THE HANGMAN S HYMN

    When, homeless and jobless, Simon Cotterill joins a hangman's crew, replacing a man who himself sent to the gibbet, he feels rejected even by the desperate men he now words with. Until he learns the secret of how a hanged man can walk away from his own grave.
Meanwhile, from the forest paths around Gloucester, young women are disappearing. When a disfigured corpse is found, the mayor suspects a coven of witches is preying on vulnerable souls, and arrests three hideous hags. Afraid the town's prosperity could suffer from a reputation for witchcraft, he holds a midninght trial that condemns the women, They are taken to the Forest of Dean to be hanged. But the unearthly sounds of the forest at night frigter even the hangmen, and a violent storm drives them to seek shelter, leavin g the witches swinging from the gibbet tree, The next morning, their bodies are gone.
Then, one by one, every person who took part in the trial is found dead, and Simon is forced into hiding to save his own life……
Acclaim for Paul Doherty's mediveal novels 'Supremely evocative, scrupulously researched portrait...vivid, intricately crafete whopdunnit' Publisbers Weedly 'Paul doherty has a lively sense of history' New statesman 'the mastro of medieval mystery' Books Magazine 'Doherty writes well, and his fascination for history comes off the page'Express.
作者简介：
Paul Doherty was born in Middlesbrough. He studied History at Liverpool and Oxford Universities and obtained a doctorate at Oxford for his thesis on EdwardⅡ and Queen Isabella. He is now headmaster of a school in north-east London and lives with his wife and family near Epping Forest.
Paul Doherty is the author of the Hugh Corbett medieval mysteries, The Sorrowful Mysteries of Brother Athelstan, the Canterbury Tales of mystery and murder, THE SOUL SLAYER, THE ROSE DEMON and THE HAUNTING, all of which have been highly praised.
'the book is a pleasure to read and written in an uncompromising prose, the plot developed with intriguing twists and turns. doherty's deep undertanding of the period and the nitty-gritty of historical detail are to the fore without intruding on the rhythm of the plot. Surerb entertainment' Historical Novels Review.
'As always the author invokes the medieval period in all its muck as well as glory, filling the pages with pungent smells and description. The author brings yeras of research to his writing; his mastery of the period as well as a disciplined writing schedule have led to a rapidly increasing body of work and a growing reptation' Mystery News.