Genre: Historical Mystery
Setting: Lincoln, England, 1200AD
First Sentence: Heat hung like a sodden blanket over Lincoln town and the surrounding countryside.
This novel is the first in Ash's Templar Knight mystery series. This series currently runs to seven books.
Our main character, Bascot de Marins, is a Templar knight recently returned from the Holy Land. During his years spent on crusade Bascot has experienced the horror of battle. He was captured by the Saracens and spent years as a slave.
Now, Bascot is spending time at the castle at Lincoln recuperating in both body and soul. With him is his young companion Gianni. When Bascot found him, Gianni was poor malnourished orphan struggling to survive on the wharves of Palermo. Together they form a unique family unit.
There has been a horrible murder in Lincoln. Four persons, three men and a woman, have been found dead in an alehouse. The lady of the castle asks Bascot to investigate. Since Bascot is relatively new to Lincoln, she believes that he will conduct an honest and thorough investigation.
While he is making inquiries there are two more deaths - a priest and a whore monger. Could it be that all six murders were committed by the same killer? When Bascot feels that he has unraveled the mystery, he still needs to find a way to prove the identity of the killer.
Can Bascot find a way to solve the mystery, or will the killer go free?
Because this novel is the first in Ash's Templar knight series, there is a lot of exposition. In Bascot de Marins, Ash has created a complete, well rounded, and interesting character. The author does a good job of weaving Bascot's story into the plot of the novel. In the end we have read a great mystery novel, and we have a character that we like.
I am looking forward to future visits with Bascot.
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
Thursday, November 20, 2014
The Princess and the Pirates by John Maddox Roberts
Genre: Historical Mystery
Setting: 51 BC, on the island of Cyprus.
First Sentence: Let me say at the outset that Cleopatra was not beautiful.
This is the ninth novel in Robert's SPQR series which runs to 14 novels and several short stories.
Speaking as an old man recounting the days of his youth, our main character Decius Caecilus Metellus, tells the story of how he fought pirates and met Cleopatra.
Decius is a young senator working on completing his resume so that he can have prestige and respect in the Senate. He has just completed two successful years as an adile in Rome. An adile is a sort of mid level government official. Now he needs some military experience. At the urging of his father, Decius accepts a commission to put down piracy in the East.
So he sails off to the Roman naval base at Cyprus. When he arrives, Decius discovers that the base has been looted. Between ambitious Roman generals and disreputable civil servants there is little equipment left to fight the pirates with.
While Decius is scrounging for supplies and manpower, he meets a very young Cleopatra. She and her fabulous royal yacht are spending time in Cyprus avoiding the political intrigues of the Egyptian court. She offers to add her yacht to Decius's small fleet as long as she can go along. Decius reluctantly agrees.
Soon Decius learns that the pirates have spies and business connections on Cyprus. When the local Roman governor gets himself murdered, Decius's job gets much more complicated. As the ranking Roman official, he must investigate the murder.
Some how Decius must find a way to solve the crime and add to his senatorial resume. In the end, Roman politics play a significant part in the ultimate solution to the mystery.
Although this novel is part of a series, I found that it was quite enjoyable as a stand alone novel. The mystery plays a small part of the plot. I was completely surprised when the identity of the murderer was revealed.
I enjoyed this novel. It was a pleasant read.
Setting: 51 BC, on the island of Cyprus.
First Sentence: Let me say at the outset that Cleopatra was not beautiful.
This is the ninth novel in Robert's SPQR series which runs to 14 novels and several short stories.
Speaking as an old man recounting the days of his youth, our main character Decius Caecilus Metellus, tells the story of how he fought pirates and met Cleopatra.
Decius is a young senator working on completing his resume so that he can have prestige and respect in the Senate. He has just completed two successful years as an adile in Rome. An adile is a sort of mid level government official. Now he needs some military experience. At the urging of his father, Decius accepts a commission to put down piracy in the East.
So he sails off to the Roman naval base at Cyprus. When he arrives, Decius discovers that the base has been looted. Between ambitious Roman generals and disreputable civil servants there is little equipment left to fight the pirates with.
While Decius is scrounging for supplies and manpower, he meets a very young Cleopatra. She and her fabulous royal yacht are spending time in Cyprus avoiding the political intrigues of the Egyptian court. She offers to add her yacht to Decius's small fleet as long as she can go along. Decius reluctantly agrees.
Soon Decius learns that the pirates have spies and business connections on Cyprus. When the local Roman governor gets himself murdered, Decius's job gets much more complicated. As the ranking Roman official, he must investigate the murder.
Some how Decius must find a way to solve the crime and add to his senatorial resume. In the end, Roman politics play a significant part in the ultimate solution to the mystery.
Although this novel is part of a series, I found that it was quite enjoyable as a stand alone novel. The mystery plays a small part of the plot. I was completely surprised when the identity of the murderer was revealed.
I enjoyed this novel. It was a pleasant read.
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
A Plague of Poison by Maureen Ash
Genre: Historical Mystery
Setting: In and around the English city of Lincoln, Spring 1201 AD.
First sentence: With the celebration of Eastertide at the end of March, a warm spring radiance had descended on Lincoln.
This novel is the third in Ash's Templar Knight series. This series currently has seven titles.
There is unrest and fear in Lincoln. In short order, several seemingly unrelated people have been murdered by poison.
Our main character, Bascot de Marins is asked by the lady of the castle to investigate. It seems that all of the clues point to a local potter. Although he swears his innocence, the potter is sentenced to death. The sentence will be carried out in a few weeks when the king's officials affirm the potter's conviction.
Bascot is a Templar knight. He has recently returned from several horrible years in the Holy Land. Bascot is serving at Lincoln in order to rest both body and soul. Traveling with Bascot is his young ward Gianni. Although he is young, and mute, Gianni is intelligent and observant.
There is something about the potter's conviction which does not seem right to Bascot. Then Gianni makes several observations which point Bascot in the right direction. Soon, Bascot is convinced that the potter is not guilty. But now he needs to find the evidence needed to overturn the potter's conviction and reveal the identity of the true poisoner.
This novel was a pleasant read. Bascot is an interesting and believable character. The novel was an intriguing and tangled mystery. I did not know "who done it" until the reveal at the end.
I'll be looking for more of Ash's Templar Knight novels to read.
Setting: In and around the English city of Lincoln, Spring 1201 AD.
First sentence: With the celebration of Eastertide at the end of March, a warm spring radiance had descended on Lincoln.
This novel is the third in Ash's Templar Knight series. This series currently has seven titles.
There is unrest and fear in Lincoln. In short order, several seemingly unrelated people have been murdered by poison.
Our main character, Bascot de Marins is asked by the lady of the castle to investigate. It seems that all of the clues point to a local potter. Although he swears his innocence, the potter is sentenced to death. The sentence will be carried out in a few weeks when the king's officials affirm the potter's conviction.
Bascot is a Templar knight. He has recently returned from several horrible years in the Holy Land. Bascot is serving at Lincoln in order to rest both body and soul. Traveling with Bascot is his young ward Gianni. Although he is young, and mute, Gianni is intelligent and observant.
There is something about the potter's conviction which does not seem right to Bascot. Then Gianni makes several observations which point Bascot in the right direction. Soon, Bascot is convinced that the potter is not guilty. But now he needs to find the evidence needed to overturn the potter's conviction and reveal the identity of the true poisoner.
This novel was a pleasant read. Bascot is an interesting and believable character. The novel was an intriguing and tangled mystery. I did not know "who done it" until the reveal at the end.
I'll be looking for more of Ash's Templar Knight novels to read.
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
My Review of the Amazon fireTV
Before I start the review. This is my 200th blog post! Take a look at the archives for my reviews of lots of books as well as a few other things.
If you are an Amazon Prime member, you should check out the Amazon fireTV streaming device.
Set up is a snap. When the fireTV arrives, it comes preregistered to your Amazon Prime account. Plug in the power cord, and connect your HDMI cable and you are ready to go. The device leads you through the set up with your home network. Then there is a nice animated tutorial.
Soon you will be searching for content. The voice search is a nice feature. Just say the name of an actor, or the title of a movie, and the fireTV will deliver your desired content.
All of the Amazon Prime Instant video can be viewed free, without commercials. Also, there is plenty of quality video which can be purchased.
Through the fireTV, you can also set up a Netflix and Hulu account. I have enjoyed all of the great TV programming I've watched through my Hulu account.
The biggest drawback for me is the music feature. The fireTV will connect you to streaming music through Pandora and iHeartRadio. The fireTV will connect you to your Amazon Music library but, as of this writing, it will only play music which you own. It will not play any of your favorite Amazon Music streaming playlists.
So, if you are into music more than videos, I'd stick with an Amazon Fire tablet.
Since the fireTV did not ship with a printed manual I downloaded a copy onto my laptop. I found it to be very handy in answering a few FAQ type questions.
I've had the fireTV for a few weeks. It's been fun to use and I am glad I bought it.
If you are an Amazon Prime member, you should check out the Amazon fireTV streaming device.
Set up is a snap. When the fireTV arrives, it comes preregistered to your Amazon Prime account. Plug in the power cord, and connect your HDMI cable and you are ready to go. The device leads you through the set up with your home network. Then there is a nice animated tutorial.
Soon you will be searching for content. The voice search is a nice feature. Just say the name of an actor, or the title of a movie, and the fireTV will deliver your desired content.
All of the Amazon Prime Instant video can be viewed free, without commercials. Also, there is plenty of quality video which can be purchased.
Through the fireTV, you can also set up a Netflix and Hulu account. I have enjoyed all of the great TV programming I've watched through my Hulu account.
The biggest drawback for me is the music feature. The fireTV will connect you to streaming music through Pandora and iHeartRadio. The fireTV will connect you to your Amazon Music library but, as of this writing, it will only play music which you own. It will not play any of your favorite Amazon Music streaming playlists.
So, if you are into music more than videos, I'd stick with an Amazon Fire tablet.
Since the fireTV did not ship with a printed manual I downloaded a copy onto my laptop. I found it to be very handy in answering a few FAQ type questions.
I've had the fireTV for a few weeks. It's been fun to use and I am glad I bought it.
Monday, November 3, 2014
The Lost Spaceship by Vaughn Heppner
Genre: Science Fiction
Setting: In interstellar space.
First Sentence: Wearing perfectly pressed trousers and shiny boots, Captain Maddox of Star Watch Intelligence flexed his bare chest.
It is sometime in the future. Mankind has spread to countless planets. From somewhere in uncharted space comes a race of superior super-humans: the New Men. They have infiltrated humanity. They have advanced military firepower. Soon the New Men will attack and destroy human civilization.
Humanity's only chance is to find and use weapons which can out gun the invaders. There is a legend that somewhere, deep in space, is an abandoned battle ship which possesses the advanced weapons humanity needs. Our main character, Captain Maddox has been given the task to find the legendary space vessel.
Maddox gathers a rag-tag team of specialists to search for the lost ship. In the tradition of the A Team and the Dirty Dozen, Maddox sets out to find a group of flawed specialists who will follow him into danger. In his team we find a leader with a dangerous secret, a navigator accused of cowardice, an alcoholic pilot, a grizzled veteran sergeant, a convicted criminal computer genius, and a cave woman assassin.
The plot blasts off with lots of action. Once the team is assembled, and they are trying to elude the New Men, the plot slows down. In the end it just fizzles out.
I think the author intended this novel to be the first of a series. But, in my opinion, he didn't give us a reason to care about the rest of the story.
Setting: In interstellar space.
First Sentence: Wearing perfectly pressed trousers and shiny boots, Captain Maddox of Star Watch Intelligence flexed his bare chest.
It is sometime in the future. Mankind has spread to countless planets. From somewhere in uncharted space comes a race of superior super-humans: the New Men. They have infiltrated humanity. They have advanced military firepower. Soon the New Men will attack and destroy human civilization.
Humanity's only chance is to find and use weapons which can out gun the invaders. There is a legend that somewhere, deep in space, is an abandoned battle ship which possesses the advanced weapons humanity needs. Our main character, Captain Maddox has been given the task to find the legendary space vessel.
Maddox gathers a rag-tag team of specialists to search for the lost ship. In the tradition of the A Team and the Dirty Dozen, Maddox sets out to find a group of flawed specialists who will follow him into danger. In his team we find a leader with a dangerous secret, a navigator accused of cowardice, an alcoholic pilot, a grizzled veteran sergeant, a convicted criminal computer genius, and a cave woman assassin.
The plot blasts off with lots of action. Once the team is assembled, and they are trying to elude the New Men, the plot slows down. In the end it just fizzles out.
I think the author intended this novel to be the first of a series. But, in my opinion, he didn't give us a reason to care about the rest of the story.
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