Spy in Chancery (Hugh Corbett Mysteries 03) [Paperback]

Paul Doherty (Author)

Book Description

Series: Hugh Corbett Mysteries 03 | Publication Date: July 4, 1991

Edward I of England and Philip IV of France are at war. Philip, by devious means, has managed to seize control of the English duchy of Aquitaine in France, and is now determined to crush Edward. King Edward suspects that his enemy is being aided by a spy in the English court and commissions his chancery clerk, Hugh Corbett, to trace and, if possible, destroy the traitor. Corbett's mission brings him into danger on both land and at sea, and takes him to Paris, and its dangerous underworld, and then to hostile Wales. Unwillingly he is drawn into the murky undercurrents of international politics in the last decade of the thirteenth century.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Doherty once again makes 13th century England and France come vividly alive with this tale, based on a true incident, of skulduggery and treason in the courts of England, France and Scotland. Edward I of England orders senior clerk Hugh Corbett to find the traitor in his council who is informing Philip IV of France of his every move and decision. Relations between the countries are strained: the French king has seized Edward's French possession, the Duchy of Gascony, and is fomenting revolt among the recently pacified Welsh and Scots. Corbett, who has previously performed similar tasks for his king ( Satan in St. Mary's ), goes to France, where he encounters an old enemy, Amaury de Craon, special envoy of the French crown and architect of the treasonous plot. Corbett finds evidence pointing to the Earl of Richmond and to Ralph Waterton, a clerk of suspect wealth, but none of the evidence is strong, and Corbett doubts its source. Sent to Wales to find out if the Lord Morgan is plotting a revolt, the dour widower fails again to find firm information, although he does fall in love with Lord Morgan's niece Maeve, who appears to return his affection. Eventually, solid detective work and a flash of inspiration unearth the traitor. Skillfully spinning his complex, involving tale, Doherty draws readers completely into medieval life and politics.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Paul Doherty was born in Middlesbrough. He studied History at Liverpool and Oxford Universities and obtained a doctorate for his thesis on Edward II and Queen Isabella. He is now headmaster of a school in north-east London and lives with his family in Essex.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Headline Book Publishing (July 4, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0747236151
• ISBN-13: 978-0747236153
• Product Dimensions: 4.5 x 0.4 x 7.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,139,087 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Treasonous Doings During King Edward I of England., January 10, 2005

By 

S. Schwartz "romonko" (alberta canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Spy in Chancery (Hardcover)

Espionage is not a new game. It has been occurring for centuries. This book outlines the historical treason of a trusted citizen of King Edward I. The book is based on historical fact. In it we see Hugh Corbett and his squire Ranulf on the trail of a traitor. Someone very close to the king has been informing the French King Philip of everything that has been going on in court. It's a dangerous mission for Hugh, and we see him in France and Wales and back to France again while he chases this elusive prey. This series by P.C. Doherty is a very interesting one. Each book is based on well-known historical fact, and Doherty weaves his fictional characters seamlessly into the tale. I recommend this series highly for those interested in English history, and for those who like a good historical thriller.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Difficult Case for Corbett, October 17, 2006

By 

J. Chippindale (England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spy in Chancery (Hugh Corbett Mysteries 03) (Paperback)

This is the third book in the series of medieval mysteries featuring Sir Hugh Corbett. Obviously this is one of Paul Doherty's earlier offerings and he has since written many more books and is now an established author of medieval novels and has also added a number of novels on Egypt to his ever growing list of titles. Having said that it is one of his earlier offerings does not mean that it is inferior to his current books, quite the opposite. The Hugh Corbett mysteries were and are extremely popular and Paul Doherty is still adding to them.

Paul Doherty has the happy knack of making anything her writes about come to life for the reader. This book based on treason in the English and French courts is no exception. The sights and sounds of medieval England seem vividly real in this entertaining novel.

Edward I every the wary monarch suspects that his No. 1 enemy Philip IV of Spain has an ear at the English Court, in other words he has a spy ensconced at Edward's very door.. Hugh Corbett is commissioned to find and destroy the man or woman who is passing secrets to Spain. But this is no ordinary spy and rather than lose faith with the Spanish King, they will stop at nothing to ensure their anonymity.