P.F. Chisholm Books In Order

Publication Order of Sir Robert Carey Books

Publication Order of Young Carey Books

Along with her pen-name of Grace Cavendish, the British author Patricia Finney is often found going under the pseudonym of P.F. Chisholm, under which she has brought out a variety of titles. The main focus of this name is that of the Robert Carey series, a franchise that so far consists of over seven books and counting, following this historical figure throughout. Not only is Finney able to retain a sense of historical accuracy thanks to her academic background, but she is also able to convey a sense of both drama and tension as well, alongside her well defined characters.

Early and Personal Life

Born in London in 1958, the author Patricia Finney always held a strong interest in both reading and writing from a very early age, as she fostered her passion very early on. With a love of history, she was able to take this and adapt it for the page, as she begun to create a style that was all of her very own, building and establishing her characters to be. Taking in inspiration from the world around her as well, she was able to create the foundations for a highly regarded and

Educated at Oxford she graduated with a degree in History, which helped her to build upon her interest in the subject and inject her work with an even greater degree of accuracy. This enabled her to create a style and tone that was unique all to herself, giving her a more informed approach to her work and the subject matter of it. It also gave her a lot of material to work with, such as the character of Robert Carey who was the 1st Earl of Monmouth, providing her with a wealth of ideas to use throughout his series.

Not only does she write novels though, she also write plays, notably radio plays such as The Flood which she had presented on the BBC on Radio Three. This has allowed her to branch out with her talents and diversify her voice acquiring new skills and ideas in the process, creating an even more unique and distinctive voice, something which has transferred over into her use of character as the course of her writing career has developed over the years. Along with her many other radio plays that have been produced, such as ‘A Room Full of Mirrors’, she has been able to harness another side to her style, bringing forth her career as it currently stands today.

After previously having lived in Spain, she has now returned to her home country of England where she continues to write to this present day, bring more books out under the name of P.F. Chisholm. Learning Spanish in the south of Spain, she has now managed to continue writing her many books, whilst also taking care of her children as well. With more work and novels set to follow, it appears that this is a trend that is going to continue on into the foreseeable future for some time yet, as it seems she is not stopping anytime soon.

Writing Career

Bringing out her first novel, ‘A Shadow of Gulls’, in 1977 when she was just eighteen, Patricia Finney was already well on her way to becoming a fully fledged author. This was also to be the year that the BBC presented her play ‘The Flood’ on Radio Three, giving her a strong head-start to both her and her writing career. Many of her books would follow a trend over the following years of her career, as a number of them would be set in Elizabethan times, due to strong interest and knowledge of the subject.

Previously working a variety of different jobs she has also worked in a number of other areas in the literary and creative industry throughout the years as well. Working as a magazine editor and a columnist for the newspaper, along with being a scriptwriter for film and running as a stand-up comic for some time, she has managed to acquire a diverse range of talents and skills. All this has led to Patricia Finney creating the name of P.F. Chisholm, which she then started the Robert Carey series, beginning it in 1994 with ‘A Famine of Horses’ continuing it with over seven books so far and counting, something which should continue for some time yet.

A Surfeit of Guns

Originally published in 1996 on the 7th of November, this was set to be the third entry in the ongoing Robert Carey series from the author P.F. Chisholm. Published through the Poisoned Pen Press publishing house, it continued in much the same vein as before with its eponymous lead protagonist carrying on from the last. Although it may be set in a somewhat new location, it still retains a lot of the humor and historical accuracy that made the previous novels work, whilst giving it enough of a spin to keep the readers guessing right until the end.

Taking up the post as Warden of the West March, Robert Carey has now relocated in order to avoid both the creditors and the life of the court. His peace is soon broken, though, as he comes up against the elements as one incident after another seems to befall him, including a fugitive he needs to hand-over and sheep-thieves roaming the countryside. That’s when a batch of faulty guns are stolen from the keep in Carlisle leading to him needing to track them down with his search taking him to the court of Dumfries. Will he be able track the thieves down? Who is Signora Bonnetti and what is her interest in the case? What has happened to a surfeit of guns?

A Chorus of Innocents

Initially published on the 4th of August in 2014, this was to be the seventh installment in the ongoing series of Robert Carey novels brought out by Patricia Finney under her P.F. Chisholm pseudonym. With the characters, setting and time period well and truly established, it works to provide its readers and her audience with more of what they are looking for. That is not to say that it does not provide a sense of mystery and suspense along the way as, whilst it retains the style and tone that made the previous novels so effective, it also provides enough twists and turns of its own along the way.

It’s a Thursday, as it takes place on 12th of October, 1592, only fifteen days after the events of the previous novel, as it continues with the next story straight away. This time a young woman rides into the tower of one Lady Elizabeth Widdrington claiming that her husband, a minister, has been killed and she herself has been raped. In the wake of these horrific actions, it is now up to Robert Carey to get to the bottom of this along with the help of his trusted henchman Henry Dodd, as he navigates court and politics of the time. Will he find out who is responsible? How will his relationship with Lady Widdrington Fare? What will become of a chorus of innocents?

One Response to “P.F. Chisholm”

1. charlotte st james: 8 months ago

   I would like to read the Robert Carey series on a ebook. Amazon’s Kindle only has one. the Famine of Horses. Are there any other formats?
   Loved the books. Read them years ago and gave them all away. I prefer to purchase books that do not need to be dusted or take up limited space. 🙂

   Reply