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abibliofob's review
4.0
Master Mercurius is back in The Lying Dutchman by Graham Brack. The year is 1685 and our brother is tasked by the Stadhouder in the Netherlands to once again travel to England. This time it's trouble with who will keep the crown and if Monmouths invasion plans will succeed. As always Brack has a wonderful feeling for the time and place and the story is humorous and suspenseful at the same time. I seldom laugh out loud when reading but this author makes me do it with every book he writes. I strongly recommend that you try some of his work. Master Mercurius is a wonderful character that reluctantly is roped in to help out and he never backs down due to his sense of duty and the fact that he gets some time off from teaching and praying. I must thank @SapereBooks @sapere.books @netgalley for letting me read this advance copy and @graham_brack for continuing with making this stuff up.
jmatkinson1's review
4.0
Summoned again by Stadhouder William, Master Mercurius is given an assignment to visit England again. He is not thrilled but cannot disobey his patron so voyages across the sea to London. Meeting with old friends he is appraised of the situation regarding the King and his rival, the Duke of Monmouth. The Stadhouder does not want to support Monmouth but also does not want to oppose him and Mercurius is a cog in the wheel of deception.
I really like Brack's books about Master Mercurius. Firstly the setting in 18th Century Leiden is unusual, secondly the anti-hero Mercurius is very engaging. This story is no exception, a convoluted plot to foil the Monmouth Rebellion but which makes sense in the context. Terrific fun and a great way to while away an afternoon.
I really like Brack's books about Master Mercurius. Firstly the setting in 18th Century Leiden is unusual, secondly the anti-hero Mercurius is very engaging. This story is no exception, a convoluted plot to foil the Monmouth Rebellion but which makes sense in the context. Terrific fun and a great way to while away an afternoon.
cj_mo_2222's review
4.0
The year is 1685 and Protestant minister/Catholic priest/University lecturer Master Mercurius has once again been summoned by Staudhouder William of Orange.William and his wife Mary are next in line for the English throne, but the Duke of Monmouth is planning a rebellion to make his own claim to the throne. William sends Mercurius on a dangerous mission to keep that from happening.
This is the sixth book in this historical mystery series that is full of humor and makes history come alive. The book is clearly well-researched and is based on actual events. I prefer the books in this series that are murder mysteries as opposed to adventures like this one. However, it’s still a good book since Mercurius is such a likable character and his dry wit is a pleasure to read. I really like the ending, too. This series is perfect for readers who appreciate historical mysteries that include humor along with facts.
This is the sixth book in this historical mystery series that is full of humor and makes history come alive. The book is clearly well-researched and is based on actual events. I prefer the books in this series that are murder mysteries as opposed to adventures like this one. However, it’s still a good book since Mercurius is such a likable character and his dry wit is a pleasure to read. I really like the ending, too. This series is perfect for readers who appreciate historical mysteries that include humor along with facts.
annarella's review
5.0
This another compelling addition to this excellent historical series. Mercurius is a likeable and fleshed out characters, the plot are always gripping, the complex historical background is well researched and vivid.
This is a gripping story that I strongly recommend.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
This is a gripping story that I strongly recommend.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
luciussestius's review
5.0
Mercurius, an entertaining and unwilling hero
The sense of place and time is strong in the Mercurius adventures, but what makes them is the voice of the narrator, an old man recording his memoirs. Mercurius is lucky rather than skilled in the missions on which he is sent, but he is a keen observer and commentator. His slightly cantankerous take on everything adds humor to these stories, without undermining the serious themes.
The sense of place and time is strong in the Mercurius adventures, but what makes them is the voice of the narrator, an old man recording his memoirs. Mercurius is lucky rather than skilled in the missions on which he is sent, but he is a keen observer and commentator. His slightly cantankerous take on everything adds humor to these stories, without undermining the serious themes.
tasmanian_bibliophile's review
4.0
‘Memories.’
Master Mercurius, now an elderly man, is recording his memoirs with the aide of a scribe. His memory takes him back to 1685 when, once again, the Stadhouder, William of Orange, summons him to The Hague.
Charles II of England has died and James II, his brother, is now king. Next in line after James, is his daughter Mary, the wife of William of Orange. But Charles II’s illegitimate son, James Scott, Duke of Monmouth is being encouraged to stage a rebellion. James II is a Roman Catholic, and not popular. William of Orange has a cunning plan to thwart Monmouth’s rebellion without alienating Monmouth himself.
And who better to carry out this cunning plan than Master Mercurius?
Poor Mercurius. He was quite happy living his life in academia but a summons from the Stadhouder cannot be ignored. The Stadhouder’s plan is simple: Master Mercurius is to anonymously plant a letter containing Monmouth’s invasion plans in (or near) the English court so that James II becomes aware of the plans and summons an army.
What could possibly go wrong? Well, plenty as it turns out. Leaving aside Master Mercurius’s distaste for the sea (although I am fairly sure that Antarctica hadn’t been discovered in 1685, so that particular fear need not have arisen), there are language and other barriers to overcome.
This is another terrific instalment in the Master Mercurius series. We know that Mercurius has survived (how else could he be dictating his memoirs?) but just how he manages to survive arrest and imprisonment makes for an entertaining read.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Sapere Books for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Master Mercurius, now an elderly man, is recording his memoirs with the aide of a scribe. His memory takes him back to 1685 when, once again, the Stadhouder, William of Orange, summons him to The Hague.
Charles II of England has died and James II, his brother, is now king. Next in line after James, is his daughter Mary, the wife of William of Orange. But Charles II’s illegitimate son, James Scott, Duke of Monmouth is being encouraged to stage a rebellion. James II is a Roman Catholic, and not popular. William of Orange has a cunning plan to thwart Monmouth’s rebellion without alienating Monmouth himself.
And who better to carry out this cunning plan than Master Mercurius?
Poor Mercurius. He was quite happy living his life in academia but a summons from the Stadhouder cannot be ignored. The Stadhouder’s plan is simple: Master Mercurius is to anonymously plant a letter containing Monmouth’s invasion plans in (or near) the English court so that James II becomes aware of the plans and summons an army.
What could possibly go wrong? Well, plenty as it turns out. Leaving aside Master Mercurius’s distaste for the sea (although I am fairly sure that Antarctica hadn’t been discovered in 1685, so that particular fear need not have arisen), there are language and other barriers to overcome.
This is another terrific instalment in the Master Mercurius series. We know that Mercurius has survived (how else could he be dictating his memoirs?) but just how he manages to survive arrest and imprisonment makes for an entertaining read.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Sapere Books for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
sjbanner's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
vesper1931's review
mysterious
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
1685. King Charles II is dead and his brother James is now King. But Charles's son the Duke of Monmouth plans an invasion to take the throne. Stadhouder, William of Orange friend to the Duke but wants his plans to fail so that evenually his and his wife Mary, daughter of James become the next King and Queen. So he has a plan, and to this end he sends Master Mercury's to England. But plans rarely turn out as wanted.
Another entertaining and well-writtn historical mystery with its likeable main character. A good addition to this series which cn easily be read as a standalone story.
Another entertaining and well-writtn historical mystery with its likeable main character. A good addition to this series which cn easily be read as a standalone story.
chris_urquhart_70's review
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I can't recommend this entire series (and Brack's Slonsky series) highly enough. All the plotlines are engaging and well planned. The narrative flows swiftly and is both engrossing and informative. Whilst this novel doesn't have quite the complexities of previous ones in the series, being more of an adventure than a mystery, Mercurius' self-deprecating humour (more prominent here than in previous tales) more than makes up for the lack of intrigue. My only gripe is that the novels are relatively short. I'd love to see Mercurius in a longer novel, entangled in multiple plotlines.
If you are a fan of CJ Sansom's Shardlake series, or indeed historical mysteries in general, then you really must add the Mercurius series to your reading list. Graham Brack (along with Caimh McDonnell) is my favourite new (to me) author so far this year and I look forward to reading his novels for many years to come.
If you are a fan of CJ Sansom's Shardlake series, or indeed historical mysteries in general, then you really must add the Mercurius series to your reading list. Graham Brack (along with Caimh McDonnell) is my favourite new (to me) author so far this year and I look forward to reading his novels for many years to come.
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