Give Up the Dead: A Mediaeval Mystery (Book 5)

By C.B. Hanley

'And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them; and they were judged every man according to their works' Book of Revelation, 20:131217: Commoner-turned-earl's-man Edwin Weaver joins the earl's army as it marches for the Kent coast to defend the realm against an invading French fleet. But when a series of accidents puts the earl's life in danger, he soon realises that the enemy is closer at hand. Before he can solve the mystery, however, Edwin finds he must face a double horror: not only a bloody battle, but one that will take place on the high seas. As the bodies pile up, Edwin discovers that it is not just the French who are trying to kill him . . . The fifth book in a thrilling series of mediaeval mysteries by C.B. Hanley.

• Language: English
• Publisher: The Mystery Press
• Release date: Jul 23, 2018
• ISBN: 9780750989428

C.B. Hanley

C.B. Hanley holds a PhD in Medieval Studies specialising in warfare in the 12th and 13th centuries and its portrayal in contemporary vernacular literature. She has published an academic book and a number of scholarly articles on the period, and continues to write non-fiction history as well as novels. Between her first degree and PhD she spent some time working as a historical interpreter, which gave her a practical grounding in medieval life to add to her theoretical studies, which is very useful in adding background colour to her novels. She is also a freelance copy editor and proof-reader.

Reviews for Give Up the Dead

[john257hopper · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is the fifth in the author series of historical mysteries set in the early 13th century during the civil war between the supporters of the boy King Henry III and those of the French Prince Louis, who had previously been invited to the country by the barons opposed to young Henry's father, King John. Our hero Edwin Weaver, scribe to Earl Warenne of Surrey, a thoughtful and observant young man from Conisbrough in South Yorkshire, is missing his wife Alys, whom he re-encountered and married at the end of the previous book, and feeling increasingly repelled by the ravages of the civil war being inflicted by both sides on the innocent people of the country. The climax of the action in this book is the bloody naval battle of Sandwich, off the coast of Kent, in and around the savage fighting of which Edwin loses some of his friends and companions in differing circumstances. He also solves the mystery behind a series of near fatal mishaps that occur around the retinue of the earl and his key comrades, the source of which is shockingly unexpected to young Edwin. I really like Edwin, and I was glad to read in the author's historical note that there will be further books in the series.