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Roger the Chapman #5
Η δολοφονία του δούκα Ριχάρδου
Το καλοκαίρι του 1475, ο βασιλιάς της Αγγλίας Εδουάρδος ο Δ΄ ετοιμάζεται να εισβάλει στη Γαλλία. Την ίδια εποχή στο δρόμο του για το Λονδίνο, ο Ρογήρος ο γυρολόγος σταματά στο Σαουθάμπτον, για να πουλήσει την πραμάτεια του στην αρχοντική οικογένεια Φαγκρή. Ο γιος των Φαγκρήδων Ματθαίος μόλις έχει φύγει από το σπίτι για να γίνει ακόλουθος του Ριχάρδου, δούκα του Γκλώστερ και μικρότερου αδελφού του βασιλιά.
Στο Λονδίνο ο Ρογήρος φτάνει λίγο πριν από την προγραμματισμένη εισβολή στη Γαλλία και τυχαία συναντά τον Τιμόθεο Πλάμερ, τον αρχικατάσκοπο του δούκα, ο οποίος αποκαλύπτει στο Ρογήρο πως έχει πληροφορηθεί ένα σχέδιο για επικείμενη δολοφονία του δούκα.
Ζητά λοιπόν βοήθεια από τον καλόκαρδο γυρολόγο, ο οποίος προκειμένου να διαλευκάνει την καταχθόνια και ανεξήγητη συνωμοσία, πρέπει πρώτα ν' ανακαλύψει την αλήθεια για τη συνθηματική ημερομηνία της γιορτής του Αγίου Υακίνθου...
Στο Λονδίνο ο Ρογήρος φτάνει λίγο πριν από την προγραμματισμένη εισβολή στη Γαλλία και τυχαία συναντά τον Τιμόθεο Πλάμερ, τον αρχικατάσκοπο του δούκα, ο οποίος αποκαλύπτει στο Ρογήρο πως έχει πληροφορηθεί ένα σχέδιο για επικείμενη δολοφονία του δούκα.
Ζητά λοιπόν βοήθεια από τον καλόκαρδο γυρολόγο, ο οποίος προκειμένου να διαλευκάνει την καταχθόνια και ανεξήγητη συνωμοσία, πρέπει πρώτα ν' ανακαλύψει την αλήθεια για τη συνθηματική ημερομηνία της γιορτής του Αγίου Υακίνθου...
430 pages, Paperback
First published October 5, 1995
24 people are currently reading
210 people want to read
About the author
Kate Sedley
37 books105 followersBrenda Margaret Lilian Clarke, known by her pen name Kate Sedley, was an English historical novelist best known for her Roger the Chapman mystery series. Born in Bristol in 1926, she also published as Brenda Honeyman and Brenda Clarke.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
August 31, 2022
The work of a chapman (medieval peddler) is rarely easy if you can judge by Sedley’s excellent descriptions. Your wares are in a pack on your back. The larger the pack, the fewer times you run out and have to go back to a port or market to replenish. You are going town-to-town and door-to-door by foot across as much of England as suits your needs. You often do not make it to the nearest village and have to beg a place in a hayloft (if you are lucky) or out in the open (if you are not). Yet the times are such that hospitality to strangers is the rule and there are also almshouses and religious establishments that provide food and shelter. When these are over-subscribed you may find that you can “buy a warm space in a kitchen” to spend the night.
"The heat in the kitchen was intense and I had to dodge the pot-boys and scullions, the maids and the cooks who, sweating profusely, were chopping and basting, boiling and roasting as they strove to prepare the evening supper. For the most part they ignored my presence, merely cursing me liberally when I got in their way. Around all four walls, in between the barrels of food and water, I saw items of personal apparel, which marked the sleeping territory of the night’s lodgers. My hostess pointed to a space flanked on one side by a barrel of what smelled suspiciously like salted herring and a table where one of the cooks was busy rolling out pastry. ‘There,’ she said. ‘And you can fetch clean straw from the stables before you bed down. Now, note your place and then be off with you, out from under my people’s feet. I don’t want to see you in here again until just before curfew….’ "Someone on the other side of the kitchen was snoring so loudly that the whole room seemed to shake with the noise. Added to this, there was an overpowering smell of stale breath and sweating feet, plus the stench of brine and herring. The straw on which I lay had quickly proved to be flea-ridden and all my twitching and scratching failed to deter the little wretches from finding me to be a tasty supper. After two hours I had not managed to sleep a wink, tossing and turning to the great irritation of my nearest neighbour, an itinerant pieman, who had been lured to the capital in the hope of making money before returning to his native Norfolk."
Roger, a former “monk in training” still has a personal relationship with his god.
So I was right! What I had thought of as my own independent wanderings had really been part of a plan. God’s plan! I had been led from Mistress Gentle in Southampton to Millisent Shepherd to Lady Wardroper and, finally, to the Saracen’s Head. God was using me yet again for His purposes and my resentment rose and flooded over. ‘No, Lord,’ I told Him firmly, ‘not this time. I’ve only just brought two villains to book for You down in Devon. I refuse to be pushed into a second adventure in less than three months."
This is the most impressive “thriller” that Sedley has so far created in this series. Why? Because the life of one of the key members of England’s Royal Family is threatened. Sedley isn’t reluctant to seize the opportunity to provide us with the customs, housing, politics, gossip, and things of beauty that surround life at and around Court.
"It was the first time that I had seen at close quarters the workings of a lord’s great household or had any understanding of the vast numbers of people necessary to his welfare."
"At last the feast was over. The various dishes – broth, jellied eels and crayfish, duckling, roast kid and sucking pig, a boar’s head, chickens, roast heron, cokyntryce, venison with frumenty, doucettes and junkets, pancakes and fritters, nuts and cheese, dates and raisins, and a magnificent swan, drawn, plucked and cooked, then reassembled in all its plumage, a collar of diamonds about its neck – had come and gone, and all washed down with a vast quantity of wines."
Yet the everyday life of those in rural areas is not neglected.
"Idly I watched a man pause in his haymaking to hone his scythe, then take a drink from the leather bottle on the ground beside him. Women were moving slowly, bent almost double in the noonday heat, separating the stalks of already-cut grass in order to ensure that they dried out properly. Others were raking between the swathe lines, making certain that none of the morning’s scything was wasted. It was a peaceful, harmonious scene, repeated at that time of year all over England, and I wondered how these men and women would feel if they thought that a foreign army was about to invade their world and trample down their crops."
And, perhaps, Sedley takes note of how the behavior of the English on foreign soil hasn’t changed much (see stories about football fans in Europe) over the centuries.
"A party of drunken revellers emerged noisily from the inn, shouting bawdy ditties and laughing inanely as they wound an unsteady path across the courtyard. Timothy watched their progress with a jaundiced eye. ‘They’ll be worse than that as soon as they set foot on French soil,’ he prophesied gloomily. ‘There’s something about foreign parts that brings out the very worst in Englishmen, however well-behaved and docile they are at home. They’ll be committing rape and rapine in every town and village they pass through. Some’ll be hanged, others flogged, but it won’t deter the rest of ’em."
I love absorbing the use of period language and terms. Yet, I came across two potential “false notes” in this read. The words “greenhorn” and “lummox” are listed in the Oxford Dictionary of English as being later day words that are more American in use.
4*
"The heat in the kitchen was intense and I had to dodge the pot-boys and scullions, the maids and the cooks who, sweating profusely, were chopping and basting, boiling and roasting as they strove to prepare the evening supper. For the most part they ignored my presence, merely cursing me liberally when I got in their way. Around all four walls, in between the barrels of food and water, I saw items of personal apparel, which marked the sleeping territory of the night’s lodgers. My hostess pointed to a space flanked on one side by a barrel of what smelled suspiciously like salted herring and a table where one of the cooks was busy rolling out pastry. ‘There,’ she said. ‘And you can fetch clean straw from the stables before you bed down. Now, note your place and then be off with you, out from under my people’s feet. I don’t want to see you in here again until just before curfew….’ "Someone on the other side of the kitchen was snoring so loudly that the whole room seemed to shake with the noise. Added to this, there was an overpowering smell of stale breath and sweating feet, plus the stench of brine and herring. The straw on which I lay had quickly proved to be flea-ridden and all my twitching and scratching failed to deter the little wretches from finding me to be a tasty supper. After two hours I had not managed to sleep a wink, tossing and turning to the great irritation of my nearest neighbour, an itinerant pieman, who had been lured to the capital in the hope of making money before returning to his native Norfolk."
Roger, a former “monk in training” still has a personal relationship with his god.
So I was right! What I had thought of as my own independent wanderings had really been part of a plan. God’s plan! I had been led from Mistress Gentle in Southampton to Millisent Shepherd to Lady Wardroper and, finally, to the Saracen’s Head. God was using me yet again for His purposes and my resentment rose and flooded over. ‘No, Lord,’ I told Him firmly, ‘not this time. I’ve only just brought two villains to book for You down in Devon. I refuse to be pushed into a second adventure in less than three months."
This is the most impressive “thriller” that Sedley has so far created in this series. Why? Because the life of one of the key members of England’s Royal Family is threatened. Sedley isn’t reluctant to seize the opportunity to provide us with the customs, housing, politics, gossip, and things of beauty that surround life at and around Court.
"It was the first time that I had seen at close quarters the workings of a lord’s great household or had any understanding of the vast numbers of people necessary to his welfare."
"At last the feast was over. The various dishes – broth, jellied eels and crayfish, duckling, roast kid and sucking pig, a boar’s head, chickens, roast heron, cokyntryce, venison with frumenty, doucettes and junkets, pancakes and fritters, nuts and cheese, dates and raisins, and a magnificent swan, drawn, plucked and cooked, then reassembled in all its plumage, a collar of diamonds about its neck – had come and gone, and all washed down with a vast quantity of wines."
Yet the everyday life of those in rural areas is not neglected.
"Idly I watched a man pause in his haymaking to hone his scythe, then take a drink from the leather bottle on the ground beside him. Women were moving slowly, bent almost double in the noonday heat, separating the stalks of already-cut grass in order to ensure that they dried out properly. Others were raking between the swathe lines, making certain that none of the morning’s scything was wasted. It was a peaceful, harmonious scene, repeated at that time of year all over England, and I wondered how these men and women would feel if they thought that a foreign army was about to invade their world and trample down their crops."
And, perhaps, Sedley takes note of how the behavior of the English on foreign soil hasn’t changed much (see stories about football fans in Europe) over the centuries.
"A party of drunken revellers emerged noisily from the inn, shouting bawdy ditties and laughing inanely as they wound an unsteady path across the courtyard. Timothy watched their progress with a jaundiced eye. ‘They’ll be worse than that as soon as they set foot on French soil,’ he prophesied gloomily. ‘There’s something about foreign parts that brings out the very worst in Englishmen, however well-behaved and docile they are at home. They’ll be committing rape and rapine in every town and village they pass through. Some’ll be hanged, others flogged, but it won’t deter the rest of ’em."
I love absorbing the use of period language and terms. Yet, I came across two potential “false notes” in this read. The words “greenhorn” and “lummox” are listed in the Oxford Dictionary of English as being later day words that are more American in use.
4*
August 12, 2022
The last of a just-for-me reading of the first five books in this series. Not sure whether I'll move on to more at some point in the future.
August 20, 2022
Conspiración en la corte... nuevamente nos vamos a la Edad media con Roger Chapman y su increíble talento para desentramar misterios. Ahora prestando sus servicios al duque de Gloucester, el hermano del Rey Eduardo, y bueno, realmente no me ha decepcionado para nada esta entrega. de hecho, es como cuarta o quinta vez que lo leo, y me siguen sorprendiendo los detalles de época y el misterio alrededor. Muy bueno.
3ra. Sigue siendo muy interesante ver el proceso de pensamiento de Roger, cómo fue conectando cada punto para ver el panorama, sí, me sigue gustando bastante.
3ra. Sigue siendo muy interesante ver el proceso de pensamiento de Roger, cómo fue conectando cada punto para ver el panorama, sí, me sigue gustando bastante.
July 16, 2025
First historical mystery I have read that is set during Edward IV's reign. I've always found the wars of roses period intriguing and the main royal characters (Edward IV, Richard Duke of Gloucester, George Duke of Clarence, the Duchess of Burgundy etc.) feature quite prominently in this book. Roger the Chapman himself is an engaging protagonist, so I enjoyed this book and hope to read more of this series
November 23, 2012
I have such a crush on this series. Not on Roger, but on the actual series. I'm pretty sure it's not for everyone. It's a bit slow, and almost certainly not perfectly historically accurate, but I adore it anyway. I love visiting War of the Roses era England, and following our dopey hero around. I found the first in the series by accident in the 50c bin at a usually not-very-fruitful used book store, and mostly got it for the woodcut on the cover. But then I read it and the crushing began. Unfortunately the series isn't as popular with the rest of the world as it is with me because I've never seen any more for sale anywhere! Second-hand or otherwise. It's hard to find even ordering online! Well, and expensive (relatively). So imagine my delight when I found that my new town's public library had a good dozen or so of them! There will be a stream of them popping up on my "read" shelf over the next few weeks.
I enjoyed that this one led us to what we all want to see in the middle ages - life in a castle! It is the court of Edward IV so it's plenty extravagant and fun. And gross. Did they really just lean over and vomit into the reeds at dinner? Ugh. Seriously? I thought that was a Roman thing. But then I heard that even for Roman parties the rumours of regurgitation were a bit exaggerated. So can this be true? Not very chivalrous if you ask me. Speaking of chivalry though... Good ol' Richard, Duke of Gloucester, future nephew-smotherer (or IS he?) is painted in an awfully pretty light. I can't tell if Ms Sedley is a true Ricardian or if she's just setting Roger up to be badly disappointed later on in the series. I looked ahead and we do make it to the juicy stuff in books 19-20 so I'm excited to read on!
I enjoyed that this one led us to what we all want to see in the middle ages - life in a castle! It is the court of Edward IV so it's plenty extravagant and fun. And gross. Did they really just lean over and vomit into the reeds at dinner? Ugh. Seriously? I thought that was a Roman thing. But then I heard that even for Roman parties the rumours of regurgitation were a bit exaggerated. So can this be true? Not very chivalrous if you ask me. Speaking of chivalry though... Good ol' Richard, Duke of Gloucester, future nephew-smotherer (or IS he?) is painted in an awfully pretty light. I can't tell if Ms Sedley is a true Ricardian or if she's just setting Roger up to be badly disappointed later on in the series. I looked ahead and we do make it to the juicy stuff in books 19-20 so I'm excited to read on!
February 1, 2021
It is June, 1475, and King Edward IV is amassing an army to invade France. After peddling his wares and solving two murders along the south coast, Roger the Chapman sets out for London for a little R&R. Along the way he happens upon an abandoned shrine in the woods and in that eerie place he has a strong sense of evil. Is this a sign that God has other plans for him, as Roger suspects? His suspicions are confirmed when he arrives in London and is promptly recruited into helping to find out who is behind a plot to assassinate Richard of Gloucester on or before the eve of St. Hyacinth which is several weeks away.
Roger goes undercover as a Yeoman of the Chamber in Duke Richard’s household at Baynard’s Castle.
From this position Roger, and we the readers, see the workings of a great lord’s household and learn about the vast number of people necessary to attend him: the steward; treasurer; comptroller; Knights and Squires of the Body; Squires of the Household; Gentlemen Ushers as well as Yeomen of the Chamber. Roger also discovers that great lords routinely have their spies in one another’s households. In this case, both his brothers, King Edward and the Duke of Clarence; the King’s in-laws, the Woodvilles, as well as the French and Burgundians have spies in Duke Richard’s household.
Roger travels to France along with the army and finally unravels the plot and thwarts the assassination attempt. Although it has the usual coincidences, the plot is well constructed, deftly weaving into the story the political undercurrents swirling around the invasion. The look into the running of a great lord’s household is fascinating , and the interactions between Richard and those would would protect him are engaging.
Roger goes undercover as a Yeoman of the Chamber in Duke Richard’s household at Baynard’s Castle.
From this position Roger, and we the readers, see the workings of a great lord’s household and learn about the vast number of people necessary to attend him: the steward; treasurer; comptroller; Knights and Squires of the Body; Squires of the Household; Gentlemen Ushers as well as Yeomen of the Chamber. Roger also discovers that great lords routinely have their spies in one another’s households. In this case, both his brothers, King Edward and the Duke of Clarence; the King’s in-laws, the Woodvilles, as well as the French and Burgundians have spies in Duke Richard’s household.
Roger travels to France along with the army and finally unravels the plot and thwarts the assassination attempt. Although it has the usual coincidences, the plot is well constructed, deftly weaving into the story the political undercurrents swirling around the invasion. The look into the running of a great lord’s household is fascinating , and the interactions between Richard and those would would protect him are engaging.
March 5, 2024
The Eve of Saint Hyacinth
By Kate Sedley
Reviewed February 1, 2021
June 1475. Roger the chapman has been many weeks on the road, peddling his wares. With money in his pockets, he decides to treat himself to a few days in London before returning home to Wells.
London turns out to be more crowded than usual. King Edward IV is planning an invasion of France, and the city is filling with levies raised for the fighting along with others who will accompany the army.
It’s while in London that Roger encounters Timothy Plummer, the Duke of Gloucester’s spy-master. This isn’t their first meeting, as Roger has in the past performed a couple of services for the duke – solving problems that often include murder. Roger thinks quite highly of Duke Richard. That they share the same birth date has only helped cement the bond between the two men.
Initially, Roger is reluctant to get involved in whatever it is Plummer is up to, but when he learns that there’s a plot to assassinate Duke Richard and an informant is found murdered, he agrees to go undercover as a Yeoman of the Chamber, a low level servant in the duke’s household.
Working with Master Plummer and two other members of the Duke’s staff, Roger uses his status as a household servant to ferret out the conspirator or conspirators, twice saving Richard’s life along the way.
The Eve of Saint Hyacinth is a good mystery. There are plenty of interesting characters, red herrings, and clues to keep your attention. You also get a lesson on how a nobleman’s household was run. This is the 5th book in the Roger the Chapman series, but can be read as a standalone. If you enjoy mysteries with a historical setting, this one’s for you. A good 4-star story.
By Kate Sedley
Reviewed February 1, 2021
June 1475. Roger the chapman has been many weeks on the road, peddling his wares. With money in his pockets, he decides to treat himself to a few days in London before returning home to Wells.
London turns out to be more crowded than usual. King Edward IV is planning an invasion of France, and the city is filling with levies raised for the fighting along with others who will accompany the army.
It’s while in London that Roger encounters Timothy Plummer, the Duke of Gloucester’s spy-master. This isn’t their first meeting, as Roger has in the past performed a couple of services for the duke – solving problems that often include murder. Roger thinks quite highly of Duke Richard. That they share the same birth date has only helped cement the bond between the two men.
Initially, Roger is reluctant to get involved in whatever it is Plummer is up to, but when he learns that there’s a plot to assassinate Duke Richard and an informant is found murdered, he agrees to go undercover as a Yeoman of the Chamber, a low level servant in the duke’s household.
Working with Master Plummer and two other members of the Duke’s staff, Roger uses his status as a household servant to ferret out the conspirator or conspirators, twice saving Richard’s life along the way.
The Eve of Saint Hyacinth is a good mystery. There are plenty of interesting characters, red herrings, and clues to keep your attention. You also get a lesson on how a nobleman’s household was run. This is the 5th book in the Roger the Chapman series, but can be read as a standalone. If you enjoy mysteries with a historical setting, this one’s for you. A good 4-star story.
February 10, 2007
Roger Chapman is a pedlar and a medieval detective in the line of Brother Cadfael (in fact, he was a monk before being a pedlar)but I happen to like this intellgent, more credible portarit of mediaval England more than that of Ellis Peters. It has also a curious peculiarity: Roger's protector is the Duke of Gloiucester, the future Richard the Third, surprisingly and convincingly portrayed here as a good man.
April 20, 2022
Hard going
This wasn't my favourite Roger the Chapman story. For a start we all know Richard of Gloucester wasn't assasinated as he later became King.
I found the characters of Timothy and Lionel difficult to separate and the fact that Roger's investigations were hampered by politics meant the story didn't flow as well as usual.
It was however an interesting picture of life in the royal courts of the time.
And did I miss the reason for name of the book?
This wasn't my favourite Roger the Chapman story. For a start we all know Richard of Gloucester wasn't assasinated as he later became King.
I found the characters of Timothy and Lionel difficult to separate and the fact that Roger's investigations were hampered by politics meant the story didn't flow as well as usual.
It was however an interesting picture of life in the royal courts of the time.
And did I miss the reason for name of the book?
January 11, 2023
Fabulous Mix of History and Happenstance.
I thoroughly enjoyed this series featuring Roger the Chapman, and am seriously depressed that I've read all, and the last of these wonderful stories. Kate Sedley is an extremely talented author who is so gifted in her abilities to weave actual history into her fictional stories about Roger, a Chapman who solves mysteries, who also is able to observe historical happenings as they occur.
I thoroughly enjoyed this series featuring Roger the Chapman, and am seriously depressed that I've read all, and the last of these wonderful stories. Kate Sedley is an extremely talented author who is so gifted in her abilities to weave actual history into her fictional stories about Roger, a Chapman who solves mysteries, who also is able to observe historical happenings as they occur.
March 17, 2024
Excellent
Another entertaining read. Roger the Chapman again goes to the aid of Prince Richard, Duke of Clarence when his life is threatened. Can Roger and Timothy Plummer, the Duke's spy-master solve the puzzle of who is behind the plot before someone takes Prince Richard's life?
Another entertaining read. Roger the Chapman again goes to the aid of Prince Richard, Duke of Clarence when his life is threatened. Can Roger and Timothy Plummer, the Duke's spy-master solve the puzzle of who is behind the plot before someone takes Prince Richard's life?
March 16, 2018
This book is well plotted and fast paced. Sedley incorporates few red herrings and gets on with the story. Granted, I suspected early on who the assassin was but not why this person was involved. I really like this series so far.
November 25, 2021
Unhappy
Enjoyed the first five books tried t get wicked winter on prime kindle and they jump to number 10 in series.six to 10 in book from only.not good to jump like that spoiled series for me 😬
Enjoyed the first five books tried t get wicked winter on prime kindle and they jump to number 10 in series.six to 10 in book from only.not good to jump like that spoiled series for me 😬
July 19, 2022
ah…I do love Roger Chapman.
This series is clearly written by someone who knows all about the history and the people and culture of the time. The mysteries are satisfactory. Not too much suspense or gore. I like Roger and would be glad to meet him someday.
This series is clearly written by someone who knows all about the history and the people and culture of the time. The mysteries are satisfactory. Not too much suspense or gore. I like Roger and would be glad to meet him someday.
June 15, 2023
What a wonderful series
I really enjoy these books about Roger Chapman and his adventures. The author is a wonderful story-teller, her prose just flows along and her descriptions of London and it’s inhabitants so vivid I feel like I’m there myself. First class in every way
I really enjoy these books about Roger Chapman and his adventures. The author is a wonderful story-teller, her prose just flows along and her descriptions of London and it’s inhabitants so vivid I feel like I’m there myself. First class in every way
September 4, 2020
Finally found some time to finish this novel. Classic medieval whodunnit novel.
January 26, 2022
Good read i like these books a lot
August 21, 2015
Roger Chapman is back! And he's hanging out with his best bud, Richard, Duke of Gloucester. Someone in the Duke's own household is going to try to kill him, but is practicing on one of his trusted retainers by tripping him on the stairs. Something Lionel has, erm, fallen for twice. Heh!
I had that "puritanical" quibble while reading. And then there's the plot dependent confusion between the words demon, demesne, and demain. I don't see that as likely, but it might be like eye rhymes that seem like they might sound alike but are actually nothing like each other. Perhaps I should not be so picky.
I just love reading about Sedley's version of the future Richard III. She must have been as suckered by Daughter of Time as I was. Richard is so straight in his dealings you could use him as a ... well, ruler. He is, unfortunately, not "puritanical" as that word would not be coined for 100 years. I looked it up to check. It clanged when I read it. Cue Thesaurus.
Roger has until the titular Eve of Saint Hyacinth to keep Richard alive and find his assassin. Knowing why specifically Richard is targeted and why his assassination is unnecessary after a particular date would certainly be of help in Roger's quest.
Is it just my careless reading of this series, or has Roger put on weight? His girth is mentioned more than his height now. And he walks everywhere.
I had that "puritanical" quibble while reading. And then there's the plot dependent confusion between the words demon, demesne, and demain. I don't see that as likely, but it might be like eye rhymes that seem like they might sound alike but are actually nothing like each other. Perhaps I should not be so picky.
I just love reading about Sedley's version of the future Richard III. She must have been as suckered by Daughter of Time as I was. Richard is so straight in his dealings you could use him as a ... well, ruler. He is, unfortunately, not "puritanical" as that word would not be coined for 100 years. I looked it up to check. It clanged when I read it. Cue Thesaurus.
Roger has until the titular Eve of Saint Hyacinth to keep Richard alive and find his assassin. Knowing why specifically Richard is targeted and why his assassination is unnecessary after a particular date would certainly be of help in Roger's quest.
Is it just my careless reading of this series, or has Roger put on weight? His girth is mentioned more than his height now. And he walks everywhere.
October 10, 2025
This is the first book from the "Roger the Chapman" series that I read (they are standalone stories, you don't have to read them in order) and it was convincing enough that I might continue the series.
It may not be high literature, but it is thoroughly enjoyable and succeeds in what it is supposed to do.
The mystery itself is quite intriguing and keeps you guessing, making you try to see through the conspiracies and figure out who is an ally and who is a traitor, providing some plot twists along the way, while Roger makes for a narrative voice that keeps your interest, but the main attraction is the historical aspect. It takes you back in time all the way to 1475 and shows you the life of the royal family and all the people that live in their court.
It may not be high literature, but it is thoroughly enjoyable and succeeds in what it is supposed to do.
The mystery itself is quite intriguing and keeps you guessing, making you try to see through the conspiracies and figure out who is an ally and who is a traitor, providing some plot twists along the way, while Roger makes for a narrative voice that keeps your interest, but the main attraction is the historical aspect. It takes you back in time all the way to 1475 and shows you the life of the royal family and all the people that live in their court.
December 5, 2012
Roger the chapman (peddlar) is asked by the Duke of Gloucester's spymaster to investigate a rumored plot against the duke (who was the youngest brother of King Edward.) Sedley uses a lot of late 15th century period detail which make the books fun and the characters come alive.
April 25, 2011
Again Roger the Chapman finds himself deep in mysterious circumstances which could lead to an assassination. But who is the target and why? And why is the Eve of St Hyacinth so important??
Read
April 17, 2013They are good mysteries, I never figure it out before the end.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews