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Rating: 
Summary: A bleak and stark tale.
Review: Don't read P.C Doherty if you want to read romantic medieval chronicles. That is not what you get with him in his pilgrim series at least. I'm not sure about his other series because I haven't read them yet. But I do intend to. Doherty is historically accurate, but he's also realistic. The Middle Ages are shown for what they were - dirty, superstitious, and a lot of evil under the surface. I have read a lot of medieval mysteries, but there are none out there quite like this one. This one is tale of mystery and murder told by another one of Chaucer's pilgrims - the Lawyer. It's apparent right off the bat that he's talking about his own life and personal experiences, but it doesn't make the tale any less sinister and mysterious. This book is really about espionage, and the lengths that people will go to to protect themselves and their lifestyles. We see a story about the perfidy of kings and queens and the abuses that people of power committed in order to protect their own lifestyles as well as their king's. Yes, this sort of thing happens nowadays too, but we like to think that the common person has some protection from those in power. Our laws, the press, whatever. But do we really? That is a question you will ask as you read this story. I won't say anything about the plot of the book, since that would give too much away, so you will have to read it for yourself and draw your own conclusions. Good stuff here for historical buffs and for those who want to read a good mystery alike.
Rating: 
Summary: Historically accurate, but repeats Death of a King
Review: I read Death of a King several years ago and really enjoyed it, so I had high hopes here. Unfortunately Doherty repeated the same plot - granted, with a different king - but still essentially the same. This disappointed enough that I am not eager to read more of his work. If you haven't read either, I think Death of a King is the better book.The book is historically accurate, which is important to me. Doherty clearly knows his English history. I like the idea of "completing" Chaucer's tales. It does add to the story if you know the tales, but if you don't I think you can sort the characters out. I would encourage people who enjoyed this book to take a look at Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. They can be a bit difficult, because of the language, but there is a reason they are an English Classic.
Rating: 
Summary: Loaded With Action
Review: This book is loaded with action and it is fun to read. Doherty has a doctorate in history from Oxford and obviously loves his subject.
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Summary: MEDIEVAL ESPIONAGE
Review: This is another installment in the Chaucer pilgrim tales. This is the tale told by the Lawyer. The Lawyer tells a tale of Nicholas Chirke who is hired by the Sheriff to find out who killed a man named Berisford and save the man named Fromlich who is being framed for the killing. This tale was at first confusing with the amount of names being thrown about, but that subsided and it became a wonderful story full of greed, espionage, mystery, wanton women and of course murder. Not only is it a good tale, but you get to go back in time and dwell for a while in 14th century England. Enjoy your stay.
Rating:
Summary: MEDIEVAL ESPIONAGE
Review: This is another installment in the Chaucer pilgrim tales. This is the tale told by the Lawyer. The Lawyer tells a tale of Nicholas Chirke who is hired by the Sheriff to find out who killed a man named Berisford and save the man named Fromlich who is being framed for the killing. This tale was at first confusing with the amount of names being thrown about, but that subsided and it became a wonderful story full of greed, espionage, mystery, wanton women and of course murder. Not only is it a good tale, but you get to go back in time and dwell for a while in 14th century England. Enjoy your stay.
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