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Title: Murder in Cormyr by Chet Williamson, Larry Elmore ISBN: 0-7869-1173-5 Publisher: Wizards of the Coast (Mm) Pub. Date: 01 July, 1998 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $5.99 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.86 (7 reviews)
Rating: 2
Summary: Poor Mystery, Terrible Fantasy, and A Great Let Down!
Comment: Unfortunately, both Murder in Cormyr as well as Murder in Halruaa are a major disappointment indeed! Badly written, by what seems to be inexperienced people who not only to have had no previous work or any serious contact with Fantasy (not even to mention the specifics of the Forgotten Realms Campaign World), but writing books-ANY books- in general! Myself, a mystery enthusiast of Arthur Conan Doyle's and Agatha Christie's work and a Fantasy/Dungeons and Dragons "Fanatic" have no alternative, but to write this negative review in an effort to warn the potential reader of what they are in for. Both these authors should at least have read a Forgotten Realms novel before attempting to write one, and what's more if they did not want to or did not have the ability to write this type of book, they should not even have attempt it. However, since they did, how and why were these books allowed to hit the printing press and then the stores? They discredit themselves (the authors), they discredit TSR, but most importantly they discredit the readers/fans of the Forgotten Realms, especially those who thought that combining Fantasy and Mystery would be a great idea, like myself. From the weak plot, to the bad writing, to the ridiculous choice of names for the characters, to the jokes that fall flat, to the great lack of knowledge regarding Toril, the books fail miserably!
It is very unfortunate that the Murder Series came to an end before the writing of Murder in Ravens Bluff and WotC should reconsider their decision now that years have gone by and maybe resurrect the project, but considering the poor work included in these books I can at least understand why they did so back then. In conclusion, it is with great sadness that I only give two stars to these books since almost all the Forgotten Realms novels that have been written have been more than wonderful-what with RA Salvatore, Elaine Cunningham, Ed Greenwood etc. The books could have been fantastic if the right people or the necessary care had been given during the writing of the stories. A shame really... My advice, read them only after you're done reading all the other Forgotten Realms books and you are still in need of more Toril related material; at least you'll get a slight hint/taste of Faerun.
Rating: 5
Summary: Who Commited the "Murder in Cormyr"
Comment: This is a book that combines mystery and fantasy to form a tale that will keep you glued to the book until the very last page. Jasper, slop boy and main character, gets chased by evil spirits, meets hydras, and even the vengeful ghost of a legendary bandit. Jasper becomes indebted to a wizard, and helps him figure out who beheaded the blacksmith's assistant and the king's envoy. This isn't all the book has in store though, but I shall tell you no more on this topic. I gave this book 5 stars because it was a mystery, a personal favorite of mine. Also even after all is said and done, there's still an extra surprise. I recommend this book to anyone above age twelve because this book is a bit too challenging for younger kids. Can you figure out who did it when you read the Murder in Cormyr
Rating: 3
Summary: Aimed too high and missed
Comment: Setting up a murder mystery in a fantasy setting is asking for trouble - it could be done, but it is very difficult and Chet Williamson just didn't make the grade in "Murder in Cormyr".
The main problem with a murder mystery in a magic rich world like the Forgotten Realms is that magic opens up too many possibilities. A temporary clone spell could create the perfect alibi for any criminal. Victims can be resurrected. Culprits can teleport from practically anywhere and to practically anywhere.
Of course, the presence of magic, or technology, does not on its own exclude a murder mystery. Isaac Asimov did it in his one of his Spacer novel "The Robots of Dawn". The Realms Anthologies have some good short stories which could be termed as murder mysteries.
As Agatha Christie's Poirot once commented, a study in crime is a study of characters. An entertaining murder mystery is not marred by technology or magic making the impossible possible, but by interaction of characters.
Chet Williamson appeared to be aware of this formula. However, he fumbled rather badly in his delivery.
The narrator was one Jasper of Ghars, a slop-boy of halfling-human ancestry, apprenticed to retired Cormyrean war-wizard Benelaius after a failed attempt to raid the latter's home.
The scene was Ghars, a hardly noticable village on the Cormyrean side of the border with Sembia, soon to host the annual meeting of Grand Council of Cormyr's Merchants' Guild.
Somewhere in the story was a legendary headless ghost of a brigand leader who was supposed to guard his hidden loot in inhospitable marshlands.
It began with the discovery of the murder of an impersonator of the ghost. Then Grodoveth, King Azoun's envoy-at-large within the kingdom, was found dead.
Chet Williamson painted a colourful picture of a normally idyllic village beset by misfortunes on the eve of trying to make a name for itself hosting a merchants' conference. The characters involved were diverse from money-grubbing barkeepers to lovely daughter of the local tycoon.
Jasper found himself assisting his portly master in the investigation. Theirs was a contrast of methods, Jasper trying to emulate a fictional detective who employed deductive reasoning and logic to solve his crimes, and Benelaius apparently just sitting back and unhurriedly gathering his information mostly through others. Mystery fans should recognise the caricature of Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot, or rather more aptly, Arthur Hastings and Hercule Poirot.
Unfortunately, though Chet Williamson gave a lot of attention on character interaction, he failed to negate the possibilities played by magic. There were clues around to be sure, but they were not significantly crucial enough, and were open to alternative explanations.
Fortunately for Chet, his endings did tied up these loose ends, though leaving mystery fans not quite satisfied.
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Title: Murder in Halruaa (Forgotten Realms Fantasy Adventure) by Richard S. Meyers ISBN: 0786905212 Publisher: Wizards of the Coast Pub. Date: 01 October, 1996 List Price(USD): $18.99 |
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Title: Feathered Dragon (The Mazica Trilogy, Book Three) by Douglas Niles ISBN: 1560760451 Publisher: Wizards of the Coast Pub. Date: 01 April, 1991 List Price(USD): $4.95 |
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Title: Once Around the Realms (Forgotten Realms) by Brian M. Thomsen ISBN: 0786901195 Publisher: Wizards of the Coast (Mm) Pub. Date: 01 May, 1995 List Price(USD): $4.95 |
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Title: Realms of the Arcane (Forgotten Realms) by Brian M. Thomsen ISBN: 0786906472 Publisher: TSR Pub. Date: 01 March, 1998 List Price(USD): $5.99 |
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Title: The Simbul's Gift (Forgotten Realms: The Nobles, Book 6) by Lynn Abbey ISBN: 0786907630 Publisher: TSR Pub. Date: 01 October, 1997 List Price(USD): $5.99 |
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