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The Monk of Hambleton
The Monk of Hambleton
Detecive Peter Creighton's latest challenge begins in a rather unusual setting: a labor dispute at a tannery.
Book Excerpt
e suddenly became dim; Simon rose irritably and went to the single window, where he raised the green shade to its greatest height. Storm-clouds rolling up from the west had obscured the descending sun so that the countryside, with its rolling fields of grain and patches of thick woodland, which a moment since had been laved in a golden flood, now looked grim and gray beneath the deepening shadows. The tanner studied the gloomy prospect with angry eyes, finding in it some reflection of his own situation, and the face which he raised to the heavens was as black as the clouds themselves.
His was the startled, half-uncomprehending fury of the bull at the first stinging dart of the picador. Domineering and ever dominant, he had been accustomed throughout his life to impose his will upon others. Shrewd and capable in his chosen business, successful in the limited area of his activities, he had come perilously close to believing himself omnipotent, not only in all that pertained to his own destiny, but in the
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Found this quite satisfying and very unlike many attempts from the pulp genre. You can just see that this author took himself the time to develop the characters right. Recommended.
10/14/2010
This is a good who-dunit and fun
07/07/2010
A really good read! Well done!
06/09/2010
For the first few pages of this book, I was totally put off by it. The obnoxious tannery owner (obviously the soon-to-be murder victim) was SO obnoxious that I didn't even want to continue reading about him. I actually came close to quitting it. That would have been a mistake. As soon as the Monk of Hambleton came on the scene, I couldn't put it down. It is a masterfully written mystery. Lots of suspects. Everybody has a motive. It is one of the few mysteries I have read that you are completely on the side of the murderer. If ever anyone required a good murdering, it was Simon Varr. Terrific read. I am on a quest now for more of this author's books.
I found another title by Armstrong Livingston (Murder is Easy) listed on Google that received high praise from Dorothy L. Sayers who said about it, "If this doesn't please you, you are very hard to please indeed." That sentiment applies just as accurately to this book. Read it. You can't help but like it! I hope Manybooks finds more of his works.
I found another title by Armstrong Livingston (Murder is Easy) listed on Google that received high praise from Dorothy L. Sayers who said about it, "If this doesn't please you, you are very hard to please indeed." That sentiment applies just as accurately to this book. Read it. You can't help but like it! I hope Manybooks finds more of his works.
02/23/2010
Armstrong Livingston was a prolific author, but sadly there is no record of his life or accomplishments except that he was born in 1885.
This is truly a pity because if The Monk of Hambleton is a typical example of his storytelling, Livingston was an author of merit. Fortunately, there are lists of his works available for the dedicated bookworm to explore even if the author himself must remain a cipher.
The Monk of Hambleton is a very satisfying and ingenious murder mystery, but little can be revealed without giving too much of the story away. Needles to say there is a murder, a plethora of suspects, and Peter Creighton, the detective who does not appear until Chapter 10.
The story leads you through the clues and its twists and turns are more fascinating than frustrating. You will think you know who the guilty party is and then change your mind and then reconsider. When the culprit is eventually revealed, be assured that even then, truth may still not be all that it appears.
This one is very much worth your time.
Craig Alan Loewen
http://literary-equine.livejournal.com/
This is truly a pity because if The Monk of Hambleton is a typical example of his storytelling, Livingston was an author of merit. Fortunately, there are lists of his works available for the dedicated bookworm to explore even if the author himself must remain a cipher.
The Monk of Hambleton is a very satisfying and ingenious murder mystery, but little can be revealed without giving too much of the story away. Needles to say there is a murder, a plethora of suspects, and Peter Creighton, the detective who does not appear until Chapter 10.
The story leads you through the clues and its twists and turns are more fascinating than frustrating. You will think you know who the guilty party is and then change your mind and then reconsider. When the culprit is eventually revealed, be assured that even then, truth may still not be all that it appears.
This one is very much worth your time.
Craig Alan Loewen
http://literary-equine.livejournal.com/
12/08/2009
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