The Magician's Death (Hugh Corbett Mysteries, Book 14): A twisting medieval mystery of intrigue and suspense

Paul Doherty's fourteenth novel in the brilliant Hugh Corbett series. Friar Roger's Bacon's book of secrets is coveted in both France and England, but the brilliant, controversial scholar has concealed his discoveries behind a mystifying code. When Sir Hugh Corbett, spy master to King Edward I, instructs his agents to prise the book from its hiding-place in Paris, they succeed only at a violent and bloody cost. A meeting between the scholars of both countries is demanded by Philip IV of France to discuss whether the code can ever be broken, and Edward, bound by his recent peace treaty with Philip, is forced to agree. The meeting takes place at Corfe Castle, which soon becomes a place of murder, mystery and mayhem. Young women from the castle are being slain and then two of the French scholars die in sinister circumstances. Corbett has to thread this murderous maze, whilst at the same time, trying to decipher the secrets of one of England's greatest scholars. About the Author Paul Doherty was born in Middlesbrough. He studied History at Liverpool and Oxford Universities and obtained a doctorate for his thesis on Edward II and Queen Isabella. He is now headmaster of a school in north-east London and lives with his family in Essex. The search for a coded book of secrets leads to dramatic repercussions... In Paul Doherty's The Magician's Death, Hugh Corbett's must decipher a book of secrets and keep in check rivalries, passions and brutal murders. Perfect for fans of Ellis Peters and Susanna Gregory. The monk and scholar Roger Bacon claimed to have seen many marvels of nature and science and concealed these in a book written in an unbreakable code. Sir Hugh Corbett has been instructed to organise agents in Paris to steal this Book of Secrets. They do so but pay a violent price and the French King Philip IV now wishes a meeting between the scholars of England and France to discuss breaking the code. Edward I has no choice but to allow the meeting to take place at Corfe Castle, which becomes a place of murder and mayhem. Young women from the castle are being slain whilst horrific things are witnessed in the nearby forest. The situation becomes more serious when two of the French scholars die in sinister circumstances. Corbett and Ranulf-atte-Newgate have to thread this maze of malevolent murder whilst trying to decipher the great secrets of one of England's most outstanding scholars. What readers are saying about The Magician's Death: 'Doherty's novel is written with a great flow, action and description and creates a vivid picture of the time and people' 'This is one of the best books so far...exciting and unputdownable' 'Murder, intrigue, treachery, a little romance, and lots of action combine to give the reader an excellent read'