Horn of Roland

by Ellis Peters

Book Overview

When Lucas Corinth is invited back to the Alpine town of Gries-am-See, it is as a favoured native son. Since his boyhood there during the war, he has become a famous composer and conductor. But over... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0747236003
• ISBN13: 9780747236009
• Release Date: January 1991
• Publisher: Headline
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.9" x 4.4"

Customer Reviews

Inspector Felse mystery

I recently found this book at the library and was eager to read it, since it is hard to find non-Brother Cadfael books by Ellis Peters. I was happy to find it was as good as the Inspector Felse mystery series she wrote at the same time. Inspector Felse is not in it, but the plot is just as good. It reminded me of The House of Green Turf with it's unraveling of the past piece by piece. It takes place in a tiny Austrian village where the WWII war hero returns after many decades to conduct the first performance of his new compositon, The Horn of Roland. Unfortunately, not only do old memories surface, but also new threats from the time of the Nazi occupation. The mood is set, the characters seem real, the scenery is magnificent, the plot is believable, and the end is surprising. Just what you'd expect if you're a fan of Ellis Peters.

Bad Mystery - Good Book

I don't think Ellis Peters' "The Horn of Roland" is a great detective novel, but in spite of its flaws I liked it. The setting is a village in Tyrolian area of Austria. As a teenager during World War II Lucas Corinth worked with the underground escorting anti-Nazis across the Alps into Switzerland. As the Nazis were closing in on his cell, he escaped but his mentor/friend was captured. 30 years later Lucas, now a world famous composer and conductor, returns. Amidst the festivities, he is accused of betraying his friend and warned he will be killed. As a mystery this book is only so-so. The identity of the avenger is pretty clear early-on, the protective actions of the police are inept, and the private sleuthing is absurd. What I liked about the book is the how the would-be avenger and would-be victim affect each other. I hesitate to use it, I believe the word spiritual best describes what happens to them.