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A review by cj_mo_2222
The Noose's Shadow by Graham Brack
5.0
The year is 1680 and Master Mercurius is part of the Theology faculty at the University of Leiden. He is a Protestant minister and is also secretly a Catholic priest. He has the reputation of being able to solve crimes, so a young woman comes to him for help when her husband Jaco is arrested and about to be hanged for a murder he didn’t commit. Mercurius agrees to look into the murder and find plenty of people who caould have had a motive to murder the upleasant Franciscus Wolf, but but becomes worried when Jaco Zwart seems to be the only one with the opportunity to commit the crime.
This is the fourth book in the Master Mercurius series. The last two books found Mercurius assisting Stadhouder William of Orange. In an author’s note, Brack says it was time for Mercurius to return to helping ordinary people like he did in the first book of the series. Although I enjoyed the history behind the last two books, I agree with Brack and really became engaged in this story and getting a look at everyday life during this time period in Holland. Mercurius is clever and intelligent, but somewhat naive and the sometimes awkward situations he finds himself in (like the mayor in the town he is investigating trying to fix him up with his beautiful young daughter) are uncomfortable for Mercurius but entertaining for the reader.
Like the other books in this series, The Noose’s Shadow is full of interesting, memorable characters. I love the Mercurius is able to deduce the solution to the murder. Although the book takes place in the 17th century, Mercurius is a witty and relatable character. When he is able to solve the crime, it says a lot about his character that his success in getting justice for the victim is bittersweet to him because of the circumstances of the murder and the fate awaiting the murderer. This book is my favorite in the series so far and I highly recommend it and the entire series.
I received this ebook from NetGalley through the courtesy of Sapere Books. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.
This is the fourth book in the Master Mercurius series. The last two books found Mercurius assisting Stadhouder William of Orange. In an author’s note, Brack says it was time for Mercurius to return to helping ordinary people like he did in the first book of the series. Although I enjoyed the history behind the last two books, I agree with Brack and really became engaged in this story and getting a look at everyday life during this time period in Holland. Mercurius is clever and intelligent, but somewhat naive and the sometimes awkward situations he finds himself in (like the mayor in the town he is investigating trying to fix him up with his beautiful young daughter) are uncomfortable for Mercurius but entertaining for the reader.
Like the other books in this series, The Noose’s Shadow is full of interesting, memorable characters. I love the Mercurius is able to deduce the solution to the murder. Although the book takes place in the 17th century, Mercurius is a witty and relatable character. When he is able to solve the crime, it says a lot about his character that his success in getting justice for the victim is bittersweet to him because of the circumstances of the murder and the fate awaiting the murderer. This book is my favorite in the series so far and I highly recommend it and the entire series.
I received this ebook from NetGalley through the courtesy of Sapere Books. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.