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Library | Call Number | Status |
|---|---|---|
Searching... Monmouth Public Library | Fic (m) Hays, T. 2009 | Searching... Unknown |
Searching... Silver Falls Library | MYS HAYS | Searching... Unknown |
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Summary
Summary
It is the time of Arthur, but this is not his storied epic. Arthur is a young and powerful warrior who some would say stands on the brink of legend. Britain's leaders have come to elect a new supreme king, and Arthur is favored. But when a young woman is brutally murdered and the blame is placed at Merlin's feet, Arthur's reputation is at stake and his enemies are poised to strike. Arthur turns to Malgwyn ap Cuneglas, a man whose knowledge of battle and keen insight into how the human mind works has helped Arthur come to the brink of kingship.
Malgwyn is also the man who hates Arthur most in the world.
After the death of Malgwyn's wife by Saxon hands, he became Mad Malgwyn, killer of Saxons and right-hand lieutenant to the warrior Arthur. Right hand, that is, until a Saxon cut his sword arm off and left him to die on the battlefield. Arthur rescued him. Now a one-armed scribe and a heavy drinker, Malgwyn rejects the half-life that his liege gave him. But loyalty is sometimes stronger than loathing…and Malgwyn is pulled toward a puzzle that he can't walk away from.
Think CSI: Medieval : gritty, powerful, and with the true ring of historical perspective and a character who sees more than those around him. The Killing Way is the first in a mystery series that is sure to be a hit with both mystery readers and historical fans alike.
Author Notes
Tony Hays is a journalist and novelist. He has covered topics as varied as narcotics trafficking (earning his newspaper the Tennessee Press Association award for Public Service in 2000), political corruption, Civil War history, and the war on terror. His short fiction has appeared both in the United States and Japan, and he is the author of three novels. He resides in Tennessee.
Reviews (4)
Publisher's Weekly Review
Political intrigue and ancient superstition loom large in this excellent mystery from Hays (Murder in the Latin Quarter), the first in a new series set in Dark Age Britain, when the Arthurian legend was born. Lord Arthur ap Uther asks Malgwyn ap Cuneglas, a clerk who has lost an arm battling Saxon invaders, to investigate the brutal slaying of Eleonore, a servant girl whose body is found outside the home of Arthur's former teacher, Merlin, with Merlin's bloody knife nearby. Malgywn must find the real killer fast, because the lords from all the local tribes have come to Castellum Arturius to choose a new leader, and ambitious contenders could seize on Arthur's connection to a murderer to discredit him. One of the book's many strengths is the way Malgywn, whose wife has died at Saxon hands, evolves from a bitter drunkard into a respected and valued adviser. History buffs as well as mystery fans will be amply rewarded. (Apr.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Kirkus Review
Hays (The Trouble with Patriots, 2002, etc.) kicks off a new series with anti-hero Malgwyn ap Cuneglas. Malgwyn is the classic hard-boiled detective: After his wife was killed by thugs, he avenged her death and hit the bottle. Beyond that there's not much that's typical in these pages. The book is set in medieval times, and here the heavies are Saxons, the weapons are swords and the hooch is mead. Malgwyn lost his right arm, and with it all hope of driving the Saxons from southwest England. The war leader Arthur ap Uther noticed his keen wit and saved him, sending Malgwyn to learn his letters as a scribe with the brothers at Glastonbury. Now, when a serving girl is found brutally slaughtered at the entrance to Arthur's castle and all the evidence points to Arthur's trusted councilor Merlin, Arthur sends for Malgwyn to investigate. Malgwyn knows that in his dotage, Merlin thinks he's cleverer than he is, but he's no murderer. Instead, what's revealed is a plot to discredit Arthur and prevent his election as ruler. Are the Druids scheming to prevent the Christian Arthur from ascending to the throne? Is Lord Tristan's proposal for peace with the Saxons sincere? As the bodies mount and the peasants clamor for the head of the sorcerer Merlin, Arthur stakes his honor and Malgwyn's life on Malgwyn's ability to deliver justice by the next nightfall, and the hunt is on. Earthy, densely plotted and likely to have readers eagerly awaiting the next installment. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Hays turns a time-honored historical legend on its head, creating a new mystery series steeped in Arthurian mythology. As young Lord Arthur hones his reputation as both a warrior and a diplomat, his formidable enemies stand poised and ready to pounce on any perceived weakness or transgression. When Merlin is accused of murdering a young servant girl, it provides the anti-Arthur faction with an excuse to challenge his ascension to the throne. In order to solve the mystery, Arthur calls upon the one man he trusts above all others Malgwyn ap Cuneglas, a cunning warrior with a keen mind. Though a one-armed Malgwyn has been nursing a grudge against his lord since Arthur rescued him from a preferred death on the battlefield, he finds it difficult to resist the mental challenge of the investigation. The popularity of both historical mysteries and new twists on the Arthurian tales will provide a tailor-made audience for this promising new series.--Flanagan, Margaret Copyright 2009 Booklist
Library Journal Review
In fifth-century Britain, Arthur, a powerful knight, is about to be elected high king when a young woman is butchered and Merlin is arrested. Arthur calls upon Malgwyn, a former soldier and now a drunken, one-armed scribe, to find the culprit. Tackling the Arthurian legend, this original series debut is full of suspenseful action played out against a backdrop of Druids seeking to reestablish their influence over the people and powerful men playing politics and dabbling in treason. This fascinating blend of history and fiction by the author of Murder in the Latin Quarter is sure to engage fans of both Bernard Cornwell and Ellis Peters. Highly recommended. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.