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4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
735 global ratings
5 star
64%
4 star
26%
3 star
8%
2 star
1%
1 star
1%
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Top reviews from United Kingdom

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Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Some of it was 'gripping'.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 August 2023
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The x,imatic final chapters were 'gripping', however the technical details of squabbles about land and possessions couched in medieval terms, although reinforcing the impression of historical authenticity, were for a while quite tedious to follow. Just as well that I read such fiction at bedtime and don't mind it being soporific!
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Hampshire_Birdman
5.0 out of 5 stars Great story with good characters
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 June 2023
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A good believable story. Well written and enjoyable.
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Wordflayer
5.0 out of 5 stars Gift
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 November 2022
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A gift and apparently enjoyed
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K. J. Livesey
4.0 out of 5 stars a good author
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 April 2021
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i like the auhor and have read.a lot of his other series
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Ted G.
5.0 out of 5 stars The Author helps me to escape, he makes reading very enjoyable.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 October 2021
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Another Excellent book to read, the Domesday series has helped me to enjoy and learn about our History. The Author has again made 'me' feel as if I am present in the story.
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Terry
5.0 out of 5 stars Iove the series great read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 May 2022
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No complaints
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Another brilliantly thought out story in the series
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 May 2021
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This is another brilliantly crafted story that continues a great series. The plot is one of mystery and suspense, that follows the commission on yet another journey to solve disputes and crimes.
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Mrs J R Coster
5.0 out of 5 stars Would recommend
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 July 2021
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Always enjoy Edward Marston’s books. Light reading despite their always being a murder. Purchased when on offer at £2.00.
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Top reviews from other countries

shawnlacy
4.0 out of 5 stars I love this series, but this one had one issue
Reviewed in the United States on 20 March 2023
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I feel like Ralph is going to need to “save the cat” here before he is just an annoying extra in the story. I have loved every book so far (including this one, the story is excellent) but Ralph went from my favorite character to annoying as hell in the span of this book. Gervase could have handled this one on his own.
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L. J. Roberts
3.0 out of 5 stars Excellent period detail. Good, but not my favorite
Reviewed in the United States on 2 March 2011
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First Sentence: The search began at dawn.

The Royal Commission, including Sir Ralph Delchard and his bride Golde, travel to Canterbury in order to settle a land dispute between the archbishop and the prior of St. Augustine's Abbey. Murder takes precedence over land; particularly the murder of a 17-year-old girl found with a snake bite on her neck and an apple, from which one bite was taken, in her hand. Followed shortly but the poisoning of a kind monk, Delchard and Gervase find themselves combating a cunning and dangerous adversary.

Books that include maps and one of Canterbury in the 11th Century are my kind of thing. I also appreciate books that make me think about things such as the difference between perception and reality, and allow me to learn--in this case about the Gnostics. Unfortunately, those were the major highlights of this entry into a series that is, otherwise, one of my favorites.

There were some definitely shortcomings here, including a small portent and a large coincidence. While I have generally felt Marston's dialogue conveyed the period, here it seemed stilted. The descriptions of the action scenes felt awkward and less exciting than they should have been.

I have loved the characters of Ralph, Gervase and the two priests who accompany them, Canon Hubert and Brother Simon. Part of the reason why I've felt the characters worked so well was the interaction between them. Perhaps some of my disappointment with this book was that it seemed fragmented due to the union of the main characters being fragmented. There were very few instances of them working together.

Don't misunderstand; I did not hate the book. The story definitely kept me reading and I was very glad it did. The insight into the period was strong, as always, and the honesty that any person may be good or bad, regardless of rank or position, is significant. In fact, one of the most chilling characters is not the killer. That element was very effective. Not one to give up on an otherwise favorite author, I am curious to read the next book in this series.

THE SERPENTS OF HARBLEDOWN (Hist Mys-Sir Ralph Delchard/Gervase Bret-England-Middle Ages) - Good
Marston, Edward - 5th in series
St. Martins' Press, ©1998, US Hardcover - ISBN: 0312180217
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M.V.
5.0 out of 5 stars another great series from Edward Marston!
Reviewed in the United States on 12 January 2022
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I love this series. The characters are so real, the plots are interesting. I haven’t been able to stop reading the series! I don’t want it to end.
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Wade
3.0 out of 5 stars Good story, Many confusing typos
Reviewed in the United States on 5 June 2015
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As usual for this series, the book is a page turner, entertaining, informative about life in 11th century England, and the characters are interesting. This particular book, regardless of who is at fault contained numerous errors, usually the name of a character. One reads that Gervase says something, but the dialogue is out of character for Gervase, but rather something Ralph would say. Other characters are confused also, and it is not always so easy to be sure exactly to whom the author is referring. I persisted in reading through all these errors to finish the book, and, as I say, it's a good story, but a less sloppy presentation would have made it more enjoyable. Without all the typos, I'd have given this book 5 stars.
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Michael Burke
4.0 out of 5 stars NIfty mystery
Reviewed in the United States on 30 January 2012
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This is the fifth of the series I have read and it doesn't disappoint. The girl is found, dead with an apple in her hand and a serpent nearby. A scene from the Garden of
Eden gown awry. Every twist and turn points to a different killer but the end is always a bit of a surprise. Not at all easy to figure out. Especially in a day with little communication but letters and speech. Our hero's Ralph and Gervase are interestingly of diverse talents. Enjoy the glimpse into a medieval world
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