I am taking the plunge and reading a novel on a Kindle.
When I finish, I'll post a comment comparing the Kindle experience with books.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Sovereign by C. J. Sansom
Genre: Historical Mystery
Setting: England, 1541 - during the reign of King Henry VIII
This novel is the third installment in Sansom's Matthew Shardlake mystery series. The main character is a London lawyer who unwillingly becomes entangled in the intrigues of those close to the king.
King Henry's reformation of the church is not popular in the north of England. Recently, there has been a rebellion centered around the city of York. The king has undertaken a grand progress from London to York to solidify his hold on the north.
Shardlake has been asked to go to York to help with legal proceedings when the King visits. He has also been given the task to monitor the health of a traitorous prisoner. Matthew needs to make sure the prisoner doesn't die before he gets to London to be tortured. This additional chore forces Shardlake to become involved with royal politics and noble sycophants.
While he is in York, Shardlake stumbles upon papers which seem to show that Henry is not the true King of England. There are conspirators who want to overthrow the king, and who know Shardlake has seen these papers. Unfortunately, there are those close to the King who know that Shardlake may have learned the truth of King Henry's family tree. Soon there are several attempts on Shardlake's life. Can Matthew stay alive long enough to discover who is trying to kill him, and why?
Shardlake is not a shrewd sleuth. Instead he is a lawyer with a lawyer's ear for truth, memory for facts, and desire for justice. In this novel Shardlake discovers clues by investigating, asking questions, and just being nosy. Sometimes, he is in the wrong place at the wrong time. And sometimes he makes obvious mistakes. In my opinion, he is a likable realistic character.
Sovereign
Setting: England, 1541 - during the reign of King Henry VIII
This novel is the third installment in Sansom's Matthew Shardlake mystery series. The main character is a London lawyer who unwillingly becomes entangled in the intrigues of those close to the king.
King Henry's reformation of the church is not popular in the north of England. Recently, there has been a rebellion centered around the city of York. The king has undertaken a grand progress from London to York to solidify his hold on the north.
Shardlake has been asked to go to York to help with legal proceedings when the King visits. He has also been given the task to monitor the health of a traitorous prisoner. Matthew needs to make sure the prisoner doesn't die before he gets to London to be tortured. This additional chore forces Shardlake to become involved with royal politics and noble sycophants.
While he is in York, Shardlake stumbles upon papers which seem to show that Henry is not the true King of England. There are conspirators who want to overthrow the king, and who know Shardlake has seen these papers. Unfortunately, there are those close to the King who know that Shardlake may have learned the truth of King Henry's family tree. Soon there are several attempts on Shardlake's life. Can Matthew stay alive long enough to discover who is trying to kill him, and why?
Shardlake is not a shrewd sleuth. Instead he is a lawyer with a lawyer's ear for truth, memory for facts, and desire for justice. In this novel Shardlake discovers clues by investigating, asking questions, and just being nosy. Sometimes, he is in the wrong place at the wrong time. And sometimes he makes obvious mistakes. In my opinion, he is a likable realistic character.
Sovereign
Friday, December 16, 2011
The Triumph of Caesar by Steven Saylor
Genre: Historical Mystery
Setting: Rome in 46B.C.
This novel is the eighth in Saylor's Roma Sub Rosa series. His main character is Gordianus the Finder. Gordianus is ancient Rome's version of a private investigator. In his search for truth, Gordianus encounters many of Rome's great historical figures. Along they way we learn about Gordianus's complicated family which includes: Bethesda- his wife and former slave, his daughter - Diana, her husband and children, and three adopted sons.
Julius Caesar has returned to Rome after years of war. He plans to mount four great triumphal celebrations to commemorate his military victories in Gaul, Egypt, Asia and Africa. Gordianus's friend, Hieronymus, has been found murdered near Caesar's wife's home. He had been investigating a conspiracy against Caesar's life.
Gordianus is asked to find out who killed Hieronymus, and who is planning to kill Caesar. The list of people he interviews reads like a who's who of Roman history. Among them are Cicero, Marc Antony, Cleopatra, Brutus, and Julius Caesar himself.
Will Gordianus make sense of the clues he uncovers, or will Caesar die in the final act?
I enjoy Saylor's writing style. His novels are fun page turners which make ancient Rome come to life.
The Triumph of Caesar
Setting: Rome in 46B.C.
This novel is the eighth in Saylor's Roma Sub Rosa series. His main character is Gordianus the Finder. Gordianus is ancient Rome's version of a private investigator. In his search for truth, Gordianus encounters many of Rome's great historical figures. Along they way we learn about Gordianus's complicated family which includes: Bethesda- his wife and former slave, his daughter - Diana, her husband and children, and three adopted sons.
Julius Caesar has returned to Rome after years of war. He plans to mount four great triumphal celebrations to commemorate his military victories in Gaul, Egypt, Asia and Africa. Gordianus's friend, Hieronymus, has been found murdered near Caesar's wife's home. He had been investigating a conspiracy against Caesar's life.
Gordianus is asked to find out who killed Hieronymus, and who is planning to kill Caesar. The list of people he interviews reads like a who's who of Roman history. Among them are Cicero, Marc Antony, Cleopatra, Brutus, and Julius Caesar himself.
Will Gordianus make sense of the clues he uncovers, or will Caesar die in the final act?
I enjoy Saylor's writing style. His novels are fun page turners which make ancient Rome come to life.
The Triumph of Caesar
Thursday, December 8, 2011
The Bishop Must Die by Michael Jecks
Genre: Historical Mystery
Setting: England, 1326
This novel is the 29th book in Jecks' Knights Templar mystery series.
England is in turmoil. The people are tired of the excesses of the King and his special friend Sir Hugh Despenser. For years they and their supporters have stolen wealth and land unlawfully. Even the Queen has had her lands and children taken from her.
Now, the Queen is in France organizing an invasion of England. The King and Despenser are trying to build a defense to repel the invasion. They are finding it difficult to build an army when so many people hate them.
Bishop Walter Stapledon of Exeter has been a supporter of the King and Despenser. He has made many enemies. Even the Queen has expressed her hatred of him. Now the Bishop is receiving death threats. He as found slips of parchment warning of his impending doom in his private offices.
Sir Baldwin de Furnshill and his friend Simon Puttock are torn between their oaths of fealty to the King and their dislike of his friend Despenser. They must obey the wishes of the King to build the defense of England. And they also need to protect the Bishop from those who desire his death.
Can they protect the bishop and retain their honor in a lawless country on the verge of war?
This installment of the series was an interesting read. It was a little difficult to keep track of all the different characters. Jecks does a great job of weaving his characters through the actual events of history. And he resolves a few plot elements which have continued through several books. If your are interested in this series I suggest starting with one of the earlier novels in the series. When you get to this one, be prepared for a great read.
The Bishop Must Die
The Templar's Penance - another great read in this series.
Setting: England, 1326
This novel is the 29th book in Jecks' Knights Templar mystery series.
England is in turmoil. The people are tired of the excesses of the King and his special friend Sir Hugh Despenser. For years they and their supporters have stolen wealth and land unlawfully. Even the Queen has had her lands and children taken from her.
Now, the Queen is in France organizing an invasion of England. The King and Despenser are trying to build a defense to repel the invasion. They are finding it difficult to build an army when so many people hate them.
Bishop Walter Stapledon of Exeter has been a supporter of the King and Despenser. He has made many enemies. Even the Queen has expressed her hatred of him. Now the Bishop is receiving death threats. He as found slips of parchment warning of his impending doom in his private offices.
Sir Baldwin de Furnshill and his friend Simon Puttock are torn between their oaths of fealty to the King and their dislike of his friend Despenser. They must obey the wishes of the King to build the defense of England. And they also need to protect the Bishop from those who desire his death.
Can they protect the bishop and retain their honor in a lawless country on the verge of war?
This installment of the series was an interesting read. It was a little difficult to keep track of all the different characters. Jecks does a great job of weaving his characters through the actual events of history. And he resolves a few plot elements which have continued through several books. If your are interested in this series I suggest starting with one of the earlier novels in the series. When you get to this one, be prepared for a great read.
The Bishop Must Die
The Templar's Penance - another great read in this series.
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