Customer Reviews

The Green Man (Roger the Chapman Mysteries)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

What a disappointment! This has to be the weakest entry in what had been an enjoyable series of mysteries featuring Roger the Chapman. The political situation in the summer of 1482, when the story takes place, is presented at the start of the book by that most hackneyed of literary conventions - a traveling stranger in the pub expositing at great detail in the most boring manner imaginable. I felt like I was back in school, listening to my high school teacher drone on. And on. . . and on . . .

There is no literary tension whatsoever - the reason Roger is made part of the English expedition to Scotland was obvious from the very beginning, even to me, thus making the "big reveal" at the end a total ho-hum. The "mystery" Roger investigates doesn't show up until the last quarter of the book, and then consists of simply a few pages in which he talks to a few characters. The rest of the time is merely a description of Roger passively accompanying the Duke of Albany, and where he sleeps and what he eats. Since Roger is hardly given to deep thoughts, and there is no character development at all (we already know he is a big guy, who is very nosy and likes to eat), the complete lack of action makes for a pretty boring read.

In addition to the huge holes in the plot (i.e., Roger accepting a drink from the same people he already suspected had drugged him), the editing is incredibly sloppy. The statement (on p. 207) that, "The groom, John Tullo, was absent, presumably sleeping in the stables . . ." is followed closely (p. 208) by "James Tullo just snored; he had fallen asleep." And no, John does not have a brother named James.

It seems that these books are being produced much more quickly than the earlier (and much, much better) ones. It seems that quality has been sacrificed to quantity, which is a shame for those of us who enjoy good historical mysteries.

What has happened to Sedley's most enjoyable series of Roger the Chapman? I would not give this entry even one star. Mainly, the reader must slog through far too much historical background, with the word RESEARCH slowing us down page after page, not to mention a "plot" with barely any investigation, no forward movement, and certainly no tension.

Roger, as a previous reviewer points out, is portrayed as blind to Albany's murderous intentions when they are so obvious to the reader. This is unworthy.

For me, the most startling and off-putting element of this book is the way the Green Man theme is presented. Here is an image from antiquity whose birth-and-renewal meaning (one of many) is degraded by the shallowness of the characters who are so-called believers. The descriptions of "retching" clearly tie to the familiar portrayal of leaves sprouting from the Green Man's mouth - unappealing and not even remotely accurate.

For an appealing guide to this figure, try the fairly recent (2001) Pitkin Guide titled The Green Man - www.britguides.com - an easy to read booklet lavishly illustrated, and with reference to Roslin chapel.

Please, Kate Sedley, better next time?

I was disappointed in this book. It lacked Sedley's usual humour and the mystery was so predictable that I felt cheated after spending the time to read the book.

This is the worst book of the whole Roger the Chapman series. Roger has never been the brightest guy in figuring out the mystery but he has always been engaging, at the right place at the right time and his nosy nature and `dreams' always in the end lead him to the culprit.

This adventure was not only the most boring for him but for us too. He seems to have forgotten all his skills and intuition and blindly accepts drinks from people he's suspicious of. Umpteen times he suspects what he's told is the reason for his accompanying the Duke but then dismisses his intuition. The Duke's servants can't converse in English one minute and the next minute they do and he's only slightly puzzled. And the whole murder plot, the part which started to get a little interesting, is reduced to a few pages at the end and a very unsatisfactory conclusion.

What's up with Sedley and her Roger? Both seem to have lost their skills.

I'm a great fan of Kate Sedley's Roger the Chapman mystery series. But this title is a great disappointment. Three quarters of the book is spent on Roger's very boring journey to Scotland in the retinue of the Duke of Albany. The mystery occupies about twenty pages toward the end of the book and by that time you really don't care any more. I hope that Sedley gets back to form in her next book.

I love Kate Sedley's writing style and the Chapman series has been my all-time favorite, but I have to (reluctantly) agree that this one is not up to her (or Roger's) usual high standards.

The descriptions are interesting, but the plot goes nowhere. Roger Chapman is left asking himself the same questions over and over, voicing his suspicions and all the possible alternate scenarios, but never smartens up enough to figure anything out. About 3/4 of the way through the book, a murder livens things up a bit, but it turns out to be little more than a red herring for the outlandish conclusion, which appears thrown together hurriedly.

Sedley put out three more since this one and I will without hesitation try the next one and probably, out of loyalty if nothing else, read any more in the series that she writes. But I have to hope she gets back on track and forgets the royal intriques and has Roger solve some good old fashioned murders!

Kate Sedley brings her beloved character on a dangerous journey north where politics and religion create peril for Roger the Chapman.

Kate Sedley has become a staple in my library because I can always rely on her to provide me with a great read. This time she has removed Roger from the comfort of his usual surroundings, putting him in the company of a man he is not sure he can trust, and placed him in a precarious position. i felt pricklings of fear as the story unfolded and was sure Roger was in terrible danger. He was just as sure but neither of us could put our finger on the answer. The ending is both spine tingling and satisfying. All in all a fascinating look at a time that has been explored by very few authors and was done here to great effect.