danger.  Jecks has become another firm favourite of mine, this is a cracking read.  Jecks reveals the nasty and smelly side of medieval life, and yeah, you can literally smell it at times.  Excellent characterisation, which I also love, along with the historical references from an era which I find fascinating.  My rating: 8/10.

Next: Not something I would normally read, but last time I went to the library, two of the books were completely random; one was the Malcolm, the other WEB Griffin - Double Agents.

Paul Doherty - The Season of the Hyaena

Tutankhamun is shortly to be crowned Pharaoh, legitimising his reign by marrying his half sister Ankhesenamun, the daughter of Akenhaten and Nefertiti.   However, a rebellion is afoot by those still faithful to Aten worship, seemingly led by someone claiming to be be Akenhaten.  Chief of Police Mahu, along with Horemheb and Rameses, Egypt's fearsome generals, have to crush the rebellion to ensure that Egypt can return to the safety and peace enjoyed before Akenhaten started his heresy, but Mahu senses that the affairs of Egypt are more complicated as the Royal Circle itself appears split into different factions and attitudes.

My rating: 7/10

Couldn't resist this, crime fiction set in one of my favourite eras, 18th Dynasty Egypt, is few and far between.  I don't agree with a lot of Doherty's premises, but that doesn't prevent it from being a well structured and exciting story, and he does describe the period really well.  What I didn't like was the somehow rather modern vernacular he used sometimes, which if overused can turn serious crime into comedy - and this isn't really a light-hearted story.

It's surprising that, considering that his period in time is one of the most puzzling, and has the most gaps to fill by talented authors, that there aren't similar tales.  And no-one has really completely satisfied the question about the identity of the king portrayed on Tut's middle coffin, or who was the mummy in AV 55 - Doherty has an answer to this, but is a hurried afterthought at the end, which could have been weaved into the story better.

(Late note.  Of course, this is the last of 3 in a series based on Egyptian Pharaohs, so likely the "afterthought" was actually referred to and used in the other 2.  No excuse, it is one of my big bugbears.  All the same, it is a short sub-plot and the book can be taken on its own, so I'm not changing the rating)
 
Next: Adam Creed - Willing Flesh, for SHOTS.

Susanna Gregory - The Tarnished Chalice

Suttone and Michael from Michaelhouse are to be installed in Lincoln as canons.  Matt Bartholomew, on the trail of Matilde, who has disappeared, comes along in the hope of finding some trace of her.  They arrive in a town filled with turmoil; two groups of traders are at loggerheads with each other, and already a proposed deputy to the role Suttone is to take has been found dead with the revered chalice of St Hugh in his hands.

My rating: 6/10

A question.  I wonder if Gregory was going to call her novel the Poisoned Chalice, then demurred, because Bernard Knight and Paul Doherty have novels by the same name?  Only found that out when I mis-remembered the title of the book when I typed it in Amazon.

Um.  Yes, anyway, those that know me know I waffle, with the proverbial foot shuffle, before saying something that is probably detrimental about a book which has obviously been well researched and thought out.  Well, I found this book interesting when stuff was going on, and the ending is particularly exciting, but unfortunately it was a bit of a...erhem...chore to read.  Again, the book could have been 200 pages shorter and it would still have not lost any of its charm.  Enough of Gregory, at least for a little while.

Next: Paul Doherty (co-incidence, really) - The Season of the Hyaena

Ann Cleeves - Blue Lightning

Jimmy Perez has brought his fiancee to his old home in Fair Isle, which is also the location of a bird research centre, along with the inevitable tourism this attracts.  The woman who runs the site is found murdered, and as the centre is effectively cut off by storms, only one of a handful of residents could have committed the crime, and all seem to have a motive.

Rating: 5/10

Let's get one thing straight here.  I hate being nasty about a book, especially if it is obvious that blood, sweat and tears have gone into producing it, and the guilt weighs heavier if the author is critically acclaimed, but just maybe I expect more of them and am not one of the masses....  Review on SHOTS, link when it's posted.

Next: Susanna Gregory - The Tarnished Chalice

Ellis Peters - An Excellent Mystery

King Stephen has been captured and Empress Maud is under siege in Winchester.  St Winifred's is far enough away from the troubles, until two Brothers arrive, Humilis, in a previous life something of a local hero, and mortally wounded, and his companion, the mute and mysterious Fidelis.  A squire previously in the employ of Humilis arrives to ask if he can pursue the woman that Humilis had been affianced to before he took Holy Orders.  The search for the lady escalates into a murder hunt, but Cadfael has other suspicions.

My rating 8/10

Absolutely the very best so far that I've read of the Cadfael chronicles, some of the prose is poignant and incredibly touching.  I read a review somewhere, words to the effect that it was interesting to read about a time when marriage was viewed somewhat differently.  What I think is this makes a heartfelt statement about that wonderful institution, and the true meaning of marriage.  Peters thought out this plot so well, and I admit I was slow to twig the puzzle, as clues are given early on, and she slowly introduces more clues until I think every reader would have got it before it is fully revealed, lifted, if this isn't too cheesy, like the bride's veil at a wedding.  Really love this book, and may get a copy for myself some time.

Next: No idea!  Run out of books, so I'm thinking nothing serious until Saturday 

Caroline Carver - Beneath the Snow

Lisa McCall, a young research scientist, has disappeared out in the Alaskan wilderness. Lisa's sister, Abby  flies out from England to join the rescue team. Abby and Lisa have been estranged for years, driven apart by a terrible row. As soon as she arrives at the freezing outpost, Abby knows there's something wrong. Lisa's cabin has been ransacked and her research material is nowhere to be found. It emerges that Lisa was on the verge of patenting an incredible discovery - facing fierce opposition from the oil-dominated energy market. Abby knows her sister is out there somewhere, battling deep cold and raw terror, while her enemies circle. After so many years of brooding silences and explosive rows, Abby is forced to face up to the past, while her younger sister fights for a future. Abby embarks on the dangerous task of locating Lisa before someone else gets to her first. (taken from Fantastic Fiction description)


My rating 8/10

It doesn't happen very often, but where I've said (though not out loud) with authors such as Bernard Knight, Reginald Hill...and okay, okay Mike Ripley, "where have your books been all my life" finally there is another one to the list and female.  (whisper: prior to this I had not found a female crime fiction author that enthralled me to the point of thinking that was a thumping good read.  Some close, and big names, but no cigar, sorry) Who woulda thought it?  I wasn't expecting much of this story, and I don't mean to be degrading, is just that I didn't expect it to be as good as the later Back With Vengeance that I reviewed for SHOTS.  Actually, maybe it isn't.  But darn it, it is very good.  So Caroline Carver - where have your books been all my life?

Next: Ellis Peters - An Excellent Mystery (probably the last Peters for a while!)

Christopher Brookmyre - A Snowball In Hell

Do you hate reality TV and Z-list celebrities so much that you would commit mass murder - and in public?  Simon Darcourt would, albeit that he was presumed dead years before after a failed mission as "terrorist for hire".  Angelique De Xavia is called upon to trap this sadistic killer, but it becomes a lot more personal, as her parents are kidnapped, and more dangerous as she knows to get this solved she must call on her former boyfriend, who is the only suspect in a multi-million pound heist, but happens to be a bit of a magician too.


My rating: 8/10

My first encounter with Brookmyre was his latest, Pandaemonium, which I reviewed for SHOTS (clicking the link takes you to the review).  I was mighty confused by it, but where I say at the end, I may have missed the point - uh - I think I get it now.

Snowball really is an excellent story; I deliberately put it second on the reading order, as I wanted to get the nightmares out of the way first, as Pandaemonium is violent and gory.  However, Snowball is not especially - yes, most of the victims die horribly but it is up to your own imagination to visualise their deaths (that might give you nightmares.)

Brookmyre is very obviously highly intelligent, and there were times when he describes human nature in his prose (usually in the voice of Darcourt), and no matter how despicable you believe the villain to be....you think, my goodness, he is dead right.  I don't know what could disgust you more; the deaths and the motives, or the current vogue that is called in this day and age "light entertainment".

A good ending too, much better than Pandaemonium's, with everyone finding their place, even the walking wounded, and the bad guy gets his comeuppance.  There are more twists in this tale than your average large white bloomer, and just when you think you can see how it concludes, a further twist keeps you entertained and in no way frustrated.

One criticism I have of Brookmyre: my gosh, the man can waffle, with stuff that is not plot related, and at times, dare I say it...boring?  But you can skip a few lines and find something to make you think again, or send you spiraling back into the plot.  Terrific stuff.

Next:  Sarah Bower's The Needle In The Blood.

Ellis Peters - The Devil's Novice

Outside the pale of the abbey of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, in September of the year of our Lord 1140, a priestly emissary for King Stephen has been reported missing. But inside the pale, Brother Cadfael's attention is turned on Meriet, a proud, secretive, nineteen year old novice who has been delivered to the abbey by his over-bearing father the Lord of Aspley, to begin a religious vocation. Meriet, meek by day, is so racked by dreams at night that his howl earns him the nickname of the Devil's Novice. Shunned and feared, Meriet is soon linked to the missing priest's fate. Only Brother Cadfael believes in Meriet's innocence, and only the good sleuth can uncover the truth before a boy's pure passion, not evil intent, leads a novice to the noose. (From Amazon description)


My rating: 6/10


Good, but not great, Cadfael chronicle, suffered a little from that evil of referring back to previous chronicles...let's not go there.  The puzzle was unwound well, but for some reason found it very difficult to read.  Maybe it's the weather or this darn cold I've caught.

Next: Christopher Brookmyre: A Snowball in Hell

Keith Floyd - Stirred But Not Shaken

Keith Floyd's autobiography, as told to James Steen.

My rating: 7/10

I have read a few biographies and autobiographies, and I rate this one second to Johnnie Walker's (I'll reread at some point, been meaning to for ages).  The guy had a fascinating life, albeit heartbreaking at times, if you ever thought that lightning couldn't strike you more than once in a lifetime, you won't believe the turn of events in Floyd's life, some admittedly of his own making, but a lot of them clearly not.

One criticism I have, although his stories are well told and arranged, is that I don't think Floyd was completely honest talking about some of the periods in his life.  You feel some righteous anger for him sometimes, but there are incidents which he just "skips over" as if they had nothing to do with him and could not see where the blame lay.  I don't think he was self-absorbed - if he was then I think he would have known himself better - I think he was more interested in stuff going on around him and in his life to pay much attention to his own behaviour.

I only saw a TV series or two of his, and maybe one book (American Pie), so it would be stupid of me to say that I'll miss him, as unlike the rest of the world, I wasn't that absorbed.  But he was the first, true "celebrity" chef, and the pattern and format of his programmes continued with Stein and Oliver, so the man certainly left a legacy, and it seems he did die (relatively) content.  I admire his bravery and tenacity too - there are few left like him.

Next: Spoiled for choice, an author with a fiction story based around the Bayeux Tapestry (name escapes me), two Ellis Peters, one Christopher Brookmyre and a certain Caroline Cooper.  Not sure which one first, but probably a Peters.

Mike Ripley - Just Another Angel

Fitzroy Maclean Angel is a streetwise, trumpet-playing, cab-driving guy with a penchant for good beer and women, but has mostly stayed out of trouble.  Then he meets Jo Scamp, and it isn't until after his brief, early morning encounter with her that he discovers that not only is she married, but married to a serious villain who breaks bones for a living.  And she needs him to run an errand, which means infiltrating that most dangerous of groups: an all woman CND camp.

My rating: 8/10

Actually, Angel Hunt is more Christmassy than Just Another Angel, and I did pick it up first.  But Just Another had a stronger draw than the other, mostly because I like it more.  Of course, bias doesn't come into at all, oh no.  But in attempting to be subjective, I have read a few debut novels and I have to admit that this one is very good, but unfortunately I had read 10 others in the series before this one and this ended up low on the personal list and why do I feel guilty about it?

But I do, because every time I read it I giggle, annoying the heck out of my better half, and I think it about time I revised the personal list.  Well, I'm the only one hung up about it, the author thinks I'm "discerning", I think I may be just plain crazy.

Have to say, if you're going to start anywhere with this series, start here.  Failing that, Angel's Share.  But you may just wave your free time bye-bye.

Next: Keith Floyd's posthumously published (auto)biography, Stirred but not Shaken.

CJ Carver - Back With Vengeance

Jay MacCauley wakes up in a Russian hotel, covered in bruises, with absolutely no idea how she got there or why she is there.  Only snapshots appear in her memory of the previous 5 days, one of them devastating.  She gradually works out that she was looking for her uncle, who walked out without warning some days ago.  Jay has to piece the clues together, along with an ex-boyfriend and a mysterious MI5 agent, who has another agenda with her uncle, and an extra one with Jay.

My rating:8/10

Someone said, somewhere, that there are no decent British crime thrillers.  Hello, I've found one.  Full review on SHOTS, link posted here when it appears.

Update: Link to review is here.

Next:  A reread.  An abstract clue.  It's Christmas.

Reginald Hill - The Death of Dalziel

Andy Dalziel is critically injured after approaching a house when a bomb planted by terrorists explodes.  On face value, it appears to be linked to a royal visit to the area, as the house is by a main railway line.  However, Pascoe, albeit injured by the blast himself, is recruited into the Secret Service and discovers that rather than Muslim suspects, a group calling themselves the Knights Templar have admitted responsibility to similar incidents.  Pascoe is painfully aware that Dalziel is likely to die from his injuries, but are his motives personal or professional and can he keep the peace with his family?

My rating: 9/10

If Alanna Knight got me interested in medieval murder mysteries, and Mike Ripley got me interested in crime fiction in general, Reginald Hill is guilty of ensuring that the genre has remained my favourite.  At times, I barely know what Hill is talking about, as unfortunately I didn't get a university education, but he never makes reading his novels a frustrating experience, more an education in itself.  Where other authors have blown me away with one novel, disappointed me with the next, Hill has never failed to disappoint (but of course, I have only read three, maybe four, of the Dalziel and Pascoe series and one short story compilation - time yet, Reg.)  The Dalziel and Pascoe series really are thumping good reads, although I knew the outcome of what ultimately happens with Dalziel (as I read the book that came after some time ago)  I love the fact that although Dalziel is lying comatose in a hospital bed, his influence on the other characters decisions is striking and real, and his NDE/dream sequences are just simply delicious.

Next: CJ Carver - Back With Vengeance for SHOTS

Susanna Gregory - The Hand of Justice

The year is 1355, and two convicted felons are granted a pardon by the King and return to Cambridge, much to the shock and dismay of the affected citizens.  When a popular scholar and a merchant are found brutally murdered, naturally the finger is pointed at Mortimer and Thorpe.  As Matthew Bartholomew and Brother Michael unravel the mystery, all they can find at first is cast-iron alibis and confusing testimonies.  More seemingly unrelated deaths occur, but they all seem to centre around the so-called holy relic - supposedly the hand of a saint - the presence of which is making people believe it can perform miracles.

My rating: 7/10

First (I think) that I've read in the series, although I believe Gregory did write a short story for at least one of the Medieval Murderers compilations (which I like, but can never seem to find).  This one suffers a little from the, um, how can I describe it, somethingexcitinghappens -plod, plod, waffle -somethingexcitinghappens- plod, plod, waffle......get the idea?  That said, again, it suits my favourite style, a basic detective story - murder-detectives-suspect in the library and within the medieval context which I love.  So I guess that if it hadn't been written in a historical context, I probably would have rated it lower :-).  No, seriously, it is good, I haven't quite finished it yet (the story is wrapped up, I'm in the process of the 'epilogue' which is always an enjoyable part of a crime novel) but I don't think my opinion is going to be swayed by much else.  A surprise perpetrator as well, the puzzle is brilliantly brought together.  Also, I was surprised to learn it was the 10th in the series, and you do not feel at any time that you needed to read any previous book to this one (a BIG bugbear of mine).  It could have been 200 pages shorter, my only specific criticism.

Next: more modern, but I'm afraid on safe, biased ground again - Reginald Hill, The Death of Dalziel

Michael Jecks - The Templar's Penance

Sir Baldwin Furnshill and Bailiff Simon Puttock are on pilgrimage to Santiago de Compestela, after Baldwin unwittingly killed an innocent man.  Other pilgrims are there also, to pray to the saint for forgiveness, each with their different reasons, and all of them are under suspicion after a beautiful girl is raped, battered and murdered, and an old man who was once a Templar is stabbed.


My rating: 7/10

I'm pretty biased when it comes to medieval mysteries, I guess my interest was piqued by early reads, either the slushy romantic historic fiction I used to read, or (as I like to hope) by Alanna Knight's The Dagger in the Crown, the first piece of fiction I reviewed on Amazon.  Then I got into Bernard Knight, and the Crowner John series.  The Templar's Penance has all the ingredients I like; a jigsaw puzzle gradually put together; the detectives going down blind alleys; action and violence (if not too graphic); human characters with all their foibles.  Strange that, as Ripley's Angel is pretty straightforward (apart from the characters!), but I guess my other weakness is comedy crime.  If I had a criticism, this book is overlong, with Baldwin and Simon retracing their steps far too often.  Kept me reading though, but as I say, I'm biased.

Next: Susanna Gregory - The Hand of Justice

Graham Phillips - Act of God

Non Fiction - Whilst looking for the tomb of Tutankhamen, a group of archaeologists uncover a tomb with a mummy interred in a bizarre fashion and with no obvious identity.  Who was he, and what was his link to Tut and the presumed heretic Akhenaten?

My rating: 8/10

Hardly surprising really, that a favourite work of non fiction is really a detective story.  I think this book has been in my "library" the third longest (the other two, incidentally, are The Compleet Works of molesworth and Watership Down, discounting a very old King James Bible) - books have come and gone prior to this but this has never hit the bin or Amazon Marketplace.  It's not that I agree with everything that Phillips has to say about the whole Akenaten/Nefertiti/Smenkhare/Tut era, in fact there's bits in there which don't quite gel.  Loads has been written about the era, and in more detail - and I must get hold of Aldred's Akhenhaten at some point which I have only read once -  it's the fact he delivers his theories believably and succinctly, and leaves you room for thought.  If you are interested in the era, give it a go, with an open mind, and you will find it enjoyable.

Next: Library tomorrow, watch this space, cos I really don't know.

Frances Fyfield - Cold To The Touch

Jessica Hurly won't go home to her idyllic-sounding birth town, and her friend Sarah Fortune doesn't know why, although she knows that Jess has a volatile and complicated personality.  Sarah is persuaded to test the waters by moving to her seaside town and find out if everything has been forgiven and forgotten.  Shortly after Sarah moves, there are reported sightings of Jessica in the community, but why did she make no attempt to contact Sarah or Jessica's mother with the news before she somehow ends up in the butcher's chiller?

My rating: 5/10

Hmmm.  I really wanted to like this book.  Full review will be on SHOTS, and as I will write it this weekend it will probably be there next month.  Will update this post when it is but it's best if I leave the full synopsis/review there rather than feeling like I'm repeating myself.  Needless to say, I doubt I'll read anything more by this author.

Update 16.12.09.  Full review is here.

Next: Um.  Nothing from Mr Stotter (to be fair, I only gave him the green light earlier this week)/pending for SHOTS, can't get to the library until Saturday, so will probably be a re-read.  Oh indecision.