Roger the Chapman Books In Order

Publication Order of Roger The Chapman Books

Brenda Honeyman Clerk is an author who was born in the year 1926 and is widely known by her pen name of Kate Sedley. Sedley was born in the town of Bristol. She attended the Red Maid’s School in Westbury-on-Trym. Sedley is currently married and has a daughter and son and one grandkid. Her medieval mysteries feature the protagonist, Roger the Chapman, who decides to give up the life of being a monk so that he could peddle various goods on the road.

Roger the Chapman Series

The first book in the Roger the Chapman book series is Death and the Chapman, which introduces the reader to the protagonist, Roger Chapman. As Roger approaches the final episode of his life, he decides to pen down a memoir of the life that he spent as a peddler and a sleuth. The first story in the memoir is when Roger was only 18 years old, and he had just left the Benedictine Monastery. After leaving the Monastery, Roger heads towards London. His first job is the investigation into the disappearance of two different gentlemen, together with the servant of one of the gentlemen. The two gentlemen were in possession of a great amount of money. Despite there being traces of an attack, the bodies of the two men were never found. As the investigation was going on, the Duke of Gloucester was more than determined to marry one, Lady Anne Neville. However, the brother of Anne’s late husband previously opposed the marriage.

With that said, the most interesting element of this story is the protagonist, Roger. We meet with Roger in the early years of his life and also the end years of years of his life as well. Furthermore, the author has a great understanding of the reader. She has a clear understanding of how to bring the story alive to the reader. The descriptions that she uses will engage your senses, sound sight, and smell. Being the first book, Kate Sedley has done an excellent job of developing a highly entertaining plot without relying on some extremely large coincidences. The book has some great suspense and towards the end a satisfying resolution.

The Plymouth Cloak is the second book in the Roger the Chapman book series. The date is September 1843, and this time around, Roger Chapman is plying his trade along England’s south coast where he finds the villages and the town, full of rumors about an incoming invasion. From the look of things, it seemed as if the exiled community of the Lancastrian’s had begun to take heart after their sudden defeat more than two years ago at Tewkesbury. One may have thought after the death of King Henry together with his son, that their main focus of their disaffection had disappeared. However, they had transferred their loyalty to non-other than King Henry Tudor. The only problem lies with Duke Francis. If Francis had given his support to Henry, then England would have faced an extremely large invasion.

King Edward decides to pen down a letter to Duke Francis and entrusts the letter to his brother Richard and later on to Richard the Third. Richard takes the letter to Exeter, where he is expected to meet with Philip Underdown, a Royal Messenger to the King. Upon hearing that Roger was in town, Richard asks Philip to not only accompany him but to also watch his back and ensure that he safely boards the ship which was going to arrive in two days’ time. To ensure that the letter does not reach Duke Francis, the Lancastrians come after Francis Underdown. Apart from the Lancastrians, the Woodvilles are also after him as well because they believed that he knows something, which is detrimental to the exceedingly beautiful and unpopular to one, Queen Elizabeth. Furthermore, he also has several other dangerous enemies.

Unwillingly, Roger agrees since he has no choice. They also set out for Plymouth, where they get to learn that their ship has been delayed. Thus they decided to take shelter in one of the local manor house that is located deep within the country and not so far from Plymouth. Upon arrival, Francis Underdown gets into trouble for chasing the local women; a widowed housekeeper who is exceedingly attractive and a young bride who is married to a jealous husband. After several attempts on his life, Underdown decides to hand the letter over to Roger, believing that the letter was going to be much safer in Roger’s hands. It does not take long before Francis is killed and Roger is left with the responsibility of delivering the letter to the king. With that said, this is an excellent read that has been set during Period of the Richard the Third and the Roses.

The Weaver’s Tale is the second installment in the Roger the Chapman book series. This book is not only plausible but also well researched. The protagonist Roger is a salesman, who is constantly traversing across the world from one location to another, transporting goods in packs. While looking for a place that he would rest and recover, Roger is taken in by an old woman, together with her daughter. The two nurse Roger until he returns to good health. As a show of gratitude for their hospitality and ensuring that he gets back into good health, Roger agrees to investigate the sudden reappearance and disappearance of the father to the mistress.

With that being said, Kate Sedley has a clear understanding of the social history of the 15th Century, since the book was set in the 15th Century. The book is also made quite interesting since the author has also included numberless details about her personal life in the book. The Holy Innocents is the fourth book in the Roger the Chapman book series. In this book, the protagonist, Roger the Chapman looks into the mysterious killing of two children, whose mother had died a long while ago in childbirth. The step-father was expected to inherit all the wealth that the mother possessed. The main suspect in the killings is a band of robbers, who have been causing havoc in the town. However, Roger still is not convinced that it was the robbers who had killed the children; thus he decides to look into the matter on his own, thereby putting his life in danger, in the process.

2 Responses to “Roger the Chapman”

1. Neil Cowans: 3 years ago

   Gutted there is no more after 22 got really into Rogers life!

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2. Susan faulkner: 3 years ago

   Please p!ease can we have some more further adventures for Rodger I have now read the series and I’m missing him already.I am an oap and reading good books makes such a difference to my life.I thank God that he has given people like you with the gift of storytelling you are tru!ly blessed.Thank you so much for your books.best wishes from Sue Faulkner.

   Reply