'Damn His Blood!' by Peter Moore

A Real Life Murder Mystery

....    The scent of garlic filled the air adding authenticity to a popular Italian Restaurant in  Corbridge, namely, Il Picolo. This quaint Northumbrian village features regularly in the lives of the Hadrians Hussies as, not only does it share our Roman roots,  but it also offers numerous quality restaurants and pubs for our monthly meetings. One great strength of this venue was that, for once in Corbridge, parking was easy.

....    We opted for starters and mains as the menu offered a wide variety of mouth watering dishes.

The portions were so generous that no one could find room for a pudding.  There are also half portions available for the smaller appetites!  The food was of a high standard and everyone enjoyed their meal. The final bill came to £25 per Hussie including tip, only slightly cheaper than Matfen Hall. The waitresses were friendly and attentive but in no way intrusive, leaving us with plenty of time to discuss last months book, 'Damn His Blood by Peter Moore.

...    This is Peter Moore's first novel, in which he recounts the dreadful events that occurred in the small village of Oddingley on midsummers day in 1806. It was chosen by a Hussie who spent many happy weekends in the village during her childhood, listening to  ghost stories about the poor deceased vicar. Now the story has been fleshed out, the vicar, namely Reverend George Parker so enraged the local farmers by demanding tithes that he met with  a violent and untimely death in his own glebe field. The author provides a rather extensive comprehensive picture of what rural life in late 18th and early 19th century England was like, offering interesting facts on local industry as well 

as law and order. It is quite a slow read and demands a lot of concentration to get to grips with the different characters as there are quite a few. This is more of a history textbook than a crime thriller, but its an interesting and informative read and lays to rest the myth of the village parson bricked up in the walls of the vicarage. A myth which entertained and enriched the formative years of many a child in 1970's Oddingley.

....  A little light relief is very welcome for next months read.  Join us early October and share our views on:

INSTRUCTIONS FOR A HEATWAVE  by  MAGGIE O'FARRELL





                                                                                                                              12th September 2013