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Cargando... The Royalistpor S.J. Deas
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Inscríbete en LibraryThing para averiguar si este libro te gustará. Actualmente no hay Conversaciones sobre este libro. William Falkland languishes in a cell awaiting execution. He is a Royalist soldier captured by Parliamentarians and despite surviving battle he knows he cannot survive capture. Taken from his prison, blindfolded, he expects the worst but is actually shown into the presence of Oliver Cromwell. Cromwell has heard of Falkland, a man whose honour and morals transcend battle, and he tasks Falkland to look into a spate of suicides amongst the New Model Army stationed at Crediton in Devon. Neither prisoner nor loyalist, Falkland must try to get to the bottom of mystery which wraps paranoia and witchcraft around the troubles of a large army encamped in the remains of a small town through a cold and harsh winter. Deas writes well, the evocation of cold is beautiful and realistic, the descriptions of prison and squalor equally so. The plot is clever and twists and turns seem completely integral to the story. The denouement less so. This is a well-researched book and it comes from a different sort of perspective to many in the 'historical detective' genre, in that it focuses on character and place rather than plot. A promising start to a projected series. Very grim and bleak mystery set during the English Civil War (or as it is now the politically correct War of Three Kingdoms). William Falkland is a war-weary Royalist saved from a date with the Parliamentary hangman by Oliver Cromwell himself in order to investigate a wave of suicides sweeping his beloved New Model Army. Set during a bitter winter, the story faithfully matches the miserable conditions, portraying the worst of humanity in a period of destroyed lives and families. While there is nothing particularly startling about the plot or the denouement, its still a worthwhile read. Although Falkland is a fairly cliched hero, the book manages to entertain without ever grabbing the reader by the throat. Lovers of British historical fiction will find much to ponder in its biting portrayal of the war. Not a book that will inspire affectionate remembrance, but a good read nevertheless. sin reseñas | añadir una reseña
Pertenece a las seriesWilliam Falkland (1) Distinciones
William Falkland is a dead man. A Royalist dragoon who fought against Parliament, he is currently awaiting execution at Newgate prison. Yet when he is led away from Newgate with a sack over his head, it is not the gallows to which they take him, but to Oliver Cromwell himself. Cromwell has heard of Falkland's reputation as an investigator and now more than ever he needs a man of conscience. His New Model Army are wintering in Devon but mysterious deaths are sweeping the camp and, in return for his freedom, Falkland is despatched to uncover the truth. With few friends and a slew of enemies, Falkland soon learns there is a dark demon at work, one who won't go down without a fight. But how can he protect the troops from such a monster and, more importantly, will he be able to protect himself? No se han encontrado descripciones de biblioteca. |
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Google Books — Cargando... GénerosSistema Decimal Melvil (DDC)823.92Literature English & Old English literatures English fiction Modern Period 2000-Clasificación de la Biblioteca del CongresoValoraciónPromedio:
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Having said that, I quite liked the portrayal of some of the characters, especially the female lead, although the tendency to have similarly named characters such as two young men who were brothers but with different surnames which both began with 'W' was a bit confusing - eventually I gave up trying to keep them straight as it didn't particularly matter since both had died before the book's action commences. But otherwise quite an interesting read with some vivid descriptions of squalid deprivation in the middle of a seventeenth century winter after six years of devastating war. A solid 3 stars therefore. ( )