Customer Reviews

The Wildcats of Exeter: Volume VIII of the Domesday Books (Domesday Books (St. Martins))

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King William (the conqueror)'s royal commission visits Exeter to resolve property ownership disputes but their arrival is marred by the death by murder of one of the claimants. Baron Nicholas Picard had cut a swath through the women of Exeter and few mourn his death, including his wife. Still, could one of them have overcome such a powerful knight?

Despite resistance from the local Sheriff, Lord Ralph Delchard and his associates investigate both the murder and the property dispute. Each of the five claimants is convinced of the justice of their case. Each had good reason to wish Picard dead (including his unloved wife). Still, three women, an ancient Saxon, and a priest seem unlikely murderers.

Edward Marston does a fine job describing a fascinating time period when Norman rule was still new and still rode like a boot on the Saxon throat. His use of Brother Simon to provide comic relief works effectively to balance the narative and give moments of respite between the investigation. I would have liked to see a more fully developed character in Golde, Lord Ralph Delchard's wife, but otherwise find little to criticize in this fine historical mystery.

Twenty years have passed since William conquered England. The Conqueror is sending forth secular people and churchmen to adjudicate land disputes and collect taxes. Norman and Saxon alike detest these individuals, but with William's backing, they accomplish their tasks. On numerous occasions, the adjudicators must solve murders to determine who owns disputed property. While William's dispute resolution administrators ride to Exeter, someone murders Nicholas Picard, a claimant in a large land quarrel.

The local sheriff insists robbers killed Nicholas, but Ralph Delchard and Gervaise Bret believe the homicide is tied to the land dispute. Each claimant to it, including the non-grieving widow, the mistress, the former landowner, and even the local church abbott had plenty to gain with the removal of Nicholas. Matters turn ugly when one of the administrators, Hervey de Maurighy disappears. William's men want to insure justice occurs even if it means risking their lives to insure it happens.

Volume eight of the Doomsday Books is a finely executed, well-drawn medieval mystery because of the myriad of viable suspects with obvious motives, means, and opportunities. Thus, readers will never guess the identity of the killer with any certainty. Edward Marston paints a tapestry that vividly brings the late eleventh century into full perspective as the monarch's administrator enforce regal policy even to the detriment of a powerful noble. Fans of historical mysteries will take pleasure in THE WILDCATS OF EXETER and search for the previous Doomsday tales.

Harriet Klausner

Terrific whodunit set in 13th Century England. It took me a few chapters to settle into the rhythm of the novel, but once you're tuned in its great stuff. When a rich lord is killed on the way home from a trip to the city of Exeter to visit his mistress, a flock of claimants step forward to claim his lands. Ralph Dechard and his colorful colleagues represent the King to adjudicate the claims. Sex, violence and greed are the order of the day. As the tale unfolds, the "clues" point to several different possible villains in turn, but finally come together to reveal the true killer. This is the first of the series that I have read, but I will undoubtedly circle back to read the rest.

Edward Marston , the alias of a writer Keith Miles, is a name with dozens of historical mysteries.The only more prolific author is probably the estimable Paul Doherty.
Mr. Marston's books are thoroughly researched and in painstaking detail presented to lovers of history and mystery alike. He has a deft hand with characters and plots, and it is no great miracle that the legions of fans enjoy these novels for decades. " The Wildcats of Exeter" is a well written, pleasent, quick read of an expirienced craftsman.
Lets hope for much,much more.

Marston's Domesday series is a winner!This is the eighth book in the series, and the story is just as good as the previous ones. Ralph and Gervaise, along with Hubert and Simon find themselves in Devon. They happen to arrive just after a very vicious murder has been done. One of the city's leading barons is found dead with this throat cut and slashes all over his face. Gervaise and Ralph realize that the victim is one of the main people in a land dispute that they will have to settle, and they know that the murder is connected to the land dispute. Both of them find themselves in danger before they can solve this particular case. I love the period detail in these books, and the likeable and real characters that Marstons has created. This is a great historical mystery series.

Edward Marston is the pseudonym of Keith Miles, a fairly prolific and extremely good writer of mainly Elizabethan and medieval mysteries. He has also written mysteries under his own name with both sporting and golf backgrounds. However it is primarily the books that take place earlier in history that I am interested in. He read modern history at Oxford and has had many jobs, including university lecturer, but fortunately for all his readers, he turned to the writing profession.

After reading the first book in the series, I avidly sought out all the other books by Edward Marston and not a single one has ever disappointed me. They are about a period of history that I love. His Elizabethan theatre series of books were wonderful and he has continued them through from 1988 to 2006. The Domesday series is also a great series and this is the second book in the series.

The Domesday series is about a period in England's history shortly after the Norman conquest , during the reign of William the Conqueror. It was King William himself who called for an `inventory' to assess taxes and survey landholdings. This inventory was called the Domesday book and was a tremendous undertaking, but one that brought stability to England. Edward Marston's Domesday novels are based upon actual entries in the Domesday Book.

Nicholas Picard is riding home in the gathering dusk. A journey he has made many times before, but this time he is attacked by a wildcat. His neighbours find his lacerated body in woodland, but when they discover the slit in his throat, it soon becomes apparent that it is human hands that have caused his death.

Picard's death causes complications in a difficult land dispute that Ralph Delchard and Gervase Bret have been sent to settle in nearby Exeter. The murdered man had a stake in the outcome of the dispute and now his widow believes that she is the rightful owner of the land in dispute. However Picard's mistress and the mother of a previous deed holder of the land see things from a different point of view. Each woman is so determined to prove her claim that Ralph and Gervase begin to wonder if any or all of them are capable of murder.