Customer Reviews

Waxman Murders (Hugh Corbett Mysteries 15)

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Paul Doherty is the consummate professional when it comes to writing historical novels. I for one do not know how he can be so prolific with his offering of books and yet make sure that each of them is well researched. Whether they be 13th, 14th, or fifteenth century they are always true to the period. He also writes about Ancient Egypt and now he has taken to writing about Alexander the Great. Paul Doherty has the rare talent of making you feel as though you are there, be it medieval England, or battling with Alexander. The sounds and smells of the period seem to waft from the pages of his books.

In this novel Doherty returns to the year 1300 and the book is the latest in the wonderful series featuring Sir Hugh Corbett. An English privateer ship is trapped and overrun by two warships flying the flags of North Germany. What was the privateer carrying that was so important? A collection of maps and sea charts, but not just any maps but the most details maps and charts of their day. Charts that most of Europe's rulers would pay handsomely for.

Several years later a representative of the Hanseatic Leagues arrives in England. Rumour has it that he owns the sea charts and Sir Hugh Corbett is sent to negotiate a deal with him. To write any more would spoil the plot for the reader. Suffice to say that Corbett is once again embroiled in murder, mystery and mayhem

This book is set in Canterbury England in the year 1303. Hugh Corbett and his two companions have been sent to Canterbury to discover the truth behind the death of a prominent citizen and to find a treasure map for King Edward I. Edward was desperate for money, so he has sent his trusted aide to try find this map. As Hugh invesitgates, he finds that a trail of murder is being cut through the city, and he is also threatened. He finds that he has to go back in the history of this city in order to try to unravel the tangled mess. Doherty is an excellent historical mystery writer, and his characters are believable. Medieval England comes alive with his pen. I like Mr. Doherty's writing style, and I especially like the taciturn, but bright Hugh Corbett. This is an excellent series, and is well worth the time taken to read it.

The Waxman Murders" is the 15th in the series by Paul Doherty, mysteries "featuring medieval sleuth Hugh Corbett." It certainly seems to be his best, as well.

This series, one of at least five for Doherty, is set in 1303 and concerns a long-hidden map to a large fortune of treasure, hidden sometime during King John's reign. Needless to say, the pursuit of this treasure, as well as the map, over the years has quite a history, a history of more than just lucre, but of royal intrigue and, yes, murder. This is where, naturally, Sir Hugh, the official representative of the current King, Edward I, comes in.

A few years earlier, a war cog named "The Waxman" sails into the estuary and reportedly carries "The Cloiser Map," the map to lead its owners to the treasure. Alas, treachery and subterfuge come into play and "The Waxman's" crew, except one, are executed as pirates (which they are) but no map is found at that time.

Later, a representative of the Hanseatic League arrives in England (supposedly in possession of the now-found map) for a meeting in Canterbury. Coincidentally, Corbett is also descending upon Canterbury on a mission from the king to hear a domestic murder case. It just so happens that when he arrives, murder raises its head, and everything, sooner or later, becomes related and involved. The representative of the League, his family, and servant are found hanged. Other murders follow.

Corbett and Doherty are clever, of course, and in no time all the clues point to murders of revenge (it doesn't stop here) based upon an earlier set of crimes and with their usual deftness the case is cleared up. But not before the reader is able to enjoy a well-written medieval mystery, one that displays well-contrived character inter-actions and relationshiops. Doherty always has a good tale and this one in this series seems his best. It seems to be better written, too, as if more time was devoted to the book. Corbett is an interesting character, as he's evolved well over the 15 books. Perhaps Doherty should develop Corbett's assistants (Ranulf and Chanson) in greater detail (both are very interesting and show possibility). "The Waxman Murders" is well crafted and rides the waves in a fine, ship-shape fashion.

I must admit that I am one of those readers who anxiously await every Doherty book featuring Hugh Corbett or Athelstan (written under the Paul Harding pseudonym). True to form, The Waxman Murders upholds the high standard maintained by the series. Sir Corbett is sent on a mission by the king and finds himself in a position where he has to solve a riddle all while trying to stay alive.

Clerk Hugh Corbett is in Canterbury to look into the murder of a wealthy man, supposedly by his wife. As the wife is a former ward of King Edward III, the King's clerk is involved. On arriving in Canterbury, however, Corbett discovers another crime has been committed. A the family of a German merchant has been murderedâââs¬Ã,¦ and were found hanged without any evidence of struggle or drugging. The mysterious brother of a notorious pirate is suspected, but the brother will want revenge not only on the Germans, but also on local Canterbury merchants and on the king himself as all were instrumental in capturing and destroying the pirate. Then there's the matter of a Saxon treasure rumored buried beneath a burial mound. The king would very much like a share of this treasure.

Corbett's investigation seems to lead him nowhere. The widow may be innocent--she was having an affair at the time of the murder, but how to explain the locked room where the dead man was found, or the bloody rags in her room? The bigger mystery, connected with the Waxman pirate ship, is even harder to resolve. Not only do we have the locked room issue of the dead family, we also have Corbett's spy being executed, crossbow bolts being fired at Corbett, and warnings that others will soon die.

Author P. C. Doherty creates an enjoyable view of medieval England with its men shattered by war with Scotland, its combination of piety and earthiness, and the ever-present filth, disease, and poverty (the monks spend much of their time collecting the corpses of beggars who freeze to death during the night). I found the mystery to be challenging, and the characters interesting. I would have liked to see a bit more action in the investigation--it seemed that we spent most of our time sitting around tables interviewing witnesses and not enough of our time actually seeking suspects. Still, THE WAXMAN MURDERS is an enjoyable read for those who like medieval-style mysteries.

For medieval murder, you can't do better than Paul Doherty, whose Hugh Corbett series brings 14th-century England to life.

The Waxman was a ship carrying a collection of valuable charts and maps that was waylaid a few years before the start of the present tale. It turns out a lot of people want those papers--if they still exist--and don't mind shedding blood to get their way.

Corbett is sent to negotiate with a member of the Hanseatic League, an alliance of trading cities and guilds. But murder intervenes, and Corbett is left to pick up the pieces.

While Doherty writes historical mysteries, their strength is in the characters, who are strong and believable. So while there is plenty of history here, all of it interesting, and some of it gory, it never overwhelms the story.