Customer Reviews

The Death of a King (Missing Mysteries)

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For those with a fascingation for things medieval, P.C. Doherty's The Death of a King is a tale worth reading. Although minimal knowledge of the basic events, the death of Edward II and the eventual rule of Edward III, is helpful, it is not necessary to enjoy this book. I also appreciate it when the author concludes the tale by separating fact from fiction as does P.C. Doherty. For the history buff this book will stimulate your desire to 'learn more about it.'

The author has obviously done much research on this topic and time period; it shows in this story. While basing the book on some facts about the alleged murder of Edward II, Doherty uses that as a starting off point and weaves a very credible tale of what-ifs and possibilities. The book has the flavor, smells, sights, and sounds of the middle ages. Caution: this book may make you want to go dig through the musty files of history yourself into the details of the baffling death of a king.

Intrique abounds in Paul Doherty's book, The Death of a King. Told through letters to a contemporary Prior, a humble clerk embarks on a journey for King Edward III that would make anyone's feeble heart beat. Edmund Beche tries to pick up the trail on King Edward II thought long dead, murdered and buried by his wife the Queen Isabella, a.k.a., She Wolf.

Told through letters, Beche's journey is explained and the astounding mystery unfolds.

If you are interested in the lives of England's medieval kings and queens and all of the political intrique, cover-ups, spying and mystery that surrounds them, you'll enjoy this story where unknown history and mystery is given new breath and secrets thought long dead are explained in fictional portrayals as though they could have really happened, and the way Paul Doherty explains it he could be right, but you'll have to be the judge.

I enjoy medieval books by this author and he is so knowledgeable of the history of the English court that his books are a real treat to read. I learn a lot by Paul Doherty's books and I am wonderfully entertained in the process.

I usually like books with more 'fantastic' elements but all the history and action in this book kept it interesting enough without those elements.

It doesn't have a lot of humor but instead has a very dark, medieval feeling, more like I'm sure it really was than what you see in movies.