Not too long ago I was raving about Sharon Kay Penman's triumph "Splendour in the Sunne." I decided to read the first mystery in her Medieval Mystery series entitled "The Queen's Man." I thought it might be a good read since Will Thomas (he of Thomas Llewellyn and Cyrus Barker books) lists her as a favorite author of his.
Penman's mystery centers around the character of Justin de Quincy, an illegitimate son of a high cleric. Justin witnesses a murder, and he promises to take the letter being carried by the victim to the court of Queen Eleanor. Eleanor is now the Queen Mother while her son Richard the Lionhearted is ruling. Court intrigues and domestic secrets abound when Justin takes the letter to the Queen who then engages him to discover the murderer(s).
While the mystery isn't much of a mystery, the characters in this novel are so likable you manage to carry on. I particularly liked Luke de Marston, an undersheriff of Winchester, and Jonas, another undersheriff in London. Nell, the manager of an ale house, is another likable personage.
While I can't say that this book left me amazed at the story, the experience or the writing, I did enjoy it for what it was: a book to read by the pool.
Until next time, may your reading be both pleasurable and profitable.
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