The Assassin in the Greenwood (Ulverscroft Large Print Series) [Large Print] [Hardcover]

P. C. Doherty (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1996 | Series: Ulverscroft Large Print Series

In the summer of 1302 the famous Robin of Locksley, popularly known as Robin Hood, has gone back to his outlaw ways in Sherwood Forest where he battles against royal authority, culminating in the barborous massacre of royal tax collectors and the mysterious murder of Sir Eustace Vechey, one of the sheriffs of Nottingham. Corbett and his two faithful servants Ranulf and Maltote are sent to Nottingham where they find fresh mysteries: why are three arrows shot into the air above Nottingham Castle on the 13th of every month? Who is the traitor in Nottingham Castle? And why have the French despatched an agent to assassinate Corbett?

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

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Most of the "bloody chess game" in this seventh Hugh Corbett medieval mystery (after Murder Wears a Cowl) is played in or near Nottingham, where the sheriff has been poisoned and a masked bandit has sliced off the fingertips of King Edward's tax collector. Has Robin Hood, pardoned by the king, returned to Sherwood Forest after fighting for the Crown in Scotland? But what a changed Robin! He and his outlaws, no longer heroes to the common folk, now slaughter savagely and with little discrimination. The king sends Corbett, his trusted senior clerk and Keeper of the Secret Seal, to investigate the sheriff's slaying. At the same time, Corbett is dodging Achitophel, an elusive assassin sent after him by King Philip of France, and struggling to solve a captured cipher that holds the key to where in Flanders Philip will attack England's allies, the Flemings. As Doherty's cinematic descriptions zero in on hangings, throat-slittings and torture, with filth, stench and gore galore, Corbett battles his way to a smashing-if predictable-solution.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Dispatched to Nottingham to investigate the sheriff's murder, Sir Hugh Corbett, agent of 14th-century King Edward I, learns that Robin Hood has apparently claimed responsibility. Corbett, of course, suspects otherwise. From the author of Murder Wears a Cowl (St. Martin's, 1994).
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 362 pages
• Publisher: Ulverscroft Large Print (June 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0708935354
• ISBN-13: 978-0708935354
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,210,678 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars An authentic, bloody but implausible tale, January 21, 2006

By 

Peter Reeve (Thousand Oaks, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Assassin in the Greenwood (Hugh Corbett Mysteries 07) (Paperback)

There is a market for medieval mysteries and The Assassin in the Greenwood is aiming straight at it. Aficionados like to believe they are learning history rather than just whiling away a few hours on pulp fiction, so Doherty gives them frequent, graphic and totally irrelevant historical asides. Unfortunately, he fails to provide them with that other ingredient essential to the genre -- an absorbing mystery.

The plot has too many implausible elements. I hate spoilers, so cannot list them, but one example I can give: When a dead man is found hanged in the cellar, we are given a subtle but very shaky line of reasoning to show that it could not have been suicide, when the glaringly obvious reason - that the dead man did not take a candle into the cellar - is entirely overlooked, by detective and author alike! And there is most certainly no 'Who would have guessed?' at the end. I must also mention that the code that Corbett is trying to crack is ludicrous, as it is not guaranteed (or even likely) to give a unique solution. It does not inspire confidence that the diagram of the key to the solution is printed the wrong way round. I cannot say more than that but you will know what I mean if you play that particular game.

It is a gory and action-stuffed tale. Most of the countless deaths involve throats being cut, pierced or strangled, so don't read this if you trying to pass the time while recovering from tonsilitis.

This book is harmless fun if you like authenticity and plenty of blood, but unrewarding if you are looking for fine writing and skilful plotting.

4.0 out of 5 stars More Mysteries to Solve for Hugh Corbett, October 21, 2006

By 

J. Chippindale (England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Assassin in the Greenwood (Hardcover)

This is the seventh 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.

The year is 1302 and Hugh Corbett and his servant Ranulf have been despatched to Nottingham to look into the mystery surrounding the death of the Sheriff, who has been poisoned and a masked bandit has performed the barbaric act of cutting off the finger tips of the King's tax collector. Robin Hood has been pardoned by the King. Has he returned into Sherwood Forest? Is he the cause of the current problems.

At the same time as he is trying to investigate the crimes against the crown, Corbett is trying to dodge the attentions of an elusive assassin sent to kill him by none other than King Philip of France. He is also trying to solve a coded message that holds the key to where in Flanders the French King is going to attack.

Corbett and his servant Ranulf are becoming like old friends to the reader. Paul Doherty seems to have hit on a winning combination.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Action-Packed History Lesson, June 20, 2005

By 

S. Schwartz "romonko" (alberta canada) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Assassin in the Greenwood (Hardcover)

I am really enjoying the Hugh Corbett series, and this book is one of the better ones in this action-packed medieval series. It is set in 1302, and Hugh and his squires are found in Nottingham beside the famed Sherwood Forest. They have been commissioned by King Edward to apprehend the Sherwood Forest thieves led by Robin Hood. It's fun to read this story set around an almost mythical historical figure, and as always. Mr. Doherty uses his extensive historical knowledge to make an exciting story around true historical happenings. I truly recommend this series to anyone who is fond of medieval mysteries. The books are fast-moving, although somewhat bloody, and it's always a pleasure to follow the brilliant Hugh Corbett's thinking processes as he unravels mystery after mystery.