Product Description

Who will own the greatest treasures of all...? In the darkness of 13th Century Europe, the most precious wonders of the Christian world lie in a small church in the great ruined city of Constantinople, the spoils of a failed Crusade. The crown of thorns, the spear that pierced Jesus' side, the shroud bearing the imprint of Christ - all lie in the mysterious Chapel of Pharos, untouchable treasures beyond earthly price. On the other side of the globe, Petroc of Auneford sails into the sprawling Pool of London for the first time. He has left his old monastic world behind for that of the enigmatic Captain de Montalhac - purveyor of fine relics and other exotic trinkets to anyone with sufficient money and desire. But for Petroc, the trip is soon blighted by tragedy. Grief, however, is no guard against greed, and with rumours of the sale of the relics of Pharos growing, the Captain needs Petroc's help. The great powers of Christendom are gathering - all covet the power of the relics - and Petroc finds himself right in the eye of the storm. Stretching from the streets of London to the brothels of Venice and all the way to ruined palaces of Constantinople, THE VAULT OF BONES is an epic tale of faith, power, money and revenge.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #281889 in Books
• Published on: 2007-07-25
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 400 pages

LANCASHIRE EVENING POST
Vaughan-Hughes has a fine feel for the heat, the flies and the rank oppression of life in the Middle Ages but he also captures the verve, the unpredictability and the sheer courage of the people who made a living out of a harsh world. A wonderful adventure story.

Review
'Gripping narrative and so steeped in atmosphere you can almost smell what they're up to, Pip's pulled out another corker in what will surely be a long line of epic books.' (SUNDAY SPORT )

'... a complex and geographically wide ranging novel that sweeps through early mediaeval Europe... The finely woven plot, although complex, never confuses the reader...' (CRIME SQUAD )

Vaughan-Hughes has a fine feel for the heat, the flies and the rank oppression of life in the Middle Ages but he also captures the verve, the unpredictability and the sheer courage of the people who made a living out of a harsh world. A wonderful adventure story. (LANCASHIRE EVENING POST )

'An absorbing, exciting tale' (GOOD BOOK GUIDE )

SUNDAY SPORT
'Gripping narrative and so steeped in atmosphere you can almost smell what they're up to, Pip's pulled out another corker in what will surely be a long line of epic books.'

Customer Reviews

After a very slow start one gets hooked
This is no 2 of the Petroc Trilogy by Pip Vaughan-Hughes. No 1 is "Relics" and no 3 is called Painted in Blood".

The whole story is based on the importance of relics in the medieval world, its procurement; the politics around the relics and of course its abuse. Here one of the most holy, the Crown of Thorns, one of the instruments of the Passion, is the center of activity. In real terms in 1238 Baldwin II, the Latin Emperor of Constantinople (also known as Romania, not to be confused with modern Romania ) was anxious to obtain support for his tottering empire, offered the Crown of Thorns to St. Louis, King of France. It was then in the hands of the Venetians as security for a heavy loan (13,134 gold pieces), but it was redeemed and conveyed to Paris where St. Louis built the Sainte-Chapelle (completed 1248) to receive it.


If one has not read No.1 of the Trilogy one will have moments where one simply does not understand. But as the story goes on, one catches up. Nevertheless, it is a bit annoying.

Pip Vaughan-Hughes needs quite a lot of time to develop the story and it is in the beginning rather slow moving as he tends to wander off into the realm of long descriptions without linking these to the development of the story. A previous reviewer remark on the lack of thrill and I can indeed he has a point here. However, the later chapters make up for it. Even in the first parts are quite fascinating scenes - like the death of Anna or the meeting with the Pope. The story however really takes off with the chapter Constantinople. From here one gets really hooked. Finally it is fast moving, really engaging and the descriptions fit the story and help to build a complete picture. Here Pip Vaughan-Hughes proves that he is a superb storyteller, has a great feeling for the times and a great talent to characterize personalities.

All in all, a book I enjoyed, but the first parts were a bit of a struggle.

Interesting But Lacks Thrills
Relics, Pip Vaughan-Hughes debut novel, introduced readers to Petroc of Aunsford, former monk turned member of a gang lead by the enigmatic Captain de Montalhac who supplied religious relics in Medieval Europe. It was an interesting first novel that offered something fresh in terms of period, characters and focus in the sometimes overcrowded historical thriller market. It was by no means perfect but it was certainly worthy of a follow up.

The Vault of Bones is that follow up. As with Relics the tale is narrated by Petroc and the story again involves religious and political plotting & skulduggery in Medieval Europe. Once again religious relics, this time from Constantinople, are at the heart of the wider story.

Vault of Bones is however, a far more complex book than Relics. Whilst Relics was a comparatively straight forward and linear tale, Vaughan-Hughes second novel intertwines multiple plot strands into a complex whole. The stakes in the story are also far higher, involving as they do peace in Europe between the Catholic Church and the Holy Roman Empire.

It is subject matter that is fascinating if you have an interest in the politics of the period (less so if you don't) and Vaughan-Hughes manages for the most part to keep readers informed without relying on unwieldly chunks of exposition or over simplification. By the end of the book you feel you have a real feel for how complex the shifting loyalties based on religion, nationality and wealth were back then.

Unfortunately however interesting the wider setting may be, the central story itself is less successful. After what is essentially a prologue that alters forever one part of Petroc's life the former monk and the book's readers are plunged headlong into a twisting plot that takes in London, Rome, Northern Italy, Constantinople, the Greek Islands and Venice. Pulling in assassins, Popes, wild-boar hunts, multiple murders, exiled Emperors and mysterious priests/shamans, its a tale that should be exciting and thrilling. Unfortunately never manages to really be either very successfully.

With pacing that is simply too slow to maintain real excitement, and a plot that simply has too many elements to it (and often becomes confusing) Vault of Bones is bloated where it should be leans and fast. This is a thriller, and as such should entertain and excite as well as educate. Instead too often it meanders. This allows for a fascinating portrayal of the period but does not fire the blood. When action does occur its reasonably well handled but not well enough to erase the long passages when nothing much happens not very quickly.

It would be better if Petroc were a more dynamic narrator/hero. Unfortunately, although less of a naif abroad in the world than he was in Relics, he is still far from a truly dynamic figure. With events early on leaving him wracked with remorse and saddness he can be a less than entertaining companion for much of the book. Matters are partially rescued by some of the supporting cast, easpecially Lettice, a courtesan who crosses Petroc's path, but with the young Englishman narrating the entire book he needed to be a far more attractive heroic lead.

Vault of Bones is not a complete bust and Vaughan-Hughes hasn't squandered all the good will generated by his debut. The setting is still interesting and original. He does however, need to tighten up his plotting considerably. Historical details can be interesting but are no substitute for a dynamic narrative. And whilst Petroc has grown further as a character he needs to become more decisive and less a victim of events if he is to be a solid lead for future adventures.

I will be reading Vaughan-Hughes next. I just hope he gives us something that is more of a thriller and less of history lesson.

A real talent!
I just finished reading this novel, Pip Vaughan-Hughes' second book about Petroc and his mates from the Cormoran. I thoroughly enjoyed Relics and was looking forward to another medieval romp. Vaughan-Hughes did not disappoint, but this is much more than a romp!

This book is jam-packed with plot, intrigue, and emotion, not to mention a plethora of historical information which left this poor history student begging for more. As in Relics, the book totally immerses us in the sights, sounds, smells and passions of the world that Petroc lives in and the priceless articles that he deals in. Vaughan-Hughes has a great ear for dialogue, and his characters, especially Petroc, are fully realized and very human. Without giving anything away, the first part of the book is melancholy but very compelling, and it seems to be a mature and brave step for a writer in his second book.

The plot is much more intricate than that of Relics, but it never flags or leaves the reader behind. We are taken from London, across Europe, and down to Constantinople, and it is here especially that Vaughan-Hughes comes into his own; his descriptions brings to life a magnificent and ultimately tragic city and its terrible history, and the reader is left breathless as Petroc reacts to the many twists and turns of the plot and the supporting characters.

Vaughan-Hughes is an amazingly good writer; when I read Relics, I thought it would make a brilliant movie. Dare I say Vault of Bones would be even better! I can't wait to see what Vaughan-Hughes writes next.