Mother Midnight (Hugh Corbett 22)

This amazing historical mystery is the 22nd volume of the wonderful "Sir Hugh Corbett" series.At the beginning of the book you'll find a Characters List, with names that are featuring in this great medieval mystery, while also at the beginning within the Historical Note, as well as at the back within the Author's Note the historical details concerning this marvellous mystery are very well documented by the author.Story-telling is as ever of a top-notch quality, all characters, whether real historical or wonderful fictional, come vividly to life, while also the hostile atmosphere in London between various factions are superbly described and pictured within this marvellous medieval mystery.This tale is set in the year AD 1312, during the reign of King Edward II, and Sir Hugh Corbett, Keeper of the Secret Seal, and his henchman, Ranulf-atte-Newgate and Chanson have just arrived from the West Country to find London in turmoil.The main reason for this unrest are the occurrences that are happening at a convent named St Sulpice and an establishment called "The Queen of the Night", and these two institutions and its people will play a major part in the murders and horrors that will occur there.It all starts with the murder of the Royal Clerk of the Secret Chancery, Ralph Manning, quickly followed by the mutilation and death of his henchman and Royal Clerk, Luke Faldon, and these two murders are somehow connected to the convent of St Sulpice and the exclusive brothel "The Queen of the Night", where Mother Midnight is ruling events in her own ruthless fashion.What is to follow is an intriguing and thrilling historical mystery, in which Corbett, Ranulf and Chanson, are taken along in this web of deceit and death, but after sifting the evidence and unravelling this deadly web of all its horrible secrets, followed by a superbly executed plot, Corbett will be able to reveal the perpetrator(s) responsible for all the personal horrors and subsequent murders.Highly recommended, for this is an excellent addition to this tremendous series, and that's why I like to call this brilliant episode: "A Magnificent Mother Midnight"!

I don't mean to sound so dismissive - after all, I am a fan of Paul Doherty's work. However, the same hackneyed phrases, same descriptions of the same people in the same settings, novel after novel (in whichever series you are reading) does begin to grate.Also, after so many years of reading about Sir Hugh Corbett's exploits (via Paul) I have a sense that the author has passed his peak in getting the 'feel' of life that is depicted in his books over to us, the readers.They just feel, as my English teacher used to say, like chewing gum for the brian.Sorry, Paul. You are 3000% better at this than I will ever be.

I enjoyed the book, my first of this series, off starting at number 22 but it was on offer.I enjoyed the historical accuracy, the characters were well fleshed out, but my big gripe was, by halfway through, it was patently obvious what was happening and who the villains were, although there were a couple of slight changes or twists I found the second half a disappointment overall.Maybe I'll try another of the series to see if that is more of a challenge.

His books are always a good read .

I love the Hugh Corbett mysteries, such deep intrigue, clever plots and great detail. Hugh Corbett and his two assistants work well together, solving the crimes and issuing said justice.

Such awful murders, so cleverly compiled and executed and it takes the clever Hugh, and immediate colleagues to solve it. Dark and very atmospheric.

What's to dislike? I have read every Hugh Corbett book and each one is better than the previous

14th century history was brutal - treacherous not just for those in high office - but for normal everyday people without the means of recourse - was brualbeyond belief- Paul Doherty couches those dramas into powerful tales and illustrate survivability as well as the history of the time