Despite my protestations I am afraid my lawyers insist I must sue for attempted murder. You see I had recently come down with a devilish case of bronchitis and had the temerity to take up your Saxon Chronicles, as recommended by a friend, because I was sick as a cur and as bored. But when I finally delved into your tale and read the delightful digs aimed at the early swindlers and naifs of the Christian church skewered by pagan Uhtred I nearly died for the coughing fits of laughter. Most distressing the dying part, as my attorneys will attest, but luckily the sheer pleasure of Uhtred’s withering mockery saw me through to a new day, by the very skin of my hoarse throat.

I will call off my phalanx of trial attorneys if I can be assured that vol. 8 is soon to appear to finish what the first 7 failed, namely leave me lungless and on death’s door as the umpteenth victim of Uhtred’s wicked tongue. Was it Trajan Decius who famously decreed “Christianos ad leonem!’ – so perchance Uhtred might finally see a real lion in vol. 8  with a penchant for plump monkish bums on the run.

Yrs cordially,

Peter (an aging librarian and new fan)