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annakr5's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
abibliofob's review
3.0
Master Mercurius is back in this second adventure and soon the third book will ber released and a fourth book is announced. I was sceptical when I read the first one but now I am really hooked on the adventures of this protestant minister and catholic priest set in the later part of the 1600s Netherland. I stumbled upon the other with his character Slonsky in Prague and found the writing wonderful and I really recommend all his work.
jmatkinson1's review
4.0
1674 and the French have been driven out of the Netherlands, William of Orange is now Stadhouder but there are still some who would like to see him replaced. When Master Mercurius is sent to Utrecht to sort out the University wages it is as a cover for the Stadhouder who wants him to check on his spies. However when a man wearing Mercuriius' cloak is attacked Mercurius comes into contact with a poor lute player who happens to be more of an assassin and toruturer. After the death of a man at the University of Leiden who was also in the pay of the Stadhouder the race is on to find the traitors.
This is the second book focusing on Master Mercurius and the series is shaping up well. Here the plot is rather political but the side-stories make it more worthwhile. Mercurius is a cleric in the Protestant faith but also a Catholic priest who worships in private. This seems a complex backstory and it is not fully explained but it does act as a device both for comedic purposes (not eating meat on Fridays) and also for moral reasons (a slight diversion in terms of romance). I really like the setting in 17th Century Netherlands as it allows insights into a lesser known history. All in all a solid piece of historical detective writing.
This is the second book focusing on Master Mercurius and the series is shaping up well. Here the plot is rather political but the side-stories make it more worthwhile. Mercurius is a cleric in the Protestant faith but also a Catholic priest who worships in private. This seems a complex backstory and it is not fully explained but it does act as a device both for comedic purposes (not eating meat on Fridays) and also for moral reasons (a slight diversion in terms of romance). I really like the setting in 17th Century Netherlands as it allows insights into a lesser known history. All in all a solid piece of historical detective writing.
seismatic's review against another edition
3.0
I am ANNOYED with myself! I really should have solved this way before page 200, considering I speak Dutch and I KNOW THE MEANING OF MY LAST NAME.
3 stars, as the main character is entertaining and I loved Beniamino, but the first book was more exciting.
3 stars, as the main character is entertaining and I loved Beniamino, but the first book was more exciting.
cj_mo_2222's review
5.0
I really enjoy the author’s Josef Slonský series, but wasn’t sure what to expect when I first read the prior book in the Master Mercurius series. If you are new to this series, put aside what you think a mystery set in the Netherlands during the 17th century might be like. This isn’t like plodding through a history book. “Untrue Till Death” is a fast-paced, interesting novel that is full of wit and humor. I am not familiar with this part of history but had no problem becoming engaged with the story or connecting with the main character. Master Mercurius, who is both a Protestant minister and also secretly a Catholic priest, is easy to relate to. He is dealing with university politics, resisting temptation, and trying to succeed in his job just like someone in modern times.
“Untrue Till Death” is the second book in this series, but stands alone if you’ve missed the first one. In this installment, Master Mercurius is given a task that is actually a cover for a secret mission for Stadhouder William of Orange. He has been asked to visit a nearby university and find out if the Stadhouder’s elderly informant is still up to doing his job after a recent setback in his health. Mercurius is already anxious about this assignment when a murderer strikes, making the mission more sensitive and dangerous than before. Now Mecurius has to find out who he can trust and catch a killer before he becomes the next victim.
Graham Brack takes the reader on a journey along with Mercurius in his quest to complete his assignment for the Stadhouder. The plot of the book is complex but entertaining . I wasn’t as adept as Mercurius at being able to distinguish between the heroes and the traitors, so I was surprised when all the details were disclosed at the end of the story. I like everything about this book - the main character, the interesting secondary characters, the setting, the plot, and the humor. I have not yet been disappointed by any of Brack’s books and am excited to see there will be another book in this series that is currently planned for later this year.
I received this ebook through the courtesy of Sapere Books. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.
“Untrue Till Death” is the second book in this series, but stands alone if you’ve missed the first one. In this installment, Master Mercurius is given a task that is actually a cover for a secret mission for Stadhouder William of Orange. He has been asked to visit a nearby university and find out if the Stadhouder’s elderly informant is still up to doing his job after a recent setback in his health. Mercurius is already anxious about this assignment when a murderer strikes, making the mission more sensitive and dangerous than before. Now Mecurius has to find out who he can trust and catch a killer before he becomes the next victim.
Graham Brack takes the reader on a journey along with Mercurius in his quest to complete his assignment for the Stadhouder. The plot of the book is complex but entertaining . I wasn’t as adept as Mercurius at being able to distinguish between the heroes and the traitors, so I was surprised when all the details were disclosed at the end of the story. I like everything about this book - the main character, the interesting secondary characters, the setting, the plot, and the humor. I have not yet been disappointed by any of Brack’s books and am excited to see there will be another book in this series that is currently planned for later this year.
I received this ebook through the courtesy of Sapere Books. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.
annarella's review against another edition
4.0
I love this series and this is an excellent addition.
It's an engrossing and entertaining read, the mystery is solid and kept me guessing, the historical background is vivid.
I look forward to reading the next instalment, recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
It's an engrossing and entertaining read, the mystery is solid and kept me guessing, the historical background is vivid.
I look forward to reading the next instalment, recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
tasmanian_bibliophile's review against another edition
4.0
‘I just get things wrong now and again, that’s all.’
Leiden, The Netherlands, 1674. As a result of his success in solving the case of the missing girls in Delft, Master Mercurius has made a name for himself. He is summoned by William of Orange, who, suspicious that there is a plot to overthrow him, wants Master Mercurius to investigate. But before Master Mercurius can start, one of his colleagues at the University of Leiden is murdered.
This novel is presented to us as part of Master Mercurius’s memoir:
‘Now that I am advanced in years, the time has come to set down my memoirs before senility sets in and I can no longer remember what happened.’
Because the story is presented in this way, Master Mercurius has some mischievous fun with the reader in the beginning as he moves backwards and forwards between events. He may not have liked his murdered colleague very much, but who murdered him and why? And then another man is murdered. Is William of Orange in danger? Will Master Mercurius work out who is killing whom before William of Orange runs out of apples?
Poor Master Mercurius. He is both an ordained Protestant Minister and a Catholic Priest. Politics, religion, and an eye for women. At least in his dreams. Life is complicated.
‘That’s the trouble with bishops; they take religion too seriously.’
I really enjoyed this second book in the Master Mercurius series. Mercurius himself is both observant and witty, and there are plenty of laugh out loud moments as he investigates:
‘No doubt you are wondering why I sent Van Looy for you.’
‘I was, of course. A secondary question was why a man of sense would send Van Looy for anything.’
I really enjoyed this novel. Master Mercurius is growing on me (there is a third book I’ve yet to read). If you have not yet made his acquaintance, and you enjoy historical whodunnits with humour, then I can recommend this series. I can also recommend Mr Bracks’s Josef Slonský series as well.
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
Leiden, The Netherlands, 1674. As a result of his success in solving the case of the missing girls in Delft, Master Mercurius has made a name for himself. He is summoned by William of Orange, who, suspicious that there is a plot to overthrow him, wants Master Mercurius to investigate. But before Master Mercurius can start, one of his colleagues at the University of Leiden is murdered.
This novel is presented to us as part of Master Mercurius’s memoir:
‘Now that I am advanced in years, the time has come to set down my memoirs before senility sets in and I can no longer remember what happened.’
Because the story is presented in this way, Master Mercurius has some mischievous fun with the reader in the beginning as he moves backwards and forwards between events. He may not have liked his murdered colleague very much, but who murdered him and why? And then another man is murdered. Is William of Orange in danger? Will Master Mercurius work out who is killing whom before William of Orange runs out of apples?
Poor Master Mercurius. He is both an ordained Protestant Minister and a Catholic Priest. Politics, religion, and an eye for women. At least in his dreams. Life is complicated.
‘That’s the trouble with bishops; they take religion too seriously.’
I really enjoyed this second book in the Master Mercurius series. Mercurius himself is both observant and witty, and there are plenty of laugh out loud moments as he investigates:
‘No doubt you are wondering why I sent Van Looy for you.’
‘I was, of course. A secondary question was why a man of sense would send Van Looy for anything.’
I really enjoyed this novel. Master Mercurius is growing on me (there is a third book I’ve yet to read). If you have not yet made his acquaintance, and you enjoy historical whodunnits with humour, then I can recommend this series. I can also recommend Mr Bracks’s Josef Slonský series as well.
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
icemanbb's review
3.0
Second in Series = Letdown
This book in the series had a little too much humor for my tastes. The writing gives this murder/ mystery more of a cozy feel than the dark, sombef who-done-it that I was hoping for. The setting and characters were an interesting mix. Master Mercurius is an interesting mix, being ordained as a Catholic priest and a Protestant minister. Working in a university setting allows him to avoid conflicts between the politics and dogmatism of the two faiths. I will read the 3d in the series to see the progression.
This book in the series had a little too much humor for my tastes. The writing gives this murder/ mystery more of a cozy feel than the dark, sombef who-done-it that I was hoping for. The setting and characters were an interesting mix. Master Mercurius is an interesting mix, being ordained as a Catholic priest and a Protestant minister. Working in a university setting allows him to avoid conflicts between the politics and dogmatism of the two faiths. I will read the 3d in the series to see the progression.
vesper1931's review
4.0
1674 Leiden, Netherlands. Mercurius is sent by William of Orange to investigate his agent at Utrecht, who he believes is too old for the assignment and wishes Mercurius to help find a replacement, when a colleague at the University of Leiden is killed. But is Mercurius in danger of forfeiting his life.
An entertaining and well-written historical mystery.
An entertaining and well-written historical mystery.