Blessop's Wife (Historical Mysteries Collection) Paperback – September 6, 2015

This book is unusually long for a kindle unlimited mystery. A lovely romp through the sordid poverty stricken life of ordinary people juxtaposed to the life of nobility in the late 1400’s in England. Thank God for indoor plumbing and electric lights and HVAC systems. Catch up on the reign of Edward IV and Richard III.

This book was very heavy reading at times but always kept me going because of the excitement. Loved the timing and the locale. It could be very sweet and romantic as you continued.

...If only Barbara Gaskell Denvil were in front of the classroom. Historical fiction can be so many things, but, in BLESSOP'S WIFE, this is truly Historical with fiction added as a spice for flavor. This re-counting of events shares time, fashion, speech, and class but the focus is on the events. The quality of writing has not been reduced to horror, brutality, or sexual exploitation but is consistent in the qualities of settings, interactions and character development. Since this is a harsh period of time, the author includes glimpses of violence but mostly "in self-defense." This is history done tastefully and enjoyably.

I enjoyed much of this book. The first half had me engrossed and interested. Up to that point I would have given it 5 stars. I was surprised and disappointed when the explicit sex showed up midway through the story. So unnecessary. It distracted from the actual storyline. At that point I would have given it 3 stars. I finally just skipped over the sex scenes and read the actual story, which was well written. Until all the explicit sex showed up I thought I had found a new favorite author. I might give another book a chance but if it contains as much unnecessary sex as this one does, it will be the last one of this author. Seems like she didn't have much confidence in the story if she felt it needed sex to fill the second half. A good story stands on its own. Doesn't need the sex. Fortunately there are many writers out there who can achieve this. This author could as well.

I loved the characters in this book and they truly were characters. The plot dragged in places and I got tired of reading every deal of love making in the book. It really slowed down the pace While I finished this book I don’t think I’ll read the next in the series

Liked the story, and most of the characters! My biggest was the number of characters! They're so many & I had to keep going back to see who was who!

So delighted to discover Ms Gaskell Denvil’s books on Kindle Unlimited. As a lover of historical fiction, and British history, I thoroughly enjoyed Blessop’s Wife. The plot kept me turning pages, and the characters were all very well developed and interesting. I loved the author’s use of humor, and her obvious knowledge and love of the Middle Ages. This was an action packed, fun read - chock full of history, romance, and intrigue. I immediately downloaded book 2 in the series. Highly recommend!!

OK, I loved the character of Andrew Cobham. If I may beg forgiveness from Dorothea Dunnett and Georgette Heyer, Andrew's character reminded me a little of Frances Lymond (Lymond chronicles) because of his constantly changing identities, and of Justin Alastair (These Old Shades). I did grow gradually disappointed that the relationship between him and the heroine/victim Tyballis dwindled pretty much into one bedroom romp after another. It's so easy to write about sex; I wish authors would work a little harder to really figure out what draws two people together in a more meaningful way. There is a lot of drama to be developed in relationships. I've already bought Denvil's next book (she does tell a pretty good tale), but if it becomes as dependent on sex scenes as this book was, it will probably be my last read of her work.

I am 1/4 way through the book. I ordered all 4 medieval mysteries set in the 15th century as it is my favourite historical period. I am really enjoying the story, but am giving it only 3 out of 5 stars for the following reasons.There is a glaring anachronism in the author's constant use of the title Mister for ordinary ie non-titled men. Mister did not come into use until centuries later. She may as well have given the characters mobile phones! Master is the title that would have been used. Sorry but it really annoyed me a lot.There is an over-emphasis on grime and lack of sanitation. I don't expect history to be glossed over, and certainly some novels fail to mention this at all (although with the Cadfael novels I thought it was better that this was not mentioned). Sharon Penman doesn't go out of her way to mention dirt, lice etc, and Kate Sedley in her Roger the Chapman novels mentions it a lot less than Barbara Gaskell Denvil does.Lastly, it's rather off-putting how scenes run straight into each other with no new paragraph. This is something I was taught to do writing stories in primary school! It makes the story a bit muddled. I am shocked that the proof-reader failed to pick this up and the publisher sent it through like this.I tried to contact the author through her website page, but the contact form doesn't work, and I don't use Facebook, although I know some people seem to think you are clinically insane if you don't nowadays!

If this had been made of paper rather than e-book, it could have been added to my toiletry requirements. I didn`t realise that the totally unimaginative were allowed pen & paper, but, you live & learn they say, & this pile of utter dross has certainly taught me a lesson. This heap of excrement is so bad it could have been a Richard & Judy recommendation. I have to give this one star, although I would rather give a minus of ten, or the critique would not be accepted. Cheating by Amazon no?

Story line was reasonable but far to much detailed and unnecessary sex detail which I had to skip several pages just to get back to the story. Will avoid her books like the plague in future,

I wasn't sure whether I would enjoy this as I tend to read books with Richard III centre stage and here he is portrayed as a minor character (albeit positively). However, once I started to read it, I didn't want to put the book down - the author's characters are fantastic, three-dimensional and likeable and the story is fast-moving and enthralling. Likewise the depiction of this time period is authentic and believable, conjuring up the sights, smells. tastes and sounds of the later fifteenth century. If you like a rollicking good read and larger than life protagonists, set against a backdrop of mediaeval London, you will not be disappointed. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

I would have liked more character description, plenty of words on unpleasant surroundings but what did our two leading players look like! Other than hulking and childlike??