A Unicorn Dies

“An extraordinary achievement . . . the author has invented a new genre. . . . He writes very beautifully—finely rhythmic sentences and great descriptive phrases, holding the tension until the end.”


—Micheal O’Siadhail, Distinguished Poet in Residence, Union Theological Seminary





“Gripping and complex.”


—Baptist Times





“Medievalists, art historians, and travelers will find much to enjoy in this imaginative first novel.”


—Church Times





“Elegantly written and with real substance and complexity to its plot.”


—Search: A Church of Ireland Journal





“The plot is absolutely ingenious and both characterization and dialogue are wonderful.”


—John Barton, Oriel & Laing Emeritus Professor of the Interpretation of Holy Scripture, University of Oxford





“This intriguing novel is a significant achievement. The way in which Fiddes presents the myths and symbols connected with the unicorn is remarkably convincing and rewarding. . . . A Unicorn Dies is illustrative of narrative fiction’s unique ability to present a story that is not just entertaining but thoughtful and thought-provoking, particularly by demonstrating the need for historical knowledge and ethical reflection.”


—Jakob Lothe, Professor of English literature, University of Oslo





“Notable Oxford academics, like J. R. R. Tolkien or C. S. Lewis, send their heroes on hazardous journeys. Paul Fiddes lays an intricate trail from York to Paris to Rome, from New York to Colmar to Stirling, as his undergraduate hero, Giles, investigates two suspicious deaths which are linked to mythological depictions of the unicorn. This is another Oxford murder mystery, but with a theological twist, as the code of the death of the unicorn is finally revealed.”


—Susan Gillingham, Professor of the Hebrew Bible, University of Oxford