<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: Marston Uncovers the Snakes in the Grass!
Review: "The Serpents of Harbledown" is Volume V of the Domesday Books, and author A.E. Marston continues his Ralph Delchard and Gervase Bret series in a convincing manner! Ralph and Gervase are dispatched to Canterbury to help solve a dispute between the cathedral and St. Augustine's Abbey involving some land, not to mention liturgical authority. This complementary duo are royal officials commissioned by King William to see that justice is meted out and the issue settled. The entourage includes Ralph's new bride (Golde), Canon Hubert, Brother Simon (all whom we've met in previous episodes) and their military retainers. They are eager to dispense their judicial findings. Alas, a young girl is found dead and at first she is assumed to have died from a poisonous snake, as the teeth marks are readily seen. However, we soon begin to suspect more than accidental death and, true to Marston's nature, we have a full-blown mysstery on our hands. It will take all the logical skill Gervase has, the military bearing of Ralph, and the religious observances of the Canon and Brother Simon to unravel this conundrum. Before its solution, however, we find that, indeed, a serpent has invaded the community, in the form of heresy, and the story takes on even greater meaning. Marston's fifth tale begins rather slowly, but with patience the reader will find that the narrative begins to jell and the desire to find out the solutions to all the problems compels one to complete the book. Marston seems to have some trouble with his dialogue, especially the passages involving Delchard and his new bride. These conversations borders readily on the stilted, as of course, even in 11th century England meaningful conversation between husband and wife would not be this formal! But that aside--and do push it aside--the book is worth reading through. Marston writes with a social conscience, especially as he deals with the leper issue, and, quite importantly, the relationship of the church with its dissident priests (who seem fully justified in their dissidence!). The author has also spent some time in the presentation of his characters, all the while trying to keep in mind that this is England just after the Norman conquest. "The Serpents of Harbledown" ends another episode in the King's commissioners' efforts at demonstrating the king's justice, to Norman, Saxon, and Church member alike. Marston seems fully in command of his characters, his plot, and his themes. (Billyjhobbs@tyler.net)
Rating:
Summary: Marston Uncovers the Snakes in the Grass!
Review: "The Serpents of Harbledown" is Volume V of the Domesday Books, and author A.E. Marston continues his Ralph Delchard and Gervase Bret series in a convincing manner! Ralph and Gervase are dispatched to Canterbury to help solve a dispute between the cathedral and St. Augustine's Abbey involving some land, not to mention liturgical authority. This complementary duo are royal officials commissioned by King William to see that justice is meted out and the issue settled. The entourage includes Ralph's new bride (Golde), Canon Hubert, Brother Simon (all whom we've met in previous episodes) and their military retainers. They are eager to dispense their judicial findings. Alas, a young girl is found dead and at first she is assumed to have died from a poisonous snake, as the teeth marks are readily seen. However, we soon begin to suspect more than accidental death and, true to Marston's nature, we have a full-blown mysstery on our hands. It will take all the logical skill Gervase has, the military bearing of Ralph, and the religious observances of the Canon and Brother Simon to unravel this conundrum. Before its solution, however, we find that, indeed, a serpent has invaded the community, in the form of heresy, and the story takes on even greater meaning. Marston's fifth tale begins rather slowly, but with patience the reader will find that the narrative begins to jell and the desire to find out the solutions to all the problems compels one to complete the book. Marston seems to have some trouble with his dialogue, especially the passages involving Delchard and his new bride. These conversations borders readily on the stilted, as of course, even in 11th century England meaningful conversation between husband and wife would not be this formal! But that aside--and do push it aside--the book is worth reading through. Marston writes with a social conscience, especially as he deals with the leper issue, and, quite importantly, the relationship of the church with its dissident priests (who seem fully justified in their dissidence!). The author has also spent some time in the presentation of his characters, all the while trying to keep in mind that this is England just after the Norman conquest. "The Serpents of Harbledown" ends another episode in the King's commissioners' efforts at demonstrating the king's justice, to Norman, Saxon, and Church member alike. Marston seems fully in command of his characters, his plot, and his themes. (Billyjhobbs@tyler.net)
Rating: 
Summary: Pleasant Formula
Review: I really enjoy the main characters in this series, but the stories are so similar that I can simply scan the book and get enough of the plot to have my fill. Gervase and Ralph make a great team.
<< 1 >>
| 
