What do you think?
Rate this book
King's Ransom
King's Ransom [Paperback] McBain, Ed
332 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1986
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 17, 2019
I have a confession to make. What first drew me to this book is its cover. Not just the image of Richard III gazing right at me, holding out a white rose…but dang! That executioner is sure buff! But enough of my swooning over a studly-looking masked man clad in black and holding a honking big axe with just one hand!
King’s Ransom is a story within a story. It starts out in (then) modern-day 1986. An archaeological dig uncovers the grave of a monk, Brother Godfrey. Buried with him in his coffin is an ancient manuscript that purports to tell the true story of Richard III, who Godfrey had once served as squire and knight.
The bulk of the novel then shifts to Godfrey’s story, telling how he came to be in the service of the future King Richard III and the truth behind the lies that were later told about him.
At the end, the book returns to the present where we learn why no one knows what ever happened to this manuscript.
The book is an enjoyable read, in spite of some things – such as Richard’s appearance – being dated due to recent research and discoveries. (And no, Richard is not a hunchback so you can put your mind to rest about that.)
This Richard III is neither saint nor sinner. He is a decent man who is too trusting of those he should not have been, and allows himself to get caught up in the scheming and treachery of others. In other words, he is very believable.
Thanks again to the Richard III Society’s American Branch fiction library for loaning me a copy of this extremely hard to find book!
King’s Ransom is a story within a story. It starts out in (then) modern-day 1986. An archaeological dig uncovers the grave of a monk, Brother Godfrey. Buried with him in his coffin is an ancient manuscript that purports to tell the true story of Richard III, who Godfrey had once served as squire and knight.
The bulk of the novel then shifts to Godfrey’s story, telling how he came to be in the service of the future King Richard III and the truth behind the lies that were later told about him.
At the end, the book returns to the present where we learn why no one knows what ever happened to this manuscript.
The book is an enjoyable read, in spite of some things – such as Richard’s appearance – being dated due to recent research and discoveries. (And no, Richard is not a hunchback so you can put your mind to rest about that.)
This Richard III is neither saint nor sinner. He is a decent man who is too trusting of those he should not have been, and allows himself to get caught up in the scheming and treachery of others. In other words, he is very believable.
Thanks again to the Richard III Society’s American Branch fiction library for loaning me a copy of this extremely hard to find book!
January 12, 2009
A perfectly adequate example of the genre. This book is a bit of a curiosity - the named author is a pseudonym, and the book is written as if it is a memoir of a sort. It is a cute idea, but doesn't quite work. The balance between "current day" (or rather 1986) and the historic past is not quite right - there is not enough current day content to make the set up worth the effort.
February 22, 2026
I love reading about Richard III but this ....
Modern-day author posits themselves in their own story - albeit for only the first and last chapters. The bulk of the book is the narrative of one Godfrey of Leicester, Cistercian Monk and Chum of RIII. His grave has been uncovered (1986) and a long hidden scroll revealed. This is the story - from the time Godfrey entered into Richard's service till Richard's death at Bosworth. It is a rehash of the history of the wars of the roses and the revelation of who killed the princes in the tower.
Spoiler alert - author is a RIII fan.
Modern-day author posits themselves in their own story - albeit for only the first and last chapters. The bulk of the book is the narrative of one Godfrey of Leicester, Cistercian Monk and Chum of RIII. His grave has been uncovered (1986) and a long hidden scroll revealed. This is the story - from the time Godfrey entered into Richard's service till Richard's death at Bosworth. It is a rehash of the history of the wars of the roses and the revelation of who killed the princes in the tower.
Spoiler alert - author is a RIII fan.
Read
January 17, 2009Wars of the Roses
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews