Review:- Candace ROBB – “A Spy for the Redeemer”

Publ: 2000
My own copy
ISBN: 0 09 927797 2
Genre: Historical fiction
Pages: 386p
Kindly given me by the Canadian Chickadee
Rating: ***** **


What led you to pick up this book?
Kindly given me by the Canadian Chickadee. This is the seventh Owen Archer mystery and about the fifth I have read.

Describe the plot without giving anything away.
In 1370 Owen archer is away in Wales but his attempts to get home to York are thwarted by a mysterious suicide. Meanwhile, his wife Lucie has to cope with problems at her father’s manor as well as within the apothecary that she runs.

What did you think of the characters and style?
Candace Robb qualifies as cosy historical crime and this was just the sort of book I wanted to turn to after reading a few general works of fiction. As always there was lots of mystery, intrigue, murder and adventure in this tale. The historical detail is not extensive in Candace Robb’s books but certainly enough to conjour up the world of the 14th century.

Thoughts on the book jacket / cover.
An appropriate sort of cover but compared to the Cadfael series nowhere near as good.

Would I recommend it?
Yes, especially to any fan of cosy historical fiction and medieval crime.

CANDACE ROBB
see Vigil of Spies

Candace Robb – “A Vigil of Spies”

 

In Bishopthorpe Palace, September 1373 - Archbishop Thoresby lies dying and Owen Archer, his captain of the guard, is determined to ensure his master's last days are peaceful. But much to his dismay Thoresby has agreed to a visit from Princess Joan - she has come to seek the great man's advice about the royal succession before it's too late. Owen grudgingly admits the fair lady's visit might be just the distraction Thoresby needs but within minutes of the royal party's arrival it is clear that the servant who met with an accident and died on the journey has in fact been murdered.. and so it progresses...

The other books in the Owen Archer series are:-
1. The Apothecary Rose (1993)
2. The Lady Chapel (1994)
3. The Nun's Tale (1995)
4. The King's Bishop (1996)
5. The Riddle of St. Leonard's (1997)
6. A Gift of Sanctuary (1998)
7. A Spy for the Redeemer (2002)
8. The Cross-Legged Knight (2002)
9. The Guilt of Innocents (2007)
10. A Vigil of Spies (2008)

I think I have read all except the Cross-legged Knight and A Spy for the Redeemer. Candace Robb’s novels are a cut above many of those of most of the other historical novelists. This one in particular is a clever little work with a hint (intentional and acknowledged) of the Agatha Christie- with whom she shares her birthday - about the way the potential villains are brought together to the one place for the solution to be demonstrated, Poirot-like, at the dying man’s bedside.


CANDACE ROBB (b 15th September 1950) has read and researched medieval history for many years, having studied for a Ph.D. in Medieval and Anglo-Saxon Literature. She divides her time between Seattle and the UK, frequently spending time in Scotland and York to research her books.