Review: A Cold Summer Night

This book plunges the reader into medieval Nottingham - but takes medieval Nottingham's most famous characters and turns their stories inside out. King Richard isn't a distant hero, his brother John isn't a treacherous conspirator, and creatures exist in Sherwood Forest that are not part of the traditional versions of the Robin Hood legends.

The feel of the period - both geographical and social - is realistic. Travel is slow, difficult and dangerous; a risky trek from one small, isolated holding to another through the threatening and enveloping forest. Personal connections, properly filling the role to which one is born and carrying out one's religious obligations are all-important part of medieval England. As always, humans are imperfect. The characters in this novel vary considerably and plausibly within this medieval mindset without slipping into twenty-first century responses to their situations.

Hugh de Steny is a senior and very responsible administrator. He is, in fact, the Sheriff of Nottingham. One of his subordinates reports the killing of a family of crofters - and these killings are quite unusual. De Steny knows of killings like these, in which all the blood is drained from the corpse, from his terrible experiences while on a Crusade. Some of the clergy also recognize the threat, but many of de Steny's men and his superiors think the killings are unimportant; caused by ordinary outlaws, and easily handled by normal means. De Steny must reach Prince John, an educated man who may have essential knowledge and men for the fight, while defending the people for whom he is responsible with too few resources and too little support.

This book is clearly the first of a series, and ends with a real cliffhanger. The ending is so abrupt it leaves the reader with no sense of even a partial resolution. There are also very few female characters. Mother Barnaba is an appealing character, although a fairly minor one, but Marian is rather two-dimensional.

Overall, however, 'Trouble in the Forest: A Cold Summer Night' is well above average; an interesting, well-written and original take on an old legend.

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Cheryl - RAM

Book Review: A Cold Summer Night