The Nicholas Feast

Gil Cunningham #2

by Pat McIntosh

Glasgow, 1492: Gil Cunningham remarked later that if he had known he would find a corpse in the university coal house, he would never have gone to the arts faculty feast. But then—as Alys his betrothed replied—he would never have met ... Socrates. In this mysterious adventure, Gil Cunningham and his colleagues are entertained by a play presented by some of the students at his old university for the Nicholas Feast. One of the actors, William Irvine, is later found murdered, and Gil, fresh from his success in solving the murder of the harper's quine, is the obvious person to investigate. Assisted by Alys and her father, Pierre, he begins to disentangle a complex web of espionage and blackmail involving William's tutors and fellow students. First one chamber and then another is ransacked before Gil himself is attacked. It appears someone is looking for missing papers. Oddly, the late William's wolfhound pup, Socrates, now becomes a focus for attention, and matters are complicated by the arrival of Gil's formidable mother, who is determined to inspect his betrothed. Little do Alys and Gil realize that it will be she who provides the vital key to unmask the murderer and his motives.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical, Historical Mystery, Medieval, Fiction, Crime

304 pages, Paperback

First published June 16, 2005

About the author

McIntosh was born and raised in Lanarkshire, Scotland. Having begun to write at age seven, she credits the author who inspired her to write as "probably Angus MacVicar!" She lived and worked in Glasgow for many years before moving to the west coast of Scotland. Prior to making her mark as an author, she worked as "a librarian, a receptionist for an alternative therapy centre, taught geology and palaeontology, [and] tutored for the Open University."

Reviews

[Clemens Schoonderwoert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book in 2010, and its the 2nd volume of the wonderful "Gilbert Cunningham" series.

This tale is set in AD 1492, and it will at first take Gilbert Cunningham to his old university for the Nicholas Feast, and during that Feast he will encounter a corpse in the university coalhouse.

Also during this visit he will become acquainted with Socrates, a wolfhound pup that belonged to William Irvine, who was one of the student actors of the play at this Feast and the one who was found murdered.

During his investigation, assisted by his betrothed Alys and her father, master mason, Pierre, they will uncover cases of espionage and blackmail.

One of the suspects is a Dominican priest who's also the university's chaplain, but whether he's the guilty party or not remains to be seen.

After investigating this case relentlessly Gilbert with Alys and Pierre must concede that they are stuck somehow, and it will be Gilbert's formidable mother, who's visiting and inspecting Gilbert's betrothed, who will come up will the solution to this murder, and so in the end Gilbert will be able the catch the murderer and lay his motives clear.

Highly recommended, for this another excellent Scottish mystery to this astounding series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "An Amazing Nicholas Feast Mystery"!

[Eva Müller · Rating 3 out of 5]

I could more or less copy my review for the first in the series here. The mystery plot was good (and actually less predictable than the first) and the author is really good at writing historical novels that make you feel that this book can only be set at this time in this place because plot and the 'background' are so intertwined with each other. The author is also really good at giving just enough information in dialogue and narration that also readers who are somewhat unfamiliar with 15th century Scotland know what's going on, without massive infodumps. However it's still only just enough, I can guess sort of what happened and how the Scottish legal system at this time worked but an afterword where the author explains a bit more would have been awesome.
I still love the relationship between Gil and Alys. At first it was instant attraction but not love and now you can see it developing into something more. They stil learn new things about each other and discover similarities (and I might have gone 'awwwwwwwwwwww' at one point) and these parts are really beautifully written.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am really enjoying this series as a change of pace. The Scots, the thoughtful approach by a young man who does not have inflated ego and is genuinely looking forward to marriage and being able to slip out of the proscribed plan by his mother for serving the church with no alternative - all good. I have the next book in series at my other home, so will have to fill the time with other reading until I get back there. Doggone it. My stupid back limits me to how many books I can carry in long walk to train. Oh well.

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1492, a student at Glasgow University is discovered dead following a procession and play for The Nicholas Feast. Gil Cunningham and his friend, Pierre Mason, are chosen to find the murderer by the time he is buried, two and a half days hence. They have their work cut out for them, interviewing all the students, faculty, and the staff. The dead student's dog, a wolfhound, claims Gil as his new master. (can't imagine calling a dog, Socrates)
This isn't the most opportune time: Gil's mother is coming to visit. And Gil is in love with the mason's daughter, Alys, while his mother is against his marrying at all: he was to go to the Church.
I was aided in understanding the many Scottish words at this site:

https://stooryduster.co.uk/scottish-w...

[Cindie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am getting more comfortable with the differences in the language nuances, I am a bit confused about some of the subtleties of land ownership and what individuals bring into a marriage. It is clear that it is more a contractual issue and if lucky is also about love. I want to learn more about Scotland during this time, however, it appears that is was much like England, the kings or lords in charge gave land whenever someone did something for them or please them (even if the land was owned by someone else), and apparently people killed others for random reasons. On to the next in the series, but I have to find a history book to understand some of the things this novel discusses.

[Bryngel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I still like to read about Gil and young Alys, but this was a bit weaker mystery than The Harper's Quine. We get to know Gil and the others bit by bit, and I enjoy that quite a bit. I like the big bunch of different people and will throw myself at number three The Merchant's Mark for sure.

[Mary E SMYTH · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just loved this tale. My second in the series. So well written with unusual plots and the antiquated investigators are truly fascinating. The characters are so well portrayed, they are believable and immediately seem like old aquaintences.
For me the settings were of great interest having worked in the.G.R.I right beside the Cathedral ,I trailed up and down the High St. Many a weary time.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

c2005: Glasgow 1492. The Kirkus review gushed 'satisfying story, studded with tidbits of medieval custom, hearty as a raisin scone.' Can't disagree with them, though. Lovely and helpful map is included. 'They are not ridiculous garments!', Alys said indignantly. 'They are the insignia of your learning!

[Roo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Am enjoying reading this while pottering around some of the places .mentioned in the books

[Kathy Moberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm finding this a very enjoyable series. Glad I finally got started on it!

[Nance Roepke · Rating 4 out of 5]

The series has really likeable main characters and there is humor as well as deadly mysteries. I like the whole series and this was a good example.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

A whodunit in a 15th century Scottish University? What's not to like!

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I kept on wondering what the characters were up to as I was reading other books so the next in this series jumped to the top of my reading list! Easy read medieval murder mystery.

[Helynne · Rating 2 out of 5]

The most intriguing aspect of this novel is that it takes place in 1492 at a men's university in Glasgow, Scotland. Author Pat McIntosh has given us an interesting period piece and the fruits of her research about the early British Renaissance and its attitudes about higher education. For example, the young men at the college are always encouraged to speak in Latin, which is impressive, but seems totally impractical. And yes, there is a nod to Christopher Columbus by way of one character mentioning that some bird-brained Italian mariner recently left from Spain thinking he could get to India by sailing west. There is considerable emphasis on food that the students eat, which seems to consist mainly of rabbit stew that they deplore. During the school's annual Nicholas Feast, Gil Cunningham, a graduate of the institution, returns to help celebrate, then becomes caught up in investigating a murder of a 16-year-old student that occurs during the feast. Cunningham, a clever fellow who is about to marry a lovely young lady against his mother's wishes, is fresh from solving his first murder mystery, the harper's quine (book 1), and he uses his brains--as well as those of his fiancee--to solve this latest conundrum. As for the mystery itself, the book is much less interesting as a detective novel than it is as a historical piece. I thought the investigation was confusing and dull at the same time, and gave me the impression I was watching a particularly slow episode of the old Perry Mason show up to and including the courtroom confession by an obscure and unlikely suspect. And what is with the hiding of a key document in a dog's collar? And with the second murder, which, as far as I can tell, has little to do with the first? If you're interested in 15th-century period pieces, you may find this interesting. As for murder mysteries, I would suggest trying something a little more 21st century.

[Ronda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again, I found myself stumbling along with the dialect in the beginning, but as with the Harper's Quine, I reached the point where the context and my enjoyment of the storyline and characters let me find my way. (To this end, I still think the e-book version is one of the better choices for this story, simply for the online dictionary. Not all the words and phrases were available, but with wi-fi, you have the option of looking them up at whim.)

This story picks up not long after the fist book ended. To my delight, my favorite characters from the first book, including our mysterious Harper, Alys, and her father, are all a part of this story, blended nicely with some new characters I hope to see more of in later installments.

I will say that I got tangled up in the very large cast of characters, and there were some times I just plowed on with some names in a muddle, figuring, and rightly so, that it would all come out in the wash.

This series has rekindled my delight in historical mystery. Now, I find myself wondering if I missed more subtle historical references in the fist book. I had to chuckle at the reference to and opinion of what had to be on Columbus's attempt to find a trade route to the West Indies-even though Columbus was not named per se. It was a nice touch.

[Marlowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soon after the events in Harper’s Quine, Gil Cunningham participates in his old university’s Nicholas Feast. But during the day, a young student is found dead. Because of his success in catching the killer in Harper’s Quine, Gil is asked to solve this murder as well. Joined by his love, Alys, and her father, he immerses himself in politics and espionage to find justice for a student no one seems to have liked.

I bought this book, along with the next two in the series, as soon as I had finished the first one, but I didn’t read it for quite a while. In my silliness, I loved Harper’s Quine so much that I was afraid of burning through the series too fast!

This was an excellent addition to the series! Once again, the mystery was interesting, and I love the relationship between Gil and Alys (not to mention Alys’s father). I’m not a fan of the supernatural element (the titular Quine from the last novel seems to be psychic – although like most psychics, his pronouncements are vague enough to be of absolutely no use), but it’s low-key enough that it can be easily ignored. Besides, the rest of the story more than makes up for it.

['chris d · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second in a series, but that is not why I didn't give it a great rating.

Set in 1400 or so Scotland, the story takes place at a university. This means there will be a lot of students / characters involved in and around the storyline.

For me personally, I found that there were too many characters. I became very confused in the first quarter of the book. Still, after keeping at the book for a couple of weeks and getting into the meat of the story, I liked it and finished it.

Some of the characterizations were terrific, particularly William, Jaikie and Lord Montgomery. And Gil was an interesting sleuth and the author portrays him with a lot of depth.

That all being said, I'm not a big mystery lover, so I don't know if I will go on to read others in this series.

I recommend Sister Fidelma (an Irish nun in the 9th century) and Brother Cadfael.

[Bryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oooh I'm surprised I haven't reviewed these already! Although I guess I did just make this account six months ago -- anyway, Pat McIntosh writes some of the best historical mysteries I've ever read, because they're satisfying both as historical fiction (well-researched, detailed, solidly grounded) and as mysteries -- and also just satisfying as books, she writes very well and does an excellent job giving her reader all the information necessary to understand the long-ago time & place. I've read most of her books two or three times, and I'm sure I'll read them all again, they are so lovely in character and setting and relationship that even if I remember the resolution to the mystery it is worth reading them just to spend time with Gil and amazing Alys.

This particular one features 15th century academic politics at a Scottish university -- what's not to like?

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had some initial confusion because this was the second in the series, not the first -- sorting out the explication from the actual action took time. It was also confusing because there were (I think) three languages being used (French, Scots and Latin) yet often they were "translated" into English for the poor reader, and "olde" English at that.

The mystery itself was so-so. I guessed whodunit pretty early because the clues were pretty obvious. If you like Leonard D. Tourney's books, you'll like these. If you're more of a Caedfael fan, well, perhaps not.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in Glasgow in the last 1400s Gil Cunningham is again called upon to solve a murder case. While attending a processing at the University of Glasgow celebrating the Feast of Nicholas Gil is reunited with friends and teachers from his early scholastic training. He notices a young man named William who superior attitude engendered irritation and anger. William was later found strangled. Gil was asked by the university’s master. I must be getting better at reading Scottish dialect for this installment went faster.

[Diana Sandberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was ok, but didn't engage me like the first book did. It seemed perhaps somewhat hastily put together; there were references that were not clear, characters not fully introduced - the harper and his sister from the last book were there but if I hadn't read the first book I wouldn't really know who they were or why they were there. There didn't seem any overwhelming reason for them to be there, they just sort of wandered through. I don't want to give the impression it was awful, I still enjoyed it, but I kind of felt like something was missing. Will definitely read the next one.

[Lynne Tull · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am reading this series in order and this is #2. I really like the setting and the characters. I think I said on the review of the first one, 'The Harper's Quine', that I really like that Gil is not a monk and will have a wife. He has picked up her father as his sidekick in solving his mysteries. The Harper with 'the second sight' is still appearing at crucial times. His mother has entered the picture in this book. It's a good mystery and again the clues were there and I got it so far, but didn't get until the finish. Recommend!

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, a fabulous mystery with lots of history and psychology smashed in. It is impossible not to like Gil Cunningham and his betrothed, Alys, her father, and everyone else they come in contact with. This mystery takes place only days after the first in the series, and all the characters are well-drawn (better than in the first book), the mystery is excellent with a few twists, and the history is carefully inserted without being lecture-y. Awesome.

[Lessie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really really enjoyed this book -- and even though it's realistically set in medieval times, which would make me think it's a snooze, it really is a page turner. Next time I hope to read one of McIntosh's books with a notebook and a dictionary. So many references I didn't "get" and meant to Google. I also want to go back and read the fist in this series. Love the reocurring characters.

[Mary Z · Rating 3 out of 5]

this is another in the Gil Cunningham series... they are interesting mysteries but not fabulous... my biggest complaint is still the author's use of medieval terminology and speech.... couldn't a glossary or something be added?? it was annoying.. altho...it's not stopping me from reading the book...

[Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second in the series following Gil Cunningham in Scotland in the Middle Ages. Once again we have an abundance of sights and sounds, trades and crimes all brilliantly described often with words that are unfamiliar.

This is developing into a series of substance. The characters come through and the back stories are interesting and continue to change and grow.

[Kitschyanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

2nd in the Gil Cunningham series in which a student at his alma mater is found murdered during the Nicholas Feast of the title. Gil has to find the murderer in a short period of time as the boy was a relative of one of his old enemies, and also to convince his mother to approve of his planned marriage.

[Maryann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm really enjoying these books. The main characters stay the same, but unlike a lot of mysteries, the stories are always different -- it doesn't feel like the author is using a formula for the stories. Well, I'm only on the 3rd one now, but so far, really great.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second installment of the Gil Cunningham series. This one revolves around the death of a university student and seems to be part of a conspiracy. Enjoyable romp through medieval Glasgow and nice to see some returning characters such as the harper and his sister.

[Lexie Conyngham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another (I think the second but I'm reading them out of order) excellent mediaeval mystery set in Glasgow with Gil Cunningham (no relation) and his at this stage fiancee Alys, a strong character. The books are amusing and clever, and wear their intelligence lightly.