The Rose Demon: A Terrifying Tale of Medieval England (Paul Doherty Historical Mysteries) [Paperback]

Paul Doherty (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1998 | Series: Paul Doherty Historical Mysteries

Matthias Fitzosbert, illegitimate son of a parish priest, has a unique relationship with Rosifer, the fallen angel—the spirit he loves yet hates, strives to placate yet ultimately must flee. The story of Matthias is played out against the vivid panorama of the Middle Ages—the fall of Constantinople; the last throes of the Wars of the Roses; the terror of witchcraft; the loneliness of the Scottish marches; the battlefields of Spain; and finally, the lush jungles of the Caribbean, where the Rose Demon and Matthias meet for a final deadly confrontation.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The master of the historical whodunnit" -- Booklist

From the Publisher

Historically informative, skillfully plotted, and superbly entertaining, these novels are the work of a master storyteller. Paul Doherty, who earned a doctorate in History from Oxford University, is the author of a number of successful historical mystery series, including The Sorrowful Mysteries of Brother Athelstan, the Alexander the Great mysteries, and the Hugh Corbett medieval mysteries. Writing pseudonymously as C.L. Grace, he is also the author of The Canterbury Tales of Kathryn Swinbrooke series.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 502 pages
• Publisher: Headline Book Publishing (January 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0747254419
• ISBN-13: 978-0747254416
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,090,345 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Dose of Fantasy, A Dab or 2 of Horror, A Few Bites of Vampire, A Large Spoonful of Possession and A Handful of Black Magic, February 13, 2009

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Jana L. Perskie "ceruleana" (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Rose Demon: A Terrifying Tale of Medieval England (Paul Doherty Historical Mysteries) (Paperback)

My daughter, whose taste in books is similar to mine, recently gave me "The Rose Demon," along with her glowing review of the novel. I must admit, the descriptions on the back cover's publicity blurbs made the book sound really bizarre. But I gave it a shot & am glad I did.

"The Rose Demon's" subtitle is "A Terrifying Tale of Medieval England," but it is so much more. Moving from the fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks, through England's War of the Roses, to the Scottish court of King James III, the battles between the Spanish and Moors for southern Spain, the discovery of the New World on board the Santa Maria with Christopher Columbus, and many stories sandwiched in between, the novel is chock full of historical facts, medieval customs and culture. As for "terrifying"....well, yeah, there's terror. Then add a healthy dose of fantasy, a dab or two of horror, a few bites of vampire, a large spoonful of possession and a handful of black magic and still the description of "The Rose Demon's" storyline is incomplete.

During the destruction of Constantinople, two Hospitaller knights were given an order - a matter of life and death - by Constantine Palaeologus, the last Roman Emperor. The Emperor gave the brothers special keys which would open a hidden chamber in the bowels of the palace. One of the keys would open the contents of the chamber, a casket. They were to destroy what lay within the box. The knights failed in their task and thus evil, of such a nature previously unknown to man, was unleashed upon the world. If Lucifer, the fallen angel, is the Devil...then he is also "brother and soulmate, great friend and comrade-in-in-arms" to the Rosifer, who also fell from grace.

In the small English village of Sutton-Courtney, in 1471, seven year-old Matthias Fitzosbert was visiting his beloved friend, a hermit, in his refuge some distance away. Matthias knew that these visits were frowned upon by his parents because of the dangers they entailed, including crossing a ghost town and a dangerous forest. But the danger and his parents' wrath were worth risking because the hermit was his only friend and so kind. Matthias found him painting a luminescent rose on the wall of the desecrated church where he lived. Underneath the rose the hermit had carved strange runes. Thus Matthias began his conflicted relationship with Rosifer, the Rose Demon - a relationship which was to last all the years of his life.

I highly recommend "The Rose Demon," especially for those who are not afraid of the dark. LOL!! I would have rated Paul Doherty's novel 5 Stars, but the fast pace of the initial part of the book slowed considerably toward the end.

Btw, Mr. Doherty is an excellent writer and is known for his highly readable medieval mysteries.
Jana Perskie

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A tale of medieval England or is it a Never Ending Story, October 21, 2007

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P. Schaum "prussblue" (St. Louis area, MO USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Rose Demon: A Terrifying Tale of Medieval England (Paul Doherty Historical Mysteries) (Paperback)

I confess that I would have to agree in some measure with the review by A. Hughes of PA. First, someone tagged the book as a "murder mystery." It is wrong there although there are plenty of deaths to the point that the blood runs at least ankle deep. The title of the book includes, "... A terrifying tale of medieval England" and that is what it is as well as confusing. A confusion of theologies and the "dark arts" that become boring long before the book ends. One is compelled to read it to the end just to see what happens (even if one can guess the conclusion). I have never read this author and I am certain that he is an intelligent and quite literate gentleman, but I would not want to read anything like this again (don't allow anyone in a depression read this is my warning). I see that he has written a number of books under this name and several others. I hope that the others are better especially if they run 502 pages as "The Rose Demon, A terrifying tale of medieval England" did.

11 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars MEDIEVAL ADVENTURE AT IT'S BEST!, December 23, 2005

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PoetMonk (Milwaukee) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Rose Demon: A Terrifying Tale of Medieval England (Paul Doherty Historical Mysteries) (Paperback)

I love a good medieval historical read - especially if it is not just a mystery but filled with adventure. Filled with a demonic aspect that gives it a great dark edge. The description of warfare keeps it at a thrilling pace. First book I read by Doherty but not my last.