9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
a brilliant and chilling read, August 31, 2001
This review is from: The Weaver's Inheritance (Roger the Chapman Medieval Mystery) (Hardcover)
"The Weaver's Inheritance" is a follow-up mystery novel to the very first Roger, the Chapman adventure, "Death and the Chapman." However, it is not necessary to have read that novel first, as Kate Sedley does a wonderful job of blending elements of that novel with this one, all the while keeping things fresh and interesting.
To summarize briefly, in "Death and the Chapman," Roger was asked by the wealthy Bristol weaver, Alderman Weaver, to locate his young wayward son, Clement, last seen outside a seedy London tavern. Not only was Roger unable to find young Clement, but all the indications were that Clement had met with a rather nasty end. Things have settled down quite a bit since then -- Alderman Weaver's sole surviving child, his daughter Alison has married another weaver, William Burnett, and the two businesses have merged, with Alison being the natural heir to this very prosperous enterprise. So that when a bedraggled stranger, with a passing resemblance to Clement, turns up claiming to be the long lost Weaver heir, Alison and William are naturally suspicious. The Alderman however is all set to accept this stranger as his long lost son. Aghast at the turn of events, Alison turns to Roger for help: she wants Roger to investigate the man's claims and to prove beyond all doubt that he is not her brother. Roger takes a little persuading but is soon busy calling on those who knew Clement before his disappearance to see if they can shed any light on the matter. But it isn't too long before he realises that in order to discover if the man currently residing in the Weaver household is truly Clement or not, he will have to return to London, to the stews and back into danger: for the best way to discover if this Clement is the true one or not is to discover what happened all those nights ago in London...
The Roger, the Chapman series by Kate Sedley is one of my favourite medieval mystery series, and is almost always, consistently good. Each murder mystery is almost always steeped in an atmosphere of chilling evil, and can be downright scary at times. Another thing I like about this series is that she always frames each Chapman adventure around the political maneuverings of the day -- Edward IV's tenuous hold on the crown, the manner in which the political doings abroad can affect things in England -- all this comes through in each and every Roger Chapman adventure. And of course there is Roger Chapman himself, one of the most unique private inquiry agents of all time: an ex-monk, who chose to become a peddler because he cannot bare to be indoors for more than a couple of days at a stretch, and whose intellect and natural ability to solve puzzles has earned him the respect and friendship of the Duke of Gloucester, no less. One of the strains that runs through each Chapman novel is the prevailing question: will Roger finally settle down and give up his wondering ways? As an avid fan, I can only hope that that day is far in the future, so that we can all enjoy more Roger, the Chapman adventures.
"The Weaver's Inheritance" is definitely a brilliant read, and one that will keep you guessing till the very end. Is the stranger the real Clement or not? Is there something more sinister to this Clement's sudden apperance? And why is Alison so sure that this man is not her brother? This mystery novel is full of twists and turns that will definitely keep any avid mystery fan happily engrossed for quite a while. A truly brilliant read.
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great historical mystery, August 23, 2001
This review is from: The Weaver's Inheritance (Roger the Chapman Medieval Mystery) (Hardcover)
In 1447 Bristol, widower Roger the Chapman leaves his two-year-old daughter behind with her grandmother to travel to Hereford. His mother-in-law wants Roger to bring home her cousin, widow Adela, and the woman's son to live with them. Upon completing his trek, Roger learns that Clement Weaver, assumed dead for six years, has also returned home.
Clement's father, ailing Alderman Alfred Weaver, accepts the man as his lost son. However, Alfred's daughter Alison and her spouse Alderman William Burnett refuse to believe that Clement is alive. Their thinking might have to do with the fact she is no longer the beneficiary of her father's vast estate when he dies. Adding to the confusion is the bewildering murder of a fortuneteller. Roger, who has solved some mysteries before, begins to look into whether this is the real Clement or an impostor and who killed the seer.
The eighth Roger the Chapman medieval mystery is a powerful historical who-done-it that keeps the star fresh while providing the audience a clever who-done-it. The story line contains insight into the late fifteenth century, but the plot belongs to the hero. Roger seems so authentic as he still feels guilt and relief with the death of his wife two years ago who died in child birth, but also has emotionally moved forward since THE BROTHERS OF GLASTONBURY. Kate Sedley has written another remarkable tale that her readers will cherish while newcomers will search for the past titles.
Harriet Klausner
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0 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Will Roger fall in love again?, March 27, 2002
This review is from: The Weaver's Inheritance (Roger the Chapman Medieval Mystery) (Hardcover)
Another wonderful Roger the Chapman novel. This one is about an 8 out of 10 as the series goes mystery wise but well worth buying.
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