Bowden P. (Trey) -
Well, this is the last of the Sir Robert Carey mysteries. Its a shame there were only 4 of these, but they were (and are) fun. For those that are interested, this was suggested to me after reading The Steel Bonnets by George McDonald Fraser.
The entire series was well worth the time spent reading it and the credits acquiring it.
A Plague of Angels opens with Sir Robert, Barnabus (his servant), Simon (nephew of Barnabus) and Land Sergeant Dodd approaching London after a long hard ride from the north on an urgent summons by Sir Robert's father, Lord Hunsdon, 'cousin' of the Queen and her Chancellor. What could be boring was exciting enough as it turns into an ambush that Dodd deliberately triggers.
The book itself is complex. The main view point character is Sergeant Dodd, who is a fish out of water (at least as much as we readers would be) in Elizabethan London. This makes him an excellent guide for it.
The plot makes the book complex. It involves the vice Chamberlain (and Elizabeth's chief spy) who wants to be Chamberlain and thus control who has access to the Queen. And his main obstacle is Lord Hunsdon.
The setting is rich, complex, wonderful and a character by itself. We see William Shakespeare (and possibly meet his Dark Lady - Lord Hunsdon's mistress...), Chris Marloe and begin to get an idea of the complex nest of patronage, intrigue and espionage that is Elzabethan London. Its also cruel and wasteful with debtors prisons, rampant crime and disease.
Sir Robert seems less modern in this book and more like a noble, talking frankly of fixing juries. Dodd is amusing, cunning and very, very human. His north country ways and bluntness make him an ideal guide.
Its a good book. I look forward to Patricia Finney's other Elizabethan novels.
The entire series was well worth the time spent reading it and the credits acquiring it.
A Plague of Angels opens with Sir Robert, Barnabus (his servant), Simon (nephew of Barnabus) and Land Sergeant Dodd approaching London after a long hard ride from the north on an urgent summons by Sir Robert's father, Lord Hunsdon, 'cousin' of the Queen and her Chancellor. What could be boring was exciting enough as it turns into an ambush that Dodd deliberately triggers.
The book itself is complex. The main view point character is Sergeant Dodd, who is a fish out of water (at least as much as we readers would be) in Elizabethan London. This makes him an excellent guide for it.
The plot makes the book complex. It involves the vice Chamberlain (and Elizabeth's chief spy) who wants to be Chamberlain and thus control who has access to the Queen. And his main obstacle is Lord Hunsdon.
The setting is rich, complex, wonderful and a character by itself. We see William Shakespeare (and possibly meet his Dark Lady - Lord Hunsdon's mistress...), Chris Marloe and begin to get an idea of the complex nest of patronage, intrigue and espionage that is Elzabethan London. Its also cruel and wasteful with debtors prisons, rampant crime and disease.
Sir Robert seems less modern in this book and more like a noble, talking frankly of fixing juries. Dodd is amusing, cunning and very, very human. His north country ways and bluntness make him an ideal guide.
Its a good book. I look forward to Patricia Finney's other Elizabethan novels.
Fourth in the series. Sir Robert Carey is summoned to London by his father because his brother is missing. But before they even get to the city they are set upon by men waiting in ambush. As always, there are plots within plots and treachery is everywhere. Sergeant Dodd is far out of his element and struggling to make sense of it all, Carey is dodging his creditors, and the plague has returned. Rich with historical detail. A new reader would probably enjoy this book but IMO it would lose a lot of flavor if you don't already know the characters. Speaking of characters, this one has some well-known historical figures crop up...including Will Shakespeare with a crush on a wicked woman.
As I write this in 2017, there are at least 3 more in the series.
As I write this in 2017, there are at least 3 more in the series.
Thomas F. (hardtack) -
Praise to P.F. Chisholm for providing another fascinating story of Sir Robert Carey and Sergeant Dodd. Unfortunately, William Shakespeare's reputation suffers.
I very seldom award five stars to a novel, but I do so here.
I very seldom award five stars to a novel, but I do so here.
