The Canterbury Tales by Night Omnibus features the first three novels in Paul Doherty’s mystery series charting the progress of Chaucer’s pilgrims, and the tales they tell along the way. Includes An Ancient Evil, A Tapestry of Murders and A Tournament of Murders. Perfect for fans of Ellis Peters and Susanna Gregory.
An Ancient Evil:
As the travellers gather at the start of a pilgrimage to Canterbury, they agree to amuse themselves on their journey with evening tales of mystery, terror and murder. So begins the Knight’s tale. It opens with the destruction of a sinister cult during the reign of William the Conqueror, and then moves to Oxford some two hundred years later where terrible murders are being committed. The Abbess of the Convent of St Anne’s, believes the murders are connected with the legends of the cult and petitions the King for help…
A Tapestry of Murders:
As Chaucer’s pilgrims continue towards Canterbury, they choose the Man of Law to narrate the next tale of fear and sinister dealings. In August 1358, the adulterous Dowager Queen Isabella, the ‘She Wolf of France’, lies dying of the pestilence in the sombre fortress of Castle Rising, where her ‘loving’ son has kept her incarcerated. But as in life so in death Isabella causes intrigue, violence and murder. Nicholas Chirke, an honest young lawyer, is brought in to investigate strange events following her death – and quickly finds himself at his wits’ end trying to resolve the mysteries before a great scandal unfolds.
A Tournament of Murders:
While Chaucer’s pilgrims settle for the night, the Franklin narrates a mysterious, bloody tale… In 1356 the Black Prince has won his resounding victory at Poitiers. As impoverished knight Gilbert Savage lies dying in the wake of the fight he tells his squire, Richard Greenele, that the story of his parents perishing during the plague is untrue. Richard, if he wishes to uncover what really happened, must travel to Colchester and seek out a sealed letter telling the truth of his parentage, and a most macabre confession that will set him on a mission for revenge from which there is no turning back…
An Ancient Evil:
As the travellers gather at the start of a pilgrimage to Canterbury, they agree to amuse themselves on their journey with evening tales of mystery, terror and murder. So begins the Knight’s tale. It opens with the destruction of a sinister cult during the reign of William the Conqueror, and then moves to Oxford some two hundred years later where terrible murders are being committed. The Abbess of the Convent of St Anne’s, believes the murders are connected with the legends of the cult and petitions the King for help…
A Tapestry of Murders:
As Chaucer’s pilgrims continue towards Canterbury, they choose the Man of Law to narrate the next tale of fear and sinister dealings. In August 1358, the adulterous Dowager Queen Isabella, the ‘She Wolf of France’, lies dying of the pestilence in the sombre fortress of Castle Rising, where her ‘loving’ son has kept her incarcerated. But as in life so in death Isabella causes intrigue, violence and murder. Nicholas Chirke, an honest young lawyer, is brought in to investigate strange events following her death – and quickly finds himself at his wits’ end trying to resolve the mysteries before a great scandal unfolds.
A Tournament of Murders:
While Chaucer’s pilgrims settle for the night, the Franklin narrates a mysterious, bloody tale… In 1356 the Black Prince has won his resounding victory at Poitiers. As impoverished knight Gilbert Savage lies dying in the wake of the fight he tells his squire, Richard Greenele, that the story of his parents perishing during the plague is untrue. Richard, if he wishes to uncover what really happened, must travel to Colchester and seek out a sealed letter telling the truth of his parentage, and a most macabre confession that will set him on a mission for revenge from which there is no turning back…
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Reviews
Doherty's deep understanding of the period and the nitty-gritty of historical detail are to the fore without intruding on the rhythm of the plot. Superb entertainment
Paul Doherty has a lively sense of history... evocative and lyrical descriptions
For those who are keen enthusiasts of medieval murder stories the name Paul Doherty will need no introduction... He writes with enthusiasm about an era he knows well
Paul Doherty has come up trumps again with this medieval mystery
An engrossing and informative read
As always the author invokes the medieval period in all its muck as well as glory, filling the pages with pungent smells and description. The author brings years of research to his writing; his mastery of the period as well as a disciplined writing schedule have led to a rapidly increasing body of work and a growing reputation
Praise for Paul Doherty: The maestro of medieval mystery... As with all Doherty's historical whodunnits, it is packed with salty dialogue, the smells and superstitions of the 14th century, not to mention the political intrigues
A masterpiece of murder and mystery
The best of its kind since the death of Ellis Peters