A Season of Knives (Missing Mystery, 18) by Dana Stabenow

A Season of Knives (Missing Mystery, 18) by Dana Stabenow

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Book Description
In 1592, Sir Robert Carey, a handsome courtier fleeing his creditors, his father's wrath, and the close scrutiny of his Queen, came north to Carlisle to take up his new post as Deputy Warden of the West March. The presence of his true love, the married Elizabeth Widdrington, was no mere coincidence. Before long, Sir Robert was up to his ruff in horse rustling and treason (A Famine of Horses), but he sorted that out with dispatch.
Now he's in trouble again. The rowdy Grahams plan to kidnap... read more

Reader Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful: A Season of Knives, January 3, 2002 Reviewer: A reader from CA This is another wonderful installment in the Robert Carey series of (loosely defined) mysteries set on the 16th-century Scottish Border. Anyone tired of twee, cutesy historical mysteries should read these immediately. Chisholm writes in a spare style which successfully infuses both humor and drama into the story. The characters, particularly the secondary characters, are endlessly appealing and the pacing of the plot is high-tension and breakneck. The hard-luck Border setting adds interest. Season of Knives starts only days after the end of A Famine of Horses, the first book. Carey is trying to seduce the married Lady Elisabeth. Everyone in the area is struggling to get their hay harvest in -- except for Carey's enemies, who plan a raid to kidnap the Lady. Meanwhile, a local man is killed, and the list of possible culprits grows. There are some especially wonderful scenes here -- one in which corrupt rations dealers are offered their own wares is almost worth the price of the book by itself. There's plenty of fast-moving action and a bittersweet end. Here and there plausibility falters (would a woman theoretically outraged enough to cut her husband's throat really hesitate because it would mean washing all the sheets?) but overall this book sets a very high standard.