Book Review: The Demon Archer

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

The Demon Archer     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Paul C. Doherty
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Historical
Series: Hugh Corbett # 11
St. Martin's, Mar 2001, $22.95, 256 pp.

In Ashdown Forest, England in 1303, Lord Henry Fitzalan leads a hunting party that includes his brother and several other aristocrats. Everyone shoots arrows at a deer, but someone sends a longbow arrow into the chest of Lord Henry, killing the despised and arrogant Earl of Surrey.

King Edward summons his friend Hugh Corbett to the court. He tells him that an assassin murdered Henry without the slightest pretense of disguising the homicide with a hunting accident. Edward wants the culprit caught and knows that Hugh has had success with homicides. Hugh begins his investigation only to learn how loathed Henry was. This complicates a case that initially appeared to have political connections, as Henry was leading an English contingent to France on a peace treaty mission associated with the marriage between the two monarchies. However, aside from the anti-treaty crowd, other suspects are plentiful, from Henry's brother to the father of a young lady Henry coveted to almost anyone who knew the odious ill-tempered noble.

No one does medieval fiction any better than Paul Doherty, who always blends a clever story line with factual tidbits that propel the tale forward and provide depth. The eleventh Corbett historical investigator novel is a taut thriller that centers on an entertaining who-done-it with the typical Doherty touch of historical persona and facts that enhancing a brilliant plot. Hugh remains a huge success as he retains his freshness that few historical detectives can maintain over the life of a series. Fans of the sub-genre will relish this novel and seek the remainder of the Corbett collection as well as Dr. Doherty's sensational Swinbrooke stories.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner