C2002: Unfortunately, I read this out of order because the library did not have the first two. I don’t think that it really mattered as the back story was there when it was needed. In saying that, I have just remembered that at one point I did wish that the background of the main character of Feste had been given in a bit more detail. Two main POVs which provided a change of direction as it were. Another type of “locked room” mystery – such a common plot these days that there are not many that I can’t see straight away. There is a key give away fairly early on in the book but this may not have been such common knowledge before the days of the CSI franchise. The writing is more than adequate and the humour is good. The Unknown Graffiti artist struck again - this time correcting American spelling into English spelling! I have no words left!!!!!!!!! How insular can you be? One small pet hate and that is the drop-in phrase to try and hook you a bit more into the story “’It’s safer here.’ That’s the sort of completely misguided assertion that I come up with every now and then. Events were to prove me wrong. Sometimes, I really hate events.” FWFTB: jester, Constantinople, silk, death, besieging. FCN: Feste (known by a few names it seems), Rico (the dwarf), Aglaia (also known by a few other names), Philoxenites (the ‘fat, bald eunuch), Plossus (‘who would more likely be found walking on stilts or on his hands than on his feet’)
This book had all the ingredients to be utterly wonderful, and I started off thinking it was going to be. Great beginning, original idea, a gorgeous mix of historical fact and fiction, wit and humour and the fascinating city of Constantinople. And yet ... It was quite good, but not as gripping as it could have been. I'm still trying to work out why, but I THINK it was the main characters, who were oddly bland, for all their quirks. I didn't feel attached to them, so even when they were in danger I wasn't particularly worried. Not sure if I'll try another one of Gordon's books or not. Maybe if it falls into my hands.
Do You like book A Death In The Venetian Quarter (2002)?
Hmm. I'd read books 1, 4 & 7 of the series before coming to this, #3. As you might expect, I think it's better than #1, not as good as 4 & 7. Gordon is certainly confident in his trademark style, and sometimes Feste is annoyingly over-confident, verging on smug. Gordon puts him in a tight spot at one point, and we are told that Feste would have no trouble dealing with four attackers at once. That's a pretty clear signal that we needn't worry about our hero. (Of course, since he's narrating after the fact, we knew that). The plot develops rather slowly, and seems to expect the reader to have a moderate understanding of who was who in the Middle East around 1200. But interesting things happen, and as usual Gordon weaves the fools into actual history neatly, making us believe that they could indeed have been part of what happened. I agree with others who noted that the Fools' Guild isn't discussed as much as it might have been, as if we are expected to know all about their mandate of "If it's happening behind the scenes, we're there!"Still good.
—Tim Hicks
