Another political mystery with Justin de Quincy
Helpful Score: 1
Good book. Sharon Kay Penman is one of my favorite authors.
I so enjoy this author's writing. Somehow she makes a story flow so easily that I can't help but move on to the next paragraph, the next page and the next chapter. All too soon it seems I've reached the end of the book.
The hero is the queen's man which means he does her work discreetly and completely. In this novel Richard is imprisoned in Germany and his brother, John, is scheming to steal his throne. Eleanor, mother of both, is trying to free Richard but part of the ransom, that raised in Wales, goes missing presumably stolen by an outlaw band.
It is the task of Justin de Quincy to find the ransom. The queen doesn't really care what happened only that the ransom is recovered so she can free her son. However, what he discovers is much more then a simple robbery and murder. The Welsh prince who collected the ransom blames a relative who is campaigning to win the throne for himself. Complicating the situation is that de Quency's lack of complete fluency of the Welsh language. There is another death when a knight is found with a knife in him but the cause of his death is not the knife but poison. Who, then, is behind the theft of the ransom? To say more would divulge too much of the story and the plot. My advice is if you like historical fiction discover this novel for your self. May you enjoy it as much as I did. I certainly liked this read.
The hero is the queen's man which means he does her work discreetly and completely. In this novel Richard is imprisoned in Germany and his brother, John, is scheming to steal his throne. Eleanor, mother of both, is trying to free Richard but part of the ransom, that raised in Wales, goes missing presumably stolen by an outlaw band.
It is the task of Justin de Quincy to find the ransom. The queen doesn't really care what happened only that the ransom is recovered so she can free her son. However, what he discovers is much more then a simple robbery and murder. The Welsh prince who collected the ransom blames a relative who is campaigning to win the throne for himself. Complicating the situation is that de Quency's lack of complete fluency of the Welsh language. There is another death when a knight is found with a knife in him but the cause of his death is not the knife but poison. Who, then, is behind the theft of the ransom? To say more would divulge too much of the story and the plot. My advice is if you like historical fiction discover this novel for your self. May you enjoy it as much as I did. I certainly liked this read.
Thomas F. (hardtack) -
Another fascinating tale of intrigue concerning Justin, "The Queen's Man," as he meets old friends and newer enemies, all the while trying to figure out the Welsh.
When Justin is caught red-handed by his enemies, his life is forfit. How the author helps Justin survive is right out of an old time movie serial.
When Justin is caught red-handed by his enemies, his life is forfit. How the author helps Justin survive is right out of an old time movie serial.
Must read!
A quick, good read
Mystery involving the ransom raised b y Queen Eleanor for her son, King Richard the Lionhearted, to release him from a German jail.
Great mystery series! Sharon Kay Penman makes the 12th century come alive.
This is the 3rd in the series of historical fiction mysteries by Sharon Kay Penman. This is my favorite of the series so far. It features Justin de Quncey trying to locate a ransom payment that has been stolen in the wilds of Wale. It literally is a 'King's Ransonm' that Eleanor of Aquitaine is trying to raise to free her son Kin Richard from inprisonment in Germany. Jusin is the 'Queen's Man' and works out all the twists and turns of the plot on his way to find the loot.
It was great fun!
It was great fun!
