The Harper's Quine: A Medieval Murder Mystery [Paperback]

Pat McIntosh (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 19, 2007

The first in the murder series featuring Gil Cunningham, a newly qualified lawyer in medieval Glasgow, who finds the body of a young woman in a cathedral and is asked to investigate.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Lovers of quality historicals will welcome McIntosh's debut, a convincing whodunit set in 15th-century Glasgow. Lawyer Gilbert Cunningham, a progressive and empathic young man, is letting entropy propel him toward a life in the priesthood. His natural intelligence, curiosity and logic serve him in good stead when he stumbles across the corpse of a young woman on the grounds of a cathedral. The victim proves to be the estranged wife of a nobleman who had left him for a harper. Assisted by the forward and independent daughter of a local mason, Cunningham carefully examines forensic clues as well as the mysteries of the human heart to uncover the twisted soul responsible for a number of deaths. Impressively, the author manages to avoid false or anachronistic notes in depicting Scottish life in 1492. While some historical references will be obscure to an American audience, they don't detract from a clever plot, littered with fair clues to the puzzles. The rough justice that befalls the villain is a little contrived, but there's every reason for the legions of fans of the late Ellis Peters to anticipate the next Cunningham mystery.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"'McIntosh's characterisations and period detail are first rate and bode well for future entries in this series.' Publishers Weekly 'The next Cunningham adventure is to be welcomed.' Historical Novels Review" --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Carroll & Graf (March 19, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786719966
• ISBN-13: 978-0786719969
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,260,135 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Happily, this is the FIRST Gil Cunningham mystery, May 20, 2005

By 

Elizabeth A. Root (Laurel, MD USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Harper's Quine: A Medieval Murder Mystery (Hardcover)

This is an accomplished mystery with a strong sense of history and character. The writing is quite polished, especially for a first novel.

The setting is Glasgow in 1492. The intriguing adventures of the young lawyer, soon to be priest, allow the reader to view a wide section of Scotland - servants, nobles, impoverished gentry. The story touches on points of Scottish law and the intricacies of marital finances, the travels of young scholars, the mingling and separation of lowlander and highlander.

There was a cast of interesting and likeable characters that I look forward to meeting again. The only disappointment is waiting for the second book.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great start, June 15, 2006

By 

Cheryl A. Reynolds "Spuddie" (Minneapolis, MN, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Harper's Quine: A Medieval Murder Mystery (Hardcover)

This is an excellent start to a historical mystery series featuring Gil Cunningham, an aspiring lawyer in 1492 Glasgow, Scotland. While Columbus was discovering America, Gil is looking for suspects in the brutal stabbing of a woman who was a member of a traveling troupe of musicians. Since Bess Stewart was killed on church property and Gil finds her body, his uncle the Canon decrees that he should investigate her death. Bess also was the estranged wife of a powerful local landowner, and before Gil can cross the street, the number of people who would benefit from her death are crawling out of the woodwork and he has more possible murderers than he knows what to do with!

While I did guess quite early on who the culprit in the mystery was, I very much enjoyed the author's ability to set you right in the midst of the historical place and time. Another strong suit is an excellent ability to provide well-fleshed and interesting characters. Gil, his uncle, their housekeeper Maggie, the Master Mason who assists Gil in his inquiries and the mason's daughter Alys all felt like real people. Even the transient characters--the murder victim and the suspects--were more developed than the main characters of some series I've tried to read! The author made you care about them all and what happened to them.

I don't know why these books were not published in paperback here in the States, because if this one is any indication, it's an excellent series. I will be looking for more in the series very soon!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good Read, September 2, 2007

By 

Ralph E. Self - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Harper's Quine: A Medieval Murder Mystery (Paperback)

This was the first book in this series that I have read. It will not be the last. Great story line. Gives one the feel of being there.