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Author

Paul Doherty

1946

88 fiction · 4 non-fiction

Paul Doherty is a British historian and author best known for historical mysteries set in medieval England and the ancient world. Born in Middlesbrough in 1946, he studied history at the University of Liverpool and completed a doctorate at Oxford on Edward II and Queen Isabella. Alongside his writing career, he worked for many years in education and served as a headmaster. He was appointed OBE for his services to education.

Doherty has written more than one hundred books, including the Hugh Corbett medieval mysteries and The Sorrowful Mysteries of Brother Athelstan. His fiction also explores ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, the Tudor court and other periods of political and religious upheaval. Writing under several pseudonyms, including Paul Harding, Michael Clynes and C. L. Grace, he combines murder investigations with detailed portrayals of court politics, warfare, religious belief and everyday historical life.

Periods and events

Alexander the Great336–323 BCE Armistice and Aftermath of World War I1918–1923 CE Battle of Flodden1513 CE Battle of Tewkesbury1471 CE Crusader States1098–1291 CE Eighteenth Dynasty of Egyptc. 1550–1292 BCE Elizabethan Age1558–1603 CE Elizabethan Religious Settlement1559–1563 CE First Crusade1095–1099 CE Hundred Years’ War in France1337–1453 CE Italian Renaissancec. 1350–1600 CE Joan of Arc1412–1431 CE Lancastrian England1399–1461 CE Medieval England after the Norman Conquest1071–1300 CE Medieval Scotland843–1500 CE Pax Mongolicac. 1250–1350 CE Peasants’ Revolt1381 CE Princes in the Tower1483 CE Readeption of Henry VI3 October 1470–11 April 1471 Reign of Constantine I306–337 CE Reign of Edward I1272–1307 CE Reign of Edward II1307–1327 CE Reign of Henry VIII1509–1547 CE Reign of Nero54–68 CE Reign of Richard II1377–1399 CE Wars of Alexander the Great334–323 BCE Wars of Scottish Independence1296–1357 CE Wars of the Roses1455–1487 CE Yorkist England1461–1485 CE

Historical fiction

Historical fiction series by Paul Doherty (11 series)

Brother Athelstan Mysteries in Order

by Paul Doherty 17 books 4.5(35,900)

The Brother Athelstan Mysteries are set in London during the minority and early reign of Richard II. Athelstan is a Dominican friar serving the poor parish of St Erconwald’s in Southwark, while Sir John Cranston is the city coroner. Their investigations move between taverns, churches, guild halls, royal…

1. The Nightingale Gallery

First published 1991 · 4.4(3,405)

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2. The House of the Red Slayer

First published 1992 · 4.5(2,505)

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3. Murder Most Holy

First published 1992 · 4.6(2,146)

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4. The Anger of God

First published 1993 · 4.6(1,666)

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6. The House of Crows

First published 1995 · 4.6(1,480)

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7. The Assassin’s Riddle

First published 1996 · 4.6(2,154)

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8. The Devil’s Domain

First published 1998 · 4.5(3,034)

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9. The Field of Blood

First published 1999 · 4.5(2,875)

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10. The House of Shadows

First published 2003 · 4.4(2,302)

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14. The Book of Fires

First published 2014 · 4.5(2,134)

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15. The Herald of Hell

First published 2015 · 4.5(2,780)

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16. The Great Revolt

First published 2016 · 4.5(2,977)

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17. A Pilgrimage to Murder

First published 2016 · 4.6(2,860)

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21. The Hanging Tree

First published 2022 · 4.6(1,259)

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22. Murder Most Treasonable

First published 2023 · 4.6(965)

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23. Murder’s Snare

First published 2024 · 4.6(882)

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24. The Meadows of Murder

First published 2026 · 4.5(476)

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Margaret Beaufort Mysteries in Order

by Paul Doherty 4 books 4.5(1,013)

The Margaret Beaufort Mysteries begin in the aftermath of the Yorkist victories of 1471, when Edward IV controls the English crown and Margaret Beaufort’s son, Henry Tudor, survives in exile. Margaret cannot challenge the regime openly, so her household becomes a centre of guarded correspondence, covert alliances and…

1. Dark Queen Rising

First published 2018 · 4.4(558)

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2. Dark Queen Waiting

First published 2019 · 3.3(4)

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3. Dark Queen Watching

First published 2021 · 4.5(250)

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4. Dark Queen Wary

First published 2023 · 4.4(201)

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Hugh Corbett Mysteries in Order

by Paul Doherty 24 books 4.4(54,121)

The Hugh Corbett Mysteries follow a royal clerk, diplomat and Keeper of the Secret Seal from the reign of Edward I into the troubled rule of Edward II. Corbett investigates murders that threaten royal government, foreign negotiations and the security of the crown. His work takes him from…

1. Satan in St Mary’s

First published 1986 · 4.1(4,821)

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2. Crown in Darkness

First published 1988 · 4.2(2,980)

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3. Spy in Chancery

First published 1988 · 4.3(2,735)

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4. The Angel of Death

First published 1989 · 4.4(1,718)

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5. The Prince of Darkness

First published 1992 · 4.3(3,132)

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6. Murder Wears a Cowl

First published 1992 · 4.4(2,954)

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7. The Assassin in the Greenwood

First published 1993 · 4.4(2,590)

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8. The Song of a Dark Angel

First published 1994 · 4.5(1,563)

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9. Satan’s Fire

First published 1995 · 4.4(2,321)

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10. The Devil’s Hunt

First published 1996 · 4.4(2,807)

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11. The Demon Archer

First published 1999 · 4.4(2,543)

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12. The Treason of the Ghosts

First published 2000 · 4.5(2,742)

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13. Corpse Candle

First published 2001 · 4.4(2,476)

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14. The Magician’s Death

First published 2004 · 4.4(2,517)

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15. The Waxman Murders

First published 2006 · 4.3(2,515)

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17. The Mysterium

First published 2010 · 4.3(2,476)

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18. Dark Serpent

First published 2016 · 4.5(2,526)

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19. Devil’s Wolf

First published 2017 · 4.5(2,185)

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20. Death’s Dark Valley

First published 2019 · 4.5(1,480)

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21. Hymn to Murder

First published 2020 · 4.5(1,324)

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22. Mother Midnight

First published 2021 · 4.5(1,183)

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23. Realm of Darkness

First published 2022 · 4.5(901)

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24. Banners of Hell

First published 2024 · 4.5(798)

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25. Immortal Murder

First published 2025 · 4.5(834)

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Kathryn Swinbrooke Mysteries in Order

by Paul Doherty 7 books 4.4(8,819)

The Kathryn Swinbrooke Mysteries follow a physician and apothecary working in Canterbury during the unsettled Yorkist years after the Wars of the Roses. Kathryn’s medical knowledge allows her to distinguish natural death from poisoning, injury and deliberate deception, while her independence brings her into investigations involving civic officials,…

1. A Shrine of Murders

First published 1993 · 4.3(1,699)

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2. The Eye of God

First published 1994 · 4.4(1,307)

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3. The Merchant of Death

First published 1995 · 4.4(1,190)

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4. The Book of Shadows

First published 1996 · 4.4(1,224)

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5. Saintly Murders

First published 2001 · 4.5(1,186)

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6. A Maze of Murders

First published 2002 · 4.4(1,055)

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7. A Feast of Poisons

First published 2004 · 4.4(1,158)

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Canterbury Tales Mysteries in Order

by Paul Doherty 7 books 4.4(8,100)

The Canterbury Tales Mysteries use the pilgrimage framework associated with Geoffrey Chaucer. Travellers setting out from the Tabard Inn agree to exchange darker evening tales alongside their ordinary stories, and each volume gives a different pilgrim a mystery of murder, haunting, revenge or concealed guilt. The stories range…

1. An Ancient Evil

First published 1994 · 4.3(1,647)

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2. A Tapestry of Murders

First published 1994 · 4.3(1,138)

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3. A Tournament of Murders

First published 1996 · 4.5(991)

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4. Ghostly Murders

First published 1997 · 4.4(1,206)

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5. The Hangman’s Hymn

First published 2001 · 4.4(1,217)

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6. A Haunt of Murder

First published 2002 · 4.3(1,199)

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7. The Midnight Man

First published 2012 · 4.2(702)

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Sir Roger Shallot Tudor Mysteries in Order

by Paul Doherty 6 books 4.3(5,148)

The Sir Roger Shallot Tudor Mysteries are presented as the recollections of an elderly rogue who once served Benjamin Daunbey, nephew of Cardinal Wolsey. During the early reign of Henry VIII, Roger and Benjamin are sent to investigate murders, stolen relics, espionage and threats to the Tudor dynasty.…

1. The White Rose Murders

First published 1991 · 4.1(1,373)

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2. The Poisoned Chalice

First published 1992 · 4.4(783)

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3. The Grail Murders

First published 1993 · 4.4(753)

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4. A Brood of Vipers

First published 1994 · 4.4(802)

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5. The Gallows Murders

First published 1995 · 4.4(596)

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6. The Relic Murders

First published 1996 · 4.4(841)

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Mathilde of Westminster Trilogy in Order

by Paul Doherty 3 books 4.3(2,977)

The Mathilde of Westminster Trilogy is narrated by a physician who once served Isabella of France before and after her marriage to Edward II. Looking back from later life, Mathilde records the murders, poisonings and acts of espionage that surrounded the young queen’s household. Her medical skill and…

1. The Cup of Ghosts

First published 2005 · 4.3(1,072)

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2. The Poison Maiden

First published 2007 · 4.3(878)

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3. The Darkening Glass

First published 2009 · 4.4(1,027)

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Political Intrigue in Ancient Rome in Order

by Paul Doherty 5 books 4.3(2,022)

Political Intrigue in Ancient Rome moves between the Julio-Claudian court and the transformed empire of Constantine I. Domina follows Agrippina the Younger’s struggle for influence as wife of Claudius and mother of Nero. The four Claudia mysteries then shift to the early fourth century, where an imperial agent…

1. Domina

First published 2002 · 4.1(273)

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2. Murder Imperial

First published 2003 · 4.1(500)

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3. The Song of the Gladiator

First published 2004 · 4.3(468)

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4. The Queen of the Night

First published 2006 · 4.3(404)

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5. Murder’s Immortal Mask

First published 2008 · 4.3(377)

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Alexander the Great Mysteries in Order

by Paul Doherty 3 books 4.3(468)

The Alexander the Great Mysteries follow Telamon, a physician and boyhood companion of Alexander, during the opening campaign against the Achaemenid Persian Empire in 334 BCE. Alexander’s army has crossed from Macedonia into Asia, but assassinations, infiltrators and rivalries within the command threaten the expedition before and between…

1. The House of Death

First published 2001 · 4.2(168)

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2. The Godless Man

First published 2002 · 4.2(141)

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3. The Gates of Hell

First published 2003 · 4.3(159)

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Matthew Jankyn Mysteries in Order

by Paul Doherty 2 books 4.2(1,015)

The Matthew Jankyn Mysteries follow a former thief and suspected Lollard who enters the service of Bishop Henry Beaufort. Jankyn’s criminal experience makes him useful as an investigator and agent, but his loyalties remain divided between survival, religious doubt and the demands of a powerful Lancastrian patron. The…

1. The Whyte Harte

First published 1988 · 4.2(529)

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2. The Serpent Amongst the Lilies

First published 1990 · 4.0(486)

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Templar in Order

by Paul Doherty 2 books 4.1(663)

The Templar novels trace the order from the First Crusade to its established power in the mid-twelfth-century Crusader States. The Templar follows Hugh de Payens, Godfrey de Saint-Omer and Eleanor as they travel east with the crusading armies and confront the brutality, deprivation and political bargaining behind the…

1. The Templar

First published 2007 · 3.8(295)

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2. The Templar Magician

First published 2009 · 4.1(368)

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Historical fiction

Standalone historical fiction by Paul Doherty (8 books)

Ranked by rating and voting volume.

The Soul Slayer

by Paul Doherty

First published 1997 · 4.4(574)

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Dove Amongst the Hawks

by Paul Doherty

First published 1990 · 4.3(238)

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The Fate of Princes

by Paul Doherty

First published 1990 · 4.3(177)

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Roseblood

by Paul Doherty

First published 2014 · 4.3(781)

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Of Love and War

by Paul Doherty

First published 2000 · 3.9(49)

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Alexander the Great

by Paul Doherty

3.8(30)

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The Great Crown Jewels Robbery of 1303

by Paul Doherty

3.8(79)

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The Plague Lord

by Paul Doherty

First published 2002 · 3.8(195)

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Non-fiction

Non-fiction by Paul Doherty (4 books)

Reference works, biographies and other non-fiction are kept separate from the historical fiction above.

The Mysterious Death of Tutankhamun

by Paul Doherty

First published 2002 · 3.8(42)

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The Great Crown Jewel Robbery of 1303

by Paul Doherty

First published 2005 · 3.8(79)

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The Death of the Red King

by Paul Doherty

First published 2006 · 3.8(75)

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The Secret Life of Elizabeth I

by Paul Doherty

First published 2006 · 3.7(158)

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