Customer Reviews

Heresy

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The press notes that accompanied this book claims that it will be a "blockbuster". I think that's wishful thinking on the part of the publisher, but that's okay. True "blockbuster" books are accessible to all readers, like "The DaVinci Code" and "Love Story". They tend to "read" like the movie scripts they often become.

No, I don't think "Heresy" will become a mega-bestseller. It is much too deeply plotted and written to appeal to the average reader. I'm not saying this in a snobbish way; I just think the reader of "Heresy" must have a fairly good background in Tudor/Church history in order to understand it and enjoy it.

"Heresy" is set in Oxford in the mid-1580's, with a prologue set about ten years earlier in Naples. The main character, Giordano Bruno, a "monk, scientist, philosopher, and magician", begins questioning the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church a little too deeply - particularly in regard to Copernicus's beliefs about the earth revolving around the sun, rather than vise-versa - and departs his monastery one step before the Inquisition. He works his way to England as a "traveling scholar" and finds himself in Oxford, hired by the English government to help expose Catholics still worshiping in secret. Even though Elizabeth has been on the throne for thirty years or so and the English church is well established, her government is afraid of Catholic elements championing her cousin, Catholic Mary, Queen of Scotland, as the REAL ruler of England.

Bruno comes to Oxford, to Lincoln College (a real Oxford college) with a larger group. Soon scholars at Lincoln begin to be killed in rather disgusting ways and Bruno steps up to help find the murderer. Add in the various personalities always present "in college", as well as the various religious factions, and it turns out that very few people are who they say they are or the religions they profess to practice.

It all adds up to a very interesting story, with a little love interest for Bruno. It's worth reading by those who will appreciate it.

S. J. Parris's "Heresy" opens in 1576. A young Dominican monk named Giordano Bruno, who has an unquenchable thirst for knowledge, is caught by his superiors reading forbidden books. He flees Italy and the Inquisitor, and is subsequently excommunicated by the Catholic Church. Eventually, he becomes a philosopher and a Doctor of Theology and plans to write a book "that would undo all the certainties not only of the Roman church but of the whole Christian religion."

We next meet up with Bruno in 1583, under far different circumstances. After living from hand to mouth for years, he manages to become a favorite in the Court of King Henri III of France. When conditions in France threaten to become precarious, he joins his well-connected friend, Sir Philip Sydney, who is fiercely loyal to Queen Elizabeth I, on a trip to Oxford, England. While there, Bruno will engage in an academic disputation with John Underhill, rector of Lincoln College, but he is also surreptitiously carrying out an assignment on behalf of the queen's personal secretary, Sir Francis Walsingham. Bruno has been commissioned to learn the identity of papists who practice their faith secretly. The queen fears that these ardent Catholics are converting others and may be plotting to overthrow her. Another reason for Bruno's visit is his desire to find an ancient manuscript that might allow him "to glimpse what lies beyond the known cosmos." He optimistically hopes that when he reveals certain underlying truths, all men will be considered divine and religious conflicts will disappear.

When Bruno reaches his destination, he does not find the peace that he craves. There are those who despise him as a foreigner and a Catholic, and he is shocked by a series of grisly murders that leave the Oxford community reeling. "Heresy" is a complex tale of intrigue in which so many lies are told that Bruno finds it difficult to know whom to trust. The rector asks him to investigate the killings at Oxford without publicizing his intentions; this proves to be a thorny and dangerous undertaking. Eventually, he uncovers explosive secrets that, if revealed, could lead to the shedding of more blood, including his own.

Parris provides a meticulous description of Oxford and its environs, showing how members of the academic hierarchy cared more about themselves than they did about justice or human life. In addition, she ably captures the troubled atmosphere in England at a time when Elizabeth and her followers used a network of informers to identify and root out Catholic loyalists. The author demonstrates how religious fanaticism, coupled with unbridled ambition, leads to strife and horrific violence. Early in the book, Bruno recalls that, at the age of twelve, his father took him to view an execution. A man was burned at the stake because he defied the authority of the Pope. Bruno never forgot the horror of the prisoner's intense suffering or "the cheering and exultation of the crowd when the heretic finally expired."

Giordano Bruno is an intriguing hero, all the more so because he is flawed. Although he is thoughtful, open-minded, and is willing to risk his life to uncover a sadistic killer, Giordano does Walsingham's bidding for financial gain and the prospect of future patronage. At its best, "Heresy" is a suspenseful, exciting, and enlightening work of historical fiction. However, it is also a bit too wordy (the book is padded with endless exposition), and towards its conclusion, the narrative descends into melodrama. Parris throws a romantic subplot, secret codes and ciphers, and a cache of hidden papers into the mix. The liveliest characters are the rebellious Sophia Underhill, a young woman with keen intelligence and wit to whom Bruno is attracted, an earless bookseller named Jenkes who projects an air of unmistakable menace, and a priest with a thirst for martyrdom. Although it could have been streamlined, "Heresy" is worth reading for its unflinching look at the terrible punishments that were meted out at a time when Protestants and Catholics were at each other's throats.

I'm afraid this novel left me cold. It lacked human interest for me. I never really connected with the characters. While I'm interested in the religious conflicts of the Elizabethan era, I expect a book of fiction to be a tad less cerebral. The setting here is Oxford, where scholars are deeply concerned about theological controversies, as well they might be, since heretics can be burnt. The struggle between Catholics and Protestants, which I found riveting in Hilary Mantel's novel, WOLF HALL, here seemed divorced from flesh and blood people I could really care about. I'm sure Bruno was an admirable man, but I didn't find him engaging enough company to want to follow his first person narrative for the length of a novel.

The first murder in this murder mystery does not take place until after page 70 of the book. Everything that comes before is more or less setting the historical scene. The writing is workmanlike, and I'm sure the author's research was meticulous. But my heart did not hammer with fear for the hero or his associates. If you like intellectual puzzles with an historical twist, you may enjoy this, though.

This book had really great potential, but lacked suspense and momentum. It resembled Umberto Eco's "The Name of the Rose," taking place at Oxford during Queen Elizabeth I's reign. Former monk Giordan Bruno, who has been charged with heresy by the Catholic Church for his heliocentric views, is an intellectual guest at Oxford. He is also a reluctant agent of Walsingham and is encouraged to report on any Catholic sympathizers who may be a threat to the queen and her realm. When murders occur in the college, Bruno takes it upon himself to try to piece together evidence to find the culprit, and this is where the story started to lose my interest. The initial goal of Bruno to find a missing manuscript that contains deific wisdom was intriguing but was never developed. While I liked Bruno and appreciated his intelligence and perception, there were other characters that were frustrating and stubborn. The history was good, especially its examination of religious instability at the time and the use of actual historical figures like Bruno, Walsingham and Sir Philip Sydney. However, the plot itself seemed to drag as the book went on. I wish it had left me anticipating future developments and made use of the mysticism that Bruno is known for. The premise was strong, and perhaps in another writer's hands this could have been a more solid and entertaining novel.

I began reading Heresy with much anticipation, as it was nominated for the Ellis Peters Historical Dagger Award for best historical crime novel and included a very interesting and complex historical character, Giordano Bruno. Ultimately, the book was disappointing. While the Underhill character was well developed, other characters with more like caricatures: either all good or all evil, with evil looks being tossed at Bruno by the same characters over and over. In this respect, Parris suffers from the same disease as C. J. Sansom: characters are introduced in a positive or negative light with respect to Bruno and do not change throughout the story. Many of the characters have more modern traits too. In one conversation, Bruno describes another character as a paranoid - which is not what one expects a 16th century person to use as a descriptive. The story was somewhat interesting (the complex relationship between Catholics and Protestants in Tudor England is the best part of the book), though the plots about missing books and unusually staged murders was derivative, somewhat in the nature of Eco's "The Name of the Rose," though not nearly as accomplished as that superior book. Instead, it appears to have been written quickly with only superficial research into 16th century private life.

In a memorable prologue, we first encounter Giordano Bruno in the monastery privy as he surreptitiously reads a forbidden book by Erasmus. Once discovered, and to escape the Inquisition, he flees from Italy. Giordano Bruno was also a believer in Copernican cosmology, and it is his trip to England in 1583 to debate his cosmological theory with John Underhill, the Rector of Lincoln College at Oxford University that provides the setting for this novel.

In this novel, Giordano Bruno has three reasons for travelling to Oxford. The first, and public, reason is the debate with Dr Underhill. The second reason is to collect information on subversive Catholic activity for Sir Francis Walsingham, on behalf of Queen Elizabeth I. The third reason is to try to seek `the lost book of the Egyptian high priest Hermes Trismegistus', an ancient manuscript containing powerful and heretical secrets. Subversion and heresy are powerful ingredients in an Oxford seething with mistrust and paranoia, and the mixture becomes even more volatile when a series of murders are committed. These murders appear to have been inspired by the executions depicted in Foxe's chronicle of Protestant martyrdom, which seems to point to a papist perpetrator.

Dr Underhill asks Giordano Bruno to investigate these murders, and his investigation leads him into the heart of the clandestine Catholic community at Oxford. More than one mystery is solved, but not all aspects are resolved satisfactorily and some elements did not work well for me.

While I enjoyed the historical setting of this murder mystery, I felt that the `real' Giordano Bruno was somewhat diminished by his fictional role. Still, I understand that this is the first of a series of novels to feature Giordano Bruno and I'll certainly be reading the second.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

Heresy is an excellent mystery novel set in Oxford in 1583. Giordano Bruno is a former Catholic monk who has escaped the clutches of the church after heretical behavior. Now working on behalf of Queen Elizabeth I, he goes to Oxford for a debate, but is told to be on the lookout for Catholic plots against the state. While at Oxford a series of murders take place and Bruno sets out to find the murderer and of course does indeed stumble across some rather strange doings.

This novel is well written and quite entertaining. The characterization is outstanding, especially that of Bruno who is a real historical figure. The characters in this novel are all well drawn the setting, 16th century Oxford, is brought to life. The author also does an excellent job of drawing out the mysteries behind the deaths that occur, as it slowly unwinds to a conclusion.

Readers interested in mysteries in interesting historical settings, this novel is highly recommended.

How can you not adore a book-loving monk who is excommunicated for reading a banned book in the privy (aka outhouse)? Bruno Giordano is my newest friend and I hope he has many more adventures that we get to share. Set in 1580s England, Bruno is sent by Queen Elizabeth's man Walsingham to ferret out Catholic heretics at Oxford University. But Bruno has his own agenda (he's on the track of a very special `lost' book) and develops a few more objectives once there. It's a different look at a familiar period, with tension, religious fervor, and a mix of imagination with fact.

There is something extremely engaging about Giordano, who was a real philosopher, heretic, confidant of royalty, and extender of Copernican theory, which was considered heresy at the time. I won't rehash the plot but will tell you that it is riveting and had me madly turning pages way late into the night. HERESY is part mystery, part history, part religious conflict, always human, and always fascinating.

I hope SJ Parris has more planned for Bruno, but if not, I'll try whatever she tries next. I've already told so many people about Heresy, they're going to ban me soon, but this was an ARC and I'm happy to spread the word.

Parris' literary thriller is set in 1583 Oxford, the battle between Rome and the Reformed Church waged in earnest. With Elizabeth I on the throne, Mary Tudor's faithful Catholics are, once more, on the wrong side of history, Spain and France diligent in infiltrating English society on behalf of Rome, the plots against the queen increasing. Surely the hallowed halls of an educational institution are free of religious controversy. But no, Oxford is filled with secret gatherings of papists to celebrate the sacrament of mass, disguised in cloaks of anonymity, the robes of scholars. A few years earlier in Naples, Giordano Bruno embraced a heretical belief that the universe is infinite, contrary to strict Catholic dogma. Because of his tenacity in questioning the tenets of Catholic belief, the young man is hounded from the monastery, vigorously pursued by the Inquisition. Later he is welcomed into the French court of Henri III, eventually finding a place with English nobleman Philip Sidney in service to Elizabeth's secretary of state, Sir Francis Walsingham.

Under Walsingham's directions, a bag of gold coins in his purse, Bruno travels to Oxford, ostensibly to engage in a theological debate, but really to uncover papist plots against the queen. No sooner does Bruno arrived than fellow scholars fall prey to a series of gruesome murders staged to resemble the deaths of martyrs. Bruno soon learns that nothing is what it seems, secrets and plots at every turn, hidden agendas and murderous intentions commonplace. The "holy bloodshed" continues unabated, all in the name of God. Parris beautifully captures this era of deadly dissent, where words are as dangerous as deeds and Bruno's best intentions are twisted by those who live in fear of discovery. Blinded by the beauty of the Rector's daughter, Bruno dares to speak to her of his beliefs, only to be rudely rebuffed by her father, who refuses to encourage unladylike behavior in his daughter.

The beautiful Sophia has more to worry about than the forbidden books she longs to read, involved in a plot that reaches far beyond the university. Torn between his loyalty to Sophia and duty to Walsingham, Bruno balances on a knife's edge, immersed in a pervasive scheme where the strange bedfellows of politics and religion stagger the imagination. A mix of religion, philosophy, theology, the academic life and the fanaticism of true believers, Bruno is both pawn and hero, philosopher and fool. Luan Gaines/2010.

Heresy by S. J. Parris, aka, Stephanie Merritt, is a gripping read. Though quite different, I was reminded of The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco. Whether is is the cloistered environment in which the novel takes place, or the interesting characters connected with the University or its library, I was often reminded of Eco's (for me) most famous work.

First of all, Giordano Bruno isn't a fictional character; he lived. Bruno ran afoul of the Catholic Church for believing that the Earth revolved around the Sun, and that the universe was infinite. He also enjoyed reading books that advocated that same point of view and were banned. As Parris makes abundantly clear in her story, just getting caught with a forbidden book could cost ones life. Bruno also had more than a passing interest in the occult. Bruno was a scientist, a monk, and had no difficulty in challenging the accepted dogma of both the church and society. Threatened with burning at the stake, Bruno fled Italy and bounced round Europe for a period. Parris only briefly mentions that Bruno passes in and out of several centers of education around Europe and makes some high born connections. It is her objective to get Bruno to England ostensibly to look for a rare book that contains rarer information relating to the occult.

While in England, Bruno is recruited indirectly by Queen Elizabeth to gather information. This was a time in English history when believers of the Catholic faith were being rooted out. He is sent to Oxford, outwardly to debate the Copernican view of the Universe. This really plays into Bruno's true purpose since Oxford contains a huge library. However, before he can make any progress on his own mission or that of the Queen's, fellows of the University begin to be murdered. And this becomes the focal point of the story.

Heresy is placed in 1583 England, one of the richest and most interesting periods of English history. Parris' ability to tell a story, have characters engage in real, believable dialog that flows naturally is a true talent. Well constructed and well executed.

Heresy is one of the more enjoyable stories I have read in sometime. This is another story that "feels" like a black and white movie; full of atmosphere. I'm sure it marks the beginning of an interesting career for Parris.

I highly recommend.