1482: Granada, AndaluciaWhen death comes to the Alhambra palace a hero is needed … but did they pick the right man?A demand is made of Englishman and physician Thomas Berrington – to investigate a series of deaths, each displaying the marks of a savage attack. At first reluctant he is drawn deeper into the investigation when one of the Sultan’s wives is brutally murdered. Teaming up with the … is brutally murdered. Teaming up with the eunuch Jorge the pair pursue the killer before another victim is chosen. As the investigation continues they discover nothing is as it seems and nobody can be trusted.
Al-Hamra, the palace perched atop the red hill, holds its secrets close. As the truth starts to be uncovered their discoveries culminate in a battle not only for their own lives, but for the lives of those they love.
For anyone who likes breakneck pacing, medieval murder mystery, and complex characters the Red Hill delivers a rewarding read.
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“The Red Hill” by David Penny, is among my favorite medieval mysteries. I loved its setting in Moorish Spain. Also, the mystery, involving a series of murders in the sultan’s harem, was extremely well-crafted. Nearly everyone the protagonist meets has a motive to commit the crimes, and David Penny does an excellent job of disguising the truth while offering enough subtle clues to make the ending believable. And like all great mystery tales, the puzzle kept me guessing until the novel’s final twist!
David Penny writes some great fiction with enough historical detail to keep you interested.
This was a great introduction to the series, which I plan on acquiring. I’m a dyed-in-the-wool Holmes and Watson fan and the characters in this book reminded me of my first introduction to the intrepid pair, trying to figure each other out as much as the mystery at hand.
I look forward to watching the character trio learn about each other, while solving mysteries in the world of Moorish Spain.
This is a really interesting mystery set in Granada near the end of its days as a Moorish city. Thomas Berrington is a former soldier, now a physician, appointed by the sultan to find the murderer of some harem women. It’s a fairly long book that doesn’t seem long.
I would read another of this series. It was an intriguing historical jaunt with a palace doctor and sidekick trying to solve a murder.
Looking forward to reading the whole series,
Love the setting of this story, have always loved adventurous stories, movies. Trying to solve a murder for a Sultan, an ex-Christian doctor has his hands full doing just that. A little hard to follow as the doctor and his assistant, are thoroughly confused with so many suspects to consider. I was really confused throughout the story, but it was entertaining.
Good historical setting, my kind of book.
Good solid read. A bit slow to start, but grabbed my attention before the halfway point.
Great writer- wonderful characters, exciting stories.
Historical and informative
Crime novel meets historical fiction. Set in medieval Spain, in the Moorish kingdom of Granada, an Englishman finds himself distracted from his work as a court physician when he has to solve a murder.
David Penny has written an action packed, well researched historical murder mystery! The scene is set with lots of description, transporting one to Moorish Andalusia. His characters act as real people would, sometimes rationally and sometimes on impulse. The plot is fast moving and full of action, ending in a dramatic revelation of those pulling the murderer’s strings!
Thomas Berrington is a fifteenth physician in a Moorish cort. Generally he cares for wounded soldierrs, but he is also the personal physician at the palace. Thr Red Hill refers to the location of the palace, whichis high above and far removed from ordinary people. When the sultana Safya is killed by an intruder, the sultan “requests” that Berrington find the murderer. Since the sultan is somewhat capricious, and Berrington has never tried to solve a mystery, Berrington -a transplanted Englishman – reluctantly begins the search with only the help of a eunuch. This is a satisfying medeival mystery.
Great historical novel of the Moorish period in Spain. Main character is Englishman, veteran of wars, who now is a healer. Castle intrigue, interesting characters, good and evil. Well written.
Feel like you are immersed in Moorish Spain at the time of the inquisition. Well written and historically educational. Fascinating read. Some of the medical care methods the character developed are anachronistic almost to the extreme but it still is a page turner and well worth the time to read this and it’s predecessor