The Prodigal Son by Chris Bishop

 The Prodigal Son by Chris Bishop

The Prodigal Son by Chris Bishop published by Red Door in June 2023. My thanks to the author and publisher for sending me a copy to review and to Literally PR for inviting me to take part on the tour.

Synopsis

THERE IS REJOICING IN THE PRESENCE OF THE ANGELS OF GOD OVER ONE SINNER WHO REPENTS

WESSEX 893.  As the kingdom is once more plagued by Viking attacks, Wareham is obliged to strengthen its defences against the threat posed by a fleet of Viking longships which are rampaging along the south coast and could strike there at any time

Meanwhile, having recognised Edward’s true lineage, King Alfred fears that the boy may fall victim to every fraudster in the realm seeking to get their hands on the vast fortune he’s set to inherit.  Worse still, given his newly established bloodline, he could well be used by those wishing to usurp Alfred as King.

The most immediate threat to the boy comes from his treacherous uncle, Edmund, who has already tried once to kill him and failed.  He is believed to have fled to join a band of desperate thieves in Wareham Forest from where he could strike again at any time.

My Review

Well Chris certainly knows how to pack a punch when her writes the final book in a series. There is love, murder, treachery, treason and much much more packed into 276 pages of addictive reading. As with the previous books in the series, The Prodigal Son is extremely well written and easy to read. The glossary of some of the terms at the back of the book is incredibly useful, as always, for those of us who are not fully conversed in Anglo Saxon England.

As with the previous books I sat down and devoured it in one extremely long sitting, finishing it in the early hours of the morning using the torchlight on my phone so I didn't disturb hubby !!

The book follows Edward not that his true lineage as Matthew's son has been recognised and the wrath and treachery that this revelation causes in Edmund, who sees himself as the one, and only jeir.

The Prodigal Son follows on from Bloodlines as if you had turned over to the next page and consequently I am not going to apologise  for including here an extract from my review of Bloodlines as it is still 100 ％ accurate.

There are many story lines and developments throughout the book that you are kept enthralled continuously from start ot finish with the story ever evolving around you. The characters, both human and animal, are strong and are developed in great detail throughout so that you are left feeling that you know them all personally by the end.

For me this was a great piece of historical fiction that takes you back to the Wessex of 898 and what it was like to live under the threat of Viking invasion and treachery.

The only question I am really asking now is ; " Is this really the end of the series or will Chris succumb and write a further book ? ", as the ending does leave it open to being continued !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

About the Author

Chris Bishop was born in London in 1951, After a successful career as a chartered surveyor, he retired to concentrate on writing, combining this with his lifelong interest in history. This is the fifth book in The Shadow of the Raven series, the first, Blood and Destiny, having been published in 2017, the second, The Warrior with the Pierced Heart, published in 2018,the third, The Final Reckoning, published in 2019, the fourth Bloodlines was published in 2021.

Follow Chris at ;

www.chrisbishopauthor.com

Twitter    @CBishop_author