What do you think?
Rate this book
Liars and Thieves
Liars and Thieves is an exclusive novella featuring characters from Karen Maitland's much-loved Company of Liars, set against the backdrop of the plague outbreak of 1348. Also included are the opening chapters from The Vanishing Witch, Karen's thrilling new novel, which is published in August.
Camelot and Narigorm the rune reader return to delight fans of Karen Maitland's classic novel as the company — in their desperate bid to outrun the plague — encounter a band of outlaws, who are making the most of the breakdown in law and order to steal from the weak... and kill at leisure. But in the child Narigorm they might just have met their match — for plague is the lesser of those two evils.
Camelot and Narigorm the rune reader return to delight fans of Karen Maitland's classic novel as the company — in their desperate bid to outrun the plague — encounter a band of outlaws, who are making the most of the breakdown in law and order to steal from the weak... and kill at leisure. But in the child Narigorm they might just have met their match — for plague is the lesser of those two evils.
63 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 5, 2014
35 people are currently reading
928 people want to read
About the author
Karen Maitland
28 books1,193 followersKaren Maitland, who also writes as KJ Maitland, has a doctorate in psycholinguists and lives in the beautiful county of Devon, close to Dartmoor where Agatha Christie had her writing retreat and Sir Arthur Colon Doyle wrote 'The Hound of the Baskervilles', one of Karen’s favourite childhood books.
Writing as KJ Maitland, 'A Plague of Serpents,' the final historical thriller in her Jacobean quartet, is now out in pb. Set in the aftermath of the infamous Gunpowder Plot of 1605, Daniel Pursglove is ordered to infiltrate the 'Serpents', a desperate band of Catholics plotting the death of the King, or face his own execution. The 1st book in the series -'The Drowned City', the 2nd - 'Traitor in the Ice', and the 3rd - 'Rivers of Treason', are all published by Headline.
Her first stand alone medieval thriller was 'Company of Liars', was set at the time of the Black Death in 1348. This was followed by The Owl Killers', 'The Gallows Curse', 'Falcons of Fire and Ice', 'The Vanishing Witch', 'The Raven's Head,' 'The Plague Charmer' and 'A Gathering of Ghosts', Her medieval novels are written under the name of Karen Maitland and are published by Penguin and Headline.
Karen is also one of six historical crime writers known as the Medieval Murderers – Philip Gooden, Susannah Gregory, Michael Jecks, Bernard Knight and Ian Morson – who together write joint murder-mystery novel, including 'The Sacred Stone', 'Hill of Bones' and 'The First Murder', 'The False Virgin' and 'The Deadliest Sin' published by Simon & Schuster.
Writing as KJ Maitland, 'A Plague of Serpents,' the final historical thriller in her Jacobean quartet, is now out in pb. Set in the aftermath of the infamous Gunpowder Plot of 1605, Daniel Pursglove is ordered to infiltrate the 'Serpents', a desperate band of Catholics plotting the death of the King, or face his own execution. The 1st book in the series -'The Drowned City', the 2nd - 'Traitor in the Ice', and the 3rd - 'Rivers of Treason', are all published by Headline.
Her first stand alone medieval thriller was 'Company of Liars', was set at the time of the Black Death in 1348. This was followed by The Owl Killers', 'The Gallows Curse', 'Falcons of Fire and Ice', 'The Vanishing Witch', 'The Raven's Head,' 'The Plague Charmer' and 'A Gathering of Ghosts', Her medieval novels are written under the name of Karen Maitland and are published by Penguin and Headline.
Karen is also one of six historical crime writers known as the Medieval Murderers – Philip Gooden, Susannah Gregory, Michael Jecks, Bernard Knight and Ian Morson – who together write joint murder-mystery novel, including 'The Sacred Stone', 'Hill of Bones' and 'The First Murder', 'The False Virgin' and 'The Deadliest Sin' published by Simon & Schuster.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
November 19, 2018
I have heard from my GR friends that Maitland has a special talent in conveying the time and place of the Middle Ages…particularly her ability to portray the lives of ordinary people. So I decided to dip my toe in her waters with a shorter piece, today. Wow! If this start is any indication or her storytelling ability, I am going to enjoy much more of her catalogue.
"There are many tales told about the year the Great Pestilence first swept across our land, of rivers turned to blood, fire falling from the sky, earthquakes swallowing churches and dragons fighting in the clouds. But the tales I know were of a strange, ragged company of travellers who together wandered the desolate roads, trying to stay one pace ahead of death…But there is much truth spoken in lies, for there was a monster that was coming for them, a monster without a face or form that crept silently through the streets, devouring animals in their byres, children in their cots and parents in the taverns, and no one, neither noble knight nor holy bishop, could vanquish that dragon which would lay waste to all England. It was the winter of 1348…”
Thomas Hobbes could have used his famous phrase in describing this period in English life: "No arts; no letters; no society; and which is worst of all, continual fear, and danger of violent death: and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short."
This short piece concerns itself with a small slice of a longer journey by this group of “companions by necessity.” Our narrator is “a camelot, a pedlar of relics and amulets.” In addition, there is “Zophiel, a magician who performed conjuring tricks; Rodrigo and his apprentice, Jofre, musicians from Venice; Cygnus, a storyteller, who’d been born with only one arm; Osmond, an artist travelling with his gentle wife, Adela; and Narigorm, a white-haired child who told fortunes with her runes.”
The story begins with the companions short on food and wary of a cold welcome at any village. The wooded countryside is rife with teams of highwaymen who tend to kill first and then search the bodies for money and treasure. When the group splits into some setting up a camp and others going to see if the nearest village has some food to spare, the action begins. Our narrator heads toward the village along with Zophiel and the pregnant Adela in order to gather as much sympathy as possible for their mission. It isn’t very long until they are waylaid, bound and about to be tortured.
‘Don’t you mind them monks. There’s a gullet over yonder. Deep it is, would swallow a church. Men dug it years back when they was mining the ironstone. Fair drop of water there is at the bottom now. Lads’ll throw the monks down there when they’ve had their supper."
We get to know each of the victimizers as the action advances at break-neck speed. Maitland shows her skill at keeping us readers off-balance by quick turns of events and revealed elements of relationships. And, it is true that she can transport us to this time and place with consummate skill.
"There are many tales told about the year the Great Pestilence first swept across our land, of rivers turned to blood, fire falling from the sky, earthquakes swallowing churches and dragons fighting in the clouds. But the tales I know were of a strange, ragged company of travellers who together wandered the desolate roads, trying to stay one pace ahead of death…But there is much truth spoken in lies, for there was a monster that was coming for them, a monster without a face or form that crept silently through the streets, devouring animals in their byres, children in their cots and parents in the taverns, and no one, neither noble knight nor holy bishop, could vanquish that dragon which would lay waste to all England. It was the winter of 1348…”
Thomas Hobbes could have used his famous phrase in describing this period in English life: "No arts; no letters; no society; and which is worst of all, continual fear, and danger of violent death: and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short."
This short piece concerns itself with a small slice of a longer journey by this group of “companions by necessity.” Our narrator is “a camelot, a pedlar of relics and amulets.” In addition, there is “Zophiel, a magician who performed conjuring tricks; Rodrigo and his apprentice, Jofre, musicians from Venice; Cygnus, a storyteller, who’d been born with only one arm; Osmond, an artist travelling with his gentle wife, Adela; and Narigorm, a white-haired child who told fortunes with her runes.”
The story begins with the companions short on food and wary of a cold welcome at any village. The wooded countryside is rife with teams of highwaymen who tend to kill first and then search the bodies for money and treasure. When the group splits into some setting up a camp and others going to see if the nearest village has some food to spare, the action begins. Our narrator heads toward the village along with Zophiel and the pregnant Adela in order to gather as much sympathy as possible for their mission. It isn’t very long until they are waylaid, bound and about to be tortured.
‘Don’t you mind them monks. There’s a gullet over yonder. Deep it is, would swallow a church. Men dug it years back when they was mining the ironstone. Fair drop of water there is at the bottom now. Lads’ll throw the monks down there when they’ve had their supper."
We get to know each of the victimizers as the action advances at break-neck speed. Maitland shows her skill at keeping us readers off-balance by quick turns of events and revealed elements of relationships. And, it is true that she can transport us to this time and place with consummate skill.
October 22, 2018
Company of Liars is still my favourite Karen Maitland novel and so I was thrilled to notice a short story set in that world that I hadn’t read. If only it had been longer...
November 19, 2017
A grimdark his-fic novella set during the times of Black Death in England. Features characters from The Company of Liars and pitches them against a band of robbers.
Atmospheric, dark, historically honest. Works well as a taster if you (like me) are trying to decide whether to pick up one of the author’s lengthier novels.
Overall very curious short read. But I am still a bit ‘on a fence’ if i want more now or not. 3.5 ⭐️
Atmospheric, dark, historically honest. Works well as a taster if you (like me) are trying to decide whether to pick up one of the author’s lengthier novels.
Overall very curious short read. But I am still a bit ‘on a fence’ if i want more now or not. 3.5 ⭐️
April 30, 2016
I might’ve benefitted from reading this closer to when I read Company of Liars, as it took me a while to remember who the characters were and what exactly was going on — and I still can’t quite remember how it fits in. It’s basically like a missing chapter from Company of Liars; nothing essential, but some characterisation stuff and a little bit more of the world, and the dangerous situations travellers faced.
It’s not a great or vital addition to the world, but if you enjoy the characters and their interplay, you might want to pick it up. It’s readable, just not special.
Originally posted here.
It’s not a great or vital addition to the world, but if you enjoy the characters and their interplay, you might want to pick it up. It’s readable, just not special.
Originally posted here.
November 18, 2014
17 NOV 2014 - A short story featuring characters from The Company of Liars which includes an excerpt from The Vanishing Witch.
I am loving the short story and have added the other Maitland books to my TBR.
Terrific!
I am loving the short story and have added the other Maitland books to my TBR.
Terrific!
June 21, 2014
Company of Liars is my favourite novel by Karen Maitland, so I was thrilled to see that she has written a short story featuring the characters from her debut novel. It is winter, 1348, and the travelling companions are trying to outrun the plague across a bitterly cold and unwelcoming country – strangers being viewed as possible harbingers of pestilence. Currently, the group are in Rockingham Forest, Northamptonshire, when the mare pulling their wagon loses a shoe. Three of the group; Camelot, the peddler of relics, Zophiel the magician and Adele, the pregnant wife of artist Osmond, set off leading the lame animal to try to find a village. Staying behind are Osmond, the musicians Rodrigo and Jofre, the storyteller Cygnus and the child rune teller, Narigorm.
When Camelot and companions are captured by outlaws, hoping they carry more wealth than their few paltry coins, it looks like they are in danger. However, first they have to pit their wits against the sharp Zophiel and the truly eerie Narigorm. It was delightful to become reacquainted with these characters – I would absolutely love to see a sequel of Company of Liars. However, this short story is a good start and there is also a preview of Maitland’s new novel, “The Vanishing Witch.” A great read and longer than most short stories available on kindle.
When Camelot and companions are captured by outlaws, hoping they carry more wealth than their few paltry coins, it looks like they are in danger. However, first they have to pit their wits against the sharp Zophiel and the truly eerie Narigorm. It was delightful to become reacquainted with these characters – I would absolutely love to see a sequel of Company of Liars. However, this short story is a good start and there is also a preview of Maitland’s new novel, “The Vanishing Witch.” A great read and longer than most short stories available on kindle.
February 3, 2019
Maitland’s short story introduces a cast of characters, performers who are set upon by outlaws. Soon they are fighting for their lives. Mainland does a brilliant job of creating mood and fully developed characters in quick order. The second offering included in this tiny collection, from The Vanishing Witch, is less satisfactory.
July 29, 2018
Шорт сторіз. нєт. просто нєт.
November 25, 2014
I've read a few of these Kindle shorts, usually designed to act as a cheaper introduction to an existing or forthcoming novel - eg The Rose of Fire (The Prisoner of Heaven), Clara's Room (Reconstructing Amelia), Eve in Hollywood (Rules of Civility) - but I've usually found them far too slight, sometimes too short to even bother reviewing. This one actually has a bit of substance. It's a short story featuring the characters of Company of Liars, released to coincide with the publication of The Vanishing Witch. The story itself is an episode that could have been drawn from the pages of any one of Maitland's books - richly imagined medieval setting (with plenty of disgusting details), gruesome characters, peril and magic - and while it's not enormously memorable, it's as well-written and compelling in exactly the way I would expect from this author. Mostly I'm just in awe of how prolific she is - The Vanishing Witch came out this year, as did this story, and I already have an advance copy of her next book The Raven's Head, due out in March.
November 21, 2023
A thrilling short story featuring characters of ”Company of Liars”. I wish I could read more of them.
June 1, 2016
Very short but very good. Certainly worth the 99 cents I paid for the kindle edition
February 28, 2022
Aclaración: esta novela contiene dos historias diferentes. Por un lado está Liars and thieves, donde aparecen los personajes que ya hemos conocido en Comitiva de embusteros, y por otro lado contiene un avance de The vanishing witch, que es otra novela de Karen Maitland. Esta reseña se va a centrar solo en Liars and thieves, que fue el relato por el que adquirí este libro.
Ayer por la noche terminé la lectura de Comitiva de embusteros, y di con este otro título buscando desesperadamente una forma de volver a conectar con esos personajes que tanto me habían cautivado...
Pero, antes de seguir con la reseña, hay que aclarar algunas cosas más:
1) Liars and thieves NO es una secuela de Comitiva de embusteros. No he investigado las declaraciones de la autora al respecto, pero creo no equivocarme al decir que se trata de un capítulo del libro original que quedó fuera durante la edición. O quizá se trata de algo extra que escribió la autora para saciar el apetito de los lectores, váyase a saber. Sea como sea, una cosa es innegable: sí o sí hay que haber leído primero Comitiva de embusteros de principio a fin antes de adentrarse en este libro.
2) Lamentablemente no hay una traducción al español de este libro. De hecho, hasta la fecha en que escribo esta reseña no he podido encontrar un solo libro que se haya traducido al español de esta autora que no sea Comitiva de embusteros. Dudo que haya planes de traducir más de sus libros en un futuro cercano, muy a mi pesar... pero como dice Camelot, no hay que perder la esperanza.
3) La única forma que he encontrado de adquirir este libro es por medio de Amazon, utilizando su servicio de Kindle Cloud Reader. Creo que ni siquiera existe una versión física de este libro. El lado positivo es que si uno no está muy versado en el dominio del inglés, siempre puede ayudarse con la extensión del traductor de Google, por lo menos si es que piensa leer en pc desde Google Chrome, como yo hice.
4) Liars and thieves no es indispensable para completar la historia presentada en Comitiva de embusteros. Sin embargo, es una adición interesante, de rápida lectura, y que bien se podría considerar como un "capítulo perdido" de la novela original, si bien este no nos aporta ningún detalle nuevo. Pongámoslo así: Liars and thieves no resta ni suma, simplemente es y punto. Es algo que está ahí para quien quiera rascar un poco más de tiempo viajando junto a la comitiva, y es respetable que la autora haya decidido que así sea.
Liars and thieves se lee extremadamente rápido. El libro en total consta de 63 páginas, siendo 44 de ellas las dedicadas al relato que nos interesa en esta reseña. Basta con decir que me lo leí en unas pocas horas, y eso sin tener un nivel prodigioso del inglés.
El relato se sitúa en un punto de la historia donde ya tenemos a todos los miembros del grupo reunidos. (No hagas click en lo de abajo si no has terminado Comitiva de embusteros)
Un crítico menos benevolente, o menos sensiblero, podría cerrar la reseña diciendo que esto es comparable a esos capítulos de relleno en las series o animes, pero que, dado el bajo costo del libro y que resulta entretenido, vale la pena leerlo. Yo no estaría del todo en desacuerdo con la anterior afirmación, pero me gustaría ir más allá.
Liars and thieves añade personajes nuevos que ponen en aprietos a nuestros protagonistas. Esta situación tan particular es una buena excusa para que (casi) todos puedan poner en práctica sus dotes características y lograr salir airosos del conflicto. Por otro lado, también es un recordatorio de la desesperación que vivió la gente de la época, y hasta qué puntos podían llegar las personas a fin de sobrevivir, o de "hacerle trampa a la muerte", como dice Zophiel.
Es interesante la manera en que una situación que se resuelve en un día de la novela nos vuelve a plantear los viejos conflictos ideológicos entre los personajes. Todos recordarán el debate sobre la esperanza que Zophiel y Camelot mantienen a lo largo de Comitiva de embusteros, donde uno aprovecha cada situación que puede para probar al otro que su punto de vista es el correcto.
Como punto negativo... me hubiera gustado que se desarrollara un poco más a los forajidos. Parecían tener una dinámica interesante entre ellos, aunque bueno... pasaran las cosas que pasaron.
En conclusión, ya que esta reseña se ha hecho demasiado larga para un libro de tan poquitas páginas, debo decir que fue lindo volver a ver a la comitiva unida, como si nunca hubiera habido un final.
¿Vale la pena esta lectura? Si te has encariñado con los compañeros de la comitiva y quieres volver a vivir una aventura muy cortita con ellos, entonces sí.
¿Es tan bueno como la novela original? No, pero es que tampoco se lo propuso en un primer momento. Esta es una historia corta que se ubica más o menos a mitad de la novela principal, pero eso no le quita mérito. Es un relato interesante que nos adentra más en las penurias y la desesperación que tuvo que soportar la gente de la época, y aprovecha para volver a mostrarnos el valor que tenían las migajas de esperanza, sin importar que estas fueran de verdad o hechas de mentiras.
Esta es una excelente adición a Comitiva de embusteros. Logra lo que se propone y lo hace de maravilla. Recomiendo fervientemente su lectura a quien se haya quedado con ganas de más.
Dos cosas antes de cerrar y partir a otras tierras literarias (exclusivo para quienes hayan terminado Comitiva de embusteros):
Ayer por la noche terminé la lectura de Comitiva de embusteros, y di con este otro título buscando desesperadamente una forma de volver a conectar con esos personajes que tanto me habían cautivado...
Pero, antes de seguir con la reseña, hay que aclarar algunas cosas más:
1) Liars and thieves NO es una secuela de Comitiva de embusteros. No he investigado las declaraciones de la autora al respecto, pero creo no equivocarme al decir que se trata de un capítulo del libro original que quedó fuera durante la edición. O quizá se trata de algo extra que escribió la autora para saciar el apetito de los lectores, váyase a saber. Sea como sea, una cosa es innegable: sí o sí hay que haber leído primero Comitiva de embusteros de principio a fin antes de adentrarse en este libro.
2) Lamentablemente no hay una traducción al español de este libro. De hecho, hasta la fecha en que escribo esta reseña no he podido encontrar un solo libro que se haya traducido al español de esta autora que no sea Comitiva de embusteros. Dudo que haya planes de traducir más de sus libros en un futuro cercano, muy a mi pesar... pero como dice Camelot, no hay que perder la esperanza.
3) La única forma que he encontrado de adquirir este libro es por medio de Amazon, utilizando su servicio de Kindle Cloud Reader. Creo que ni siquiera existe una versión física de este libro. El lado positivo es que si uno no está muy versado en el dominio del inglés, siempre puede ayudarse con la extensión del traductor de Google, por lo menos si es que piensa leer en pc desde Google Chrome, como yo hice.
4) Liars and thieves no es indispensable para completar la historia presentada en Comitiva de embusteros. Sin embargo, es una adición interesante, de rápida lectura, y que bien se podría considerar como un "capítulo perdido" de la novela original, si bien este no nos aporta ningún detalle nuevo. Pongámoslo así: Liars and thieves no resta ni suma, simplemente es y punto. Es algo que está ahí para quien quiera rascar un poco más de tiempo viajando junto a la comitiva, y es respetable que la autora haya decidido que así sea.
Liars and thieves se lee extremadamente rápido. El libro en total consta de 63 páginas, siendo 44 de ellas las dedicadas al relato que nos interesa en esta reseña. Basta con decir que me lo leí en unas pocas horas, y eso sin tener un nivel prodigioso del inglés.
El relato se sitúa en un punto de la historia donde ya tenemos a todos los miembros del grupo reunidos. (No hagas click en lo de abajo si no has terminado Comitiva de embusteros)
Un crítico menos benevolente, o menos sensiblero, podría cerrar la reseña diciendo que esto es comparable a esos capítulos de relleno en las series o animes, pero que, dado el bajo costo del libro y que resulta entretenido, vale la pena leerlo. Yo no estaría del todo en desacuerdo con la anterior afirmación, pero me gustaría ir más allá.
Liars and thieves añade personajes nuevos que ponen en aprietos a nuestros protagonistas. Esta situación tan particular es una buena excusa para que (casi) todos puedan poner en práctica sus dotes características y lograr salir airosos del conflicto. Por otro lado, también es un recordatorio de la desesperación que vivió la gente de la época, y hasta qué puntos podían llegar las personas a fin de sobrevivir, o de "hacerle trampa a la muerte", como dice Zophiel.
Es interesante la manera en que una situación que se resuelve en un día de la novela nos vuelve a plantear los viejos conflictos ideológicos entre los personajes. Todos recordarán el debate sobre la esperanza que Zophiel y Camelot mantienen a lo largo de Comitiva de embusteros, donde uno aprovecha cada situación que puede para probar al otro que su punto de vista es el correcto.
Como punto negativo... me hubiera gustado que se desarrollara un poco más a los forajidos. Parecían tener una dinámica interesante entre ellos, aunque bueno... pasaran las cosas que pasaron.
En conclusión, ya que esta reseña se ha hecho demasiado larga para un libro de tan poquitas páginas, debo decir que fue lindo volver a ver a la comitiva unida, como si nunca hubiera habido un final.
¿Vale la pena esta lectura? Si te has encariñado con los compañeros de la comitiva y quieres volver a vivir una aventura muy cortita con ellos, entonces sí.
¿Es tan bueno como la novela original? No, pero es que tampoco se lo propuso en un primer momento. Esta es una historia corta que se ubica más o menos a mitad de la novela principal, pero eso no le quita mérito. Es un relato interesante que nos adentra más en las penurias y la desesperación que tuvo que soportar la gente de la época, y aprovecha para volver a mostrarnos el valor que tenían las migajas de esperanza, sin importar que estas fueran de verdad o hechas de mentiras.
Esta es una excelente adición a Comitiva de embusteros. Logra lo que se propone y lo hace de maravilla. Recomiendo fervientemente su lectura a quien se haya quedado con ganas de más.
Dos cosas antes de cerrar y partir a otras tierras literarias (exclusivo para quienes hayan terminado Comitiva de embusteros):
May 13, 2019
Ne visai supratau. Panašu, kad rašydama „Company of Liars“ autorė tiesiog išmetė vieną skyrių, kuris tiesą sakant, puikiausiai būtų nugulęs pirmajame knygos trečdalyje. Bet knygoje jo nebuvo. Kodėl po kelerių metų tas skyrius pasirodė kaip atskira apysaka – man mįslė. Nes nereikėjo. Atskirai – nesugroja. Ir net taip, kaip aš, skaitant iškart vieną po kitos, vis vien – nesugroja.
Tai skystas trejetas iš tų pačių penkių.
Tai skystas trejetas iš tų pačių penkių.
August 11, 2025
4.5/5
“Hope, Camelot, is a floating corpse. Cling to it and it will pull you down to hell.”
An excellent short story companion to Karen Maitland’s novel, Company of Liars. While this could be read as a standalone it would be less impactful without knowing the background stories and motivations behind the characters.
“Hope, Camelot, is a floating corpse. Cling to it and it will pull you down to hell.”
An excellent short story companion to Karen Maitland’s novel, Company of Liars. While this could be read as a standalone it would be less impactful without knowing the background stories and motivations behind the characters.
September 11, 2022
Excellent short story! A short creepy diversionary tale that includes some of the characters from "Company of Liars".
July 29, 2014
I enjoyed this story as I enjoyed the original novel some years back. What struck me as being refreshing was that the stories tend to be about common people. Nobility is not mentioned and for this episode they are of little importance. The plague did bring with it a breakdown of order but for commoners it did afford new liberties.
The authorities even before the plague provided little if any protection to the lowborn. The incident in this story involves "The Company" being accosted by robbers. They're on their own in this instance.
I would recommend reading "Company of Liars" first as the short story provides little background for insight into the characters. Yet, I see that it can be enjoyed on its own and as in many short stories one will have to imagine what the back story may be.
The authorities even before the plague provided little if any protection to the lowborn. The incident in this story involves "The Company" being accosted by robbers. They're on their own in this instance.
I would recommend reading "Company of Liars" first as the short story provides little background for insight into the characters. Yet, I see that it can be enjoyed on its own and as in many short stories one will have to imagine what the back story may be.
December 29, 2014
Liars and Thieves
By Karen Maitland
Nook edition
Liars and Thieves is not a novel, but somewhere between a short story and novella. It also has allowed me to sample Karen Maitland's work, with this story set in England in the year 1348. The main characters are a troupe of players and performers who are waylaid by a brutal band of outlaws, and the ensuing story tells a tale of survival. As a short story, there is not a lot of time to develop characters, but Ms. Maitland does a good job of doing just this in a minimal amount of space, and I have definitely put her on my list of authors to get better acquainted with.
By Karen Maitland
Nook edition
Liars and Thieves is not a novel, but somewhere between a short story and novella. It also has allowed me to sample Karen Maitland's work, with this story set in England in the year 1348. The main characters are a troupe of players and performers who are waylaid by a brutal band of outlaws, and the ensuing story tells a tale of survival. As a short story, there is not a lot of time to develop characters, but Ms. Maitland does a good job of doing just this in a minimal amount of space, and I have definitely put her on my list of authors to get better acquainted with.
November 12, 2014
I enjoyed spending time again with this motley company!
December 3, 2017
Treacherous and dark.
October 12, 2021
What a treat I found on my Kindle library! This short novella reprises many of the same characters from Maitland's master work, COMPANY OF LIARS. Within the confines of a short space, the author manages to tell a grisly tale of the darker sides of human nature, which are exposed in varying degrees of depravity. The peddler's secret is retained, but we are given a tantalizing glimpse of the fey-girl Narigorm, whose presence serves as a catalyst in bringing evil to the surface.
The company splits in two groups when its horse loses a shoe and half of them head to the nearest village blacksmith for a new one. The others remain with their wagon and pitiful provisions. On the way, they are attacked and kidnapped by a band of thieves who drag them into their scruffy camp. Disgust ensues when they realize that their victims have nothing of value. Later, however, two monks wander past and are summarily murdered and stripped of some rich pickings. Soon the rest of the company arrives and the robbers are now outnumbered and a dubious standoff is reached. The thieves are preparing to dump the monk's bodies in a slimy quarry pit when one of them discovers a smooth stone, about the size of an egg. The company's magician tells them that it is a "salamander stone" with the miraculous ability to cure all ills, including the Plague. Suddenly, it becomes the focus of desire, just as it disappears!
This is the perfect story to read to a group on a stormy Halloween night!
The company splits in two groups when its horse loses a shoe and half of them head to the nearest village blacksmith for a new one. The others remain with their wagon and pitiful provisions. On the way, they are attacked and kidnapped by a band of thieves who drag them into their scruffy camp. Disgust ensues when they realize that their victims have nothing of value. Later, however, two monks wander past and are summarily murdered and stripped of some rich pickings. Soon the rest of the company arrives and the robbers are now outnumbered and a dubious standoff is reached. The thieves are preparing to dump the monk's bodies in a slimy quarry pit when one of them discovers a smooth stone, about the size of an egg. The company's magician tells them that it is a "salamander stone" with the miraculous ability to cure all ills, including the Plague. Suddenly, it becomes the focus of desire, just as it disappears!
This is the perfect story to read to a group on a stormy Halloween night!
April 21, 2021
Boy, does this author know how to build a plot, develop characters, and suck you into the story! There's nothing better than feeling yourself surrounded by the characters and mood of another time and place. This short read is a great sample of what Karen Maitland does so well!
Highly recommend this author to anyone who enjoys middle ages historical fiction -- but not stories of royals, rather stories which include the life and times of the peasants and of the workers, their beliefs and superstitions, and what life would really have been like. With her talent to include her research to set the mood as well as to educate, Ms. Maitland will show you a time and a place to which you will feel you personally time travelled.
Highly recommend this author to anyone who enjoys middle ages historical fiction -- but not stories of royals, rather stories which include the life and times of the peasants and of the workers, their beliefs and superstitions, and what life would really have been like. With her talent to include her research to set the mood as well as to educate, Ms. Maitland will show you a time and a place to which you will feel you personally time travelled.
January 17, 2022
Company of Liars was one of the best books I read last year so it was a real treat to return to the middle ages for another escapade with these characters. I'd missed them! Some great new characters in the form of a trio of outlaws were added too.
Dark, creepy, villainous, gruesome.
A brilliant short story but only if you've read Company of Liars first.
Dark, creepy, villainous, gruesome.
A brilliant short story but only if you've read Company of Liars first.
May 27, 2024
Not the most detailed of short stories but I grew invested in these characters already over the course of Company of Thieves. Once again, distinctly atmospheric - ably rendering England in 1348, in the grips of the Great Mortality, or as it’s known today, the Bubonic Plague. A little action with the robbers plotline, but mostly a nice return to a familiar group of outcasts.
January 16, 2023
I loved “A Company of Liars” and this was a nice little novella featuring the same characters from the book. Too short, unfortunately, it’s only 57 pages, and 17 pages of that are the first two chapters of “The Vanishing Witch”, my favorite of Maitland’s novels.
August 6, 2025
Company of Liars is my favourite Karen Maitland book, but I didn’t know that she’d written this short story featuring some of the same characters. It was an easy read, encapsulating the classic Maitland storytelling style. My only complaint is that it was far too short!
May 24, 2017
Was happy to read a little more about the Company of Liars.
March 22, 2020
Novella
A Short Story supplement to the Book "Company of Liars." Excellent adventure! Very good quick Read. Rough & ready medieval times!
A Short Story supplement to the Book "Company of Liars." Excellent adventure! Very good quick Read. Rough & ready medieval times!
April 24, 2020
I thought this would play out sometime after Company of Liars takes place, but it is more like a "lost chapter" from Company of Liars. Made me miss the characters!
August 16, 2025
I tnought this was a continuation of "Company of Liars" but it was just an additional short story added on to the story line. I really liked it.
August 28, 2015
I loved going back to "Company of Liars" with this short story! It just made me realize again how much I loved and still love that book!
The short story is wonderfully written, I loved the new characters introduced and most of all, the setting, the atmosphere, the magic and superstition of the time interwoven with the story: PERFECT!
Thank you, Karen Maitland, for letting us return to the Company for even just a short time!
The short story is wonderfully written, I loved the new characters introduced and most of all, the setting, the atmosphere, the magic and superstition of the time interwoven with the story: PERFECT!
Thank you, Karen Maitland, for letting us return to the Company for even just a short time!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews