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Satan in St. Mary's (1986)

by P. C. Doherty

Series: Sir Hugh Corbett (1), Sir Hugh Corbett (Hugh Corbett Book 1)

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2971287,682 (3.82)11
1284 and Edward I is battling a traitorous movement founded by the late Simon de Montfort, the rebel who lost his life at the Battle of Evesham in 1258. The Pentangle, the movement's underground society whose members are known to practice the black arts, is thought to be behind the apparent suicide of Lawrence Duket, one of the King's loyal subjects, in revenge for Duket's murder of one of their supporters. The King, deeply suspicious of the affair, orders his wily Chancellor, Burnell, to look into the matter. Burnell chooses a sharp and clever clerk from the Court of King's Bench, Hugh Corbett, to conduct the investigation. Corbett - together with his manservant, Ranulf, late of Newgate - is swiftly drawn into the tangled politics and dark and dangerous underworld of medieval London.… (more)
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English (7)  Spanish (3)  French (1)  All languages (11)
Showing 1-5 of 7 (next | show all)
Set in 1284 during the regime of Edward 1, this novel is first in the Coubert series. Those were the turbulent times - pentangles (satanic worshippers) and populares colluded to spread anarchy and dethrone the king. Hugh Coubert is pressed into action by the chancellor to investigate the matter.

I am an avid reader of historical fiction and this book quite lived upto the expectations. I have read the C J Sansom's Matthew Shardlake series and Rory Clement's Shakespeare series.
The plot is intriguing but is not mind-twisting like the above series. Probably, the genre has evolved over the years. This book was written 1984, so there certain aspects of the novel are quite raw. In certain ways the villains are predictable, but that doesn't dampen the interest. ( )
  harishwriter | Oct 12, 2023 |
1284 in the reign of Edward I, it seems that there are traitors everywhere. Chancellor Burnell instructs Hugh Corbett, clerk, to investigate the death of a goldsmith Duket, after Duket had killed a Ralph Crepyn. But Corbett is soon drawn into a more dangerous situation.
I enjoyed this well paced mystery and look forward to reading the next in the series.
( )
  Vesper1931 | Jul 29, 2021 |
I am new to historical fiction. I was motivated to seek this one out having recently read the 5 novel series by CJ Sansom set in Tudor England, beginning with "Dissolution". Paul Doherty has written a series of 17 historical novels set around 1300 in England. His main protagonist is Hugh Corbett, an official of King Edward's court who is repeatedly sent by the king to solve some crime or other. The first one, "Satan in St Mary's" is set in London but others are set in different parts of the country as well as London. They are mostly around 200 pages and easy to read with a good combination of interesting characters, real history and suspense. I enjoyed this first one sufficiently that I have now read the first 12 of 17 in the series. Some are naturally better than others. The best ones involve political intrigue with the king's French enemies and spies. "Satan in St Mary's" revolves around murders committed by a cult of sort, supposedly with satanic links. ( )
  MitchMcCrimmon | Apr 27, 2018 |
This is Paul Doherty's first medieval mystery featuring Hugh Corbett. The plot wasn't as exciting as "The Cup of Ghosts", but the incidental descriptions of medieval life kept the pages turning at a rapid rate. I love this genre, and it's enough to keep me wanting to read the remaining 13 novels in this series. I'm looking forward to seeing how his style of storytelling develops over the ensuing novels. ( )
  Carpe_Librum | Oct 24, 2010 |
Like all P. C. Doherty's books about Hugh Corbett, a rattling good read. A Mediaeval murder mystery that brings to life the sounds and smells of the cities, villages and people of the period. Great characterisation, well researched (the author knows the period exceptionally well), gentle humour combined with suspense and some "religious" terror. Un-put-down-able. Thoroughly recommended. ( )
  misspeggy | Jan 18, 2009 |
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Sir Hugh Corbett (Hugh Corbett Book 1)
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Poco después del anochecer, se había levantado un indómito y frió viento que agitaba y rizaba la superficie del Támesis y azotaba las embarcaciones amarradas, haciéndolas balancearse y tirar de sus cabos.
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1284 and Edward I is battling a traitorous movement founded by the late Simon de Montfort, the rebel who lost his life at the Battle of Evesham in 1258. The Pentangle, the movement's underground society whose members are known to practice the black arts, is thought to be behind the apparent suicide of Lawrence Duket, one of the King's loyal subjects, in revenge for Duket's murder of one of their supporters. The King, deeply suspicious of the affair, orders his wily Chancellor, Burnell, to look into the matter. Burnell chooses a sharp and clever clerk from the Court of King's Bench, Hugh Corbett, to conduct the investigation. Corbett - together with his manservant, Ranulf, late of Newgate - is swiftly drawn into the tangled politics and dark and dangerous underworld of medieval London.

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