The Killing Way

by Tony Hays

Book Overview

It is the time of Arthur, but this is not his storied epic. Arthur is a young and powerful warrior who some would say stands on the brink of legend. Britain's leaders have come to elect a new supreme... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0765319454
• ISBN13: 9780765319456
• Release Date: March 2009
• Publisher: Forge
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.88 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.7" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

Hard to put down.

It's obvious that Tony has spent a good deal of time researching the times and ensuring that the integration of them are seemless and as acurate as possible. The story has all the key elements of a great mystery keeping you guessing 'till the end. I found myself wanting to skip to the end to see who the "doers of evil" were but resisted. This book is a great read especially for all those Authur Nuts out there......you know who you are. So go and get a copy you won't be dissapointed.

Gripping Tale of Murder and Conspiracy

True to the nature of the time, "The Killing Way" holds the treachery and loose formed alliances of the land as the backdrop of a sinister plot. The first chapter is busy getting the reader up to speed on the situation and background information. Afterward, the deed is done and the tale unfolds bringing the characters to life. Once again, Tony Hays brings us another great novel to read. I found "The Killing Way" a wonderful book. The author's ablity to bring the reader into the era as the events unfold keeps you captivated. The unique challenges they must overcome are well articulated and the twists and turns of who did it, and who is aligned with whom, keeps you reading in order to discover the culprit (or culprits?).

Great Read!!!

King Arthur, move over and make way for Malgwyn! Tony Hays, has made this character come to life in a love... hate relationship toward the Rigatomus. While written as fiction it will carry you back in time with the most believable story line involving drama, mystery and murder from the Druids and Saxtons battles while trying to obtain power over the land and the people. Everyones loyalty is questioned. The author's knowledge on the time and era of King Arthur is phenomenal and I would hope there would be more to follow. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves medieval literature and lore.

The Killing Way

The Killing WayI was just truly amazed that I was so caught up in "The Killing Way". I could not put it down and it is probably the best mystery/suspense book I have read, bar none. Tony has written several other books which I have read and I loved them all, but this one is probably my favorite because he tied it to this historical mystery genre about the true King Arthur of the mysterious Dark Ages of Britain, with all its conflict including the Druids and his becoming the Rigatomus (king)and Malgwyn's reluctant loyalty that saved Arthur many times. I felt as if I knew these characters very well and yet it was the Dark Ages! Because it was an actual bit of history that was unfamiliar, yet written with such great feeling, I found myself buying several other books, like "The History of the Kings of Britain" by Geoffrey of Mammouth (12th century) and "The Discovery of King Arthur" by Geoffrey Ashe, in order to better understand the historical perspective. Altogether, the plot, the characters, the writing itself, really kept my attention and I can't wait for the next one in the series to come out.

powerful Dark Ages mystery

In the fifth century after the Romans left Britannia, farmer Malgwyn ap Cuneglas loves his wife and child. However, when Saxons murder his spouse, he loses his grip on sanity. He leaves his daughter with his brother to join King Arthur's legion in order to kill Saxons. Malgwyn becomes renowned as Mad Malgwyn with killing rages in battle until his arm is severed. He wants to die but Arthur saves his life and turns him into a scribe. Instead of enjoying life, he becomes a drunk, who hates the monarch for saving his life. Someone kills peasant Eleonore slicing her apart and leaving her heart in the home of Arthur's beloved former tutor and former advisor Merlin.. Although the evidence strongly points to Merlin as a mad murderer. Arthur rejects the concept. He orders Malgwyn to investigate, but before the one armed scribe can begin, a second homicide as brutal as the first occurs. The superstitious peasants believe Merlin used magic to kill the second female since he was incarcerated when she was killed. Finally a guard who witnessed Eleonore talking with a hooded person has vanished. As Malgwyn makes inquiries amidst anger and dissension, he concludes the motive is to keep Arthur from being crowned Rigotamo (High King). Anyone who thought there can be no new spin to the Arthurian legend will need to revise that opinion as Tony Hays provides a refreshing radical twist with a terrific gritty fifth century Noir. Camelot does not exist; instead Britannia is a decaying dangerous place. Chivalry is nonexistent as backstabbers are everywhere. Arthur is pragmatic seeking power with the Saxons and Druids opposing him; Genevieve is a fallen nun who he loves but politically cannot marry. However, the tale belongs to its grim narrator Malgwyn who knows Britannia as a place where the broken Roman roads mirror broken lives. This is the powerful beginning of a Dark Ages mystery series. Harriet Klausner