The Dragons of Archenfield (Domesday Books)
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They were shocked when they saw the scene of devastation. Warnod's house had been reduced to ashes. Only a few charred timbers remained to show where he had once lived with his doomed family. Golde let out a gasp of horror and brought her hands up to her mouth. Idwal sighed with compassion. Even Ralph Delchard was initially jarred. He walked around the perimeter of the house. "What could one man do to deserve all this?" he said. "The blameless often suffer the most in this world," observed Idwal, darkly. "Thank heaven his suffering is over!" "There were no witnesses, my lord sheriff?" "None that will come forward," said Ilbert. "An inferno like this? Think of the noise, the light." "Everyone was struck deaf and blind." "By fear?" "Or by agreement," said the sheriff.
The frontier zone of Archenfield in Herefordshire is a no-man's-land, which acts as a bulwark between Norman-controlled English soil, and the Welsh border. Soldier Ralph Delchard and lawyer Gervase Bret arrive in Hereford for what looks like one of their more straightforward assignments from the crown, to settle conflicting claims to land in Archenfield. Ralph and Gervase are shocked to discover the murder of a principal witness, a wealthy landowner who was burned alive in his own home. No clues remain except an enigmatic red dragon cut into the turf in front of the house.
The frontier zone of Archenfield in Herefordshire is a no-man's-land, which acts as a bulwark between Norman-controlled English soil, and the Welsh border. Soldier Ralph Delchard and lawyer Gervase Bret arrive in Hereford for what looks like one of their more straightforward assignments from the crown, to settle conflicting claims to land in Archenfield. Ralph and Gervase are shocked to discover the murder of a principal witness, a wealthy landowner who was burned alive in his own home. No clues remain except an enigmatic red dragon cut into the turf in front of the house.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
First Sentence: He was coming down the hill when they struck.
Norman soldier Ralph Delchard and Breton lawyer Gervase Bret travel around Britain to resolve disputes to ensure the information in King Henry's Domesday Book is correct. Archenfield in Herefordshire is situated in the English/Welsh border. There is a conflict as to who owns the land. When the men arrive, a wealthy landowner, and principal witness to the conflict, has just been burned alive in his home, a Welch lion filled with blood curved into the soil in front of his house.
Marston's writing has a wonderful voice. His characters come to life for me. The two men, Ralph and Gervase, are companions and friends but opposite in temperament.
They travel with the often annoying Canon Hubert and Brother Simon who is terrified of women. We learn a bit more about Ralph as he talks about his late wife. In this book, we have Idwal the Welch Archdeacon about whom even Brother Simon comments "Blessed are the deaf...for they cannot hear him."
It is that humor that offsets the occasionally gruesome action. Marston's books make me think of Shakespeare; exciting, suspenseful, battle scenes and sword fights, duplicity, betrayal, humor and a touch of romance. There is a wonderful discussion between Richard Orbec, an English landowner, and Ralph about war being murder.
Marston's sense of time, place and historical detail is wonderful. There was one portent, which I shall forgive, a surprising twist and an ending I loved.
I highly recommend this book, and series, to anyone who loves historical mysteries.
THE DRAGONS OF ARCHENFIELD (Hist Mys-Ralph Delchard/Gervase Brest-England- VG+
Marston, Edward - 3rd in Domesday series
St. Martin's Press, 1995, US Hardcover - ISBN: 031213472X
Norman soldier Ralph Delchard and Breton lawyer Gervase Bret travel around Britain to resolve disputes to ensure the information in King Henry's Domesday Book is correct. Archenfield in Herefordshire is situated in the English/Welsh border. There is a conflict as to who owns the land. When the men arrive, a wealthy landowner, and principal witness to the conflict, has just been burned alive in his home, a Welch lion filled with blood curved into the soil in front of his house.
Marston's writing has a wonderful voice. His characters come to life for me. The two men, Ralph and Gervase, are companions and friends but opposite in temperament.
They travel with the often annoying Canon Hubert and Brother Simon who is terrified of women. We learn a bit more about Ralph as he talks about his late wife. In this book, we have Idwal the Welch Archdeacon about whom even Brother Simon comments "Blessed are the deaf...for they cannot hear him."
It is that humor that offsets the occasionally gruesome action. Marston's books make me think of Shakespeare; exciting, suspenseful, battle scenes and sword fights, duplicity, betrayal, humor and a touch of romance. There is a wonderful discussion between Richard Orbec, an English landowner, and Ralph about war being murder.
Marston's sense of time, place and historical detail is wonderful. There was one portent, which I shall forgive, a surprising twist and an ending I loved.
I highly recommend this book, and series, to anyone who loves historical mysteries.
THE DRAGONS OF ARCHENFIELD (Hist Mys-Ralph Delchard/Gervase Brest-England- VG+
Marston, Edward - 3rd in Domesday series
St. Martin's Press, 1995, US Hardcover - ISBN: 031213472X
3 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Edward Marston is the pseudonym of Keith Miles, a fairly prolific and extremely good writer of mainly Elizabethan and medieval mysteries. He has also written mysteries under his own name with both sporting and golf backgrounds. However it is primarily the books that take place earlier in history that I am interested in. He read modern history at Oxford and has had many jobs, including university lecturer, but fortunately for all his readers, he turned to the writing profession.
Winter is approaching and the troupe of actors known as Westfield's men are one again out of work, but not for long. Their patron Lord Westfield has decided to marry again and has chosen a Danish bride with tenuous attachment to the Danish Royal family. The troupe is invited to perform as guests of the King, Christian IV and fittingly or so they believe they choose to perform as one of their offerings, The Princess of Denmark. They little know when making the decision that it will prove to be a disastrous choice.
Westfield's men soon find themselves embroiled in political mayhem and religious dissension. Lord Westfield who has never seen his future bride in the flesh and made his proposal after seeing a painted miniature of the lady, is less than enthusiastic when he actually meets the lady. But he can hardly withdraw his offer of marriage. As usual murder and intrigue follow the company wherever they go, and eventually they realise that there is a traitor in their ranks. Once again it falls to Nicholas Bracewell to solve the murder, unmask the villain and extricate Lord Westfield from his unsuitable match.
The author's love for the Elizabethan theatre comes shining through this series of books. Plus his knowledge of the period fills the pages with authenticity and the sights and sounds of the streets and inns of Elizabethan London.
Winter is approaching and the troupe of actors known as Westfield's men are one again out of work, but not for long. Their patron Lord Westfield has decided to marry again and has chosen a Danish bride with tenuous attachment to the Danish Royal family. The troupe is invited to perform as guests of the King, Christian IV and fittingly or so they believe they choose to perform as one of their offerings, The Princess of Denmark. They little know when making the decision that it will prove to be a disastrous choice.
Westfield's men soon find themselves embroiled in political mayhem and religious dissension. Lord Westfield who has never seen his future bride in the flesh and made his proposal after seeing a painted miniature of the lady, is less than enthusiastic when he actually meets the lady. But he can hardly withdraw his offer of marriage. As usual murder and intrigue follow the company wherever they go, and eventually they realise that there is a traitor in their ranks. Once again it falls to Nicholas Bracewell to solve the murder, unmask the villain and extricate Lord Westfield from his unsuitable match.
The author's love for the Elizabethan theatre comes shining through this series of books. Plus his knowledge of the period fills the pages with authenticity and the sights and sounds of the streets and inns of Elizabethan London.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
10 reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Great historical whodunit. Ellis Peters heir apparent
9 Dec 1998
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Best of the series so far. Ralph and Gervase are two of the most full bodied dectives since Leaphorn and Chee. Red Herrings abound as they try to find out who killed a Saxon with claims to contested land. Golde adds a much needed twist to the foursome trying to settle land claims for King William.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
A thoroughly engaging book.
19 May 1997
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Two civil servants ride into 11th-century Wales on routine business and find themselves confronted with a diabolical murder. In a country chafing under Norman domination, murder turns out to be the least of their worries.
This skillful blend of mystery and action (and romance) held my attention so thoroughly that I finished it in one sitting. Fans of Peters' Brother Cadfael should find themselves at home with Marston's Delchard and Gervase
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
mystery, action and romance in a historical setting
19 Sep 2000
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Edward Marston pens enthralling mysteries during an exciting and intersting time of history, the Norman Conquest of England and the ensuing "Domesday Book" I am only sorry to discover him when all his books are not readily available.
He provides incites regarding the relationships of Normans, Saxsons and Welsh for the history buff. For those who love mysteries he provides an interesting group of detectives a knight - Ralph, a lawyer Gervase, Canon Hubert and Brother Simon. Marston deftly combines mystery, action and romance in a historical setting.
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