Customer Reviews

Murder at the War

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Mary Monica Pulver's a longtime member of the SCA, and is well-qualified to write a mystery set in and among the Society's members at our largest gathering, the Pennsic War (upwards of 10,000 people onsite). Unlike _Bimbos of the Death Sun_ et seq., there's no attitude of "oh, look at the freaky weirdos who should get a life," instead, we get a sympathetic look at the SCA's subculture and how it meshes and clashes with the surrounding "mundane" world. The various groups within the SCA are presented fairly faithfully, although things now are not quite as they were when she wrote this book. The mystery element is honestly puzzling, and hinges on a bit of SCA lore that's in front of the reader's face from the beginning. A good first mystery novel, with an unusual setting.

Mary Monica Pulver has a knack for making each of her books unique--this one is an "exotic setting" mystery, located at a Medieval History group's annual re-creation of a "Medieval War." The victim is a fellow you'll love to hate and the main suspect is the wife of the detective/protagonist. All in all this is a fun romp in the woods in armor. Members of the Society for Creative Anachronism (a real living-history group) will recognize thinly veiled descriptions of their own members here--a touch of reality amidst the fantasy that makes this book a delightful read!

I had previously tried to read one of the medieval mysteries written by Margaret Frazer, who is actually Mary Monica Pulver writing with Gail Frazer. While I'm interested in the Middle Ages, I was so bored reading it, I couldn't finish. I worried this book would be of the same quality but my interest in the SCA motivated me to try it anyway. I was in the SCA years ago and attended Pennsic just a few years after this book was first published. This book promised lots of nostalgia and it delivered.

The first several pages took a bit to get through, learning both the mundane and SCA names of the many characters, and relearning SCA terminology. Once I had that down though, the story was up and running. Like the Margaret Frazer book, the murder doesn't happen until halfway through the story, but it didn't bother me half as much this time. The murderer was the first person I guessed but there were a few serious red herrings thrown in that threw me off. The characters were very likeable and I'm going to look up the next book in the series, even though it supposedly doesn't feature the SCA. After reading this, I was actually tempted to join up again, it was so fun reliving old times.

As for the review that implies Pulver can't write, ignore it. If the reviewer himself can't form proper sentences, what does that tell ya?

While receiving this book from a friend before I joined the society (SCA), I didn't understand the nuances of Pennsic War nor the intricate mannerisms of the characters. Since joining the society and seeing Pennsic War for myself, I understand the background of the book much better. Now I find it absolutely charming and have recommended it to many friends. The murder mystery is tantalizing and the characters feel so real. It's an absolute must read for any in the society or those wanting to be in the society.

I greatly enjoyed this unusual and well-crafted mystery. The various Medieval recreationists and their activities which it vividly depicts are sympathetic and interesting, especially in the ways in which they affect the unfolding of the plot - one edition of this story is sub-titled, approximately, "A Medieval Mystery with a Modern Setting". Peter is a complex, very human detective.
This is the only entry in the Peter & Kori Brichter series in which the Society for Creative Anachronism has a major role, but they're all well-written stories ... so even if the SCA element was all that drew you to this book, I recommend you try the rest.
** I wish Ms. Pulver hadn't apparently stopped writing this series! However, she has apparently turned her attention instead to the Sister Frevisse Medieval series, which she [co-]authors under the name Margaret Frazer.

I was delighted by this book and I'm crushed that earlier works by "Monica Mary Pulver" aren't available at my library nor through Amazon. The name is in quotes because I found out after the fact that MMP is another name for the writer I know and enjoy as "Margaret Frazer," who writes the Dame Frevisse & Joliffe mystery series, which I love with a passion.

"Murder at the War" is set at an SCA convention. If you like that kind of setting, I recommend "We'll Always Have Parrots" by Donna Andrews, which is set at a fantasy convention (a cross between Conan and Star Trek, more or less). Andrews also has a Civil War reenactment, "Revenge of the Wrought-Iron Flamingos." "Bimbos of the Death Sun" and "Zombies of the Gene Pool" are hysterical sendups of SF conventions by Sharyn McCrumb.

Back to "Murder at the War" -- its sympathy for the SCA makes it remarkable, and I thought the writing was high quality and the dialog believable. It had humor and suspense, and I recommend it. I'm at a loss as to why the last two reviewers were so savage. I enjoyed it so much, I went looking for more -- and succeeded. I found out that MMP also writes as "Monica Ferris," and I'm eager to start reading the mystery series written under that name, since I can't readily lay hands on any of the other MMP titles. Under any name, this author's books are a treat.

Mary Monica Pulver is one of my favorite authors, and I loved all of the 'Peter Brichter Mystery' series, of which this is one. While those interested in the SCA may disagree, to me this is perhaps the least of those books, my favorite being 'The Unforgiving Minutes'. Regardless, these books are the sort that one can keep and reread many, many times.

She most certainly can write (contrary to the opinion expressed in another review here), and has a deft, gentle, and subtle way of character development. Her touch is light, and you truly can feel her main characters. In addition, she writes with an occasional sense of humor that is notable for the fact that she doesn't force it forward; rather it flashes by in the sweep of the story. One example is the first mention of the SCA'a Pennsic War in 'The Unforgiving Minutes': "It's a friendly little war; loser keeps Pittsburgh."

Note: this book was originally entitled "Knight Fall".

Also note: I believe this author now publishes as Monica Ferris. Her 'Crewel World' books are good, but strike me as somewhat pale and bland in comparision to these superb 'Peter Brichter Mysteries' outings. Perhaps it's just that I better identify with the strengths and fears of the 'Brichter' characters...

This book is great fun, if you are into role playing games. I think it gives good information about the Society of Creative Anachronism in the process of telling the tale. There are plenty of twists in the plot and many possibilies for the murderer.
The characters are likeable and fun to read about.

This book was purchased due to the recommendation of a fellow Scadian and tribal Chieftain, Siobhann. She could not stop talking about it, and I frankly needed something a bit more entertaining than my usual research books to end my day on a relaxing and enjoyable note. I have been pleasantly surprised by the very engaging story and characters, and to anyone that currently spends a major portion of their "leisure" time living in the Current Middle Ages, the ancillary dilemmas of our anachronistic lifestyle will draw you in quickly and you will feel very much at home with the setting. The book captures so many of the tensions between the SCA and "mundanes", as well as internal SCA conflicts between strict reconstructionists and those who prefer modern conveniences with a Medieval disguise. If anything, it portrays the typical Scadian as being much less eccentric than we probably are. There are things that aren't strictly speaking SCA authentic; the main one that I noticed was the personal devices/heraldry as described would probably not pass muster. However, the descriptions of regulations for Western Martial Arts seemed to me to be very accurate. The story was absorbing, with a murder victim that you don't really grieve over too much, even as you agree that the perpetrator must be brought to justice. The bonds of honor and loyalty are admirably portrayed, balanced well with a protagonist who segues well between his mundane and his SCA lives.
I've really enjoyed trying to figure out "who done it". Was it the annoying Chirurgeon whose position as a mundane surgeon allows him the means to afford very authentic Medieval pretensions? Was it the King's best friend, who had a well-known but undefined feud with the victim? Was it the King, himself, who went missing during the time of the murder? It obviously isn't the suspect that the mundane law officers focus on initially, but how can she prove her innocence to the victim's suspicious Horde Brothers?
One can read Medieval mysteries, and modern mysteries, but for those of us who live in both worlds and recognize that the SCA is a world unto itself that blends aspects of both, there aren't many opportunities to read fiction based on OUR world. And good fiction? Even better.
Buy this book and make it your bedtime reading at the next War or Tourney.

This is one of the first books that I kept running to do research. If you want to know about these wars then grab a copy and read. Much research was completed before Ms Pulver wrote this book Be prepared to keep reading until completed. Definately one that you don't want to put down until then end.