Nightshade

Nightshade is the latest in Paul Doherty's series of medieval mysteries featuring Sir Hugh Corbett. Doherty is a very good writer, in fact he is about half a dozen very good writers as he has written under a different name for every one of his various series of historical mysteries each featuring a different main character. Doherty is very well qualified to take his place in the crowded ranks of those who write historical thrillers as he holds a history degree from Liverpool University and a Doctorate from Oxford. His CV also tells us that he is headmaster of a school in London. How he holds such a responsible post and finds time to write so much leads one to suspect insomnia. Nowadays all his books, both new and reprints, are brought out under his own name which is appropriate now that he is such a well established writer. Nightshade is the sixteenth book featuring Sir Hugh Corbett, Keeper of the Secret Seal to King Edward the First and his assistant Ranulf-atte-Newgate Principal Clerk to the Chancery of the Green Wax. Yes folks, the civil service liked high sounding titles even then! The story begins in the aftermath of one of the most daring robberies in British history. King Edward had deposited his not inconsiderable treasure in a vault in Westminster Abbey (why not the Tower one asks oneself) but this seemingly impregnable depository is entered and the treasure stolen. One item, the dagger wielded by a member of the Order of Assassins who attempted to murder King Edward,has turned up in Essex in the hands of Lord Scrope, a wealthy and detested landowner who had shocked the Court by his massacre of the Free Bretheren a wandering band of religious mystics who he claimed were heretics. Scrope also holds the Sanguis Christi, a large ruby studded gold cross that he had stolen from the Knights Templar as he escaped from the Saracen siege of the city of Acre and which he had promised to give to King Edward. Edward sends Corbett to Mistleham, site of Scrope's Castle to seize these artefacts as he fears the Templars will try to retreive the Sanguis Christi. At this point the village of Mistleham is terrorised by a mysterious bowman who appears able to pick off people at will and then disappear. What is the motive for these murderous attacks? Could it be revenge for the deaths of the Free Brethren or are the Templars softening up Lord Scrope prior to demanding the return of their treasure. This is another Doherty classic for lovers of the historical genre.