Book review - "The Devil's Wolf" by P. C. Doherty

I think P. C. Doherty has ghost writers for his publications and when they learn a new word, they try to see how many times they can use it in a novel.  In his previous book in this series, Dark Serpent, the word was ‘contumaciously’ (stubbornly perverse or rebellious).  In The Devil’s Wolf, the nineteenth and latest Hugh Corbett mystery, the word is ‘comitatus’ (a companion, an associate).  The repetition becomes tedious and distracts from the enjoyment of the story.  Doherty et al, think about using a thesaurus!  It is a great tool.

In The Devil’s Wolf, King Edward II has sent Hugh Corbett and his comitatus north, closer to Scotland.  England’s war with the Scots is going from ‘terrible’ to ‘it can’t get any worse’.  Corbett is traveling to Lord Percy of Alnwick Castle for a prisoner exchange with the Scots.

On the way, Corbett is warned of an attack by Edmund Darel, a ruthless knight whose sympathies lie with Robert the Bruce.  Corbett and his men foil the attack but one of their Scottish prisoners is later found poisoned.

Even after they reach the safety of Alnwick Castle, more attempts are made to kill Corbett.  Two more Scottish prisoners are poisoned and the fourth disappears.  Corbett knows there is a traitor in their midst but he cannot determine who it is.  He hears stories of Darel’s comitatus cavorting with witches and devil worshippers at bizarre midnight ceremonies.

Doherty takes a walk on the weird side with this story.  He’s touched on these subjects before but hasn’t take a complete dive off the deep end as with this one.

But Doherty ends The Devil’s Wolf with a teaser for the reader that Hugh Corbett Novel #20 will follow.

Three dragons out of five.
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