In Book One of the The City of Dreams trilogy, we meet once more the family whose fortunes we followed in the al-Andalus series. Having made a miraculous escape from the besieged city of Córdoba, Makoud, now a middle-aged man, decides to head for Málaga with his family, looking to make a new life for themselves.
So this is the turbulent city where Makoud and his family find themselves. At first life is good. Makoud opens his own apothecary shop and his sons find work. But when the caliph dies and rumours suggest that he has been poisoned, Makoud becomes worried that he may have sold the poison to the assassin. His eldest son decides to investigate the caliph's death and soon finds himself caught up in a web of intrigue, lies and murder.
So this is the turbulent city where Makoud and his family find themselves. At first life is good. Makoud opens his own apothecary shop and his sons find work. But when the caliph dies and rumours suggest that he has been poisoned, Makoud becomes worried that he may have sold the poison to the assassin. His eldest son decides to investigate the caliph's death and soon finds himself caught up in a web of intrigue, lies and murder.
Makoud, now a middle-aged apothecary, has come to Málaga with his family to work. Shortly after they arrive the khalifa Yahya I dies and there are rumours that he was poisoned. Makoud is worried that the poison used by the assassins was bought from his shop. His son, Umar, now a soldier in the khalifa’s army, decides to investigate but he underestimates the power of the people behind the assassination, and instead he finds himself arrested and accused of murder. His father, family and friends pool all their resources to try to help him but the closer they get to the truth, the greater the danger they are all in.
In the first novel in a new historical series set in Moorish Spain, Joan Fallon sets the action in the busy medieval port of Málaga. Following on from the successful al-Andalus series, we meet up again with the younger members of the family who had escaped from the besieged city of Córdoba.
In the first novel in a new historical series set in Moorish Spain, Joan Fallon sets the action in the busy medieval port of Málaga. Following on from the successful al-Andalus series, we meet up again with the younger members of the family who had escaped from the besieged city of Córdoba.
REVIEW FROM DISCOVERING DIAMONDS
As holidays abroad, at the moment (May 2020) are non-existent because of Covid-19, and possibly, will remain so for some while, the next best thing is to travel virtually via a good book that takes you to a different country – in the case of historical fiction, to a different time as well. Joan Fallon’s The Apothecary suits nicely and ticks all the boxes, particularly if, like me, you read it while relaxing in your sun-lounger in the garden during a series of very hot days!
This novel will take you to the south coast of Spain, when the dynasty of Omayyad, and the Golden Age, has ended after two hundred and seventy-five years. We meet Makoud and his family, who arrive in Málaga hoping to start a new life, one that starts out well. Makoud is an apothecary, and starts his own shop, but then rumours start about the unexpected death of the caliph – rumours of murder by poison. Did Makoud inadvertently sell such a poison? His eldest son, Umar, takes it upon himself to delve deeper into the circumstances of the caliph’s death – but the lies and intrigue that come hand-in-hand with murder soon starts to catch him up.
Umar himself is a beautifully created character, as are all the characters – I was eager to keep reading to find out not just ‘what happened next’, but to be there with these characters, to discover what happened to them, personally as they very quickly became my fictional friends. Ms Fallon’s research is impeccable, with the language and atmosphere of the place and period as excellently achieved as her well-paced plot.
This is the first of a new series for Ms Fallon. I look forward to the next...
Reviewed for Discovering Diamonds
© Anne Holt
As holidays abroad, at the moment (May 2020) are non-existent because of Covid-19, and possibly, will remain so for some while, the next best thing is to travel virtually via a good book that takes you to a different country – in the case of historical fiction, to a different time as well. Joan Fallon’s The Apothecary suits nicely and ticks all the boxes, particularly if, like me, you read it while relaxing in your sun-lounger in the garden during a series of very hot days!
This novel will take you to the south coast of Spain, when the dynasty of Omayyad, and the Golden Age, has ended after two hundred and seventy-five years. We meet Makoud and his family, who arrive in Málaga hoping to start a new life, one that starts out well. Makoud is an apothecary, and starts his own shop, but then rumours start about the unexpected death of the caliph – rumours of murder by poison. Did Makoud inadvertently sell such a poison? His eldest son, Umar, takes it upon himself to delve deeper into the circumstances of the caliph’s death – but the lies and intrigue that come hand-in-hand with murder soon starts to catch him up.
Umar himself is a beautifully created character, as are all the characters – I was eager to keep reading to find out not just ‘what happened next’, but to be there with these characters, to discover what happened to them, personally as they very quickly became my fictional friends. Ms Fallon’s research is impeccable, with the language and atmosphere of the place and period as excellently achieved as her well-paced plot.
This is the first of a new series for Ms Fallon. I look forward to the next...
Reviewed for Discovering Diamonds
© Anne Holt
AMAZON REVIEW:
5 stars
Great ending to keep us guessing !
21 April 2019
Format: Paperback
I've just finished reading Joan Fallon's latest book which I just couldn't put down in spite of the heatwave outside. Joan has woven a fascinating story and draws the reader cleverly into the souls of the characters so that you need to keep reading in order to find out their fate. The characterisation is excellent and beautifully blended with lyrical and colourful descriptive passages which allow you to picture them in their surroundings. Her characters come to life before your eyes and you experience their hopes and despairs with them. The ending is cleverly crafted to make you await the next book in the series with heightened anticipation. A thoroughly recommended read for lovers of historical fiction.
5 stars
Great ending to keep us guessing !
21 April 2019
Format: Paperback
I've just finished reading Joan Fallon's latest book which I just couldn't put down in spite of the heatwave outside. Joan has woven a fascinating story and draws the reader cleverly into the souls of the characters so that you need to keep reading in order to find out their fate. The characterisation is excellent and beautifully blended with lyrical and colourful descriptive passages which allow you to picture them in their surroundings. Her characters come to life before your eyes and you experience their hopes and despairs with them. The ending is cleverly crafted to make you await the next book in the series with heightened anticipation. A thoroughly recommended read for lovers of historical fiction.
All Joan Fallon's books are available from Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk in both paperback and Kindle format.
Al-Andalus in the 11th century,
showing the taifas |
The alcazaba in Málaga
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Fishing
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