Customer Reviews

The Owls of Gloucester (The Domesday Books, Vol. 10)

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

 

 

I picked this book out of the new books section of the local public library. Several aspects of the book were a disappointment. First of all, it was too long. The story could have easily been told as a short story, instead of a rather painfully protracted novella. Secondly, I had rather expected the author to teach me something new about the era in which the historical novel took place. That didn't happen; Having read the book I now know absolutely nothing that I didn't already know about Norman England. Thirdly, the characters were superficial, wooden, and rather remarkably peevish, most of them flying off the handle on the spur of the moment for no clear reason. Lastly, the dialogue sounded contrived and unbelieveable, even supposing it to be a representation of people speaking a thousand years ago. Sorry, but I found the book to be a tedious bore.

The ideal novel is a perfect confluence of plot and characterization. Usually it starts with an attention getting scene or a section of character development that gets your attention and keeps it, because you want to unravel a theme, an event, or a mystery that has intrigued you.

Historical novels have an additional dimension of interest for aficionados: one wants to revel in the recreation of a time or a place or, better yet, to find anachronisms, so that one can criticize the author's historical scholarship while conveniently overlooking their writing skills in general.

Having said all of the above I want to say that I find "the Owls of Gloucester" an interesting well written summer read, but please, Mr. Marston, don't think that I believe that the 50 monks of Gloucester Abbey drink their ale from glasses! This precious fragile material so rare in 11th century England would hardly be used for holding a monk's ale. I think you mean bowls or mugs of wood or fired clay. Perhaps the abbot drank from a pewter cup, but otherwise.... I might note in praise that my knowledge of the prescribed times of monastic prayer has been increased through reading this novel. I had known of Vespers, Compline, and Nones, but her for the first time I was made aware of Sext.

Two young novices stumble upon the corpse of Brother Nicholas, a Benedictine monk, in the bell tower at the Gloucester Abbey. The sheriff is convinced that the killer wears the black habit of the Order and will not look for the culprit outside the abbey walls.

Domesday commissioners Ralph Delchard and Gervase Bret are sent to Gloucester to resolve a land dispute. Unable to let such a hideous crime go unsolved, they begin their own investigation. Soon it becomes apparent that Brother Nicholas was not as innocent in life as everyone thought. Worse, his death is connected to an even greater crime that threatens the entire area and must be stopped, at the source, quickly. To complicate matters, King William show up and a plot to assassinate the King is in the works.

**** Here is a great mystery that is set during an unstable part of history. Even though this is the tenth book in the series, you do not have to read the previous books to enjoy it. This book is able to stand alone. At no time will a new reader feel lost or confused. Only a sharp reader will be able to figure THIS mystery out before the main characters do! Recommended for all mystery fans. ****

First Sentence: `Do you want to be beaten again?' asked Brother Frewine quietly.

King William's commissioner's; Sir Ralph Delchard, accompanied by his wife Golde, lawyer Gervase Bret, Canon Hubert and Brother Simon, arrive in Gloucester to follow up on discrepancies and disputes found after the first round in the making of the Domesday Book. The largest dispute is over land which has four claimants. However, their visit becomes more complicated with the discovery of a murdered monk, Brother Nicholas, the Abbey's tax collector, the disappearance of a young novice, and the impending arrival of King William himself.

There is nothing I did not like about this book. Marston places us in the 11th century both in sight and sound. By his descriptions, it is easy to visualize the surroundings. You know the conditions around them and, when the characters are riding "hell-for-leather," you can see and hear the horses.

The pattern and syntax of the dialogue provides a reflection of the period without being literal to it. The inclusion of subtle humor is always appropriate and gives balance to the action.

Marston's characters are wonderful. Ralph, the newly married, battle-scarred soldier, is a realistic combination of an impatient Norman warrior and one who never expected to remarry after the passing many year's prior of his beloved first wife. In this book, I particularly appreciated Ralph learning to be a husband to Golde, the realistic display of his anger and his confession to Gervase of a personal fear. Gervase, Saxon by ancestry, is the younger, recently married, educated lawyer who thinks before acting. The two have different natures and approaches but their friendship has given them a perfect balance. With them are the egotistical Canon Hubert and the very fearful, particularly of women, young Brother Simon. It is aspects such as that which gives dimension and realism to the characters.

The plot was interesting and intricate with fascinating historical information which was interwoven with the story. There are multiple threads to the story which adds to the realism, and a very effective red herring. What is most impressive is the way in which the various threads come together at the end in a double climax, neither villain being one I anticipated.

All these elements, and the overall quality of Marston's writing, made for an excellent read. It is also nice that, while I always recommend reading series in order, with the Domesday series, it is not essential as each book includes enough background for each of the leading characters that the book stands on its own. My one regret is that there are only, to date, only 11 books in this series. I've only read five, so I still have several yet to enjoy.

THE OWLS OF GLOUCESTER (Hist Mys/Sir Ralph Delchard/Gervase Bret-England-Middle Ages/1000s) - Ex
Marston, Edward - 10th in series
St. Martin's Minotaur, ©2000, US Hardcover - ISBN: 0312285426

Edward Marston is a very accomplished writer and a knowledgeable historian. He has the ability to weave a complex plot around an accurate representation of how life would be in the 11th century in England and make it spellbinding and interesting for the reader.
The calm of Gloucester Abbey is broken when the body of a murdered monk is found in the Bell tower of the Abbey. The Sheriff is all to quick to assume that the murderer must be one of the monks. When Ralph Delchard and Gervase Bret arrive in Gloucester they begin their own investigations into who is responsible. But the killing is only the start of trouble which threatens to over-run the whole community.

Late in the eleventh century under the reign of William, Brother Nicholas fails to return to Gloucester Abbey from collecting the rents. He remains missing for two days leading to concern and high tension among the residents of Gloucester Abbey because that is out of character for the monk. Anxiety dramatically increases when two novices, known for their misdeeds, stumble over the corpse of Brother Nicholas, whose throat has been slashed.

The Brothers and the novices panic while Sheriff Durand stuns the Abbot when he insists that the opportunity to kill the victim was only available to one of monks. In the area to resolve another minor land dispute, Domesday Commissioners Ralph Delchard and Gervase Bret travel to Gloucester Abbey to conduct their own investigation. They quickly conclude that the murder of Nicholas is just the start of an evil that will kill again and ultimately destroy the abbey unless stopped.

Instead of turning repetitive and as boring as resolving an insignificant land dispute (just ask Ralph), the tenth is a delightful fresh treat. The "locked door" who-done-it is cleverly designed and fun to follow as the lead sleuths struggle with a closed mouth abbot and an irate sheriff wanting them to stay out of his business to solve the case. Historical tidbits interwoven into the plot enhance the murder mystery. However, the key to Edward Marston's latest William era tale is the depth of the support cast which enables the audience to visualize medieval times inside a strong investigative novel.

Harriet Klausner