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The Guilt of Innocents
(Owen Archer #9)
by
It is winter in the year of our Lord 1372. A river pilot falls into the icy waters of the River Ouse during a skirmish between dockworkers and the boys of the minster school—among them Owen Archer’s adopted son Jasper.
But what began as a confrontation to return a boy’s stolen scrip becomes a murder investigation, as the rescuers find the pilot dying of wounds inflicted ...more
But what began as a confrontation to return a boy’s stolen scrip becomes a murder investigation, as the rescuers find the pilot dying of wounds inflicted ...more
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Paperback, 281 pages
Published
2007
by Random House
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Start your review of The Guilt of Innocents (Owen Archer, #9)

The Guilt of Innocents, book 9 in the Owen Archer series. Well, sometimes I can't resist "just one more" book in a series. This fictional mystery was inspired by a real incident, and Robb's imagination involves Owen Archer.
The characters continue to be enriched, especially Alisoun and Jasper, whose roles have enlarged. Magda could anchor a series on her own.
Robb's ability to draw the reader into the lives of her characters, those who are real and those who are fictional, but who have enough emot ...more
The characters continue to be enriched, especially Alisoun and Jasper, whose roles have enlarged. Magda could anchor a series on her own.
Robb's ability to draw the reader into the lives of her characters, those who are real and those who are fictional, but who have enough emot ...more

Originally published at Reading Reality
The Guilt of Innocents is the 9th story in the Owen Archer historical mystery series. I read at least the first five books in this series sometime in the way back, and absolutely loved them. But somewhere along the way I stopped, a casualty of the “so many books, so little time” problem. Although now that I have dived back into this marvelous series, I have some very sincere regrets at having missed some of the middle books.
If you love historical mystery, t ...more
The Guilt of Innocents is the 9th story in the Owen Archer historical mystery series. I read at least the first five books in this series sometime in the way back, and absolutely loved them. But somewhere along the way I stopped, a casualty of the “so many books, so little time” problem. Although now that I have dived back into this marvelous series, I have some very sincere regrets at having missed some of the middle books.
If you love historical mystery, t ...more

Jan 12, 2010
Susan
rated it
it was amazing
Recommends it for:
all who like historic who done its
Recommended to Susan by:
authors list
Excellent murder/mystery contains everything, history, passion

I keep reading this series for its well-depicted historical context and interesting mystery, but I'm still disappointed with Ms. Robb's weak character development.
Not just between the protagonistsLucy and Owen, where it seems trust is lacking and anger or misunderstanding quick to fuel in spite of ten years of living together and 4 children.
Also between such occasional characters like Hubert and his mother, where it's not credible that adoration should turn to hate or indifference as fast as Ms. ...more
Not just between the protagonistsLucy and Owen, where it seems trust is lacking and anger or misunderstanding quick to fuel in spite of ten years of living together and 4 children.
Also between such occasional characters like Hubert and his mother, where it's not credible that adoration should turn to hate or indifference as fast as Ms. ...more

I love to read these adventures set in York as it was back in the day - and as large chunks of it stil are! This one full of lively characters, many by now a little older and wiser than in the first one I read.
What particularly appeals to me are the Author's Notes after the tale - the searches in our city's archives where she got the information and inspiration; the way a tale comes together in an author's mind.
Why not 5 stars this time? Only that I found some of the prose a little more pedestr ...more
What particularly appeals to me are the Author's Notes after the tale - the searches in our city's archives where she got the information and inspiration; the way a tale comes together in an author's mind.
Why not 5 stars this time? Only that I found some of the prose a little more pedestr ...more

Not quite as lively a story in this series. Owen and his wife Lucie have settled into a comfortable domesticity. Owen's adopted son is a witness of sorts to a murder that Owen is charged to investigate. It was nice to see the character of Jasper developed a bit more but the complications of two schools in the Minster sort of muddied the story. The culprit stood out fairly quickly since he was clearly the most evil person in the story, although there was some initial confusion as to motive.
...more

It's been a long time since I've read this series. While I clearly remember the characters and the setting, I've lost touch with the flow of things. The connections among characters which help resolve the puzzle seemed somewhat hidden and convoluted.
...more

A good history lesson
Candace's books never disappoint. If you enjoy history and mystery you will enjoy this book, I enjoyed it very much. ...more
Candace's books never disappoint. If you enjoy history and mystery you will enjoy this book, I enjoyed it very much. ...more

Really enjoyable, entertaining story with engaging characters. I love the historical details, too, and they flow naturally in the story - interesting without being distracting.

It is very glorious to have Candace Robb's Owen Archer series on kindle! Now to figure out what is left for me to read and get the rest.So great too is that you can look at a kindle sample to make sure you get the correct ones.
Enough about Kindle and on to this absolutely amazing book which was perfect in every way. I so did not want it to end and of course it did, but everyone was happy and well at the end. Lucie, Owen and Jasper's characters have such depth and the period details are superb,
" ...more
Enough about Kindle and on to this absolutely amazing book which was perfect in every way. I so did not want it to end and of course it did, but everyone was happy and well at the end. Lucie, Owen and Jasper's characters have such depth and the period details are superb,
" ...more

Aug 30, 2015
Rachael Hewison
rated it
it was ok
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
medieval-fiction,
murder-mystery
I feel I may be being slightly unfair to Robb since I went straight into the fourth book of the series and then onto this, the ninth book, without reading the ones in between. Perhaps that would have made me enjoy this one more.
It was good to see that some of the characters I loved from the fourth book were still there and still as likeable as ever. There were also some new (to me) characters such as Jasper and it was wonderful to see how his character developed.
However the actual plot of the mu ...more
It was good to see that some of the characters I loved from the fourth book were still there and still as likeable as ever. There were also some new (to me) characters such as Jasper and it was wonderful to see how his character developed.
However the actual plot of the mu ...more

It's been a long time since I've read an Owen Archer mystery. I read recently that Candace Robb may be writing a new one in the foreseeable future, and that led me to picking this one up as it has been in my To Read pile for a long time. I enjoyed it immensely! The series is as good as I remembered. Readers should start from the beginning (Apothecary Rose)which, sadly, is easier said than done these days. I believe the last couple books were only published in Great Britain, too. It's worth hunti
...more

Owen Archer once again investigates this time with Jasper along for some of the ride. A boy from Jasper's school was robbed by a bargeman and when the other students go to retrieve it from him because the boy has gone home to tend to his mother in his father's military absence, the bargeman dies. But not because of the fight he was stabbed with a poisoned knife. Owen gets involved but there are politics involved too because a rival school is upsetting people. Dark secrets come out. Lucie and Mag
...more

Feb 13, 2013
Andrew
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
to-start-or-ongoing-series
It was a while since I read an adventure of Owen Archer. I must say that I always appreciate this kind of mystery in middle ages. Also in this book, like the previous ones, the plot unfolds page after page with a greater depth to the characters as they proceed. I really like this series and I appreciate the ability of this author to put his characters in the historical context, creating links with facts and real people of the time. Fluent, never boring or too convoluted, in my opinion it's a per
...more

This was probably the most enjoyable book I have read for some time. Candace Robb has spun an intriguing and well managed tale which kept me engrossed far longer than my work schedule allowed. The story is easy to follow but never predictable and there are some genuinely moving moments in it, very human which is a quality often missing in the blood and gore of this particular genre of fiction. The highest praise I can find for this charming but still sufficiently thrilling little book is that I
...more

Candace Robb is almost unerring. All of her Owen Archer mysteries are fascinating both as crime novels and historical novels. "The Guilt of Innocents" is a densely plotted story with myriad twists and turns, and if the identity of the killer isn't exactly a shocker, the rationale behind the crimes is cleverly thought out and presented. Robb has a real gift for creating realistically human characters (sometimes tragically so) whose secret motivations fortify this story. Highly recommended.
...more

Candace Robb's books keep improving. The downside of this one is that the murderer is telegraphed far before the actual solving of the case; however, that does not limit the enjoyment of the rest of the book. The Owen Archer series is fun to read!
...more

Owen Archer is at it again in 13th century England, this time trying to discover who murdered one of the boat people while helping his son's school friend. Not as convincing as earlier books in this series, but still fun to read.
...more

This series gets better and better. Wish I didn't have to send to the UK to get them in the US...
...more

All Robb's novels set in Middle Ages' York fascinate me deeply. Maybe also because I've been in that city and I love its atmosphere, but I definitely like her work.
...more
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Storyteller, mythweaver, author of the Owen Archer, Kate Clifford, & Margaret Kerr mysteries. Primary residence, medieval York.
I blog about writing, medieval history, writing women's stories, and feature new scholarship in my field at candacerobbbooks.com, and share loads of medieval news, folklore, and whimsy on my facebook page, Candace Robb ...more
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