Author Jan Guillou continues the story of Arn and Cecilia that he started in "The Templar Knight". Arn is now in The Holy Land as a Templar Knight and Cecilia is confined to a cloister in western Gotaland, without her newborn son. Both have 20 years to serve before they are free.
At the beginning of the story, Arn saves Saladin from robbers, which puts creates a friendship between the two. Back at home Cecilia meets another Cecilia in the cloister who has been put in the cloister for her own protection while war wages between two rival factions trying to gain control of the country. Together they outwit the abbess, yet at the same time manage to bring wealth to the cloister.
Arn is involved in several battles in the Holy Land with the Saracens and he gains their respect. But in his mind, although living the austere life of a Templar Knight, he only wants to fulfill his time and return home to Cecilia and his child. He looks forward to living a life without fighting. One big battle remains against the forces of Saladin. Will Arn survive because of the treachery of those who have come to The Holy Land only to procure riches?
The novelist tells a great story of what life was like in The Holy Land at the time of the crusades and also what it was like back in a country that will someday become Sweden. I thoroughly enjoyed the read and am looking forward to Book Three, "Birth of the Kingdom".
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Dark Fire
London, the summer of 1540. It is hot and dry. Lawyer Matthew Shardlake has been asked to investigate the case of Elizabeth Wentworth, who has been accused of murdering her cousin. She refuses to speak and judge orders her to be pressed in order to get her to talk. However, fortunately for her, moments after her case has been heard, Shardlake receives information that her pressing has been postponed for 12 days.
Shardlake has been ordered by Lord Cromwell to check into Greek Fire. Both Cromwell, and the man sent to help Shardlake, a man by the name of Barak have seen Greek Fire in action. However, the men who demonstrated the power of Greek Fire have disappeared. Cromwell wants the Greek Fire so that he can stay in the good books of Henry VIII. Death and mayhem follow as Shardlake and Barak work to find the Greek Fire. They are followed and murder is attempted on them.
Meantime Shardlake still has to find proof of Elizabeth's innocence, something of which he is convinced. However, finding that proof is going to be difficult. Both he and Barak become very exhausted during the course of both investigations.
What will happen to them at a time of many court intrigues? Author C. J. Sansom keeps the reader guessing and involved. A very good historical crime novel.
Shardlake has been ordered by Lord Cromwell to check into Greek Fire. Both Cromwell, and the man sent to help Shardlake, a man by the name of Barak have seen Greek Fire in action. However, the men who demonstrated the power of Greek Fire have disappeared. Cromwell wants the Greek Fire so that he can stay in the good books of Henry VIII. Death and mayhem follow as Shardlake and Barak work to find the Greek Fire. They are followed and murder is attempted on them.
Meantime Shardlake still has to find proof of Elizabeth's innocence, something of which he is convinced. However, finding that proof is going to be difficult. Both he and Barak become very exhausted during the course of both investigations.
What will happen to them at a time of many court intrigues? Author C. J. Sansom keeps the reader guessing and involved. A very good historical crime novel.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Goodnight Sweet Prince
It is 1891 and Lord Powerscourt has been asked to investigate a death. It is the death of Prince Eddy, son of the Prince of Wales, grandson to Queen Victoria. Prince Eddy has been foully murdered and the Prince of Wales wants the murder covered up; made to look as though his son has died from influenza.
Why would the Prince of Wales want the murder covered up? Prince Eddy had been involved in numerous affairs, many of them homosexual, which was frowned upon at that time. However, when more deaths and blackmail occur Powerscourt's investigations take an interesting turn. Are the deaths and blackmail connected to the murder of Prince Eddy?
Powerscourt's investigation will lead him to Venice where he confronts the prime suspect. Later, upon returning to London and after giving his report to the Prince of Wale's staff, the prime suspect is also murdered. Is Powerscourt now a potential victim because he knows too much?
Author David Dickinson has written an excellent historical novel, which I am sure that you will enjoy reading.
Why would the Prince of Wales want the murder covered up? Prince Eddy had been involved in numerous affairs, many of them homosexual, which was frowned upon at that time. However, when more deaths and blackmail occur Powerscourt's investigations take an interesting turn. Are the deaths and blackmail connected to the murder of Prince Eddy?
Powerscourt's investigation will lead him to Venice where he confronts the prime suspect. Later, upon returning to London and after giving his report to the Prince of Wale's staff, the prime suspect is also murdered. Is Powerscourt now a potential victim because he knows too much?
Author David Dickinson has written an excellent historical novel, which I am sure that you will enjoy reading.
Monday, March 19, 2012
The Winter Palace
Eva Stachniak's novel "The Winter Palace" is filled with the intrigue and machinations that brought Catherine the Great to the throne of Russia.
Barbara is a young woman when her bookbinding father dies. He had repaired a book for the Empress when she was a young woman. He asked the Empress to look after his daughter should anything happen to him. When he died, Barbara was left an orphan, and was now known in Russian as Varvara was taken into the royal household to work. There she came under the influence of the Chancellor who taught her to spy, "to be his tongue".
Shortly afterwards another young woman, Sophie came to the Russian court. Sophie was to become the bride of Peter who is next in line to the throne. Sophie and Varvara become friends, too close for the Empress' pleasure, so Varvara is forced to marry a Russian soldier. However, Varvara manages to still stay in the good graces of the Empress and works to help Sophie, who upon marrying the heir to the throne becomes known as Catherine. The Empress expects Sophie to become pregnant as soon as possible. When it doesn't happen, Catherine is shunned.
As the story draws to a conclusion we discover how Catherine came to become the Empress of Russia. Stachniak is working on the sequel to this novel that tells the story of Catherine as Empress. I look forward to reading it.
Barbara is a young woman when her bookbinding father dies. He had repaired a book for the Empress when she was a young woman. He asked the Empress to look after his daughter should anything happen to him. When he died, Barbara was left an orphan, and was now known in Russian as Varvara was taken into the royal household to work. There she came under the influence of the Chancellor who taught her to spy, "to be his tongue".
Shortly afterwards another young woman, Sophie came to the Russian court. Sophie was to become the bride of Peter who is next in line to the throne. Sophie and Varvara become friends, too close for the Empress' pleasure, so Varvara is forced to marry a Russian soldier. However, Varvara manages to still stay in the good graces of the Empress and works to help Sophie, who upon marrying the heir to the throne becomes known as Catherine. The Empress expects Sophie to become pregnant as soon as possible. When it doesn't happen, Catherine is shunned.
As the story draws to a conclusion we discover how Catherine came to become the Empress of Russia. Stachniak is working on the sequel to this novel that tells the story of Catherine as Empress. I look forward to reading it.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
The Anatomist's Apprentice
It is 1780 in England. A young man has come from Philadelphia to study anatomy with one of the best anatomists in England. They use cadavers provided to them by grave robbers, but it is this study that will lead to better knowledge of the human body.
Out in Oxford a young nobleman dies an excruciating death and Dr. Silkstone, the anatomist's apprentice is called upon to determine the cause of death. However by the time that he arrives the body is well decomposed. He takes several organs back to London to study. He is unable to find a cause of death, however during the inquest the victim's brother-in-law is made to appear to have poisoned the victim.
Silkstone is fortunately able to prove that this is not the case, but not before the brother-in-law is arrested. Shortly after he is arrested he is found hanging in his cell, an apparent suicide. How will Dr. Silkstone save the man's name?
Author Tessa Harris in this novel presents the first real forensic doctor in a very positive light as he goes about his work without the modern technology now available. A good read.
Out in Oxford a young nobleman dies an excruciating death and Dr. Silkstone, the anatomist's apprentice is called upon to determine the cause of death. However by the time that he arrives the body is well decomposed. He takes several organs back to London to study. He is unable to find a cause of death, however during the inquest the victim's brother-in-law is made to appear to have poisoned the victim.
Silkstone is fortunately able to prove that this is not the case, but not before the brother-in-law is arrested. Shortly after he is arrested he is found hanging in his cell, an apparent suicide. How will Dr. Silkstone save the man's name?
Author Tessa Harris in this novel presents the first real forensic doctor in a very positive light as he goes about his work without the modern technology now available. A good read.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Martyr
Queen Elizabeth, the Virgin Queen, holds the throne of England. However, her throne is threatened by the Roman Catholics and especially King Philip of Spain. Sir Francis Drake is her best sea captain and it is his aim to protect England from the huge armada that Philip is building.
Intelligence has been gathered that there is an assassin who is planning on killing Drake. John Shakespeare, working for Walsingham is given the task of finding this assassin before he has a chance to kill Drake. Into the mix comes Topcliffe, a man assigned by the Queen to root out any Jesuit priests who are spreading dissension in her realm. Topcliffe and Shakespeare will come into conflict as they go about their assignments.
This is an excellent historical novel that boils continually throughout reaching a climax, followed by another stimulating anti-climax. Rory Clements has done a great job to keep the attention of his readers. I look forward to the sequel entitled "Revenger".
Intelligence has been gathered that there is an assassin who is planning on killing Drake. John Shakespeare, working for Walsingham is given the task of finding this assassin before he has a chance to kill Drake. Into the mix comes Topcliffe, a man assigned by the Queen to root out any Jesuit priests who are spreading dissension in her realm. Topcliffe and Shakespeare will come into conflict as they go about their assignments.
This is an excellent historical novel that boils continually throughout reaching a climax, followed by another stimulating anti-climax. Rory Clements has done a great job to keep the attention of his readers. I look forward to the sequel entitled "Revenger".
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Frozen Assets
Iceland is on the verge of going into an economic tailspin when a body is found in the water alongside a small town. Sergeant Gunna sets out to investigate. As she investigates, she discovers that the death was not a drowning, but likely a murder and the murder could be tied to another death by a hit and run vehicle.
Throughout the story are reports by a blogger about corruption within the government and at a new aluminium smelting plant that is being built near Gunna’s town. Gunna’s investigation seems to tie the murders to the smelting plant, which is the target of “Clean Iceland”, an Icelandic environmental group, and to the manager of a PR firm involved with the smelting plant. The manager of the PR firm is married to the minister of the environment and together they have investments in the smelting plant and PR firm.
As the story progresses, the pace picks up leading to an interesting climax.
Author Quentin Bates keeps the reader involved, but the unusual Icelandic place names can be real tongue twisters. All-in-all a very good read.
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