Dragons of Archenfield [Mass Market Paperback]

Edward Marston (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 27, 1996

DOMESDAY IS COMING



In 1086, England's mighty king, William the Conqueror, sends out surveyors and census takers to record the resources of his land and its people. Some welcome these inquisitive royal agents and their day of judgment. Others hate them. But wherever the king's men go they bring excitement *and sometimes murder. . . .



Calamity smolders on the Welsh-English frontier, where three powerful men squabble over the same rich tract of land. When King William's clever agents *soldier Ralph Delchard and lawyer Gervase Bret *arrive to settle the dispute, one of the claimants has been brutally burned alive, and the king's men are saddled with a formidable murder investigation. Before the frightful truth shines clear, everyone will be scorched by the flames of violence. . . .



"Marston is a marvel at re-creating the atmosphere of the times while constructing a fascinating murder case."

  *Anniston Star



"[An] outstanding medieval mystery brimming with intrigue, suspense, and authentic historical detail."

  *Booklist

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This third volume of the Domesday Books (after The Ravens of Blackwater) starts off, literally, like a house afire but peters out into standard costume drama, including the rescue from a castle of a kidnapped princess. The year is 1086, two decades after the Norman conquest, and the setting is the former Welsh stronghold of Archenfield on the quiescent English border. The house fire traps and burns alive Warnod, a Saxon thane scheduled to testify before commissioners of the Domesday Book, a general survey of the country's wealth. On the ground outside Warnod's house, a red dragon, symbol of Wales, is drawn. Which of two Marcher lords, bitter rivals, is bent on creating trouble and why? Soldier Ralph Delchard and lawyer Gervase Bret, Domesday commissioners, aided by the obstreperous, chauvinistic Welsh priest, Archdeacon Idwal, get to the bottom of the mystery but only after two bloody skirmishes. Although Marston clearly sketches his historical setting and the fights for the spoils of war and conquest, a slow pace and some flat prose bog this entry down.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

This third entry in Marston's medieval series (The Ravens of Blackwater, LJ 9/1/94; The Mad Courtesan, LJ 11/1/92), set in the time of William the Conqueror, takes soldier Ralph Delchard and lawyer Gervase Bret to disputed territory to settle local claims. They discover, however, that someone?probably a dreaded local lord?has murdered their prime witness. More fine work, as expected.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback
• Publisher: Fawcett (November 27, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0449225453
• ISBN-13: 978-0449225455
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,950,080 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great historical whodunit. Ellis Peters heir apparent, December 8, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Plainfield, IN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dragons of Archenfield (Mass Market Paperback)

Best of the series so far. Ralph and Gervase are two of the most full bodied dectives since Leaphorn and Chee. Red Herrings abound as they try to find out who killed a Saxon with claims to contested land. Golde adds a much needed twist to the foursome trying to settle land claims for King William.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A thoroughly engaging book., May 18, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Dragons of Archenfield (Mass Market Paperback)

Two civil servants ride into 11th-century Wales on routine business and find themselves confronted with a diabolical murder. In a country chafing under Norman domination, murder turns out to be the least of their worries.

This skillful blend of mystery and action (and romance) held my attention so thoroughly that I finished it in one sitting. Fans of Peters' Brother Cadfael should find themselves at home with Marston's Delchard and Gervase

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars mystery, action and romance in a historical setting, September 19, 2000

By 

booknblueslady (Woodland, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dragons of Archenfield (Mass Market Paperback)

Edward Marston pens enthralling mysteries during an exciting and intersting time of history, the Norman Conquest of England and the ensuing "Domesday Book" I am only sorry to discover him when all his books are not readily available.

He provides incites regarding the relationships of Normans, Saxsons and Welsh for the history buff. For those who love mysteries he provides an interesting group of detectives a knight - Ralph, a lawyer Gervase, Canon Hubert and Brother Simon. Marston deftly combines mystery, action and romance in a historical setting.