A Morbid Taste For Bones ~ Ellis Peters

A twelfth century former Crusader turned naturalist monk is the leading crime scene investigator in Shrewsbury during the first English Civil War (as opposed to THE English Civil war that wouldn't come for another half century). Nottingham can keep their sheriffs, Shropshire has Brother Cadfael.



I always find it difficult to review a book for which I am already familiar with the characters. Having watched the television series, I was able to envision some of the characters and the scenery, which is a good thing; however, this double edge knife also produces a desire for the book to just get on with it. I should know better than to read a book that I know from other media, something I usually tend to avoid.

As you would expect, the first quarter of the book sets the character of Cadfael and the main members of the Shrewsbury Abbey for the rest of the series, and then it finally gets to the actual story. Itself turns out to be both a murder-mystery and an allegorical tale about the validity of what is housed in those saintly reliquaries.

The novel is what I expected it would be for a twenty-five-plus year old medieval mystery and for the having satisfied my desire for a short romp into the past with eclectic characters. However, my one criticism is that for such an aged tale, you'd think the publishers would have sussed out the typos and duplicate words by now. Though I admit that this failure will not prevent me from reading the other titles in the series.

The Hippopotamus Marsh ~ Pauline Gedge

My knowledge about Egypt begins and ends with the dead, and the names of the Ptolemaic Pharaohs. I think the artwork is lovely and that hieroglyphs should still be common practice as an alternate method of communication. I know a total sum of zero about how the living actually lived;; not the traditions, cultural differences between groups or the religion/faith/belief system. I do know that they had an impressive military system, at least one that was strong enough to lord it over the Canaanites, but I don't know any of the specifics, or the dates. Which is a problem because I haven't quite figured out where precisely in history the story I'm reviewing fits in the then global structure.



Had this novel not been selected as one of the options for a monthly read for a book group I probably would have never picked it up. Unlikely I would have really ever known of its existence. It's a shame really as I would like to support the national talent writing historical fiction. I could probably write an entire novel on my shame in knowing so little about my own country's authors. The few I do know about I've either stumbled across or they were one of the chosen novels for the CBC (national broadcaster) Canada Reads competition where each year 5 celebrities each defend a book released that year. Like all good reality shows, by the end of the day the viewers/listeners vote off one of the books. However, none of this has to do with Pauline Gedge's book, only my ignorance. Compound that ignorance with the fact that I'm not generally drawn to Egyptian historical fiction and voilà.

I'm never sure what to say about a book that I find moves along too slowly regarding a subject I know nothing about. In these instances, what I hope for is a story that will draw me in, or characters with which I will connect and come to love. None of this happened for me. Part of the reason I'm having difficulty in assessing either of these things is that this novel is not self-contained. It is the first book in an epic series. My use of epic here is defined as: the whole must be read to understand its parts. This creates and unfortunate catch-22; by forcing the reader to read all three novels before deciding whether they liked it eliminates those like me who know nothing of the period and haven't found anything to encourage them to continue.

I will say though, that I am now educated in certain traditions and aspects of Egyptian culture and also the conflicts between them and the ruling Setiu. Perhaps the rigidity of these traditions is why I felt the characters stiff and unappealing, which for someone more familiar with the era might find in perfect keeping. Despite all this, and the unlikelihood that I'll continue with the series, is the lack of delineation between the narrative and a characters thoughts. There was no change in text, font or paragraph; nothing at all to suggest that there was a shift in point of view. As a result I found the read a bit of a chore as I, the reader, had to work at making the story flow, a job I have always assumed was up to the author.

Having said all that, if this is an area of interest, I think the overall trilogy could be quite good. The concept of the story is interesting, and if the pace of the last 60 pages or so continues in the following instalments, then I think even perhaps a winner.

The Coffee Trader ~ David Liss

Reading books is something I truly enjoy. I find there is something to learn in each one and for that reason I finish all the books I start (with one exception where the grammar and spelling were so bad...). Sometimes it takes me a lot of time to get through it for several reasons. Perhaps it doesn't draw me in or I just could no longer follow the thread. I still work at them though. For example, I've been making my way through Edward Rutherfurd's Sarum for six years. It only took me a few days to read the first half, after that, it no longer held my interest. I'm hoping I'll get to a point where it will grab me again. But I slog through.



David Liss's book falls into the realm of books I have to push at mightily to finish. It didn't take as long as Rutherfurd's piece because a) it is considerably shorter, b) I didn't start a four year degree partway through and c) it was a book group selection and can be used toward two challenges that I've signed up for. The stakes were higher.

Reading a book that I didn't select does two things: it opens doors to new possibilities; and it identifies inalienable truths. In this case, Europe during a period I was unfamiliar with, the introduction of the modern stock market, and traders generally. I had seen the film Wall Street when it came out ages ago, and while I could follow along with the protagonist's story of deceit and redemption, I didn't understand the business he was in. The same thing happened with this book

I have a very simplistic understanding of money. I work, I get paid, I have money in my pocket to pay the bills, buy food and trinkets, and perhaps save some. Anything beyond that requires a level of maths I will never possess, and an understanding of a language I will never understand. Therefore, Liss was already behind long before I purchased the book. His only hope would be to include what I would find a compelling story.

I did not like any of the characters. Not a one. But, I think this might be a good thing, because I really don't think the reader is meant to like them. They're only meant to understand them. I could be wrong, but while some of the individuals have a thing about them that should be likeable, their overall characters are found wanting. There is so much secrecy, distrust, betrayal, and lack of communication, with a high level of manipulation and counter-manipulation that the backroom deals seem the only things above-board. Through into the mix a culture paranoid beyond belief and it's a wonder Amsterdam ever became such a renown trading centre.

It was the manipulating and plotting that lost me in this book. I am told that the stock market was then and still is not for the feint of heart, that it is cut-throat and unforgiving. The market doesn't care and those wanting to make money, forget their humanity at the door. This was well represented in the book. The unfortunate thing is that I can't comprehend this behaviour. To me it goes against every instinct of compassion and nurture. All I wanted to do was to grab all the characters by the ears, sit them all down in a room that only I have the key and have them TALK. Just talk. But of course, that would have made for a much shorter and less interesting story. But because of the frustration, I had to walk away from the book. A gave it a two week hiatus, then read but a chapter a day until I was done.

If Liss was looking for an emotional reaction, then he succeeded here. However, I think for those of us who have no desire to understand business, this is not the book for us. It's just to emotionally charged and its meaning becomes lost.

Rome: The Art Of War ~ M.C. Scott

I finished this book nearly two weeks ago and tried to write this review three other times, with a glaring lack of success. I could not figure out why until an inspirational walk for an elusive Magnum White in the pouring rain. Though what any of these have to do with the world Scott has created is certainly a mystery.



The reader quickly realises that this book is set up as responses to an series of, dare I say, interrogations conducted by Hypathia. It takes a bit longer to realise that the reason for these interviews is that something terrible or catastrophic has occurred, but nothing said helps to clarify 'what'. Then it begins to dawn on the reader that Pantera is not one of those being questioned. Thus my first experience of reader's anxiety. Then the rational me remembers that he is never the narrator, but still, something is prickling...

Once again, Scott brilliantly weaves a story of loyalty and betrayal, honesty and corruption, the rise and fall of emperors as well as spies, murder and mayhem in a Rome still nervous of flames. The work needing to be done to ensure Vespasian's Emperorship in the year of 4 Emperors is so convoluted that only someone with Pantera's skills could even attempt it. That someone is foiling his every move only serves to demonstrate just how deep the well and long the reach of those willing to help him.

The characters introduced in this instalment of the Rome series are just as colourful, obstreperous and dangerous as any the author has previously presented. Faulty as every other human, they all eventually come to realise the truth even when too late and do what they can to ensure success for the cause. And while this is set during the Roman Empire, Scott has enlisted, or perhaps they bullied their way in, (she would have to clarify) the ancient world's version of Doyle's Baker Street Irregulars, Sayers's gift of tossing around herrings of the crimson persuasion with the odd Christie bluff, with the urgency of a 21st century Bond. Truly mystery and espionage at its best.


I nearly forgot the necessary declaration: I was given a copy of the book in exchange of an honesty review.

Conspiracies Of Rome ~ Richard Blake

Some periods in history are rarely represented within the realm of historical fiction, in large part because there is little known historically. However, as time passes and archaeologists, anthropologists, historians and, more often than not, nature walkers stumble onto finds or information that had been lost. However, in having little information about a particular period, a creative author can fill the gap. Without definitive information, the author can afford to take liberties that would be impossible for stories say, within the rather more well documented Tudor period. Why more authors don't take this opportunity is, quite frankly a mystery to me.



Seventh century Rome is one of those rarely written about periods in history and historical fiction, but Richard Blake takes a crack at it, setting his Saxon Aelric up against the fledgling papacy within the crumbling walls of a dying empire and an aristocracy fighting for its life. Struggling with some of the ramifications of his banishment from Britain, Aelric finds that learning to trust others in a strange and, in his eyes, exotic land, is one of the few skills he does not possess. What Rome does offer him is unparalleled access to knowledge through the written word.

Blake teaches us many things through this book. How Rome slowly fell apart, including its architecture, politics, social class system and religion, while demonstrating the rise of the Church and how it became so powerful. This is also a period we know little about, but we do know that knowledge existed. Many powerful individuals had collected works from the philosophers, historians and ancient civilizations. We also know that due to the many conflicts at the ensuing years (and some previous years), many of these locales of knowledge were destroyed - whether intentionally or not is still up for debate. Ultimately, it was the Church and its keen interest in everyone following from the same 'book' as it were, along with men thirsting for knowledge, such as Aelric, who saved the few works we still have (i.e. Plato, Caesar, Ptolemy etc...). This contrast of the importance of preserving books as buildings are neglected is very well elucidated in this book. The vivid descriptions captivate and suddenly twenty pages have gone by.

The author is very good a making the reader feel as though she is there, in that moment, in that very spot, seeing exactly what Aelric sees or hears. This isn't to say that there aren't any bumps in the story. Aelric's age seems a bit controversial to me. While I understand the need to 'grow up fast' in a time of conflict and insecurity, one must also consider whether there has been enough time to have done all these things. However, if one can suspend disbelief for a bit about the age issue, then the rest of the story is quite good and I'm looking forward to reading the second book of the series.

Silk Road ~ Colin Falconer

I've known that there was such a thing as a silk road in the medieval period and that it had a great deal to do with trade. I even referred to it in a short essay on Petra written in my second year at Uni. What I didn't realise was how extensive it was, nor had I considered how difficult the terrain might be and that bandits would take advantage of the weary and unsuspecting; and probably the suspecting too. Though, I admit, that I should have considered banditry as any sort of road meant for trade or the delivery of goods is known to have them. What exactly I had imagined the Silk Road to be was something far less daunting and much shorter. This distance perception issue occurs during my own travels, so I should have known better.



In addition to my inattention to detail regarding the Silk Road, I am woefully ignorant of Asian Culture, particularly anything about the Mongols. I have heard of a little about the Genghis Khan's formidable an empire and virility, and that his grandson, Kubalai was a slightly less impressive leader. I knew nothing of the woman Khutelun who appears as the female protagonist in Falconer's novel. Charged with ensuring that the Dominican monk William and his reluctant travel partner, a Templar answering Josseran, get to the Mongol capital where a new Khan of Khans is to be selected, she learns of Western ways while teaching her companions about those of her people.

William is scandalised by just about everything while Josseran questions his faith on a journey lasting four times longer than anticipated. Each of these characters succumb to self-analysis while facing temptation and given opportunities for redemption. Each arrives at what is needed to fulfil or improve his or her life by way of questioning the known and unknown. This is where the author excels.

With a great economy of words, Falconer is able to transmit description and emotion with a pace that is sometimes quite quick and at other times with a sluggishness that emulates travel even today. A lot of hurry up and wait. As a result, he is able to fit a 1100 page novel into half that. I enjoy this style of writing. I am reminded of Martin Millar (who does not write historical fiction) believes that chapters should have more than 5 pages. While Falconer did not always keep to Martin's five page limit, he certainly kept to its spirit. The only criticism I have about this is that I often felt as though the story had an aloofness, like it was too timid to reveal itself all the time. I would like to read another of Falconer's books to see if this sense of distance was a product of this story and that he normally allows the reader 'in'.

Rome: The Eagle Of The Twelfth ~ M.C. Scott

At this point, I suspect it is no secret that I'm thoroughly captivated by this series and its characters. In order to continue what is going on with Pantera and his lot, the author needed to take a step back and come at those beloved characters from a different angle. Thus enters Demalion of Macedon, the young idealist Roman soldier and his adventures.



I don't know if it's cool to cry while reading, especially when the characters have resolved not to when performing a death ritual. Perhaps it is permissible on their behalf? I hope so. I cried a few times reading this book, and I would like to immediately clarify, that while I'm no toughie, I'm not generally considered whimpy either. The same scene written by anyone else probably would not have affected me in the same way. This is just Scott's gift. The reader becomes so deeply drawn into the characters' lives that she cannot extract herself fast enough for emotional moments. This isn't to say that the author drops an unexpected bomb. It's more a case of being enveloped by literary quicksand; once in there is no way out unless someone (or something) pulls you back to the twenty-first century.

There is magic in this book. No, that is wrong; it is the book that is magic. The characters are developed in such a way that even those who are despicable are liked for their sheer un-likeability (yes, as of today this is a word), but most of all it is Demalion whom the reader will connect with the most, and rightly so. The growth of his character, his aptitude for battle strategy and skills in stealth are a constant reminders of Pantera and the larger story being told.

I don't know if it is intentional, but I did find this work a modern allegory of the plethora of post-9/11 battle-memoirs: the incompetence of leadership, brilliant young warriors with a conscience, one sensible leader brought down by another for want of power. However, that should not detract readers as it is not heavily so, nor is it explicit.

Ultimately, Scott has me craving more, and wishing that she never stops writing.