| Title | : | The Lions of the North (Domesday, #4) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 031214671X |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780312146719 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 227 |
| Publication | : | First published January 1, 1996 |
The lions make a feast of an anonymous young man who tries to sneak into the castle, and Gervase Bret begins to wonder why someone would commit such an act of suicide. As he and Ralph seek a reason, both men find themselves agreeably distracted - Gervase by Inga, a young woman embroiled in a struggle for her family's land, and Ralph by Golde, a Saxon woman who prods him to do justice for the dispossessed. But Ralph and Gervase must address a more urgent secret, which threatens their lives, their loves, and perhaps the crown itself.
The Lions of the North (Domesday, #4) Reviews
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the further adventures of the group takes them to York and sinister background attempt to stop the tribunal into the land deeds and a few red herrings as well but enjoyed this the next in the medieval mysteries
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I love this series so much. The author does such a fantastic job with the way he has created his characters and developed his plots. This is the time of the Doomsday book and it is the time right after William the Conqueror has defeated the Anglo-Saxons in the Normans are entrusted with enforcing the law and William has taken the properties of the Anglo-Saxon Lords and given them to his men that were loyal to him in the battles. This is a fantastic medieval murder mystery series and I've really come to enjoy the characters. It's obvious that the author has really done research for the time as it is approximately 1070s. I recommend the series for lovers of medieval historical fiction and murder mysteries.
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It did have a nice ending- Golde and Ralph apparently got married! I read these some years ago and enjoyed them- my mystery reading has evolved.
" As Ralph and Gervase prepare to unravel an entangled web of deceit, murder, and treason, they are betrayed by a friend and set upon by the notorious lions of York. " -
Another amiable jaunt through post-Conquest England, with Ralph, Gervais and Co. With the addition of another mysterious Commissioner.
An enjoyable, easy to read, tale which when all seems fraught, as ever truth and justice are served. There is also more of an element of friendship, be it squandered, welcomed or growing, in this tale. No 4 is no less of an entertaining read, in this series. -
I love this series. It’s a period of history that entrances me. I don’t normally read crime stories, but this series is a light easy break form the norm, and the details are always engaging.
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It is very entertaining
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A bit of a grisly one. A mysterious intruder is eaten by mine hosts two pet lions. Gervase draws the reluctant Ralph into the investigation of his death. Ralph reflects a lot on the Harrowing of the North in which he tool took part
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First Sentence: The two men were courting danger.
Soldier Ralph Delchard and lawyer Gervase Bret lead the King’s commissioners to Yorkshire in their continuing task to settle land claims as part of the compilation of the Domesday Book. Ralph is looking forward to this particular location as the castle there is owned by his former comrade Aubrey Maminot, whose two captive lions recently mauled an intruder to the castle. It is also a painful visit for Ralph as it brings back memories of his part in the brutality he and his fellow Norman soldiers brought down upon the Saxons of this region.
Ralph and Gervase are implored by a young Saxon woman and her mother to render judgment against a nobleman of the area they claim stole the property and inheritance which should have been theirs and bring justice to the dispossessed, while discovering the identity of the lions’ victim and learn what he sought within the castle.
I’ll admit I love maps in books and was, therefore, delighted to find a number of them included in the opening pages of this book. I also love English history and so appreciate that not only dies Marston tell a thoroughly engrossing tale with a very good mystery, but teaches me more about the history of the period as well.
I love the characters Marston has created. Brother Simon, with his fear of women; Canon Hubert, a blend of piety and ego; Gervase, a man of intellect; Golde, the woman with whom Ralph loves; and Ralph, a warrior sick of war. Marston brings the characters to life and you know their personalities as well as, with each book, more of their background. But it’s not just the primary characters; the secondary characters are fully dimensional.
Marston’s historic research is very apparent. He incorporated documented events and historic characters seamlessly into the story. He doesn’t clean up or sterilize life in the 11th Century; life was hard, particularly for women, and often unpleasant.
It was also a time when it almost no one could be trusted. That is a theme which runs through the series and certainly in this book. The plot contains a nice level of complexity without crossing into confusion, and has just the right level of twists and suspense as well as emotion.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am a definite fan of this series. I shall keep going book-by-book.
THE LIONS OF THE NORTH (Hist Mys-Ralph Delchard/Gervase Bret-England-1086/Middle Ages) – VG
Marston, Edward – 4th in Domesday series
St. Martin’s Press, 1996, US Hardcover – ISBN: 031214671X -
#4 in the Domesday historical mystery series, this time the Royal Commissioners are off to York, once again settling land disputes at the behest of the King. Ralph Delchard, Gervase Bret, Canon Hubert and Brother Simon the scribe are joined by a northern noble, Tanchelm of Ghent, who is joining their group at King William's order.
There are many disputes to investigate, and it's complicated by the rovings of outlaw bands, including the notorious Olaf Evil Child, who actually has the temerity to steal the group's sumpter horses at an overnight stop along the way. Insulted to the core, Ralph Delchard makes his displeasure known to his old friend, Aubrey Maminot, with whom the party will be lodging at York Castle. Aubrey allows that Olaf is already a thorn in his side, and if caught, he'll be fed to his pets--two ferocious African lions that prowl the ditches around the castle at night, and whom their trainer Ludovico and Aubrey are the only two allowed to handle.
Another wonderful story full of history and a sense of time and place that is unrivaled by other writers of historical fiction and mystery. The characters are also wonderful and varied and after only four books have almost become old friends. This has fast become one of my favorite historical series--it's too bad the books are out of print and are so difficult to come by. But I eagerly look forward to the next. -
Ah, series mysteries: you just have to love them. I read about 7/8 of this book in less than 4 hours on Thursday and finished it last night.
This is Volume IV of the Domesday Books, and we find our intrepid (except for Brother Simon) foursome of King's commissioners heading to York to oversee the settlement of claims in that area. They are now traveling with Ralph's lover, Golde, a holdover from the last book, and they also pick up an assistant in Lincoln.
By the time they arrive in York, they have been beset by thieves who steal some of their horses and supplies. Their host in York is an old friend of Ralph's who insists that he knows who stole their things, but he can't catch the group. Aubrey, their host, has interesting pets--two lions--who patrol the inside of the keep at night, providing a great deal of security for the castle.
Their assistant is murdered, the land claims are not easily sorted out, the head of the gang who held them up on the road returns to York to press his own land-claim, and we are reminded that lions make unpredictable pets. And Golde helps remind the men that there are ways to find things out in the women's world, too.
Oh, but there were a load of very loose ends. I really can't justify this book at all, but I will continue on in the series. The characters interest me. -
This is the 4th book in the Domesday series. In this one, royal agents are joined by a new man, a Flemish mercenary with a gift for languages. Some of the party are a bit suspicious at first, but Tanchelm is so friendly and so mild that he soon fits right into their group.
In the meantime, the royal party is invited to stay at the home of one of Ralph Delchard's old fighting companions. It seems the man has some new companions now - two male lions.
It's a little hard to wrap my impressions all together to make some sort of cohesive review, but let me just say that while the setting was well done, I'm not sure I'll reread this one. The previous one in the series, The Dragons of Archenfield, was more violent that this one, but there is still a brutality about the series. Women are treated as homemakers, victims, or sexual objects. That may be accurate given the setting, but it still makes for rough reading. And the plot had a few holes too. Not a terrible book, good enough for passing the time, but nothing special. -
The fourth book in the Domesday series, as the group travels to challenge disputes against cunning landlords in York. Golde has indeed mended Ralph’s womanizing ways, while the quartet is joined by two new commissioners: Brother Francis, a scribe, and Tanchelm of Ghent, an affable and able linguist --- but one or both of them may be a spy, for the commission’s deliberations seem to be leaked. But suddenly the inquiry must be suspended after Tanchelm is strangled, and all clues seem to point to the outlaw Olaf Evil Child, but why does Ralph’s old friend keep vicious lions in his castle, and who is the man they have recently mauled?...
Another great mystery from Marston, full of nice period touches and a deft handling of the three main characters’ disparate and complementary strong points. It’s also refreshing that in this book, it’s not a claimant who is killed this time. Anyway, it’s clear that by this far into the series, I’ve invested no little sympathy in these characters, whatever the plot, which is a testament to Marston’s skill. -
The Lions of the North
by Edward Marston
4 stars
pp. 227
I discovered the Domesday Books by Edward Marston several years ago, but then was unable to find them and so I was quite thrilled to find this book. This series is about the king’s commissioners, a lawyer, Gervase, and a knight, Ralph Delchard who travel the countryside making judgements. They are accompanied by Canon Hubert and Brother Simon.
In this book, they travel to Yorkshire to settle a land dispute. While on the way they are robbed by a man known as Olaf Evil Child. There is a high degree of tension among the locals as the Normans were especially hard on the people in this part of England and greatly resent them.
I find these mysteries particularly entertaining. I like the way Marston has developed the personalities and I am quite fond of reading any fiction set in this time period. -
c1996. Better than the last in the series that I read. The relationship between Golde and Ralph develops a bit more and it seems that Canon Hubert shows his better side this time, Brother Simon is as inept and useless as before and perhaps more should be made of his backgound to see why he is such a wimp. These books will never keep you guessing or page turning but they are indeed a comfortable read.
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William the Conqueror sends Gervase Bret and Ralph Delchard into the lands of Yorkshire to investigate a rogue named Olaf Evil Child, but on the way, they hear rumors of two lions owned by a rich merchant that have been killing people. This is the fourth book of the Domesday Series written by the author about the mysteries that took place as these Royal Commissioners settled land disputes for King William. These are really enjoyable reads and recommended for historical fiction addicts!
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I think this has been my favorite so far. The foursome move to York plus two. Ralph's new love and a Flemish soldier. Set upon by thieves another series of seemingly connected murders kept me in suspense. the characters are such fun with quite a bit of humor but always a good mystery and great history.
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I found this series fascinating and I love the setting. What an imaginative way to present the writing of the Domesday Chronicles.
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This was just like the other books, remarkably clever and a very good read. I don't have much time for reading so the length is perfect for limited time reads that you don't want to drag on.
