EDWARD MARSTON – The Owls of Gloucester. St. Martin’s, US, hardcover, April 2003. Headline, UK, hardcover/softcover, 2000.

Genre:   Historical mystery. Leading characters:  Sir Ralph Delchard/Gervase
Bret; 10th in series. Setting:   England-Middle Ages/1000s.

First Sentence:   ‘Do you want to be beaten again?’ asked Brother Frewine quietly.

    King William’s commissioner’s; Sir Ralph Delchard, accompanied by his wife Golde, lawyer Gervase Bret, Canon Hubert and Brother Simon, arrive in Gloucester to follow up on discrepancies and disputes found after the first round in the making of the Domesday Book.

    The largest dispute is over land, which has four claimants. However, their visit becomes more complicated with the discovery of a murdered monk, Brother Nicholas, the Abbey’s tax collector, the disappearance of a young novice, and the impending arrival of King William himself.

    There is nothing I did not like about this book. Marston places us in the 11th century both in sight and sound. By his descriptions, it is easy to visualize the surroundings. You know the conditions around them and when the characters are riding “hell-for-leather,” you can see and hear the horses.

    The pattern and syntax of the dialogue provides a reflection of the period without being literal to it. The inclusion of subtle humor is always appropriate and gives balance to the action.

    Marston’s characters are wonderful. Ralph, the newly married, battle-scarred soldier, is a realistic combination of an impatient Norman warrior and one who never expected to remarry after the passing many year’s prior of his beloved first wife. In this book, I particularly appreciated Ralph learning to be a husband to Golde, the realistic display of his anger and his confession to Gervase of a personal fear.

    Gervase, Saxon by ancestry, is the younger, recently married, educated lawyer who thinks before acting. The two have different natures and approaches but their friendship has given them a perfect balance. With them are the egotistical Canon Hubert and the very fearful, particularly of women, young Brother Simon.

    It is aspects such as that which gives dimension and realism to the characters. The plot was interesting and intricate with fascinating historical information which was interwoven with the story. There are multiple threads to the story which adds to the realism, and a very effective red herring.

    What is most impressive is the way in which the various threads come together at the end in a double climax, neither villain being one I anticipated. All these elements, and the overall quality of Marston’s writing, made for an excellent read.

    It is also nice that, while I always recommend reading series in order, with the Domesday series, it is not essential as each book includes enough background for each of the leading characters that the book stands on its own.

    My one regret is that there are only, to date, only eleven books in this series. I’ve only read five, though, so I still have several yet to enjoy.

Rating:   Excellent.

       The Domesday series:

1. The Wolves of Savernake (1993)

2. The Ravens of Blackwater (1994)
3. The Dragons of Archenfield (1995)
4. The Lions of the North (1996)
5. The Serpents of Harbledown (1996)

6. The Stallions of Woodstock (1997)
7. The Hawks of Delamere (1998)
8. The Wildcats of Exeter (1998)
9. The Foxes of Warwick (1999)

10. The Owls of Gloucester (2000)
11. The Elephants of Norwich (2000)