What do you think?
Rate this book
DCI Pendragon #1
Inelul familiei Borgia
Cand un schelet este dezgropat pe un santier de constructii din Londra, nimeni nu are nici cea mai vaga idee despre extraordinara legatura cu un plan de asasinare a reginei Angliei in urma cu cincizeci de ani. Dar exista un indiciu evident. Pe degetul aratator de la mana dreapta a cadavrului se afla un inel de aur cu smarald. Detectivul Jack Pendragon tocmai s-a transferat de la Oxford la sectia de politie de pe Brick Lane, in parte ca sa scape de propriul trecut. Foarte curand se trezeste investigand trei crime infioratoare. Si va avea nevoie de toata experienta sa de doua decenii ca sa dea de urma unui ucigas pentru care o obsesie ciudata se transformase in nebunie. Un ucigas care comite crimele avand drept sursa de inspiratie o familie renascentista, a carei putere si cruzime este o legenda vie.
344 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
25 people are currently reading
310 people want to read
About the author
Michael White
46 books138 followersMichael White was a British writer who was based in Perth, Australia. He studied at King's College London (1977–1982) and was a chemistry lecturer at d'Overbroeck's College, Oxford (1984–1991).
He was a science editor of British GQ, a columnist for the Sunday Express in London and, 'in a previous incarnation', he was a member of Colour Me Pop. Colour Me Pop featured on the "Europe in the Year Zero" EP in 1982 with Yazoo and Sudeten Creche and he was then a member of the group The Thompson Twins (1982). He moved to Australia in 2002 and was made an Honorary Research Fellow at Curtin University in 2005.
He was the author of thirty-five books: these include Stephen Hawking: A Life in Science; Leonardo: The First Scientist; Tolkien: A Biography; and C. S. Lewis: The Boy Who Chronicled Narnia. His first novel Equinox – thriller, an occult mystery reached the Top Ten in the bestseller list in the UK and has been translated into 35 languages. His non-fiction production included the biography Galileo: Antichrist. Novels following Equinox include The Medici Secret, The Borgia Ring and The Art of Murder.
White wrote under two further names, Tom West and Sam Fisher. He used the latter pseudonym to publish the E-Force trilogy, State of Emergency, Aftershock, and Nano.
A further novel by White, The Venetian Detective, features characters including Galileo and Elizabeth.
White wrote a biography of Isaac Newton, The Last Sorcerer. He was both short-listed and long-listed for the Aventis prize. Rivals was short-listed in 2002, and The Fruits of War long-listed in 2006. He was also nominated for the Ned Kelly Prize for First Novel (for Equinox in 2007).
He was a science editor of British GQ, a columnist for the Sunday Express in London and, 'in a previous incarnation', he was a member of Colour Me Pop. Colour Me Pop featured on the "Europe in the Year Zero" EP in 1982 with Yazoo and Sudeten Creche and he was then a member of the group The Thompson Twins (1982). He moved to Australia in 2002 and was made an Honorary Research Fellow at Curtin University in 2005.
He was the author of thirty-five books: these include Stephen Hawking: A Life in Science; Leonardo: The First Scientist; Tolkien: A Biography; and C. S. Lewis: The Boy Who Chronicled Narnia. His first novel Equinox – thriller, an occult mystery reached the Top Ten in the bestseller list in the UK and has been translated into 35 languages. His non-fiction production included the biography Galileo: Antichrist. Novels following Equinox include The Medici Secret, The Borgia Ring and The Art of Murder.
White wrote under two further names, Tom West and Sam Fisher. He used the latter pseudonym to publish the E-Force trilogy, State of Emergency, Aftershock, and Nano.
A further novel by White, The Venetian Detective, features characters including Galileo and Elizabeth.
White wrote a biography of Isaac Newton, The Last Sorcerer. He was both short-listed and long-listed for the Aventis prize. Rivals was short-listed in 2002, and The Fruits of War long-listed in 2006. He was also nominated for the Ned Kelly Prize for First Novel (for Equinox in 2007).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
June 25, 2019
The historical context has potential. The writer created a nice connection to the past and the present. The alchemy thing is also a nice addition to the story. But sometimes story can be presented in something more elaborate and not going around the bush. I do know that it add up to the mystery effect but the effect on the story became a drag. And you tend to skip lines in order for you to finish the book.
Overall I don't enjoy the book. But sometimes reading books that are not good enough sometimes let you appreciate small things like a gold thread and a ballet shoes. And you hate things like killing dogs in order for you to create a powerful poison.
The Borgias are in history I don't know what are the teachings in the past but maybe and hoping it's not the teachings in today. I'm expecting something like stories of the Borgia in this book, but maybe I bought the wrong book.
I bought Medici secret I'm hoping it is the story of the greatest bankers known but I'm keeping my fingers crossed 🤞🤞🤞
Overall I don't enjoy the book. But sometimes reading books that are not good enough sometimes let you appreciate small things like a gold thread and a ballet shoes. And you hate things like killing dogs in order for you to create a powerful poison.
The Borgias are in history I don't know what are the teachings in the past but maybe and hoping it's not the teachings in today. I'm expecting something like stories of the Borgia in this book, but maybe I bought the wrong book.
I bought Medici secret I'm hoping it is the story of the greatest bankers known but I'm keeping my fingers crossed 🤞🤞🤞
June 27, 2024
This novel takes place in London today but goes back in time until the Renaissance. The Borgia family is one of the most intriguing in history. This book shows us several secrets—a little ride on Dan Brown's work.
April 8, 2024
Somehow two books in one, none of them especial.
Until the end, it looks like a decent, well documented piece of history and a modern awkward policier. The final spoils almost all, policemen being so dumb to be caught by a single person and a bigot lady working with a gun...
Until the end, it looks like a decent, well documented piece of history and a modern awkward policier. The final spoils almost all, policemen being so dumb to be caught by a single person and a bigot lady working with a gun...
February 20, 2011
Oh my God! What a waste of a couple of days of my reading time! I don't like to be too harsh on authors as at least they are published and I am not, but and it's a big butt (pun intended), this was a stinker...
To say that it is clichéd is an understatement. We even have the villain spilling the beans to the sort of hero of the book (Jack Pendragon - yes I know it's an unbelievable name for a British cop in the modern day)in the last 20 pages of the book. 'B' movie or what? If this was a movie it would have gone straight to video...
The book is full of stock characters and situations and this is not a pastiche or spoof book the author is serious about writing a story that is part set in the 16th Century and part in the 21st. To be honest the Elizabethan side of the storyline is at least interesting from a historical point of view whereas the modern crime story side is dire. Writing the entire story in the past would have been a much better idea - Dan Brown this ain't.
I can't recommend it at all I am afraid - steer well clear.
To say that it is clichéd is an understatement. We even have the villain spilling the beans to the sort of hero of the book (Jack Pendragon - yes I know it's an unbelievable name for a British cop in the modern day)in the last 20 pages of the book. 'B' movie or what? If this was a movie it would have gone straight to video...
The book is full of stock characters and situations and this is not a pastiche or spoof book the author is serious about writing a story that is part set in the 16th Century and part in the 21st. To be honest the Elizabethan side of the storyline is at least interesting from a historical point of view whereas the modern crime story side is dire. Writing the entire story in the past would have been a much better idea - Dan Brown this ain't.
I can't recommend it at all I am afraid - steer well clear.
August 5, 2013
The book was nothing special.
The history part has potential, Tudor London always interested me. The present part was a decent crime story with a convenient twist in the end.
Things that bothered me:
1. Given that the title is "The Borgia Ring", I expected more Borgias and less Queen Elizabeth.
2. In the lack of better solution, author decided to make his characters idiotic (which is kinda offensive to the characters).
For example, poor Turner was painted as a fool when he appeared to have not heard about Borgias at all. A 22 year-old in 2000-ish who doesn't know something like that? To top it off, Turner is the most likable character in the whole book.
3. The lack of good taste in every character's apartment interior design.
But it's subjective, so ok.
4. Pendragon's inability to use technology. Was this supposed to make us like Pendragon?
DCI Pendragon, if you edit the number as a contact, you will never have to "recognize" the number.
5. This.
I'm sorry, I am not familiar with that sound. And I never want to be.
The history part has potential, Tudor London always interested me. The present part was a decent crime story with a convenient twist in the end.
Things that bothered me:
1. Given that the title is "The Borgia Ring", I expected more Borgias and less Queen Elizabeth.
2. In the lack of better solution, author decided to make his characters idiotic (which is kinda offensive to the characters).
For example, poor Turner was painted as a fool when he appeared to have not heard about Borgias at all. A 22 year-old in 2000-ish who doesn't know something like that? To top it off, Turner is the most likable character in the whole book.
3. The lack of good taste in every character's apartment interior design.
But it's subjective, so ok.
Sue's flat was so different from Pendragon's, it was hard to believe it was in the same building. The walls were painted in warm shades, chocolate and cream and duck egg blue.
The bath was lilac plastic and had been very fashionable in the 70s. To complement it, Pam had opted for gold-dipped, Victorian-style taps.
4. Pendragon's inability to use technology. Was this supposed to make us like Pendragon?
"Yes, I can see..." Pendragon began, when his mobile rang. He recognized the number.
DCI Pendragon, if you edit the number as a contact, you will never have to "recognize" the number.
5. This.
Turnbull threw his head into his hands and started to sob. It was an awful sound, like a hippo with diarrhea.
I'm sorry, I am not familiar with that sound. And I never want to be.
May 5, 2011
See my review on my book blog: http://quirkyreader.livejournal.com/2...
May 31, 2019
Overall terrible!
The book has good premise, but that's about it! The way the story develops is boring, the secondary characters are generic and very much forgettable, and some interesting threads are left hanging in the air as if there will be an unnecessary sequel.
There's a villain monologue to the main character who mind you was the freaking head inspector, the guy who was supposed to figure that shit out. The very adjectivated descriptions had nothing to the story, instead of creating a believable world, they just drag the reader out of the book.
The translation did not make the book any better, the translator used words that either did not make sense in Portuguese or haven't been used in decades, and there were some major inconsistencies between word use and the context.
Unfortunately I didn't DNFed it, but I should have.
A very generous 1 🌟
The book has good premise, but that's about it! The way the story develops is boring, the secondary characters are generic and very much forgettable, and some interesting threads are left hanging in the air as if there will be an unnecessary sequel.
There's a villain monologue to the main character who mind you was the freaking head inspector, the guy who was supposed to figure that shit out. The very adjectivated descriptions had nothing to the story, instead of creating a believable world, they just drag the reader out of the book.
The translation did not make the book any better, the translator used words that either did not make sense in Portuguese or haven't been used in decades, and there were some major inconsistencies between word use and the context.
Unfortunately I didn't DNFed it, but I should have.
A very generous 1 🌟
February 1, 2025
Solid. I like it.
September 17, 2023
Interesting read and made so much better when read on holiday in the sunshine. Interesting way of unravelling events with jumps back and forth in time but it worked well. Lost one star as there wasn’t much of borgia story
March 1, 2016
I read some bad reviews about this book but on the whole I enjoyed reading it. I would have liked a bit more history and I think I expected it to be more about the Borgias than it was but I enjoyed the book nonethless.
Read
April 17, 2012Waste of time ...
February 5, 2013
Started reading the book because of the Borgia theme. Well to be short, its a lot of drivel. I think the author googled together a couple of conspiracy theories.
January 25, 2021
Spinta dalla trama e dalla mia passione per il thriller; ho deciso di leggere questo libro. Il romanzo non mi ha particolarmente colpito. Non che il libro sia brutto o noioso ma mi aspettavo qualcosa in più.
L'incipit è decisamente originale e inaspettato, lo stile è scorrevole e di facile lettura.
L'autore ha una preparazione scientifica e si vede soprattutto dalle descrizioni dei veleni e delle autopsie.
Su quest'ultimo punto (compresi anche gli omicidi), le descrizioni sono estremamente dettagliate e raccapriccianti per cui se siete facilmente impressionabili, meglio essere pronti. Sinceramente è un elemento che non ho molto apprezzato perché non aveva alcuno scopo, se non quello d'impressionare il lettore (si poteva evitare, secondo me).
Il romanzo racconta due storie contemporaneamente (l'autore passa dal passato al presente e viceversa): il modo in cui l'anello di Lucrezia Borgia arriva sino ai giorni nostri (partendo dal 1589) e gli strani omicidi che stanno avvenendo a Londra (ai giorni nostri).
I protagonisti sono piatti e poco interessanti, l'ispettore Pendragon è un personaggio piuttosto stereotipato (per esempio, il fatto che abbia un matrimonio fallito e un passato tragico). Per quanto riguarda la descrizione delle donne mi ha colpito il fatto che l'autore parla spesso di occhi GRANDI.
Interessante la ricostruzione ambientale della Londra elisabettiana e la presenza di personaggi realmente esistiti. L'autore è riuscito ad unire un puntuale affresco storico a una trama poliziesca. Naturalmente non manca il risvolto romantico ma é decisamente molto marginale.
È vero che in alcuni punti la trama è un po' prevedibile ma resta, comunque, una piacevole lettura (anche se un po' macabra). Senza troppe pretese e con qualche colpo di scena inaspettato.
L'incipit è decisamente originale e inaspettato, lo stile è scorrevole e di facile lettura.
L'autore ha una preparazione scientifica e si vede soprattutto dalle descrizioni dei veleni e delle autopsie.
Su quest'ultimo punto (compresi anche gli omicidi), le descrizioni sono estremamente dettagliate e raccapriccianti per cui se siete facilmente impressionabili, meglio essere pronti. Sinceramente è un elemento che non ho molto apprezzato perché non aveva alcuno scopo, se non quello d'impressionare il lettore (si poteva evitare, secondo me).
Il romanzo racconta due storie contemporaneamente (l'autore passa dal passato al presente e viceversa): il modo in cui l'anello di Lucrezia Borgia arriva sino ai giorni nostri (partendo dal 1589) e gli strani omicidi che stanno avvenendo a Londra (ai giorni nostri).
I protagonisti sono piatti e poco interessanti, l'ispettore Pendragon è un personaggio piuttosto stereotipato (per esempio, il fatto che abbia un matrimonio fallito e un passato tragico). Per quanto riguarda la descrizione delle donne mi ha colpito il fatto che l'autore parla spesso di occhi GRANDI.
Interessante la ricostruzione ambientale della Londra elisabettiana e la presenza di personaggi realmente esistiti. L'autore è riuscito ad unire un puntuale affresco storico a una trama poliziesca. Naturalmente non manca il risvolto romantico ma é decisamente molto marginale.
È vero che in alcuni punti la trama è un po' prevedibile ma resta, comunque, una piacevole lettura (anche se un po' macabra). Senza troppe pretese e con qualche colpo di scena inaspettato.
June 10, 2017
I picked this book up from the book swap at work when I took in "Sleepyhead". This was definitely a far better book! I flew through it, reading long chunks at times when I wouldn't normally read.
Not only was it an interesting story, combining crime with history and different times lines, but it also had a psychological angle and a fair number of female characters, making it nice all around.
Character wise I quite enjoyed DCI Jack Pendragon, especially since for once we had someone who wasn't either a super cop or so flawed that it's hard to see their good side. He was human.
As for Father John Allen, well, religious fanatics always make me uncomfortable, but he was quite believably written and I quite enjoyed the time accurate language the author used when in his point of view. I also thought the author's comment in 'The Facts Behind the Fiction' of the parallel between how the Jesuit Missionaries acted and current terrorist cells was spot on.
As for the crime itself, it was good, quirky enough to be different but not crazy over the top either. One of the reasons why this book lost a star, though, was because I have a moment where I guessed who the killer was. There was some stuff later that made me think I was wrong, but I had made a correct guess at a critical point.
But overall a very enjoyable read and I will definitely be looking up Michael White's other books as the little blurbs at the back of this book for his two previous books were definitely interesting!
Not only was it an interesting story, combining crime with history and different times lines, but it also had a psychological angle and a fair number of female characters, making it nice all around.
Character wise I quite enjoyed DCI Jack Pendragon, especially since for once we had someone who wasn't either a super cop or so flawed that it's hard to see their good side. He was human.
As for Father John Allen, well, religious fanatics always make me uncomfortable, but he was quite believably written and I quite enjoyed the time accurate language the author used when in his point of view. I also thought the author's comment in 'The Facts Behind the Fiction' of the parallel between how the Jesuit Missionaries acted and current terrorist cells was spot on.
As for the crime itself, it was good, quirky enough to be different but not crazy over the top either. One of the reasons why this book lost a star, though, was because I have a moment where I guessed who the killer was. There was some stuff later that made me think I was wrong, but I had made a correct guess at a critical point.
But overall a very enjoyable read and I will definitely be looking up Michael White's other books as the little blurbs at the back of this book for his two previous books were definitely interesting!
September 5, 2019
I found this was better thought out and written than the last two and some characters were believable. But that’s as far as I can go for being kind. The rest is atrocious... all a bit too cliche not sure if this is set in the here and now or 50 yrs before only mobile phones and laptops make you think that you are in the modern world. I also found the historical “facts” stuff at the end absolute trash, some of it might be true but the rest feels like it’s been written by a bigoted and biased person who believes in the rumours surrounding Lucrezia Borgia with no substantiating follow ups. Really lazy history something you could find in the daily mail. The mystery was good but the villain or villains were so pantomime esque and so silly they never really made you scared just made you want to snigger at the clumsy god awful writing.
October 8, 2019
The basic premise of the storyline is interesting BUT, oh dear God, what an utter load of claptrap about the Borgias. Clearly, the author did little or no research about the Borgias but relied upon the untrue myths that have been perpetrated down the ages. The first page had me taking a sharp intake of breath. In August 1503 Rodrigo Borgia/Pope Alexander VI died and by that time Lucrezia had been in Ferrara for over 2 years married to her third and last husband, Alfonso d'Este. She left Rome in January 1501 to travel to Ferrara and never returned. Read my final comment.
Such illresearched rubbish would put me off bothering to read anything else by Michael White, I'm afraid as I'm sure his other stories are just as full of historical inaccuracies (aka crap).
Such illresearched rubbish would put me off bothering to read anything else by Michael White, I'm afraid as I'm sure his other stories are just as full of historical inaccuracies (aka crap).
October 21, 2022
Really enjoyable and fast-paced murder mystery, that has its roots in 15th century Vatican City with the Borgias.
On a building site near London's Mile End Road, an ancient skeleton is unearthed. It's wearing an expensive looking ring, with a green stone. This find is the latest delay in a series of delays for the builders.
Soon after the skeleton is found, it disappears for a while, and some rather violent murders occur. DCI Jack Pendragon, newly transferred from Oxford Police, is tasked with solving the many problems that constitute this incident.
The investigation stagnates, but, after a lucky break, the murder squad are able to solve the murders successfully.
A really fast-paced car chase towards the end, and the murderer is caught.
On a building site near London's Mile End Road, an ancient skeleton is unearthed. It's wearing an expensive looking ring, with a green stone. This find is the latest delay in a series of delays for the builders.
Soon after the skeleton is found, it disappears for a while, and some rather violent murders occur. DCI Jack Pendragon, newly transferred from Oxford Police, is tasked with solving the many problems that constitute this incident.
The investigation stagnates, but, after a lucky break, the murder squad are able to solve the murders successfully.
A really fast-paced car chase towards the end, and the murderer is caught.
February 27, 2017
I was loaned this book by a friend who thought I would enjoy it. Although it has its moments, it is a novel I won't be "paying forward" and recommending to others. In parts quite it is contrived and, dare I say it, childish. There were some aspects to like, but on the whole not the greatest reading experience.
A big red sticker on the copy I got stated something like "If you like Dan Brown, you'll love Michael White." Sorry, but that was way off. If more time had been spent in the past rather than the present, as promised by the tantalising title of the book, then more goals would have been kicked by this author.
A big red sticker on the copy I got stated something like "If you like Dan Brown, you'll love Michael White." Sorry, but that was way off. If more time had been spent in the past rather than the present, as promised by the tantalising title of the book, then more goals would have been kicked by this author.
October 16, 2017
An entertaining enough tale that zips along but somehow not as thrilling or as gripping as I would have liked! That said I still enjoyed it.
The story moves between DCI Pendragon's current day investigations into three particulary gruesome murders & the story of an assisination attempt made over 500 years ago...the link to the two being a blackened skeleton discovered on a building site. The combination works well enough, the writing style is easy & I'll be happy to read more by this author...can't say fairer than that!
The story moves between DCI Pendragon's current day investigations into three particulary gruesome murders & the story of an assisination attempt made over 500 years ago...the link to the two being a blackened skeleton discovered on a building site. The combination works well enough, the writing style is easy & I'll be happy to read more by this author...can't say fairer than that!
June 9, 2017
Pues de verdad no me gustó mucho. Desde que empecé a leer me pareció más de lo mismo, aunque justo al final, cuando se revela el asesino, es que supe quien era. Siento que debió haberle sacado más jugo a la cosa, y no me pareció eso de hacer una descripción al final de ciertos personajes, lugares y hechos históricos; no sé, a mi parecer me arruinó un poco la historia...
Read
January 1, 2021
August 13, 2024
Zeer vlot lezende thriller met enkele zijsprongen naar de geschiedenis…
Spannend en zeer interessante personages…
De ontknoping is onverwacht en de finale ontknoping is er naar mijn gevoel wat haastig bijgetrokken in vergelijking met de gedetailleerde verhaallijn van het boek…
Spannend en zeer interessante personages…
De ontknoping is onverwacht en de finale ontknoping is er naar mijn gevoel wat haastig bijgetrokken in vergelijking met de gedetailleerde verhaallijn van het boek…
March 15, 2018
I expected another turn in the end... but I was a nice read
April 9, 2019
What utter tosh - cliche ridden from end to end. A Dan Brown knock off.
December 20, 2019
What a great yarn. The writing style moves fast and is very entertaining with a few snippets of history thrown in there to create an entertaining work of faction.
September 14, 2020
Nothing to write home about. No surprises till the end.
March 31, 2022
So disappointed, had absolutely nothing to do with the Borgia's. The story was very slapdash with an abrupt ending.
August 31, 2022
This book has absolutely nothing to do with the Borgia's to add insult to injury the plot was terrible and predictable.
June 28, 2023
Tiene una muy buena historia que me atrapo y me gusto aunque en algunos capítulos fue algo confusa pero me gusto
September 15, 2023
The Borgia Ring.
I enjoyed the dual time setting of the story. Linking fictional
stories with historical facts is a terrific skill. Well done.
I enjoyed the dual time setting of the story. Linking fictional
stories with historical facts is a terrific skill. Well done.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews