A Trust Betrayed (Margaret Kerr of Perth) [Paperback]

Candace Robb (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2002 | Series: Margaret Kerr of Perth

From the author of the acclaimed Owen Archer books comes the first novel in a new historical mystery series set in 13th century Scotland.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Author of the acclaimed Owen Archer mystery series (The Nun's Tale; etc.) set in late 14th-century England, Robb introduces Dame Margaret Kerr in the alluring first of a new series placed in 13th-century Scotland. The spring of 1297 finds Margaret with her mother-in-law, Katherine, in Dunfermline. Roger Sinclair, Margaret's husband, has not been heard from since he set out for Edinburgh on business months earlier. Roger's cousin, Jack, leaves to find Roger, but instead returns home in a shroud, the victim of a brutal murder. After his funeral, Margaret determines to go to Edinburgh with her priest brother to search for her husband and to discover what she can about Jack's death, her only clue being a small weight clutched in Jack's dead hand. Margaret finds an Edinburgh occupied by English soldiers and clouded by political unrest. As she follows Roger's trail and seeks Jack's murderer, she uncovers truths that tear at her heart and cause her to question her beliefs and loyalties. Robb carefully unfolds her story, allowing the reader to become immersed in the day-to-day life of the characters. With meticulous attention to historical details, from the soup Margaret eats to her characters' plaid clothing and the language they speak (there's a helpful glossary), the author lovingly re-creates medieval Edinburgh. But like Katherine's altar cloth or Margaret's needlework, the story remains unfinished and readers can only wait patiently for the sequel.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Robb brings historical mystery fans a new series featuring Dame Margaret Kerr of Perth, Scotland. It is 1297 and the Wars of Independence against the English are raging. Intrigue abounds as the various Scottish factions fight among themselves to gain control of the country and drive the English out. Dame Margaret's husband, Roger, a merchant, has been missing for five months. After his cousin, Jack, goes to Edinburgh to find Roger and turns up murdered, Margaret sets out to determine what really happened. She quickly finds that Edinburgh, full of English soldiers, is no place for a woman alone. When she starts investigating, Margaret lands in a web of politics and betrayal. She realizes that she knew very little about her husband and his cousin. Robb's captivating blend of history and mystery vividly evokes Medieval Scotland. Those who enjoy her Owen Archer novels will want to step back a century and read about Dame Margaret Kerr. Barbara Bibel
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Mysterious Press (April 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446678503
• ISBN-13: 978-0446678506
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,210,209 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Loved the idea of new series, June 1, 2001

By 

Misty Desiree (Dallas, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Trust Betrayed (Hardcover)

I have read and enjoyed all the Owen Archer books, so I had been really excited to hear about a new series set in Scotland at the time of Robert Bruce. Ms. Robb's research and attention to historical detail are as impeccable as ever, but I didn't really like this particular book as much as I hoped because I disliked her new series main character. The atmosphere and other characters are great, but Margaret (have I got her name right ?) seems unbearably selfish and perfectly willing to put other people's lives at risk (including her brother and uncle)to gain her own wishes. She is also extremely self-righteous. I hope Ms. Robb can make her "grow-up" quickly in the next novel.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Never Underestimate The Devotion Of A Wife, July 18, 2001

By 

Denise Fleischer (Illinois) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Trust Betrayed (Hardcover)

A Trust Betrayed By Candace Robb ... Setting: 1297, Medieval Scotland

Candace Robb presents the first chapter of Margaret Kerr of Perth in her novel, "A Trust Betrayed." Margaret is the wife of a shipping merchant.

Five months have passed since her husband, Roger Sinclair, rode off to Edinburgh. The reason for his departure was not disclosed and Margaret fears the worse. Equally concerned about his cousin's disappearance, Jack Sinclair sets out to find him. He returns to Margaret and her goodmother Katherine, in a burial shroud. The horrid reality of his murder is uncovered when Margaret severs the stitches of Jack's shroud in the lykewake hut. Upon examining the corpse she finds that his stomach and throat are slashed and in his hand lies a small stone. Her only clue in this dark mystery.

Determined to learn what is delaying her husband's return and who was responsible for Jack's murder, Margaret leaves her goodmother's home under the escort of her brother, Father Andrew, and Katherine's maid, Celia. Her destination is Edinburgh, which is caught in a power struggle between England and Scotland. Men such as John Balliol, Robert Bruce, Edward Longshanks and William Wallace battle to rule.

Margaret and her companions journey through the English patrolled city where death and decay greet them down every street. Her arrival at her uncle's inn is not welcomed for Murdock fears for his niece's safety. He provides her and Celia shelter after Andrew returns to the Abby and the Abbot of Dunfermline but warns her not to question the citizens of Edinburgh.

When not busily occupied in the upkeep of the inn, Margaret sets into motion her investigation. With patience and intelligence she not only finds out who killed Jack but uncovers others crimes as well. Every step she makes she is followed by either the English or a man named James Comyn, part owner in her uncle's inn.

With the passing of each day, more bodies are found. Even though it is against the abbot's wishes, Andrew assists his sister on her mission. She is befriended by weaver Janet Webster, whose own husband, Davy the smith, was murdered. Woven into the plot and revealed truth by truth is Margaret's husband's involvement with a Mistress Grey and his secretive quest to see the man he believes should be the King of the Scots rise to power.

A TRUST BETRAYED is a historical adventure well researched by its author. The reader travels along with Margaret in a place where lives are extinguished because of allegiance. Every knock at the door and every shadow could mean the end of her own life. Margaret's courage and determination place her in uncommon situations for women of her day. And you stand by her and respect her through it all. The language will slow you down as the tale unfolds but it's essential to the storytelling. I anxiously await the second book in this series not so much to see if Margaret and her husband are reunited, but to see if her mother's prophecy is fulfilled. Read the book to find out what Christiana MacFarlane of Elcho Nunnery reveals before Margaret's journey to Edinburgh. ...

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great sstart to this historical mystery series, March 31, 2001

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Trust Betrayed (Hardcover)

In 1297 Scotland, Margaret already shocked by her husband Roger Sinclair not returning home from a trip to Edinburgh five months ago is further stunned. Roger's cousin Jack, who went in search of his missing relative, has just returned home in a shroud. Jack allegedly died in a barroom brawl.

Upon inspecting the corpse, Margaret realizes that someone deliberately and viciously murdered Jack. Unable to sit and wait any longer, Margaret travels to Edinburgh in search of her spouse and Jack's killer. She will soon learn why no one including relatives and her husband wants Margaret in the city, let alone her investigating a murder.

Readers can trust that Candace Robb will never betray their belief in the quality of her historical novels. Her latest tale is a historical mystery that is enriched with a strong feel of the era. The story line is exciting as the intrepid Margaret conducts her amateur sleuthing over the objections of seemingly everyone. A TRUST BETRAYED is hopefully the beginning of a new series from one of the better authors of medieval tales (see the Owen Archer novels for wonderful fifteenth century period mysteries).

Harriet Klausner