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breazy_reader_724's review against another edition
4.0
Another enjoyable entry in the series. The overall development of the protagonist was somewhat limited in this engaging story, but my main gripe would be that the secondary characters, such as Nell, Jonas and Hugh, don't get much to do. Even so, we see meaningful developments with Justin and Claudine's relationship, and an over-arching story of interest as Justin doggedly investigates the death of a young Welsh girl. Looking forward to the next in the series.
chandraisenberg's review against another edition
4.0
Yay for finding a new historical fiction author! Penman's Cruel as the Grave was quite good and I appreciated that she was very mindful of the historical record in her research for the book.
mimima's review against another edition
3.0
As my dear friend said, this series are amuse bouches to read in between Penman's amazing Historical Fiction. As such, it was a pleasant read. You can never go wrong when Eleanor of Aquitaine is a character.
catherine_t's review against another edition
4.0
The second Justin de Quincy mediaeval mystery from renowned historical novelist Sharon Kay Penman focuses on the murder of a pedlar's daughter. Fifteen-year-old Melangell was found dead in a churchyard. The obvious culprit: Daniel Aston, black-sheep son of Humphrey, a well-to-do mercer. Agnes, one of the women who nursed Justin after his near-fatal encounter with Gilbert the Fleming (in *The Queen's Man*) and Daniel's aunt, begs Justin to investigate.
The mystery is played out against the backdrop of Prince John's rebellion against his mother Queen Eleanor, and Justin is also commissioned by Her Grace to deliver a message to her wayward son at Windsor, which is under siege at the time.
I liked this one as a mystery better than the first one--there was less info-dumping, and apart from the mission to Windsor, it focused more on the investigation into Melangell's death. As well, there was more development of Justin as a character, which I enjoyed. I quite like Justin. He is very much an Everyman: not outstandingly clever like a Sherlock Holmes, able to put himself into the places of the people he investigates.
The mystery is played out against the backdrop of Prince John's rebellion against his mother Queen Eleanor, and Justin is also commissioned by Her Grace to deliver a message to her wayward son at Windsor, which is under siege at the time.
I liked this one as a mystery better than the first one--there was less info-dumping, and apart from the mission to Windsor, it focused more on the investigation into Melangell's death. As well, there was more development of Justin as a character, which I enjoyed. I quite like Justin. He is very much an Everyman: not outstandingly clever like a Sherlock Holmes, able to put himself into the places of the people he investigates.
depizan's review against another edition
2.0
I have very mixed feelings about this series. The main character just isn’t as interesting as his supporting cast...most of his supporting cast...and there’s something about the treatment of the female characters that I don’t care for. It dips too much into stereotypes, I think.
lsneal's review against another edition
2.0
Much like the first book. I'm finding the mysteries a little obvious and the characterizations a little clunky, so this is probably the last of this series I'll read.
lnatal's review
4.0
This is the second book of the Justin de Quincy series and it's a sequel of "The Queen's Man."
Plot:
The dowager queen is attempting to hold the throne for her beloved son, Richard the Lionheart, held captive by the Holy Roman Emperor, against the machinations of her youngest son, John. A neighbor asks Justin to investigate the death of a young Welsh girl named Melangell. Two brothers from a wealthy mercantile family, nephews of Justin's neighbor, are the chief suspects in the murder. Justin balances snooping into the murder with his duties as the queen's agent, at one point risking his life to carry a message to John, besieged in Windsor Castle in his bid for the throne.
Justin de Quincy series:
3* The Queen's Man (Justin de Quincy, #1)
4* Cruel as the Grave (Justin de Quincy, #2)
TR Dragon's Lair (Justin de Quincy, #3)
4* Prince of Darkness (Justin de Quincy, #4)
Welsh Princes series
5* Here be Dragons (Welsh Princes, #1)
5* Falls the Shadow (Welsh Princes, #2)
4* The Reckoning (Welsh Princes, #3)
Henry II & Eleanor of Aquitaine series
5* When Christ and His Saints Slept (Henry II & Eleanor of Aquitaine, #1)
4* Time and Chance (Henry II & Eleanor of Aquitaine, #2)
5* Devil's Brood (Henry II & Eleanor of Aquitaine, #3)
Richard the Lionheart series
4* Lionheart (Plantagenets #4)
TR A King's Ransom (Plantagenets #5)
Plot:
The dowager queen is attempting to hold the throne for her beloved son, Richard the Lionheart, held captive by the Holy Roman Emperor, against the machinations of her youngest son, John. A neighbor asks Justin to investigate the death of a young Welsh girl named Melangell. Two brothers from a wealthy mercantile family, nephews of Justin's neighbor, are the chief suspects in the murder. Justin balances snooping into the murder with his duties as the queen's agent, at one point risking his life to carry a message to John, besieged in Windsor Castle in his bid for the throne.
Justin de Quincy series:
3* The Queen's Man (Justin de Quincy, #1)
4* Cruel as the Grave (Justin de Quincy, #2)
TR Dragon's Lair (Justin de Quincy, #3)
4* Prince of Darkness (Justin de Quincy, #4)
Welsh Princes series
5* Here be Dragons (Welsh Princes, #1)
5* Falls the Shadow (Welsh Princes, #2)
4* The Reckoning (Welsh Princes, #3)
Henry II & Eleanor of Aquitaine series
5* When Christ and His Saints Slept (Henry II & Eleanor of Aquitaine, #1)
4* Time and Chance (Henry II & Eleanor of Aquitaine, #2)
5* Devil's Brood (Henry II & Eleanor of Aquitaine, #3)
Richard the Lionheart series
4* Lionheart (Plantagenets #4)
TR A King's Ransom (Plantagenets #5)
julieputty's review
3.0
This book is pretty slight, with a not very compelling mystery but an interesting setting.
singinglight's review
3.0
I didn’t enjoy this one quite as much as the first. Justin seemed a little less sympathetic as a character somehow. [Oct 2010]
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