Product Description

Many lies. But only one truth...Winter 1372, in York: A man has drowned in the River Ouse. It soon becomes clear that his death was not an accident. But why would anyone want to kill a humble river pilot? As the crowds around the murdered man thicken, one-eyed spy Owen Archer is quickly brought to the scene by his adoptive son, Jasper. Renowned for solving many crimes, Owen is immediately drawn into the case. But right from the start he realises that it isn't a simple question of one victim, one suspect. And when a valuable cross goes missing and a woman is badly burnt in mysterious circumstances, the web of deceit widens. Then another body is found in the river. And as Owen and Jasper get closer to the truth, they find their own lives in danger...

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #24704 in Books
• Published on: 2008-04-03
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 400 pages

From the Publisher
The long-awaited new novel in the highly acclaimed series of medieval mysteries featuring the one-eyed spy Owen Archer...

From the Back Cover
ACCLAIM FOR CANDACE ROBB

'It's ... the Machiavellian intrigue that makes this such an enjoyable read. When the iron curtain came down people said the spy-thriller genre was dead. They were wrong. This is as full of intrigue as a Deighton or a Le Carré' Guardian

'Ellis Peters has a cohort of pretenders snapping at her heels ... most impressive of the bunch is Candace Robb' Time Out

‘A superb medieval mystery, thoroughly grounded in historical fact’ Booklist

'Enthralling and evocative ... Candace Robb recreates medieval York with ease' Yorkshire Evening Press

‘Thirteenth-century Edinburgh comes off the page cold and convincing, from the smoke and noise of the tavern kitchen to Holyrood Abbey under a treacherous abbot. Most enjoyable’ The List

‘Meticulously researched, authentic and gripping’ Yorkshire Evening Post

‘A rich and satisfying novel’ Publishers Weekly

‘Hugely, but subtly, detailed … complex, ambiguous and gripping’ Historical Novels Review

‘Gripping and believable … you can almost smell the streets of 14th-century York as you delve deeper into an engrossing plot’ Prima

About the Author
Candace Robb has read and researched medieval history for many years, having studied for a Ph.D in Medieval and Anglo-Saxon Literature. She is also the author of eight previous Owen Archer novels and three Margaret Kerr Mysteries. She lives in Seattle.

Customer Reviews

Owen Archer Books are always a Good Read

As I only live 20 miles from York where most of these books are set, I can perhaps visualise better than most the area of England the books take place in. Many of the streets of York mentioned in the books are still there and of the course so is the Minster.

Owen Archer the lead character in the book is a Welsh longbow man who works for a high church dignitary and spends some of his spare time helping in his wife's apothecary shop. He is called upon by William of Wykeham, the Bishop of Winchester, to help him with a serious problem. I myself am interested in this period of English history and the author's authenticity cannot be questioned and her excellent story telling is spellbinding. I cannot recommend her books highly enough and I am always eager for the next offering.

The book takes place in the city of York in the year 1372. A man has drowned in a fight with some boys from St. Peter's School. It becomes apparent that his death was no accident, the man had been poisoned. The question is why would a poor river pilot be killed. Suspicion fall on the master of a small grammar school, Father Nicholas Ferriby. But is he a man of the cloth capable of murder? And if so why? OOwen Archerwen Archer is quickly informed of the death and his master, Thorseby reluctantly allows Archer to investigate the murder. When another man is found dead in the river and Owen and his son Jasper get near to solving the mystery they find that there lives are also in jeopardy and Owen is torn between solving the crime and being at his wife Lucy's side as she prepares to give birth to their third child.

Owen Archer Books are Always a Terrific Read

As I only live 20 miles from York where most of these books are set, I can perhaps visualise better than most the area of England the books take place in. Many of the streets of York mentioned in the books are still there and of the course so is the Minster.

Owen Archer the lead character in the book is a Welsh longbow man who works for a high church dignitary and spends some of his spare time helping in his wife's apothecary shop. He is called upon by William of Wykeham, the Bishop of Winchester, to help him with a serious problem. I myself am interested in this period of English history and the author's authenticity cannot be questioned and her excellent story telling is spellbinding. I cannot recommend her books highly enough and I am always eager for the next offering.

The book takes place in the city of York in the year 1372. A man has drowned in a fight with some boys from St. Peter's School. It becomes apparent that his death was no accident, the man had been poisoned. The question is why would a poor river pilot be killed. Suspicion fall on the master of a small grammar school, Father Nicholas Ferriby. But is he a man of the cloth capable of murder? And if so why? OOwen Archerwen Archer is quickly informed of the death and his master, Thorseby reluctantly allows Archer to investigate the murder. When another man is found dead in the river and Owen and his son Jasper get near to solving the mystery they find that there lives are also in jeopardy and Owen is torn between solving the crime and being at his wife Lucy's side as she prepares to give birth to their third child.

I Always Look Forward to a New Owen Archer Tale

As I only live 20 miles from York where most of these books are set, I can perhaps visualise better than most the area of England the books take place in. Many of the streets of York mentioned in the books are still there and of the course so is the Minster.

Owen Archer the lead character in the book is a Welsh longbow man who works for a high church dignitary and spends some of his spare time helping in his wife's apothecary shop. He is called upon by William of Wykeham, the Bishop of Winchester, to help him with a serious problem. I myself am interested in this period of English history and the author's authenticity cannot be questioned and her excellent story telling is spellbinding. I cannot recommend her books highly enough and I am always eager for the next offering.

The book takes place in the city of York in the year 1372. A man has drowned in a fight with some boys from St. Peter's School. It becomes apparent that his death was no accident, the man had been poisoned. The question is why would a poor river pilot be killed. Suspicion fall on the master of a small grammar school, Father Nicholas Ferriby. But is he a man of the cloth capable of murder? And if so why? Owen Archer is quickly informed of the death and his master, Thorseby reluctantly allows Archer to investigate the murder. When another man is found dead in the river and Owen and his son Jasper get near to solving the mystery they find that there lives are also in jeopardy and Owen is torn between solving the crime and being at his wife Lucy's side as she prepares to give birth to their third child.