CROWN IN DARKNESS

Like Ellis Peters, P.C. Doherty has perfected the craft of writing high-quality historical mysteries. The hero is not a monk, but rather an English clerk sent to discover the circumstances of the death of King Alexander III of Scotland. This is a novel about murder, political intrigue, and heart-pounding action. Paul Matthews is an accomplished storyteller in the classic tradition. He allows the story to tell itself without a lot of vocal histronics. His voice is pleasing to the ear, and the tale itself challenges the brain. D.L.G. (c) AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC/ JAN 02]