Wolves of Savernake (Mass Market Paperback)

by Edward Marston (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Marston, whose previous mystery series features an Elizabethan theatrical troop, launches a medieval series with a servicably plotted tale set in 11th-century England after the Norman Conquest. Two of William the Conquerer's officials ride through Savernake Forest near Stonehenge with the aim of assessing the charter and holdings of Bedwyn Abbey for taxation. Tough Norman horseman Ralph Delchard, who fought at Hastings, is accompanied by young Chancery clerk Gervase Bret. In the woods, they find the corpse of the disliked miller Alric, his throat apparently torn out by a wolf. While four-footed predators are hunted in vain, a frenzied posse threatens to hack down an aged healer, Emma, the Witch of Crofton, and her dog. After a second identical murder, the sleuths are aided by the miller's widow and a beautiful young townswoman in whom Gervase takes an interest, spurred on by Ralph's seduction of a burger's wife. The wily monks of Bedwyn hamper an inquiry that might link the grisly deaths to their suspect charter. Period details and colorful venues, e.g., a subterranean mint run by a dwarf, help to make up for Marton's stodgy characterization.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist
The author of a series of bawdy theatrical whodunits set in the Elizabethan era now turns both his attention and his pen to a previous period. Marston revisits the England of William the Conqueror, forging a splendid historical mystery populated with plenty of self-righteous Normans and a host of resentful Saxons. When William authorizes a nationwide reassessment in 1086, Ralph Delchard, a lecherous Norman lord, and Gervase Bret, an intelligent and youthful Chancery clerk of Saxon origins, journey to the picturesque village of Bedwyn in order to settle a disquieting property dispute. After a successful merchant apparently falls prey to a vicious attack by a wolf, Ralph and Gervase uncover an all-too-human motive for murder. During the course of their investigation, the two friends and trusted colleagues unravel a cunning forgery and counterfeiting scheme that leads them indirectly to the local abbey. An artful and evocative adventure steeped in the local humor, lore, and legend of eleventh-century England. Margaret Flanagan --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 243 pages
• Publisher: Fawcett (April 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0449223108
• ISBN-13: 978-0449223109
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #462,479 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars First Book in the Domesday Series, December 2, 2006

By	J. Chippindale (England) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

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.

This is the first book I ever read by Edward Marston. It is about a period of history that I love and once I had read it, I eagerly sought out all other books by the author and I have never been disappointed. 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 first book in the series.

When a wealthy miller is murdered it prompts the attention of William I, better known as William the Conqueror. He immediately despatches two of his most able men to the town of Bedwyn to uncover the murderer and bring them to justice. It takes all of their knowledge and determination to uncover a two-legged killer, much more cunning and far more savage than any animal.

6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well Done, October 5, 1998

By	Jim T (San Jose, CA United States) - See all my reviews

If historical mystery is part of your reading diet, then you cannot go wrong with Mr. Marston. If you read one, you will want to read all. The books show much referance done and well told stories...

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it!, March 4, 2009

By	L. J. Roberts (Oakland, CA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Wolves of Savernake: A Novel (Marston, Edward. Domesday Books, V. 1.) (Hardcover)

First Sentence: Savernake Forest trembled in the fading light.

Set 20 years after William the Conqueror becomes king, royal tribunals are sent throughout England to compile a comprehensive assessment of his land and resources and the extent of taxes he could raise.

Although one tribunal has already visited Bedwyn, a letter received from the town's miller has prompted the sending of a second tribunal consisting of knight, Ralph Delchard, lawyer Gervase Bret, Canon Hubert and Brother Simon.

Before they arrive, the miller has been brutally killed, apparently by a wolf. Ralph suspect the cause of death was more human than animal.

This is another of those authors I can't believe I've not previously read. His writing is so visual and his descriptions so lush, I was drawn in from the very beginning. I love that he almost anthropomorphized nature: "...a weeping willow dived angrily downwards..." The scene when the members of the tribunal ride to the top of a hill and look down on Stonehenge is wonderfully done. I am not one for "casting" a book, but I found myself so doing with Delchard and Gervase.

The sense of time and place are so strong but not glamorized. Marston realistically portrays how little power most women had over their own lives and how superstition was rife. The dialogue is effective in conveying a sense of the period without making it difficult to read. There was wonderful humor to offset the brutality of the deaths.

The story is very well plotted. I certainly did not identify the killer until they were exposed. I'm now off to find all the rest of Marston's books.