The Angel of Death [Audiobook, Unabridged] [Audio Cassette]

P.C. Doherty (Author), Paul Matthews (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2000

In 1298, Edward I of England invaded Scotland and brutally sacked the town of Berwick, razing to the ground the Red House of the Flemings who had permission to trade there. He little knew his action would have far-reaching repercussions. A year later, Edward convokes a great assembly of the realm in St Paul's Cathedral. They are to hear Mass after which the main celebrant, Walter de Montfort, has been delegated to lecture the King on not taxing the Church. During the Mass, de Montfort dies a sudden and violent death. Hugh Corbett, the King's clerk, is given the task of solving the mystery and tracking down the murderer. Against the background of Edward's struggle to maintain himself, both at home and aborad, Corbett's investigations become tortuous and laced with danger...

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Medieval London comes vividly to life in this fourth investigation by Hugh Corbett, chief clerk to England's Edward I. In January 1299, at High Mass with the king and other nobles, Walter de Montfort, the Dean of St. Paul's Cathedral, falls dead, poisoned. Edward, whose recent ill-received attempts to tax the church to raise funds for his wars against France and rebel Scots make him a suspect, orders Corbett to investigate. With the aid, and often hindrance, of his dissolute servant Ranulf, Corbett discovers that the victim owned a house of prostitution and served as the fence for a gang of outlaws. The clerk comes to suspect, however, that despite the Dean's criminal activities, he was not the intended victim. Finding the key to the mystery in the ritual of the mass, Corbett gets his answer after another murder, although he himself almost perishes. Like previous Corbett mysteries, this one is based on a true incident, with Doherty's depictions of medieval character and manners of thought, from the highest to the lowest in the land, ringing true.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Doherty ( The Whyte Harte, LJ 1/89) bases the fourth Hugh Corbett mystery, staged in 13th-century England, on the sack of Berwick by Edward I and on the subsequent unexpected death of the Dean of St. Paul's Cathedral in London. For political reasons, Edward assigns Corbett, his chief clerk, to establish the murderer of the Dean, who planned to preach against the king's desire to tax the Church. Detailed descriptions abound, with a little current philosophy thrown in for increased understanding. A well-established series of later date but of nearly the same caliber as Ellis Peters's Brother Cadfael series.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Clipper Audio; Unabridged edition (January 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1841970867
• ISBN-13: 978-1841970868
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,879,624 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another Case for Sir Hugh, October 17, 2006

By 

J. Chippindale (England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Angel of Death (Hardcover)

This is the fourth book in the series of medieval mysteries featuring Sir Hugh Corbett. Obviously this is one of Paul Doherty's earlier offerings and he has since written many more books and is now an established author of medieval novels and has also added a number of novels on Egypt to his ever growing list of titles. Having said that it is one of his earlier offerings does not mean that it is inferior to his current books, quite the opposite. The Hugh Corbett mysteries were and are extremely popular and Paul Doherty is still adding to them.

Sir Hugh Corbett has risen rapidly in status and is now chief clerk to the King, Edward I. Hugh has the ear of the King and Edward has come to rely on Corbett when there is anything of a delicate nature that needs solving. Such a case has just occurred. It is January, 1299 and at High mass with the King and other English nobles, Walter de Montfort, the dean of St. Paul's has dropped dead, poisoned.

Sir Hugh is commissioned to solve the crime and with the aid of his servant Ranulf, Corbett discovers that the victim was not the man his religious trappings would suggest. Far from it, the Dean owned a brothel and was also a fence for a gang of outlaws. However the clerk comes to suspect that despite the Dean's criminal background, he was not the intended victim. Can Corbett find the key to unlock the mystery before he himself becomes a victim.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Liked this book very much, May 4, 2005

By 

General Pete (SC) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Angel of Death (Hardcover)

Charecters clearly defined and well thought out and all based on historical events a very nice touch. For some strange reason it reminded by of that old Sean Connery movie "In the Name of the Rose". This is the first time I tried this series. I intend to look for more.

Overall-Highly recommended

4.0 out of 5 stars Another solid entry in the Hugh Corbett series., February 5, 2005

By 

S. Schwartz "romonko" (alberta canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Angel of Death (Hardcover)

This is the fourth in the Hugh Corbett series set in England during the year 1299. The book is totally based on true fact - the massacre that Edward I and his army did in Berwick in Scotland, and the poisoning of a Church official right during a mass. Edward I isn't sure whether the poison was meant for him or not, so he asks his Master Clerk, Hugh Corbett to investigate. As usual Hugh jumps to help his King, but he places himself in danger investigating this crime. More than the previous books in the series, this book is more a pure mystery. It's a tough one to figure out too. This is a very enjoyable series. I like the fact that each book is based on a true historical happening.