Corpse Candle: A Medieval Mystery Featuring Hugh Corbett

This book shows Paul Doherty at the peak of his powers as a novelist. The plot is tight and the characterizations are wonderful. The setting is limited to in and around an abbey where it appears that a murderous plot is afoot. Hugh and his two henchmen are asked by their King to go to the Abbey to determine what happened to his old friend who was the Abbot in this abbey. He is found dead in his locked chamber with a dagger through his chest. Hugh, Ranulf and their groom, Chanson arrive only to find an abbey that is cloaked in mystery and in blood. While Hugh is there, many more murders occur, and he needs to find out what is going on in order to stop the carnage. This book is a real page-turner, and as always we read a lot of historical fact in amongst Mr. Doherty's fiction.

...it's not one of his best. In this book, Doherty expands personal relationship between Ranulf and Corbett-and that's interesting and welcome-but the main plot is a little weak...I don't know about anyone else, but I pretty much guessed who the murderer had to be before I was 1/3 of the way through. Still and all, it's a Doherty-which means it's worth the read!

Paul Doherty uses quite a few pseudonyms, but regardless of which nom deplume he chooses, or which series he presents, readers always get a good,well-reseached, convincing historical mystery. In ?Corpse Candle,? Doherty gives us Sir Hugh Corbett, King Edward I?sspecial envoy and close confidant, the 12th such episode in this popular series. It is 1303 and Abbot Stephen (singular!), a close personal friend of Edward?s, is founddead in his locked chambers at the Abbey of St. Martin-in-the-Marsh. As the king?senvoy, Corbett quickly finds that there is more to the story than the death of theabbot. As Lady Macbeth says, ?False face must hide false heart,? and to continuethe Shakespearean allusion, ?Corpse Candle? ends up with far more bodies scatteredabout the place than Hamlet?s Act V! With his trusted aide Ranulf and newly acquired groom Chanson, Sir Hughfinds his intellect and common sense broadside by the incessant deaths of membersof the Abbey. Of course, as he investigates, all these deaths are related and using hisfamed logic and ability to re-construct, he is able to bring the murderer to justice. Of course, all in good time, as the killer wreaks vengeance upon those whom he feelsare complicit in the greater crime, one that began years ago and, sadly, now plays toits tragic, deceitful, and explosive end. Of all the Corbett books, this one is the best researched and most carefullylaid out and presented. From its opening pages, ?Corpse Candle? holds the reader?sattention and the plot unfolds in a timely manner and pace. Few loose ends are leftand the conclusion logical and noteworthy. ([email protected])

Doherty is possibly the most prolific author i've come across (in roughly 15 years since his first book was published, he's penned about 50 other novels), and while at times his books can lack that special something which sets some fiction apart from the rest, his books are undoubtedly entertaining, this one in particular, which is a novel that factor which some of his others lack. When Abbot Stephen is found murdered, locked in his quarters from the inside, a puzzling mystery is indeed presented. Sir Hugh Corbett, keepers of the king's peace, is called in to investigate, and finds himself immersed in an investigation with far-reaching effects, and tentacles that spread many years into the past, to the Abbots old life, to tales of robber baron Sir Geofrey Mandeville's ghost galloping through the fens with a troop of spectrely horsemen, to rumours of the origins of the corpse candles, said to foretell the deaths of men, which hover and flicker at night above the marshes...The characters in this book are very well characterised, the plot is tight and complex, and always puzzling. The writing style is invigorating. The solution is surprising and clever, and much blood is spilled before it arrives. This is without a doubt one of Doherty's very best novels, full of historical falvour, great characters, with a cracking plot. I reccomend this highly to any fan of crime fiction, not jsut historical fiction.

Due to its modern leader, Abbot Stephens, the St. Martin's-in-the-Marsh Monastery is a prosperous business center. In fact the Bendictine monks who reside at the abbey have a standard of living that is the envy of most non-residents in the year of our lord 1303. As the good time roll, the monks heatedly debate expanding their business or renewing their vows to God. The argument changes when Abbot Stephens is found dead inside his locked chamber with some of the monks thinking otherworldly forces from either heaven or hell punished their leader. Many of the local peasants agree believing that the ghost of a robber baron committed the crime.Stephens' friend King Edward I wants secular answers so he sends his loyal Royal Clerk Hugh Corbett to investigate the homicide. Hugh and his able assistants begin to uncover secrets about Abbot Stephens that expands the list of suspects even as the killer murders more brothers leaving the calling card of the Devil's Mark behind.Perhaps the leading medieval mystery writer of today (besides Corbett, there are Brother Athelstan and Canterbury Tales), P.C. Doherty provides a tremendous lock door fourteenth century who-done-it. The key to a Doherty tale are all here in CORPSE CANDLE. The characters are deep, believable, and enhance the feel for the era that is vividly described yet interwoven into the plot. The hero is a courageous intelligent person whom readers will respect. With all that inside a strong investigation with myriad of suspects, but complex so that the audience struggles with deciding whom is leaving behind the Devil's Mark.Harriet Klausner