The historical fiction that I like best is historical fiction that takes a known event in the past and puts a believable and engaging story around it. And I especially like historical fiction when the author provides a bit at the back (or front, or somewhere) that tells which bits are known/accepted history, and which bits are the author’s speculation. I also like when I can learn something about a period without feeling as if I am reading a textbook. And, I’m a big fan of murder mysteries, so I’m happy when the “event” is a murder, or at least a suspected murder. Murder in St Paul’s meets all of my criteria for historical fiction, and I enjoyed it very much.

Often historical fiction relies on the use of a minor (or even made-up) character to tell the story – I suspect this can give the author a bit more leeway in telling their tale without contradicting what is known. In this case, the author, Richard Dale, has told the story of Richard Hunne through the eyes of Hunne’s wife, Anne. Anne is herself a historical figure, but as Dale indicates in his note at the end, she and her family are mentioned only briefly in historical records.

I especially enjoyed this book because I didn’t know much about this time period as seen from the viewpoint of “the common people”. And, although it’s fun to imagine that one is someone famous like Henry VIII, with wealth and power, I find I really do enjoy it more when the characters are a bit more like me, not necessarily at the top of society.

Per the publisher’s blurb, Richard Dale is a retired professor and a member of the Royal Historical Society, and this is the author’s first try at fiction. I think it was a success, and I’ll be looking for more titles from this author.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

The setup of this book reminds of the Kingsbridge trilogy by Ken Follett. Conflicts between ordinary people and the Church are in both cases important themes. For Murder in St Paul’s this is even the main theme. No physical church is built in this case, but the common people are fighting for a religious Church that stands closer to them, beginning with a Bible that is written in their own language.
Given that the story of Richard Hunne is a true one and given that the author wrote some essays about the subject before, I expected the book to be somewhat lecturing at times, but – surprise! -- this is absolutely not the case. Richard Dale spends quite some words explaining things, but nevertheless is this a compelling and entertaining story.

Dale is apparently quite fond of words that are not common any more these days. You’ll find them throughout the entire book, but in most cases it is clear from the context what they mean. They strengthen the atmosphere of the time period in which this book is set and help the reader dive into that period. To help this even more, Dale has added some nice examples of how certain practical things worked in the sixteenth century, like for instance the organisation of sanitary services during an annual fair.

Richard Hunne was found hanged, but whether it was suicide or murder, remains unknown. The author has come up with a solution that makes sense and is realistic. He has made use of the available documentation about the case, and has added a life for Hunne’s widow Anne that is made up but also very believable. Murder in St Paul’s is a very well composed piece of historical faction and the author has succeeded in showing the reader how Reformists fought for their believes and how dangerous this was.

This ARC was courtesy of netgalley - all thoughts and opinions are mine and unbiased

I've not read this author before but historical fiction is my thing and the Tudor period in particular so was in heaven being able to read an advanced copy of this

Richard Dale has taken a different tract here. Normally, in these types of novel, the author sticks to Henry VIII et al, but this focuses on lower classes in society which was a refreshing change.

Well written, well researched - if you are interested in the Tudor period, as I am, you will absolutely love this !!

Fantastic read

Murder in St. Paul's is a interesting historical fiction novel with interesting characters. I enjoyed the characters and storyline.

I was disappointed by this title. The subject was interesting and could have made for either a good novel or a good bit of nonfiction history. Unfortunately, while the book was a novel it read like nonfiction history creating a "worst of both worlds" situation. What I was reading was not fact (and therefore not "useful" in the way fact can be) and did not have the sort of style, insight, and development that make good fiction so much fun to read.

In 1514, in the early years of the reign of Henry VIII, a wealthy London Merchant, Richard Hunne, was found hanging in the Old St Paul’s Cathedral. Was it murder or suicide. This is a fictional account of one view of that event.
To the background of the teachings of Lollard and Martin Luther, his widow Anne, attempts to determine the truth, while trying to keep safe in a country where being anti-church can bring death.
An interesting historical fictional account of these dangerous times, for people who did not believe in the all powerful church that existed across Europe at this time.

It was great to read a book about the Reformation that doesn't focus on Henry VIII but on the lower classes, as way before Henry split with Rome many people in England and Europe were becoming resentful of the clergy's wealth and greed. I had not heard of Richard Hunne or the stand that he had made against the church, at a time when going against the church could result in your execution. There are many brave men and women in this story who risked their lives just to have the ability to read the Bible in the vernacular, something that is taken for granted today.
I really felt a sense of Tudor times within the book as the author's descriptions were very detailed, a lot of time and research has clearly gone into this.
I was worried that the book would be a little dry but I found it rattled along quickly and I was cheering Anne along all the way, the style put me in mind of Ken Follett in places! To get the most out of the book it might be best if you have some knowledge of the Reformation but then you wouldn't be reading this book if you weren't interested in this period!