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Stories told on Pilgrimage from London to Canterbury #5
The Hangman's Hymn
In this acclaimed series, the characters from Chaucer's Canterbury Tales pick up where they left off, this time to tell their own stories of horror and mystery as they entertain and scare each other on the long pilgrimage road. This time it's the Carpenter's turn to relive his worse nightmare and solve an intricate mystery.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1999
42 people are currently reading
209 people want to read
About the author
Paul Doherty
236 books611 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
He has been published under several pseudonyms: P.C. Doherty, Celia L. Grace, Paul Harding, Ann Dukthas, Vanessa Alexander, Michael Clynes and Anna Apostolou but now writes only under his own name.
Paul Doherty was born in Middlesbrough (North-Eastern England) in 1946. He had the usual education before studying at Durham for three years for the Catholic priesthood but decided not to proceed. He went to Liverpool University where he gained a First Class Honours Degree in History and won a state scholarship to Exeter College, Oxford, whilst there he met his wife Carla Lynn Corbitt. He continued his studies but decided that the academic world was not for him and became a secondary school teacher.
Paul worked in Ascot, Nottingham and Crawley West Sussex before being appointed as Headmaster to Trinity Catholic School in September 1981. Trinity is a large comprehensive [1700 on roll] which teaches the full ability range, ages 11-18. The school has been described as one of the leading comprehensives in the U.K. In April, 2000 H. M. Inspectorate describe it as an 'Outstanding School', and it was given Beacon status as a Centre of Excellence whilst, in the Chief Inspector’s Report to the Secretary of State for January 2001, Trinity Catholic High School was singled out for praise and received a public accolade.
Paul’s other incarnation is as a novelist. He finished his doctorate on the reign of Edward II of England and, in 1987, began to publish a series of outstanding historical mysteries set in the Middle Age, Classical, Greek, Ancient Egypt and elsewhere. These have been published in the United States by St. Martin’s Press of New York, Edhasa in Spain, and Eichborn, Heyne, Knaur and others in Germany. They have also been published in Holland, Belgium, France, Italy, Romania, Estonia, Czechoslovakia, Russia, Bulgaria, Portugal and China, as well as Argentina and Mexico.
He has been published under several pseudonyms (see the bibliography): C. L. Grace, Paul Harding, Ann Dukthas and Anna Apostolou but now writes only under his own name. He recently launched a very successful series based around the life of Alexander the Great, published by Constable & Robinson in the U.K., and Carroll and Graf in the U.S.A., whilst his novels set in Ancient Egypt have won critical acclaim. Paul has also written several non-fiction titles; A Life of Isabella the She-wolf of France, Wife of Edward II of England, as well as study of the possible murder of Tutankhamun, the boy Pharaoh of Egypt’s 18th Dynasty, and a study on the true fate of Alexander the Great.
Paul and Carla live on the borders of London and Essex, not far from Epping Forest and six of their children have been through his own school. His wife Carla currently owns two horses and is training, for showing and dressage, a beautiful Arab filly named Polly.
Paul lectures for a number of organisations, particularly on historical mysteries, many of which later feature in his writings. A born speaker and trained lecturer Paul Doherty can hold and entertain audiences.
His one great ambition is to petition the Privy Council of England to open the Purbeck marble tomb of Edward II in Gloucester Cathedral. Paul believes the tomb does not house the body
He has been published under several pseudonyms: P.C. Doherty, Celia L. Grace, Paul Harding, Ann Dukthas, Vanessa Alexander, Michael Clynes and Anna Apostolou but now writes only under his own name.
Paul Doherty was born in Middlesbrough (North-Eastern England) in 1946. He had the usual education before studying at Durham for three years for the Catholic priesthood but decided not to proceed. He went to Liverpool University where he gained a First Class Honours Degree in History and won a state scholarship to Exeter College, Oxford, whilst there he met his wife Carla Lynn Corbitt. He continued his studies but decided that the academic world was not for him and became a secondary school teacher.
Paul worked in Ascot, Nottingham and Crawley West Sussex before being appointed as Headmaster to Trinity Catholic School in September 1981. Trinity is a large comprehensive [1700 on roll] which teaches the full ability range, ages 11-18. The school has been described as one of the leading comprehensives in the U.K. In April, 2000 H. M. Inspectorate describe it as an 'Outstanding School', and it was given Beacon status as a Centre of Excellence whilst, in the Chief Inspector’s Report to the Secretary of State for January 2001, Trinity Catholic High School was singled out for praise and received a public accolade.
Paul’s other incarnation is as a novelist. He finished his doctorate on the reign of Edward II of England and, in 1987, began to publish a series of outstanding historical mysteries set in the Middle Age, Classical, Greek, Ancient Egypt and elsewhere. These have been published in the United States by St. Martin’s Press of New York, Edhasa in Spain, and Eichborn, Heyne, Knaur and others in Germany. They have also been published in Holland, Belgium, France, Italy, Romania, Estonia, Czechoslovakia, Russia, Bulgaria, Portugal and China, as well as Argentina and Mexico.
He has been published under several pseudonyms (see the bibliography): C. L. Grace, Paul Harding, Ann Dukthas and Anna Apostolou but now writes only under his own name. He recently launched a very successful series based around the life of Alexander the Great, published by Constable & Robinson in the U.K., and Carroll and Graf in the U.S.A., whilst his novels set in Ancient Egypt have won critical acclaim. Paul has also written several non-fiction titles; A Life of Isabella the She-wolf of France, Wife of Edward II of England, as well as study of the possible murder of Tutankhamun, the boy Pharaoh of Egypt’s 18th Dynasty, and a study on the true fate of Alexander the Great.
Paul and Carla live on the borders of London and Essex, not far from Epping Forest and six of their children have been through his own school. His wife Carla currently owns two horses and is training, for showing and dressage, a beautiful Arab filly named Polly.
Paul lectures for a number of organisations, particularly on historical mysteries, many of which later feature in his writings. A born speaker and trained lecturer Paul Doherty can hold and entertain audiences.
His one great ambition is to petition the Privy Council of England to open the Purbeck marble tomb of Edward II in Gloucester Cathedral. Paul believes the tomb does not house the body
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
October 27, 2021
Read this book in 2012, and its the 5th volume of the wonderful Canterbury Tales series, featuring Geoffrey Chaucer and his fellow pilgrims while travelling from London to Canterbury.
This is the Carpenter's, Simon Cotterill, medieval tale of execution and supernatural murder committed while working as with a local hangman's crew.
It starts while witnessing a roadside execution, leaving the carpenter in a dead faint, that the carpenter will decide to tell his tale that evening about an execution.
The tale is about his time in Gloucester, after been beaten up by his sweetheart father's thugs, he finds himself homeless and in poverty, and to survive he accepts the only job available by joining the hangman's crew.
He is involved in the hangings of the three witches, and this action will unleash a series of revenge killings, resulting in an intriguing and thrilling mystery where sinister occurrences will keep taking place until all is revealed about a hangman who walked away from his grave.
Highly recommended, for this is another excellent addition to this great series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Fabulous Hangman Mystery"!
This is the Carpenter's, Simon Cotterill, medieval tale of execution and supernatural murder committed while working as with a local hangman's crew.
It starts while witnessing a roadside execution, leaving the carpenter in a dead faint, that the carpenter will decide to tell his tale that evening about an execution.
The tale is about his time in Gloucester, after been beaten up by his sweetheart father's thugs, he finds himself homeless and in poverty, and to survive he accepts the only job available by joining the hangman's crew.
He is involved in the hangings of the three witches, and this action will unleash a series of revenge killings, resulting in an intriguing and thrilling mystery where sinister occurrences will keep taking place until all is revealed about a hangman who walked away from his grave.
Highly recommended, for this is another excellent addition to this great series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Fabulous Hangman Mystery"!
January 20, 2022
Witches!!!
Paul Doherty brings to life in London. You can see an smell the life lived there. Walking down the filthy streets an alleys an the country side an forest. An will shit lest just throw in a mystery that makes your heart take a jump an beat a little faster.
Paul Doherty brings to life in London. You can see an smell the life lived there. Walking down the filthy streets an alleys an the country side an forest. An will shit lest just throw in a mystery that makes your heart take a jump an beat a little faster.
November 13, 2017
3.5 Stars
Not as engaging as many of the previous books in the series. I still look forward to completing the series. Doherty is a fantastic writer and his interest in history is evident in his writing.
Not as engaging as many of the previous books in the series. I still look forward to completing the series. Doherty is a fantastic writer and his interest in history is evident in his writing.
April 11, 2009
These retold Canterbury Tales are awesome!
July 31, 2020
The Hangman’s Hymn is another solid medieval mystery by the master Paul Doherty. Well written with some engaging characters and plenty of mystery to wrap your sleuthing skills around. The story is very nicely entwined around Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, where each character tells a chilling tale of murder and mystery.
Doherty certainly knows how to tell a tale and keep you hooked. There's a very real sense of the medieval period as well.
A highly entertaining read.
Doherty certainly knows how to tell a tale and keep you hooked. There's a very real sense of the medieval period as well.
A highly entertaining read.
April 25, 2020
Devilishly Good Read
I love Paul Doherty's books. "The Hangman's Hymn" was a wonderful mystery. Dark and grim but titillating. I was truly shocked at who the villian was! The author does such a good job on describing life in that time era.
I love Paul Doherty's books. "The Hangman's Hymn" was a wonderful mystery. Dark and grim but titillating. I was truly shocked at who the villian was! The author does such a good job on describing life in that time era.
March 28, 2019
enjoy this series!
August 1, 2021
Very spooky and scary to the end.
I liked the interludes with the pilgrims. Very colorful folks!
I liked the interludes with the pilgrims. Very colorful folks!
May 1, 2022
Blimey!
I'm rather glad that I didn't read these stories at night. I might be having nightmares if I had! Paul Doherty really does know how to spin a tale.
I'm rather glad that I didn't read these stories at night. I might be having nightmares if I had! Paul Doherty really does know how to spin a tale.
June 29, 2022
Excellent read!
November 25, 2022
Legitimately spooky!
October 16, 2025
A wonderful tale for October when one is looking “scary” stories. Doherty is a great story teller. It was a most enjoyable read.
December 28, 2016
What a fun ghost story. Takes you to the Dark woods. Medieval setting. Loved the historical details.
Read
July 14, 2012[2006-09-02] Medieval mystery, part of a series based on the Canterbury Tales. It's the first one by Doherty that I've read. Not sure what to make of it - I liked the premise, but there was something about the style in the first half that I found very unpolished. On the other hand, I kept reading... Picked up another one in the library this morning, though this time an Ancient Rome setting.[return]http://julesjones.livejournal.com/926...
June 8, 2009
Ok, I was in the library, and this book caught my eye, the cover with 5 people hanging on the front of it was GREAT. As was the book. I'm so glad I picked it up. It's a mystery, and a good one. Well told, seemed like the author had lived in that time period. It is one I would read again and recomend it to my friends.
November 25, 2010
This is the first work I've read of Paul Doherty. He captures the spirit of 14th century England by bringing the characters of Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales" together and recounts a tale of mystery that will keep the reader enthralled. I plan to read more of Doherty's novels now that I've whetted my appetite on "The Hangman's Hymn".
August 13, 2014
Being a huge Chaucer fan this was a delight to find! Continuing the pilgrimage to Canterbury with old friends and new tales was a truly breath of "auld" fresh aire! Add a scary rendition of "return from the dead" witches and you have the makings of a campfire ghost story that would scare the bejesus out of any traveling troupe. Can't wait to read more of this series.
August 11, 2011
Doherty is a superb writer and by using a new protagonist has taken a fresh approach to the method he uses in solving the crime. Lots of historical detail in the lives of the common man.
February 18, 2011
A nifty historical murder mystery.
July 11, 2012
I had my suspicions about the final outcome but it kept me guessing until near the very end.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews