G859 Book Review of The Service of the dead by Candace Robb
Author: Candace Robb
ISBN: 978-1-68177-127-4
Publisher: Prometheus
Part of a Series: Kate Clifford Mysteries
Type of book: 1399, family, England, widow, woman, resourcefulness, mystery, life, Richard II, feuds, war, weapons
Year it was published: 2016
Summary:
Political unrest permeates York at the cusp of the fifteenth century, as warring factions take sides on who should be the rightful king--Richard II or his estranged, powerful cousin in exile, Henry Bolingbroke. Independent minded twenty-year-old Kate Clifford is struggling to dig out from beneath the debt left by her late husband. Determined to find a way to be secure in her own wealth and establish her independence in a male dominated society, Kate turns one of her properties near the minster into a guest house and sets up a business. In a dance of power, she also quietly rents the discreet bedchambers to the wealthy, powerful merchants of York for nights with their mistresses.
But the brutal murder of a mysterious guest and the disappearance of his companion for the evening threatens all that Kate has built. Before others in town hear word of a looming scandal, she must call upon all of her hard-won survival skills to save herself from ruin.
Characters:
Main characters include Kate Clifford, a resourceful and business-minded young lady who is determined not to let things get her down. Secondary characters would be Kate's step-children who are wary of their stepmother, especially with their father's death as well as Kate's servants and some of her family who either hinder or help Kate a great deal. Kate must also be careful and must be wary of whom to trust, which the author does a good job of establishing.
Theme:
There is always unexpected help
Plot:
The story is in third person narrative from Kate's point of view. The book is rife with details on life during the time period and it seems as if the author took little to no liberties of what was happening with the story. I don't think the story is for those who don't know much about medieval ages because while the author does try to explain what is going on during that time period, I don't think she does a very good job and it leaves the readers struggling a bit.
Author Information:
(From HFVBT)
AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | INDIEBOUND
About the Author
Candace Robb did her graduate work in medieval literature and history, and has continued to study the period while working first as an editor of scientific publications and now for some years as a freelance writer. Candace has published 13 crime novels set in 14th century England, Wales, and Scotland. The Owen Archer series is based in York and currently extends over 10 novels beginning with THE APOTHECARY ROSE; the most recent is A VIGIL OF SPIES. The Margaret Kerr trilogy explores the early days of Scotland’s struggle again England’s King Edward I, and includes A TRUST BETRAYED, THE FIRE IN THE FLINT, and A CRUEL COURTSHIP.
Writing as Emma Campion, Candace has published historical novels about two fascinating women she encountered while researching the Owen Archer mysteries, Alice Perrers (THE KING’S MISTRESS) and Joan of Kent (A TRIPLE KNOT).
Candace was born in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, and has lived most of her adult life in Seattle, Washington, which she and her husband love for its combination of natural beauty and culture. Candace enjoys walking, hiking, and gardening, and practices yoga and vipassana meditation. She travels frequently to Great Britain.
For more information, please visit Candace Robb’s website. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.
Opinion:
This is a very late review for the book, which I feel bad about. What I found impressive by the story was the time period and the details that the author researched as well as a very admirable woman who is strong in adversity and doesn't let things get her down, be it her husband's death or trying to prove herself to her husband's illgetimate children, she doesn't let anything get her down. What I didn't enjoy of the story is the fact that the main character's dead brother speaks to her, which I feel really takes away from enjoying the story a lot. At some points I also found myself confused as to how the laws and life worked back in medieval ages. I also had trouble figuring out the logic of the mystery, but other than that, for an authentic medieval mystery, I would recommend this book.
This is for HFVBT
Blog Tour Schedule
Monday, July 3
Kick Off at Passages to the Past
Tuesday, July 4
Review at Laura’s Interests (The Service of the Dead)
Review & Guest Post at Books of All Kinds (The Service of the Dead & A Twisted Vengeance)
Wednesday, July 5
Review at Broken Teepee (A Twisted Vengeance)
Thursday, July 6
Review at Jorie Loves a Story (The Service of the Dead)
Interview at Dianne Ascroft’s Blog
Friday, July 7
Review at Brooke Blogs (The Service of the Dead)
Excerpt at What Is That Book About
Sunday, July 9
Feature at Svetlana’s Reads and Views (The Service of the Dead)
Monday, July 10
Review at Queen of All She Reads (The Service of the Dead)
Review at Ageless Pages Reviews (The Service of the Dead)
Tuesday, July 11
Review at Rainy Day Reviews (The Service of the Dead)
Wednesday, July 12
Review at 100 Pages a Day (The Service of the Dead)
Review at History From a Woman’s Perspective (The Service of the Dead)
Thursday, July 13
Guest Post at Let Them Read Books
Friday, July 14
Review at The True Book Addict (The Service of the Dead)
Review at History From a Woman’s Perspective (A Twisted Vengeance)
Monday, July 17
Review at Laura’s Interests (A Twisted Vengeance)
Review at CelticLady’s Reviews (The Service of the Dead)
Tuesday, July 18
Review at Brooke Blogs (A Twisted Vengeance)
Guest Post at Cafinated Reads
Wednesday, July 19
Review at CelticLady’s Reviews (A Twisted Vengeance)
Review at The True Book Addict (A Twisted Vengeance)
Review at Queen of All She Reads (A Twisted Vengeance)
Thursday, July 20
Review at Jorie Loves a Story (A Twisted Vengeance)
Review at Just One More Chapter (The Service of the Dead)
Friday, July 21
Review at Rainy Day Reviews (A Twisted Vengeance)
Review at Ageless Pages Reviews (A Twisted Vengeance)
Review at Svetlana’s Reads and Views (A Twisted Vengeance)
Interview at Jorie Loves a Story
3 out of 5
(0: Stay away unless a masochist 1: Good for insomnia 2: Horrible but readable; 3: Readable and quickly forgettable, 4: Good, enjoyable 5: Buy it, keep it and never let it go.)
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