The ideal novel is a perfect confluence of plot and characterization. Usually it starts with an attention getting scene or a section of character development that gets your attention and keeps it, because you want to unravel a theme, an event, or a mystery that has intrigued you.

Historical novels have an additional dimension of interest for aficionados: one wants to revel in the recreation of a time or a place or, better yet, to find anachronisms, so that one can criticize the author's historical scholarship while conveniently overlooking their writing skills in general.

Having said all of the above I want to say that I find "the Owls of Gloucester" an interesting well written summer read, but please, Mr. Marston, don't think that I believe that the 50 monks of Gloucester Abbey drink their ale from glasses! This precious fragile material so rare in 11th century England would hardly be used for holding a monk's ale. I think you mean bowls or mugs of wood or fired clay. Perhaps the abbot drank from a pewter cup, but otherwise.... I might note in praise that my knowledge of the prescribed times of monastic prayer has been increased through reading this novel. I had known of Vespers, Compline, and Nones, but her for the first time I was made aware of Sext.

Late in the eleventh century under the reign of William, Brother Nicholas fails to return to Gloucester Abbey from collecting the rents. He remains missing for two days leading to concern and high tension among the residents of Gloucester Abbey because that is out of character for the monk. Anxiety dramatically increases when two novices, known for their misdeeds, stumble over the corpse of Brother Nicholas, whose throat has been slashed.

The Brothers and the novices panic while Sheriff Durand stuns the Abbot when he insists that the opportunity to kill the victim was only available to one of monks. In the area to resolve another minor land dispute, Domesday Commissioners Ralph Delchard and Gervase Bret travel to Gloucester Abbey to conduct their own investigation. They quickly conclude that the murder of Nicholas is just the start of an evil that will kill again and ultimately destroy the abbey unless stopped.

Instead of turning repetitive and as boring as resolving an insignificant land dispute (just ask Ralph), the tenth is a delightful fresh treat. The "locked door" who-done-it is cleverly designed and fun to follow as the lead sleuths struggle with a closed mouth abbot and an irate sheriff wanting them to stay out of his business to solve the case. Historical tidbits interwoven into the plot enhance the murder mystery. However, the key to Edward Marston's latest William era tale is the depth of the support cast which enables the audience to visualize medieval times inside a strong investigative novel.

Harriet Klausner

A lot of information, mostly very interesting and well-presented. It's appeal is quite general, to anyone interested in colorful local history and the sea, not just to those with esoteric fascinations with fishing industry history or old boats. The main draw, though, is the collection of photographs, some very old, capturing a largely vanished way of life and yet showing a lot of similarities between they that go down to the sea in ships today and their ancestors. The text and photos work together beautifully to give a feeling for a very difficult way of life and the very real and ever-present danger.

A great book! Payson goes into details that make boat building a successful venture even for the amateur. A must read and reference book for anyone wishing to build the Gull.

Frances Haywood's book is an essential tool for the serious genealogist. The entries in this book are complete and are shown exactly as they appear in the records at the Gloucester County Virginia Court House. Each of the entries is similar to the following excerpt:

John Green, ae 24y, oysterman, s/o Geo. & Nancie Green; Anna West, ae 19y, d/o Christopher & Nancie West; Mar 5 1857 by Rev. W. S. Hawkins at Benjamin Seawell's.

Many entries also give the maiden names of the mothers and other information such as nicknames.

The index to the book is organized by last name only with a page number listed for each appearance of the name in the book. This makes quick reference for a particular marriage or year of marriages time-consuming by today's "database research" standards. The text appears to be from a typewritten manuscript with indentations separating marriages (as opposed to blank lines) making the book ever so slightly tiresome to read, but not such a distraction as to inhibit usefulness.

Ms. Haywood's book is a culmination of hours of research and typing, and deserves a place among any genealogist's research volumes.