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Master Mercurius Mysteries #8
The Moers Murders
Follow Master Mercurius in a new European adventure! Perfect for fans of Andrew Taylor, C J Sansom, S J Parris and Ken Follett.
Mercurius is thrown into the thick of it…
1688, The Netherlands
Master Mercurius has just settled back into his life as a lecturer at the University of Leiden when he is once again summoned by the Stadhouder, William of Orange.
A message from William is never good news, but he is not a man you can say no to.
So Mercurius finds himself once again uprooted and at the centre of dangerous political plot.
William has decided it is time to expand his empire and launch an attack on his nemesis, the French King Louis XIV. And to keep the element of surprise on his side he has decided to march through Germany.
To keep the Germans from blocking him, William has decided to make use of Moers, the German stronghold he inherited which he is allowed to occupy and arm. But he needs someone in control there.
And that is how Mercurius finds himself as the newly appointed Governor of Moers.
William has promised that Mercurius will be executed if the secret plan is discovered, so can the Master keep it under wraps? Or will he be facing the hangman’s noose…?
The Moers Murders is the eighth historical murder investigation in the Master Mercurius Mystery atmospheric crime thrillers set in seventeenth-century Europe.
'a highly entertaining read with some genuine laugh-out-loud moments. If you have a penchant for historical murder mysteries and the 17th century in particular, I would recommend adding The Moers Murders to your reading list.' - Historical Novel Society
THE MASTER MERCURIUS MYSTERY
BOOK Death in Delft
BOOK Untrue Till Death
BOOK Dishonour and Obey
BOOK The Noose’s Shadow
BOOK The Vanishing Children
BOOK The Lying Dutchman
BOOK Murder In Maastricht
BOOK The Moers Murders
BOOK Nun Shall Sleep
Mercurius is thrown into the thick of it…
1688, The Netherlands
Master Mercurius has just settled back into his life as a lecturer at the University of Leiden when he is once again summoned by the Stadhouder, William of Orange.
A message from William is never good news, but he is not a man you can say no to.
So Mercurius finds himself once again uprooted and at the centre of dangerous political plot.
William has decided it is time to expand his empire and launch an attack on his nemesis, the French King Louis XIV. And to keep the element of surprise on his side he has decided to march through Germany.
To keep the Germans from blocking him, William has decided to make use of Moers, the German stronghold he inherited which he is allowed to occupy and arm. But he needs someone in control there.
And that is how Mercurius finds himself as the newly appointed Governor of Moers.
William has promised that Mercurius will be executed if the secret plan is discovered, so can the Master keep it under wraps? Or will he be facing the hangman’s noose…?
The Moers Murders is the eighth historical murder investigation in the Master Mercurius Mystery atmospheric crime thrillers set in seventeenth-century Europe.
'a highly entertaining read with some genuine laugh-out-loud moments. If you have a penchant for historical murder mysteries and the 17th century in particular, I would recommend adding The Moers Murders to your reading list.' - Historical Novel Society
THE MASTER MERCURIUS MYSTERY
BOOK Death in Delft
BOOK Untrue Till Death
BOOK Dishonour and Obey
BOOK The Noose’s Shadow
BOOK The Vanishing Children
BOOK The Lying Dutchman
BOOK Murder In Maastricht
BOOK The Moers Murders
BOOK Nun Shall Sleep
247 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 13, 2024
169 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
About the author
Graham Brack
28 books152 followersGraham Brack trained as a pharmacist but now writes crime fiction. He has been shortlisted three times for the Crime Writers Association's Debut Dagger (2011, 2014 and 2016) without ever winning it. Those three entries involved three different detectives.
The 2011 entry has been published as Lying and Dying by Sapere Books, and has been followed by seven more books about Josef Slonský, a Prague policeman, and his team.
The 2014 offering has been published as Death in Delft and features Master Mercurius, a seventeenth century university lecturer. The second Mercurius mystery, Untrue till Death followed in August 2020 and the third in the series Dishonour and Obey in October 2020. The fourth, The Noose's Shadow arrived in December 2020 and The Vanishing Children in 2021. The sixth book was The Lying Dutchman (2022) and the seventh was Murder in Maastricht (2023). The latest is The Moers Murders . The ninth in the series, Nun Shall Sleep, will be published in January 2026.
Graham is married to Gillian and has two adult children and three granddaughters. He lives in a small village in Northamptonshire.
The 2011 entry has been published as Lying and Dying by Sapere Books, and has been followed by seven more books about Josef Slonský, a Prague policeman, and his team.
The 2014 offering has been published as Death in Delft and features Master Mercurius, a seventeenth century university lecturer. The second Mercurius mystery, Untrue till Death followed in August 2020 and the third in the series Dishonour and Obey in October 2020. The fourth, The Noose's Shadow arrived in December 2020 and The Vanishing Children in 2021. The sixth book was The Lying Dutchman (2022) and the seventh was Murder in Maastricht (2023). The latest is The Moers Murders . The ninth in the series, Nun Shall Sleep, will be published in January 2026.
Graham is married to Gillian and has two adult children and three granddaughters. He lives in a small village in Northamptonshire.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
November 29, 2024
Love, love, love this series. There is a word that is rarely used nowadays that describes Master Mercurius perfectly and it is droll. Not a word I use every day but it says what I mean here.
Poor Mercurius is frequently used and abused by William of Orange and this is another saga of such a happening. To aid in a very secret plan with the aim of winning England's crown for his wife, William directs everyone's eyes to an imaginary attack on France. This involves using the town of Moers as a misdirection and Mercurius is set up there as Governor, a part he plays well due to his total innocence of what is really happening.
I really enjoy the mix of real history and a story of the way it may have been experienced by someone who lived it. The humorous asides are an additional pleasure, as is the author's excellent writing. I really hope we still have many more of Master Mercurius's adventures to enjoy in the future.
Poor Mercurius is frequently used and abused by William of Orange and this is another saga of such a happening. To aid in a very secret plan with the aim of winning England's crown for his wife, William directs everyone's eyes to an imaginary attack on France. This involves using the town of Moers as a misdirection and Mercurius is set up there as Governor, a part he plays well due to his total innocence of what is really happening.
I really enjoy the mix of real history and a story of the way it may have been experienced by someone who lived it. The humorous asides are an additional pleasure, as is the author's excellent writing. I really hope we still have many more of Master Mercurius's adventures to enjoy in the future.
September 24, 2024
The people of Moers, which was described as early as 1186, have had a lot to endure over the years. It started out as an independent principality, but during the Eighty Year War it was captured by Spanish and Dutch troops (not at the same time, luckily). It finally fell to Maurice of Orange (1567-1625) but years later, after the death of William 3 in 1702 it was inherited by the king of Prussia. Who promptly expelled all Dutch troops. In 1795 it was annexed by France, to be given back to Prussia in 1815 and finally, in 1871, it became part of the German empire. (See Wikipedia)
It's a small town still and well, maybe I should visit one day because it is not a long trip. Certainly not by car instead of by foot or horse or barge, as Master Mercurius is used to. This time, as the Stadhouder wishes Mercurius to become the Governor of Moers, he travels in style. Something to complain over to Van der Meer, Mercurius’ secretary who’s writing his memoirs, because Mercurius is just so modest…
Anyway, there is a lot going on in the short period of time Mercurius actually spends in Moers, such as the movement of a large army from Nijmegen to Moers and not to mention a couple of murders. Needless to say Mercurius is out of his wits on the subject of troop movements, but he skilfully solves the three murders before he’s summoned by the Stadhouder to return to Leiden. There are a few memorable characters in this story such as Fleckstein, the secretary of the latest Governor before Mercurius, and Biesman, another secretary with a very keen mind, but that’s perhaps why he wants to return to his earlier profession (if you may call it that).
I read it from cover to cover with a big smile on my face – this 8th title in the series is not so heavy on politics (although it seems so early in the story) but there is more emphasis on Mercurius himself, what he, despite his grumbling and complaining, can do for the ‘common people’.
Thank you Graham Brack for this, and I will not be the only reader who is now very much looking forward to the next one. I’m secretly hoping for a story that is set at the Leiden University 😉.
It's a small town still and well, maybe I should visit one day because it is not a long trip. Certainly not by car instead of by foot or horse or barge, as Master Mercurius is used to. This time, as the Stadhouder wishes Mercurius to become the Governor of Moers, he travels in style. Something to complain over to Van der Meer, Mercurius’ secretary who’s writing his memoirs, because Mercurius is just so modest…
Anyway, there is a lot going on in the short period of time Mercurius actually spends in Moers, such as the movement of a large army from Nijmegen to Moers and not to mention a couple of murders. Needless to say Mercurius is out of his wits on the subject of troop movements, but he skilfully solves the three murders before he’s summoned by the Stadhouder to return to Leiden. There are a few memorable characters in this story such as Fleckstein, the secretary of the latest Governor before Mercurius, and Biesman, another secretary with a very keen mind, but that’s perhaps why he wants to return to his earlier profession (if you may call it that).
I read it from cover to cover with a big smile on my face – this 8th title in the series is not so heavy on politics (although it seems so early in the story) but there is more emphasis on Mercurius himself, what he, despite his grumbling and complaining, can do for the ‘common people’.
Thank you Graham Brack for this, and I will not be the only reader who is now very much looking forward to the next one. I’m secretly hoping for a story that is set at the Leiden University 😉.
October 4, 2024
The Moers Murders is the eighth book in the Master Mercurius Mysteries series by British author, Graham Brack. It’s 1688 and, after a hiatus of two years, Master Mercurius once again has cause to rue the day he came to the attention of the Stadhouder, William of Orange. The Rector of the college in Leiden where he contentedly lectures in moral philosophy, does research in the library and occasionally teaches uninspiring students, tells him he has been summoned to The Hague.
William has two tasks for which the Stadhouder has deemed him the most suitable candidate and, as previous assignments for William have sometimes proved life-threatening, the Rector advises that Mercurius pay his debts and put his affairs in order before departing. He’s not sure what Princess Mary’s gift of a book by Machiavelli signifies…
Escorted by Captain Pringle, the Scot he met previously, and a number of soldiers, Mercurius is first to (once again) convince the recalcitrant mayors of Amsterdam to pay their taxes. From there, they head to Moers, a little German town just over the border from Nijmegen of which William is the hereditary Count.
Mercurius is to be installed as Governor of Moers, then issue a decree that allows Pringle to confiscate from the townsfolk the necessary supplies, enough for the army that William will march to Moers before invading France. He’s also meant to fake a public uprising to give William a pretext to move his troops there. It’s the last thing Mercurius wants to be doing, but one doesn’t refuse the Stadhouder.
Two little jobs. He consoles himself “at least I could only be murdered once.”.
Mercurius is furnished with a valet whom he is certain is a spy for Pringle, and a secretary who is a Catholic; he also inherits the former Governor’s under-secretary whose priorities don’t generally align with his own. Once the pecking order is diplomatically established, this under-secretary presents the new Governor with something even more distasteful than decrees to fleece the population of Moers: four execution orders, which he is expected to summarily sign.
Of course, much to the under-secretary’s chagrin, there is no way Mercurius can do that. Rather, he insists on personally interviewing those named therein. And insists the prisoners be given the means to rectify their unsanitary state before he does. In true Mercurius fashion, he thoroughly investigates each case, manages to drill down to the truth of each matter, and displays ingenuity and lateral thinking to furnish conclusions that don’t require the innocent to die.
While initially “I felt that I was being forced to commit acts that I would not ordinarily have countenanced, and that would make me hated amongst the populace. But I had no choice if I were to fulfil my orders” after William makes a surprise move, Mercurius gets to, for a short time, be “the kind of enlightened despot I had always thought the country needed.”
Even as he endures several lute concerts, Mercurius always delights with his observations of people and customs: ”Dutch people— especially Dutch women— are very forthright. They do not let little things like your feelings curb their tongues” and his asides to his chronicler, Van Der Meer, are usually entertaining. More of Master Mercurius will be most welcome.
William has two tasks for which the Stadhouder has deemed him the most suitable candidate and, as previous assignments for William have sometimes proved life-threatening, the Rector advises that Mercurius pay his debts and put his affairs in order before departing. He’s not sure what Princess Mary’s gift of a book by Machiavelli signifies…
Escorted by Captain Pringle, the Scot he met previously, and a number of soldiers, Mercurius is first to (once again) convince the recalcitrant mayors of Amsterdam to pay their taxes. From there, they head to Moers, a little German town just over the border from Nijmegen of which William is the hereditary Count.
Mercurius is to be installed as Governor of Moers, then issue a decree that allows Pringle to confiscate from the townsfolk the necessary supplies, enough for the army that William will march to Moers before invading France. He’s also meant to fake a public uprising to give William a pretext to move his troops there. It’s the last thing Mercurius wants to be doing, but one doesn’t refuse the Stadhouder.
Two little jobs. He consoles himself “at least I could only be murdered once.”.
Mercurius is furnished with a valet whom he is certain is a spy for Pringle, and a secretary who is a Catholic; he also inherits the former Governor’s under-secretary whose priorities don’t generally align with his own. Once the pecking order is diplomatically established, this under-secretary presents the new Governor with something even more distasteful than decrees to fleece the population of Moers: four execution orders, which he is expected to summarily sign.
Of course, much to the under-secretary’s chagrin, there is no way Mercurius can do that. Rather, he insists on personally interviewing those named therein. And insists the prisoners be given the means to rectify their unsanitary state before he does. In true Mercurius fashion, he thoroughly investigates each case, manages to drill down to the truth of each matter, and displays ingenuity and lateral thinking to furnish conclusions that don’t require the innocent to die.
While initially “I felt that I was being forced to commit acts that I would not ordinarily have countenanced, and that would make me hated amongst the populace. But I had no choice if I were to fulfil my orders” after William makes a surprise move, Mercurius gets to, for a short time, be “the kind of enlightened despot I had always thought the country needed.”
Even as he endures several lute concerts, Mercurius always delights with his observations of people and customs: ”Dutch people— especially Dutch women— are very forthright. They do not let little things like your feelings curb their tongues” and his asides to his chronicler, Van Der Meer, are usually entertaining. More of Master Mercurius will be most welcome.
October 13, 2024
Delightful. Clever,witty,interesting characters. Brack has created two unique series with wonderful protagonists.
November 18, 2024
Master Mercurius is not the most likely person when you think about someone who solves crimes. The Moers Murders by Graham Brack is the eighth book with this 17th century scholar at the university of Leiden. He is once again with the help of an assistent writing down his story of what happened long ago. Poor Van der Meer is having trouble keeping a straight face putting the tales on paper. I always have a great time reading these stories that the author so brilliantly comes up with and I can really recommend his books. In this one Mercurius is once again called into service by William of Orange and how unlikely it sounds that Master Mercurius is sent to Moers as governor. If you like me are a fan of historical fiction then you should try this, it is well researched and filled with both mysteries and humor. I for one just love it.
October 28, 2024
Our hero is wrenched out of his comfortable college setting again by the Stadhouder William of Orange. This time William wants him to drop by Amsterdam to nudge them into paying taxes properly again, and then to the tiny town of Moers, which is not even a part of Holland. A principality of William, the history of Moers is one of the rough ones of European lore trading hands several times.
There, Master Mercurius is involved with various legal and administrative duties, including several capital cases at the same time. Only one is a significant challenge to solve, but not nearly as complicated or challenging as the previous mysteries.
Again, this is well written and the setting and time make it particularly interesting, especially if you recognize the name William of Orange.
There, Master Mercurius is involved with various legal and administrative duties, including several capital cases at the same time. Only one is a significant challenge to solve, but not nearly as complicated or challenging as the previous mysteries.
Again, this is well written and the setting and time make it particularly interesting, especially if you recognize the name William of Orange.
November 6, 2024
I have been a fan of the author for many years and have enjoyed both of his series.
As far as I was aware I had read up to date on them both but when I found this one and checked it out on FantasticFiction I was delighted to learn that Slonsky has made another appearance on the darkened streets of Prague too.
I think that it is a great achievment for the author to have two series both successful and yet so different. From a Czeck detective to an old lecturer at Leiden University at the end of the 1600s, both full of character and the latter has taught me everything that I know about Dutch history and has filled in blanks in our own too in a much more enjoyable way than any history lesson from my school days.
This series is written as by the old Master Mercurious as he dictates it, as his memoires, to his long suffering secretary/scribe Van der Meer.
This one concerns another call on his services by Stadhouder William and his journey to Moers where he is to become temporary Governor as part of a larger plan.
On the face of it this doesn't sound readworthy but the author makes it so even without the regular asides to Van de Meer. At one stage when the scribes cough at some self praise a note is inserted "Van der Meers cough is troubling him once more. I have recommended the juice of a pound of rhubarb every day. It won't cuure him but given what rhubarb does to ones bowels,he won't dare cough again"
The wit is not saved for Van der Meer but, for example, the kitchen master at the University, Albrecht, well known for his overcooked food is described as"a man who can flambe a salad".
We learn how Mercurious handles the calls of the job apparently so far from his comfort zone with much tact, wisdom and humour while in the wider world the British throne is changing hands.
As with most series you will get more out of this if you go back to the beginning although if they are not available this would work as a stand alone too.
And so now off to search for Slonsky.
As far as I was aware I had read up to date on them both but when I found this one and checked it out on FantasticFiction I was delighted to learn that Slonsky has made another appearance on the darkened streets of Prague too.
I think that it is a great achievment for the author to have two series both successful and yet so different. From a Czeck detective to an old lecturer at Leiden University at the end of the 1600s, both full of character and the latter has taught me everything that I know about Dutch history and has filled in blanks in our own too in a much more enjoyable way than any history lesson from my school days.
This series is written as by the old Master Mercurious as he dictates it, as his memoires, to his long suffering secretary/scribe Van der Meer.
This one concerns another call on his services by Stadhouder William and his journey to Moers where he is to become temporary Governor as part of a larger plan.
On the face of it this doesn't sound readworthy but the author makes it so even without the regular asides to Van de Meer. At one stage when the scribes cough at some self praise a note is inserted "Van der Meers cough is troubling him once more. I have recommended the juice of a pound of rhubarb every day. It won't cuure him but given what rhubarb does to ones bowels,he won't dare cough again"
The wit is not saved for Van der Meer but, for example, the kitchen master at the University, Albrecht, well known for his overcooked food is described as"a man who can flambe a salad".
We learn how Mercurious handles the calls of the job apparently so far from his comfort zone with much tact, wisdom and humour while in the wider world the British throne is changing hands.
As with most series you will get more out of this if you go back to the beginning although if they are not available this would work as a stand alone too.
And so now off to search for Slonsky.
September 27, 2024
Master Mercurius, now in his 80's, is recounting his memoirs of over 30 years before to his secretary Van Meek. In this tale, he had been called away from his beloved University of Leiden, the library and his settled life by the Stadhouder, William of Orange. He is led into a subterfuge when he is sent as the Governor to the state of Moers, which was more in Germany than Holland. He soon finds himself with cases of murder, domestic violence and seditiou\s pamphleteering and decisions to make.
Mercurious has developed through the series into a likeable curmudgeon pushed into situations \uncomfortable to him but so often he comes up with the correct answer. Captain Pringle makes an appearance as ever setting spies and gathering information. Supporting characters play their full part in the lively paced novel that I enjoyed. 4 stars.
Mercurious has developed through the series into a likeable curmudgeon pushed into situations \uncomfortable to him but so often he comes up with the correct answer. Captain Pringle makes an appearance as ever setting spies and gathering information. Supporting characters play their full part in the lively paced novel that I enjoyed. 4 stars.
September 26, 2024
Yet another chapter in the ongoing "what's the Stadhouder going to ask me to do now" saga confronts Master Mercurius in The Moers Murders, the latest in the delightful series of (mis)adventures for the beleaguered Dutch academician/secret priest, set in 16th century Europe. That everything “all’s well that ends well” is a testament to Mercurius’s new-found talent (and the writer’s skill in plot-building) as the Governor of Moers, a little-known spot in Germany that the Dutch royal has inherited.
I found The Moers Murders to be as entertaining as any of the others in the series, and must say that Master M may have missed his calling, little as he wishes to accept it as true -- he makes an excellent administrator! This means that the Stadhouder of Orange will just be able to add another checkmark to the list of things that Mercurius might find himself doing in future books, of which I hope there will be many to come.
I found The Moers Murders to be as entertaining as any of the others in the series, and must say that Master M may have missed his calling, little as he wishes to accept it as true -- he makes an excellent administrator! This means that the Stadhouder of Orange will just be able to add another checkmark to the list of things that Mercurius might find himself doing in future books, of which I hope there will be many to come.
September 19, 2024
In order to conceal the doings of William of Orange and his wife, Mary, from the king of England, Master Mercurius is sent to Moers. While in Moers, Master or should I say Governor Mercurius, is hard pressed to keep his collective cool while settling 3 most distinctive cases. Uproariously at times, Mercurius brings his curiously enlightened acumen to battle the problems of the good townspeople.
I think it one of the author's best in the series. It is apparent that Mr. Brack enjoys the company of Master Mercurius, as do we all.
I think it one of the author's best in the series. It is apparent that Mr. Brack enjoys the company of Master Mercurius, as do we all.
October 25, 2024
a continuation of an engaging saga
Having read all the previous seven adventures of Master Mercurius I was very pleased to find this latest chapter in his life. The asides to his secretary during dictation make for entertaining reading. The story has a neat little twist at the end, enjoyable reading.
Having read all the previous seven adventures of Master Mercurius I was very pleased to find this latest chapter in his life. The asides to his secretary during dictation make for entertaining reading. The story has a neat little twist at the end, enjoyable reading.
September 17, 2024
Mercurius is a master
Another great tale about Mercurius’s reminiscences.
I have said it before that I think that Graham Brack enjoys writing these books as much as his readers enjoy them.
Another great tale about Mercurius’s reminiscences.
I have said it before that I think that Graham Brack enjoys writing these books as much as his readers enjoy them.
September 22, 2024
Book 8 in the wonderful series of adventures involving Master Mecurius.
This time he is commissioned by William of Orange to be the newly appointed temporary Governor of Moers, a small enclave within Germany.
He immediately finds he has a number of cases to solve, including the case of a middle-aged couple murdered on their farm and their son who was caught burying the bodies. But Master Mercurius refuses to accept this is a straightforward case of parricide.
The author writes with great wit and humour making this series a continuous joy to read.
This time he is commissioned by William of Orange to be the newly appointed temporary Governor of Moers, a small enclave within Germany.
He immediately finds he has a number of cases to solve, including the case of a middle-aged couple murdered on their farm and their son who was caught burying the bodies. But Master Mercurius refuses to accept this is a straightforward case of parricide.
The author writes with great wit and humour making this series a continuous joy to read.
September 27, 2024
another delightful tale
This series is great fun: lots of wit, historic figures along with some fictional ones, and interesting settings. The pace and plots are engaging too. Very enjoyable reads!
This series is great fun: lots of wit, historic figures along with some fictional ones, and interesting settings. The pace and plots are engaging too. Very enjoyable reads!
September 15, 2024
Laughing Until I Cried
There is always humor in the Master Mercurius mysteries, but this one had me laughing so hard it brought me to tears. I love these stories. The humor is often subtle, but Book 8 had me laughing from the start and just wouldn’t let up!
There is always humor in the Master Mercurius mysteries, but this one had me laughing so hard it brought me to tears. I love these stories. The humor is often subtle, but Book 8 had me laughing from the start and just wouldn’t let up!
September 28, 2024
An entertaining and enjoyable read .
Mercurius is on good form and solves three crimes while acting , rather unwillingly , as a governor
Mercurius is on good form and solves three crimes while acting , rather unwillingly , as a governor
October 4, 2024
Excellent!
I have read all the Master Mercurius books and they never cease to make me smile. The stories are beautifully crafted and draw you along. Thoroughly recommended!
I have read all the Master Mercurius books and they never cease to make me smile. The stories are beautifully crafted and draw you along. Thoroughly recommended!
October 3, 2024
Another lively read from Mr. Brack. One only wishes they could spend an evening in a tavern in conversation with Master Mercuries over several pints of ale.
October 6, 2024
excellent addition to the series
Master Mercurius, a wonderful character, is back in the service of William of Orange, and despite his reluctance does a good job in Moers. Characters are well-drawn and lively and the tumultuous politics of the times are handled cleverly. The pace is lively, resulting in a very satisfying read.
Master Mercurius, a wonderful character, is back in the service of William of Orange, and despite his reluctance does a good job in Moers. Characters are well-drawn and lively and the tumultuous politics of the times are handled cleverly. The pace is lively, resulting in a very satisfying read.
September 20, 2024
Getting Better and Better
I have thoroughly enjoyed all the Master Mercurius books, but this one is my favourite. Set in a period I know little about, it's got a great sense of place and time, it's an entertaining mystery and also very funny. What else can you ask for?!
Looking forward to the next book already.
I have thoroughly enjoyed all the Master Mercurius books, but this one is my favourite. Set in a period I know little about, it's got a great sense of place and time, it's an entertaining mystery and also very funny. What else can you ask for?!
Looking forward to the next book already.
October 10, 2024
1688 Wolliam of Orange has a mission for Master Mercurius. He is to go to Moers as its Governor and await an army to invade France. While there he has to deal with several murders.
An entertaining and well-written historical mystery with its likeable main character. Another good addition to this enjoyable series.
An entertaining and well-written historical mystery with its likeable main character. Another good addition to this enjoyable series.
September 17, 2024
I love this series of books
What I enjoy so much is Brack’s literary style. He writes with great wit and is often laugh out loud funny. Fun, easy read.
What I enjoy so much is Brack’s literary style. He writes with great wit and is often laugh out loud funny. Fun, easy read.
January 6, 2025
Humor and History
Wonderful dry wit, fun to read with good historical backdrop. Hope that there is another in this series in the works.
Wonderful dry wit, fun to read with good historical backdrop. Hope that there is another in this series in the works.
February 24, 2025
Fun to see my home town of Baarn mentioned in the book.
January 20, 2026
In Book 8 of the series, Master Mercurius once again is tasked by the Stadhouser, otherwise known as William of Orange or William III, to carry out a couple of missions. One is to convince the officials in Amsterdam to pay the taxes due. But this is minor in comparison to the appointment of Mercurius as Governor of Moers, a town on the border which is more German than Dutch. Reluctantly he has to accept, assured that it will be for only a few months.
Mercurius makes his way there, escorted by Captain Pringle who appeared earlier in the series, and an army, with the promise of a greater army on the way led by William. The plan is for the joint army to cross into France whose king is causing general consternation to the surrounding countries. Mercurius is tasked with getting together enough food and other supplies for an army of twenty thousand, something guaranteed to make him unpopular with the townsfolk.
He takes a capable secretary with him, but is forced to put up with the one appointed to the previous governor since the man speaks German and a lot of the citizens do not speak Dutch. On every other point the man is at loggerheads with Mercurius, who wants to read the papers put before him and refuses to sign execution warrants without investigating the cases. In the course of the novel, Mercurius investigates multiple cases therefore, one involving what appears to be an accidental death, one a case where a married couple have supposedly been murdered by their son, one a man who wrote a pamphlet attacking William (the German secretary wants his hand cut off) and one a woman who had run away from her husband due to his physical abuse. Under the law, women are chattels and the husband is entitled to abuse and kill her if he feels like it, but Mercurius seeks a way to rescue her.
As ever this is an interesting and slightly droll account as dictated by Mercurius in his eighties to his secretary whose views can be discerned by the interjections made by Mercurius. Thoroughly enjoyable and I rate it at a full 5 stars.
Mercurius makes his way there, escorted by Captain Pringle who appeared earlier in the series, and an army, with the promise of a greater army on the way led by William. The plan is for the joint army to cross into France whose king is causing general consternation to the surrounding countries. Mercurius is tasked with getting together enough food and other supplies for an army of twenty thousand, something guaranteed to make him unpopular with the townsfolk.
He takes a capable secretary with him, but is forced to put up with the one appointed to the previous governor since the man speaks German and a lot of the citizens do not speak Dutch. On every other point the man is at loggerheads with Mercurius, who wants to read the papers put before him and refuses to sign execution warrants without investigating the cases. In the course of the novel, Mercurius investigates multiple cases therefore, one involving what appears to be an accidental death, one a case where a married couple have supposedly been murdered by their son, one a man who wrote a pamphlet attacking William (the German secretary wants his hand cut off) and one a woman who had run away from her husband due to his physical abuse. Under the law, women are chattels and the husband is entitled to abuse and kill her if he feels like it, but Mercurius seeks a way to rescue her.
As ever this is an interesting and slightly droll account as dictated by Mercurius in his eighties to his secretary whose views can be discerned by the interjections made by Mercurius. Thoroughly enjoyable and I rate it at a full 5 stars.
September 24, 2024
A new Master Mercurius story is always a cause for celebration, and I was giggling from the first paragraph at Mercurius' pithy interchanges with his long-suffering secretary Van der Meer.
As usual, this story was a wonderful mix of pivotal historical events, colourful descriptions of the times, and a pleasingly plotted mystery, all related in Mercurius' distinctively pernickety, witty and very human style.
The setting and characterisation (of characters both familiar and new) is wonderfully detailed, drawing us into the story so vividly. Although Mercurius is sent to Moers on the apparent whim of William of Orange, I loved that the major historical upheaval took place offstage, leaving us with ordinary people and their problems for Mercurius to unravel in his own particular way. Another wonderful read!
As usual, this story was a wonderful mix of pivotal historical events, colourful descriptions of the times, and a pleasingly plotted mystery, all related in Mercurius' distinctively pernickety, witty and very human style.
The setting and characterisation (of characters both familiar and new) is wonderfully detailed, drawing us into the story so vividly. Although Mercurius is sent to Moers on the apparent whim of William of Orange, I loved that the major historical upheaval took place offstage, leaving us with ordinary people and their problems for Mercurius to unravel in his own particular way. Another wonderful read!
July 11, 2025
Our reluctant hero has fallen between 'Shore and ship ' as the Dutch saying goes. Somehow Master Mercurius solves multiple crimes while managing to blunder trough political intrigue with his usual mixture of naivete and stubbornness.
There are many historical crime novels out there. but while it's not comedy, the humor in this series makes it stand out. Him complaining about his undergraduates love for ' drinking and listening to lute music ' and describing Lute players like medieval versions of vain rock artists made me laugh out loud.
It being in the Netherlands, instead of Britain (like 99.9% of medieval detectives ! ) is obviously another plus.
I was wondering when the ' Glorious revolution ' would enter this series. I never even heard about Willem van Oranje's diversion of troops strategy/ trick before . So I learned something new.
There are many historical crime novels out there. but while it's not comedy, the humor in this series makes it stand out. Him complaining about his undergraduates love for ' drinking and listening to lute music ' and describing Lute players like medieval versions of vain rock artists made me laugh out loud.
It being in the Netherlands, instead of Britain (like 99.9% of medieval detectives ! ) is obviously another plus.
I was wondering when the ' Glorious revolution ' would enter this series. I never even heard about Willem van Oranje's diversion of troops strategy/ trick before . So I learned something new.
July 30, 2025
Alas!
Alas, I have reached the end of the line. A fine run while it lasted. Eight books, what am I complaining about. No number 9. I'll tell you a secret. There is a number nine, but not on Amazon. Look for the author on Google and look around on his web site. It is a bit hidden, but there is a free download for people who are faithful readers (and black hearted readers too, but don't tell them.)
Alas, I have reached the end of the line. A fine run while it lasted. Eight books, what am I complaining about. No number 9. I'll tell you a secret. There is a number nine, but not on Amazon. Look for the author on Google and look around on his web site. It is a bit hidden, but there is a free download for people who are faithful readers (and black hearted readers too, but don't tell them.)
September 26, 2024
Great being back with Mercurius as he dictates his exploits as a governor of Moers to his long suffering secretary, Van der Meer. Wonderful turns of phrases.
He hates the whole idea, of course, it's been deemed by William and even Mary, but for good cause. Way to merciful for his subordinate, but he manages to solve 4 cases. Very good stuff.
He hates the whole idea, of course, it's been deemed by William and even Mary, but for good cause. Way to merciful for his subordinate, but he manages to solve 4 cases. Very good stuff.
October 31, 2024
Master Mercurius is summoned to the Stadhouder, William of Orange, who orders Mercurius to go to Moers in Germany to act as a diversion in the surprise attack he plans on Louis XIV. Against his will Mercurius is made Governor of Moers. It turns out to be a much more complicated situation than he expected and he struggles to find his way out of this predicament.
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