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Muirteach MacPhee Mystery #2
The Faerie Hills
Scottish Hebrides, Autumn 1373: The eight year old grandson of the powerful Lord of the Isles vanishes on the windswept island of Colonsay, and rumors fly that he has been spirited away by the faerie. Muirteach MacPhee investigates but he suspects the boy’s disappearance has more to do with human greed and the mysterious piece of gold the lad found before he vanished. Muirteach scours the island, finding nothing except some hidden bones and an old man out looking for a lost goat. Mariota Beaton arrives from Islay to aid Muirteach in his search, but the lovely healer struggles with demons of her own.
The island of Colonsay is rife with tales of faerie changelings, strange lights on the beach, and the bones of an infant found buried in a cave nearby. Muirteach’s investigation brings past grievances and old wounds to light but may not be enough to save the life of the missing boy, or Muirteach’s burgeoning relationship with Mariota.
THE FAERIE HILLS is an enigmatic historical mystery, set against a background of faerie lore and a Celtic culture that firmly believed in the “good people”. With a plot “as intricate as a Celtic knot” it will appeal to lovers of medieval and historical mystery. THE FAERIE HILLS was awarded "Best Historical Novel 2011" by the New Mexico Book Awards.
The island of Colonsay is rife with tales of faerie changelings, strange lights on the beach, and the bones of an infant found buried in a cave nearby. Muirteach’s investigation brings past grievances and old wounds to light but may not be enough to save the life of the missing boy, or Muirteach’s burgeoning relationship with Mariota.
THE FAERIE HILLS is an enigmatic historical mystery, set against a background of faerie lore and a Celtic culture that firmly believed in the “good people”. With a plot “as intricate as a Celtic knot” it will appeal to lovers of medieval and historical mystery. THE FAERIE HILLS was awarded "Best Historical Novel 2011" by the New Mexico Book Awards.
236 pages, Hardcover
First published April 15, 2011
About the author
Susan McDuffie
10 books43 followers Susan McDuffie has been a devotee of historical fiction since her childhood, when she believed she had mistakenly been born in the wrong century. Her discovery that Clorox was not marketed prior to the 1920s reconciled her to modern life. Susan writes historical mysteries set in medieval Scotland, and has also published Regency short stories. The Muirteach MacPhee Mysteries include A MASS FOR THE DEAD (Five Star 2006) and THE FAERIE HILLS (Five Star April 2011). Additional information about Susan’s work can be found on her website www.SusanMcDuffie.net
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
May 29, 2013
The year is 1373, the place, the tiny, island of Colonsay, in the windswept Hebrides. A lad named Niall, grandson of the MacDonald, Lord of the Isles, has failed to return after an afternoon outing with his foster brother. Niall was last seen digging around a faerie mound, searching for hidden gold treasure. Deeply worried, his foster father summons his nephew, Muirteach MacPhee, from a neighboring island, to lead the search for Niall. How could anyone disappear so completely in such a small place? As Muirteach investigates, he learns that the majority of Colonsay residents believe Niall was stolen by the faeries; Muirteach is more inclined to believe that this is the work of humans. Whatever the cause, the disappearance stirs up old clan rivalries, which threaten to erupt once more into feuding.
As a historical novel, The Faerie Hills, has much going for it. Author McDuffie infuses her story with plenty of folklore and atmosphere, liberally sprinkling dialog with ancient Scottish vocabulary. While there is a glossary, a pronunciation guide would have been helpful. Muirteach is an intelligent, engaging protagonist, though most other characters are not as well developed. The budding romance between him and Mariota, who is learning to be a healer, provides some lighter moments, and among the more colorful characters are a witch and a grown-up changeling. There Where the book falls short is in the plot itself, which suffers from redundancy and very slow pacing. If you're looking for a light mystery with strong historical and folkloric flavor, however, this fills the bill nicely.
As a historical novel, The Faerie Hills, has much going for it. Author McDuffie infuses her story with plenty of folklore and atmosphere, liberally sprinkling dialog with ancient Scottish vocabulary. While there is a glossary, a pronunciation guide would have been helpful. Muirteach is an intelligent, engaging protagonist, though most other characters are not as well developed. The budding romance between him and Mariota, who is learning to be a healer, provides some lighter moments, and among the more colorful characters are a witch and a grown-up changeling. There Where the book falls short is in the plot itself, which suffers from redundancy and very slow pacing. If you're looking for a light mystery with strong historical and folkloric flavor, however, this fills the bill nicely.
April 15, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed the setting and the historical nature of this mystery. The author obviously did her research to capture the language, food, dress, and traditions of the island off the coast of Scotland.
The mystery's plot went quite well, though the mystical nature of the villain at the end seemed to not fit the antagonist's effort to be logical in the face of the population's tendency toward superstition. The people of the time no doubt spoke a language very different than today's. The author tried to capture this, but the style of speaking was difficult for me to get into. After several chapters, I could flow with it, so hang in there.
Overall, this is an interesting story which gives a good look into the history of Scotland.
The mystery's plot went quite well, though the mystical nature of the villain at the end seemed to not fit the antagonist's effort to be logical in the face of the population's tendency toward superstition. The people of the time no doubt spoke a language very different than today's. The author tried to capture this, but the style of speaking was difficult for me to get into. After several chapters, I could flow with it, so hang in there.
Overall, this is an interesting story which gives a good look into the history of Scotland.
March 21, 2019
I was interested in this book since I'm a McPhie, and I've been to Colonsay, and I know some of the clan history. All that certainly adds something. McDuffie has written an engaging mystery with many characters, spare prose, and lots of plot twists. The maps, glossary, and cast of characters at the beginning was very helpful. This was the second of the series, but the first one that I read. I'll be looking for the first one to follow Muirteach MacPhee and the others.
June 14, 2019
3.5 stars
I appreciated that this story was not written in brogue. The author included a glossary of Scottish words and cast of characters.
The mystery kept me reading. Since this is not a fantasy novel, I knew the faerie didn't take the kid, so I wondered what happened to him. The author did a good job of creating a setting that felt like 1300s Scotland.
I had not read the first book in this series, but this one stood on its own.
I appreciated that this story was not written in brogue. The author included a glossary of Scottish words and cast of characters.
The mystery kept me reading. Since this is not a fantasy novel, I knew the faerie didn't take the kid, so I wondered what happened to him. The author did a good job of creating a setting that felt like 1300s Scotland.
I had not read the first book in this series, but this one stood on its own.
September 14, 2011
This book brings together two of my favorite genres, mystery (especially mysteries set in ancient times) and fantasy. It takes place in 1373 in the Hebrides (islands off the western coast of Scotland). While it's really just a mystery, I love that the people of these Isles believe that the faerie or good folk do exist and could in fact do things like steal a child and leave a changeling in it's place.
This is apparently the second book in this series. In the previous book Muirteach had solved the murder of his father, for the Lord of the Isles, his Uncle Gillespic, and had been rewarded with new lands but now he could be called upon, by his uncle, for other matters as his uncle saw fit.
In this book an eight year old boy,fostered be Muirteachs Uncle goes missing. No one thought too much of it at first since the boy had a wild adventures streak in him, and when people find out he goes missing after searching for faerie gold, they wonder if he's been taken by the good folk.
But Muirteach is called upon by his Uncle to look into the disappearance, and eventually finds the body and eventually solves the mystery. He does so more through persistence than through good logic or deductive reasoning so the ancient lands and time and the people believing in the fey won me over more than the actual mystery itself so I'm not sure what that long term prospects are for me and this series.
This is apparently the second book in this series. In the previous book Muirteach had solved the murder of his father, for the Lord of the Isles, his Uncle Gillespic, and had been rewarded with new lands but now he could be called upon, by his uncle, for other matters as his uncle saw fit.
In this book an eight year old boy,fostered be Muirteachs Uncle goes missing. No one thought too much of it at first since the boy had a wild adventures streak in him, and when people find out he goes missing after searching for faerie gold, they wonder if he's been taken by the good folk.
But Muirteach is called upon by his Uncle to look into the disappearance, and eventually finds the body and eventually solves the mystery. He does so more through persistence than through good logic or deductive reasoning so the ancient lands and time and the people believing in the fey won me over more than the actual mystery itself so I'm not sure what that long term prospects are for me and this series.
November 21, 2011
Faerie gold, Scotland in the 1300s, a mystery - and yet, it just didn't grab me. I wanted so badly to love this books and want to read the whole series.
Muirteach MacPhee is an interesting personage. I'm not quite sure what his position is - healer? teacher? diplomat? His love interest, Mariota Beaton, is also intriguing.
And yet, the story seemed to plod as if I was living the entire several weeks along with them. Niall disappeared. Was he taken by faeiries? Taken by someone else? Murdered? And why?
Why are the nuns so weird?
Who's the hottie named Liam? And who really cares? Well, Muirteach does because he seems occasionally concerned byt Mariota will be attracted to Liam. Other times it seems to go right out of his mind.
Maybe it was just the wrong weekend to try to read this story, but I didn't care for it. That made me sad, because I really, really wanted to like it.
Muirteach MacPhee is an interesting personage. I'm not quite sure what his position is - healer? teacher? diplomat? His love interest, Mariota Beaton, is also intriguing.
And yet, the story seemed to plod as if I was living the entire several weeks along with them. Niall disappeared. Was he taken by faeiries? Taken by someone else? Murdered? And why?
Why are the nuns so weird?
Who's the hottie named Liam? And who really cares? Well, Muirteach does because he seems occasionally concerned byt Mariota will be attracted to Liam. Other times it seems to go right out of his mind.
Maybe it was just the wrong weekend to try to read this story, but I didn't care for it. That made me sad, because I really, really wanted to like it.
December 22, 2011
Set in autumn 1373 on windswept Colonsay Isle in the Scottish Hebrides, The Faerie Hills picks up where A Mass for the Dead, the first book in this engaging mystery series, ended. Once again, amateur sleuth Muirteach MacPhee investigates, this time searching for eight-year-old Niall, the missing grandson of the Lord of the Isles. In a setting drenched in faerie lore, the author nicely intertwines the beliefs of the locals (who are sure faeries stole the boy while he was hunting faerie gold) with all-too-human greed and trickery. Once again, young Muirteach's love interest, Mariota Beaton, the daughter of a physician from Islay, is back to provide romance and secret challenges of her own. Written with a lilting cadence that nicely captures the feel of the 14th-century Scottish Isles, the book offers readers a map, a cast of characters, and a glossary to illuminate this most welcome, atypical setting.
(Review by Alana White, "Historical Novels Review," November 2011}
June 13, 2014
I am enjoying this series immensely especially during late spring/early summer when I don't want anything too heavy. I found this installment of the Muirteach MacPhee series sooo interesting! The folklore (or faerie lore would be more accurate) was so intriguing although I did have such a tough time suspending my 21st century "oh my god you're kidding right - you actually believe that" attitude that it sometimes made it hard to read some of this with a straight face. I really like this series with all its faults, one being that Muirteach actually doesn't ever solve any mystery but like many "cozies" just happens to stumble on the culprit and then end up in a predicament that threatens everyone around him. I love the time period and the characters and the village -- I actually think this would make a pretty interesting village mystery series a la Hamish or Midsomer. Ah well - on to #3.
September 20, 2013
Hmmmmm....very interesting. I finished the book at 3 am, not so much because I couldn't put it down, but due to my inability to sleep. That said, I found the book quite interesting. I would strongly, however, suggest NOT reading this book on the kindle, where it is much more difficult to refer back to the list of characters (of which there were many), Gaelic translations and maps. I have read, and enjoyed, the Hangman's Daughter series, and enjoyed reading a similar time period, but in the Scottish isles instead of northern Germany. But this series does not contain the depth of character and flavor of the period that the Hangman series contains. Not that the lack of depth and specificity is a negative, I just want it noted.
April 29, 2015
Set in 1373 on a remote Scottish island this mystery delves into history, myth and greed. Well documented accounts of the time and beliefs of the rural island folk. Did this murder have anything to do with the supernatural or with greed for gold. Slow plotting but part of the culture leads us to the clues a bit here and there. Seems this is #2 in the series and there is a lot of talk of the older story. Will have to look for the first book if there was one and find out why some things happened here. Other historical mysteries meld the old and the new at times but this one lets the searcher stumble along as he is a person of the time.
October 2, 2013
3.5 stars
I love historical mysteries and it's hard to find a good one. The authors often let something modern slip in like a character will say out of nowhere, "Awesome". This is a good one. The book is set in early Scotland and it feels right. The food they eat, their houses and their ambitions fit the time era perfectly. The mystery is about the murder of a ward who is the grandson of the High Lord. The circumstances involve faerie arrows and gold. It's not a particularly involved mystery and the killer stands out early. Still it's a lot of fun and quite interesting.
I love historical mysteries and it's hard to find a good one. The authors often let something modern slip in like a character will say out of nowhere, "Awesome". This is a good one. The book is set in early Scotland and it feels right. The food they eat, their houses and their ambitions fit the time era perfectly. The mystery is about the murder of a ward who is the grandson of the High Lord. The circumstances involve faerie arrows and gold. It's not a particularly involved mystery and the killer stands out early. Still it's a lot of fun and quite interesting.
August 23, 2016
I actually got this book by accident as I was searching the library for a book with a similar title for my son's school work. Always up for a good mystery novel, I decided to give it a chance. I was not disappointed! The storyline was interesting and engaged my sense of adventure right away. The hardest part of reading this book was all the Scottish wording sprinkled throughout. I appreciate putting the reader in the setting, but a pronunciation guide at the very least would have been helpful. Nonetheless, I'm considering finding the first book in this series and giving it a chance as well.
February 5, 2012
The grandson of the Lord of the Isles has disappeared from 14th century Scotland. Faerie gold seems to be connected to the disappearance. Rival clans, faeries or the witch on the hill. Who knows the truth behind the disappearance? This is the second in a series of 14th century mysteries by author Susan McDuffie. I have not read the first but if I run across it I will. Enjoyable but somewhat predictable.
May 6, 2013
A fun to read historical fiction. I have read her other book. A Mass For The Dead, too. None of the stupidity that I've found in a lot of books lately that are supposed to be in a historical setting. I don't want the dumb sex-laden scenes and breathless heroines.
The characters in this book are believable. The narrative is simple and very descriptive. I really like this author and I'm hoping for more books.
The characters in this book are believable. The narrative is simple and very descriptive. I really like this author and I'm hoping for more books.
January 6, 2015
A story of condescending claptrap. It is a mixture of murder superstition and romance about people from the Island of Scotland who never spoke in English never mind the bastardised stuff Ms McDuffie imagines them to speak. The story is slow and none too inspiring. I will not be reading others of her work.
June 10, 2015
Great evocative setting and interesting characters. The mystery is a total dud, with the "detective" solving nothing. Only happening to be stupid enough to be in the wrong place at the right time provides the "solution." Lack of agency on the part of Muirteach makes the resolution of the novel completely unsatisfactory.
March 31, 2013
I had doubts about the quality of this story and read it solely on the basis of its setting on the Isle of Colonsay where I've taken two very enjoyable holidays. The author has potential of becoming a good historical fiction writer, but hasn't yet achieved it.
September 18, 2011
interesting. mystery set in the highlands in medieval times.
May 5, 2012
Gold, greed, murder and sithichean (the faerie, the good folk) make this an enjoyable mystery set in the Hebrides in the autum of 1373. I look forward to more Muirteach MacPhee mysteries.
May 11, 2013
This was an enjoyable medieval mystery set in the isles of Scotland.
February 13, 2015
Easy read about murder in historical time in Ireland
September 26, 2016
This was a good one! We have come a long way from the 1300s. A kid gets sick and the faeries have taken the child, replaced it with a changeling...omg.
Read
February 7, 2019Dnf. Just couldn't get into it
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews