Having developed a strange addiction for historical mysteries, I can not tell you how happy I was to find that my favorite author of historical fiction, Sharon Kay Penman, had written a historical mystery series. This is a historical mystery with style; the historical details and medieval setting are perfectly drawn, as we can only expect from a writer of this quality.The date is Epiphany, 1192, medieval England and Eleanor of Aquitaine is apprehensively awaiting word from her son, King Richard Lionheart, who has disappeared on route from Acres two months earlier. Eleanor, now in her seventies, controls England for Richard, for now. However, as the time passes with no word of Richard, even the most loyal begin to believe him dead. Her youngest son, Prince John wants to be King and is developing plans to clear his own road to the throne. And, Eleanor, with all her strength of will, may not be able to stop these mechanisms of John without assistance. Justin de Quincey is raised and educated as a knight but unacknowledged, by his father the Bishop of Coventry, Aubrey de Quincey. When Justin confronts his father with regard to his bastardry, he realizes he can no longer continue in this circumstance and abandons his current life. Justin needs to find a new master and sets out to London in the midst of a snow storm. On the road past Winchester, Justin becomes involved in a robbery, a very suspicious robbery that has every appearance of a planned murder. Justin is in time to save the groom but unfortunately, Gervase the goldsmith dies in Justin’s arms. But not before, Gervase elicits a deathbed promise to deliver a blood stained letter. The recipient of this letter would be Queen Eleanor. As Justin is no fool, and is not about to march into the presence of royalty on the say so of man he only knew for mere moments, Justin opens and reads the letter. He is left in shock as he now possesses dangerous secret knowledge as to what had befallen the missing king.Justin presents himself to the Queen who is impressed with his honesty and sincerity. Eleanor, fearing that John is involved in this mysterious robbery cum murder, makes Justin a Queen’s man and demands that he quietly investigates this murder and determines the persons involved. The investigation takes him back to Winchester where Justin finds too many potential murder suspects, including the goldsmiths own family, as well as, a very real violent murderer, well known in the local community. As Justin approaches the solution to this crime, he is joined by a colourful well drawn cast of characters, Sheriffs, butchers, grooms, barmaids and the Queens own cousin and lady in waiting, providing a romantic interest for Justin. However, one of these new friends is spying for John and as he is followed about in his investigation, Justin wonders who he can trust.Penman twists and turns this mystery and keeps you guessing right up to the end, an excellent mystery novel. But what makes this a true gem is the fine historical detail that Penman brings to the story. If you are looking for an excellent historical mystery, you need look no further than Sharon Kay Penman. I am eagerly awaiting the next in this series, Cruel as the Grave
3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Sharon Kay Penman is one of my favorite historical fiction authors. Her book The Sunne in Splendor about Richard III of England is not only one of my favorite historical fiction books, but one of my favorite books of all time. The depth of research that she does is incredible and her writing style spans the centuries and brings the figures to life.When I saw that she had written a mystery series based in England during the reign of Richard I, I knew I had to find them! Luckily, I found the first one on clearance at my local used book store! The Queen’s Man follows Justin de Quincy, the illegitimate son of a bishop, as he tries to find his way in the world. The country is in turmoil because King Richard is missing and rumors about his whereabouts are flying. Justin is on the road where he witnesses the murder of a goldsmith. On his person, there is a letter that Queen Eleanor, the king’s mother, has to see. This sets Justin on a quest to find out who murdered the gold smith. Not only for justice, but to find out if the rumors about King Richard are true.One thing that I enjoyed about this book was that it took a well known historical event, the capture of King Richard by the Holy Roman Emperor, and brought in a new cast of characters. They are all “average” people, but it gives the reader a perspective that isn’t often explored by authors. Normally, in historical fiction, we are given the story through the courts’ eyes. However, here, the story is seen through a variety of perspectives.There were only a few problems that I had with this book. Sometimes, the main character, Justin, felt flat and one dimensional. But, at other times, he was dynamic and acted as a driving force that moved the story along. This inconsistency made the story hard to focus on sometimes.Overall, I enjoyed this book. The mystery was intriguing, the characters interesting, and the history spot on. I thought all the elements came together to make a great read. I will definitely be continuing with this series. I rated the book at 3.5 stars, but rounded up on Goodreads because they don’t allow for half stars.
What do You think about The Queen's Man (2000)?
I was very pleasantly surprised by how good this novel turned out to be on the second go-round. Set in England during the reign of Richard I (1189-1199), a landless knight, Justin de Quincy finds himself thrust into courtly politics when he meets a dying man on the road to London. Ordered to find the murderer by no less than Queen Eleanor, he evades others intend on that letter, and a very powerful person who would give a lot to shut Justin up. First book in a series of four. I had a great time with this and am looking forward to catching up with these. Four stars overall and recommended. For the longer review, please go here:http://www.epinions.com/review/The_Qu...
—Rebecca Huston
Penman does a super job of describing the time (1193) and the culture. Justin de Quincy discovers that his father is a high cleric, never married to his mother who is deceased. He has been given an education, unusual for the time for a bastard, but sop to his father's guilt. Justin, upon discovering his parentage, is angry and leaves home, making his way toward Winchester and London. He is too late to thwart a murder, but takes on the delivery a letter that was being carried by the dying man--to the Queen no less. For this service, he becomes the Queen's man, seeking information about her son, King Richard, said to be imprisoned and the role played in that imprisonment by her son John who desperately wants to be King himself.
—Sharon
I dithered between a three and four star rating with this. Sharon Kay Penman is one of my favorite writers of historical fiction, up there with the likes of Mary Renault, Robert Graves, Dorothy Dunnett. Penman's The Sunne in Splendour and Here Be Dragons, set in Plantagenet times in England and Wales, are books I rated five stars and are among the most moving books I've ever read. The Queen's Man is not of that caliber, and it's probably unfair to compare them at all. The other two novels are sweeping doorstopper epics of over 700 pages spanning lifetimes and dealing with the reigns of princes. This 290-page book taking place over a few months beginning in December of 1192 is a very different animal--as stated in the subtitle it's a "medieval mystery." Think Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael books. And by those terms this book compares well, and has many of the same pleasures, and compensations for the differences. No, Penman isn't going to give Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers or Josephine Tey a run for their money. The resolution wasn't clever and you'll find nothing deep here--this isn't Eco's The Name of the Rose by any means. But did I like this? Really like this? I did. I've been sick with a cold and really needed sleep and I can't tell you how hard it was to put this book down last night unfinished. Penman's sleuth Justin de Quincey isn't, at least at this point in the first book, as beguiling a character as Brother Cadfael, but if anything comes through it's Penman's love and thorough knowledge of this period, and she sweeps you in and out of a Queen's antechamber with as much aplomb as an alehouse or gaol, populating this book with people from all walks of medieval English life. And the "queen" of the title is Eleanor of Aquitaine--and whenever she appears in the pages--all too rarely and briefly--I'm riveted to the page. Penman draws her charisma well. And whether she's taking you into a Lazar house or a horse fair, I felt transported by a sure hand. So yes, this was fun. I relished it.On a personal note, this was a Christmas gift by a friend who knew I admired Penman but had never read her Justin de Quincey mysteries. The book she got me is this hardcover edition with this lovely cover with an embossed seal and gilt lettering that reminded me of what a sensuous experience it can be to read a book. A real book between covers. No doubt that contributed to the enjoyment.
—Lisa (Harmonybites)
