The Lanimer Bride

Gil Cunningham #11

by Pat McIntosh

How could the heavily-pregnant bride of the lanimer-man vanish into thin air?

Young Mistress Audrey Madur is missing and her husband, responsible for maintaining boundaries and overseeing land use in the burgh of Lanark, is strangely reluctant to search for her.

Gil Cunningham, answering the frantic appeal of Audrey's mother, finds himself searching the burgh and the lands round about, questioning family and neighbours. He and Alys uncover disagreements, feuds, adultery and murder, and encounter once again the flamboyant French lady Olympe Archibecque, who is not at all what she seems.

And then another lady goes missing . . .

Praise for Pat

'Will do for Glasgow in the fifteenth century what Ellis Peters and her Brother Cadfael did for Shrewsbury in the twelfth' Mystery Reader's Journal.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Mystery, Medieval, Historical, Murder Mystery, Fiction

320 pages, Hardcover

First published July 7, 2016

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

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was rather a large space of time since last I read the 10th book of this series, so I was happy to have the series brought to my attention recently by other goodreads readers. Now I can happily say I have completed the series that I enjoyed for: the time period well described, the partnership of Gil and his wife Alys who often makes surprising contributions, the setting descriptions of Scotland in the late 1400's, the very real peril faced by Gil and his companions and the evil plots he must uncover and overcome. It was pleasant to revisit these characters.

[Clemens Schoonderwoert · Rating 5 out of 5]

After a three year absence this fine Scottish lady author has produced another delightful Gil Cunningham murder mystery, and its the 11th instalment of this fantastic series.
The historical details concerning this story are wonderfully documented and explained by the author within the author's note, especially the explanation about Lanimer Day in Lanarkshire.
The story is written, like all Gil Cunningham books, in Scots and Gaelic (Ersche in the 15th Century), but the Gaelic is translated where needful to make this book a real Scottish mystery tale.
Story-telling is of a superb quality from this lady author, for she lets all her characters come splendidly to life within this murder mystery, and the surrounding landscapes of Lanarkshire are greatly pictured as well within this story.
At the beginning of the book you'll find a beautiful map of Lanarkshire in the year AD 1495 and that's also the year this story is set.
This tale is about young Mistress Audrey Madur, who as the Lanimer Bride goes missing, but out of fear her husband does nothing to search for her, so Audrey's mother makes an appeal to Gil Cunningham to help in finding Audrey Madur.
What will follow is a trilling murder mystery where disagreements, feuds, adultery and murder will come to the forefront while Gil and his wife Alys are investigating this case, and finally after some twists and turns they will come to the truth and catch the culprit.
Very much recommended, for this book is absolutely brilliant, and although its been three years since the author's last book the wait was certainly worth it, and that's why I like to call this book: "Another Captivating Scottish Murder Mystery"!

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very great read as usual, love this period in Medieval Scotland. The Tower Houses were a very intriguing part of this Gil Cunningham mystery, as were the jaunts or "trods" through the Lanark countryside. I did not realize that Gil Cuningham grew up in what was an "old style" fortified tower house,after all as everyone said " this isna the Marches".

In the Lanimer Bride outing, Audrey Madur, heavily pregnant, disappears and her husband is traumatized. Fingers begin pointing in every direction but not to the Royal Court, at least not at first. It is very amazing to read about how much of Scotland at this time was not unified or even transparent. Spies, which included Gil's cousin Sandy Boyd and a Black Irishman were everywhere. The English Crown wanted to rid themselves of a pretender but that was not the case over the borders.

I myself enjoy reading the Scots phrases and language, in Ersche and Scots and in this outing, even the tinkers "cant". I adore this series.

[Mrs Barbara D Kirby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely intriguing.

Holding your attention all the way through and raising your heart beat from time to time in the exciting bits. Interesting to learn about ancient Scotland as well.

[Cindie · Rating 5 out of 5]

No...the last one in the series!!!
I love Gil and Alys!!!

[Kerrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

In #11 of the Gil Cunningham series, a young bride is missing and her husband is reluctant to have Gil, the Bishop's Quaestor investigate. Amid rumors of gunpowder and a mysterious Irishman, Gill needs to find the missing woman and untangle the plots against both the King of Scotland and the local gentry.

[Julie Durovchic · Rating 4 out of 5]

I so wanted to read this, that I pre-ordered it twice! Well it was worth it and now I am anxiously awaiting the next one. A mystery series in 15th century Scotland with wonderful characters, interesting information and a good plot. Very enjoyable.

[tommie chandler · Rating 5 out of 5]

A. Growing Series

I'm charmed by the expansion of the associated characters as McIntosh has continued to develop the world of Gil Cunningham from the first of the novels I read. I look forward to another book.

[Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pat McIntosh's Scottish mysteries continue to be one of my favourite historical crime series ever, and another outing is always welcome. The dialog is a colourful as ever, so that I find myself hearing Scots expressions in my head all through the day after reading these. There are murders and escapes and explosions and some great supporting characters re-appear including Gil Cunningham's mother; the hilariously self-regarding Erscheman (Gaelic-speaker) Euan Campbell; and a couple of key (and OTT) characters from A Counterfeit Madam, at least one of whom could do with their own spinoff book. Alys (the better half of our crime-fighting couple) gets quite an active role again and is quite the force to be reckoned with.

However, I'm only giving 3.5 stars mainly because too many characters did depend on remembering previous books that I just couldn't remember at all well. Also the plot itself was quite tangled with a cluster of villainous landowners pursuing several entangled schemes that left me a bit confused by the end. This is definitely not the book to start the series at!

[Bryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is something about McIntosh's Gil Cunningham books that makes them infinitely rereadable to me; my tenative theory is that it's because while they are structured around the mystery plot, the real joy of them is the beautifully drawn characters, their relationships with each other, and the richly woven period detail. This is the most recent novel and is full of twists and turns as the political intrigue is unravelled, but I loved it most for the continued character growth. The only problem with it is that it was published 4 years ago and there's not another one in sight! More novels, please, Ms. McIntosh!

[C.J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast-paced and with an easy prose style, this story pulls the reader in and won’t let go. There are rich and frequent historical references, some of which can be puzzling, but these may be essential to establishing its historical setting. There is a light, dry humour throughout the book, which is great fun. An unexpectedly enjoyable read!

[Norma Barker · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lanimer

A bit tedious too many characters and gaps in the story line. Not of usual plots. Some of the language difficult.

[Brenda Haven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fabulous read in the Gil Cunningham series. I’m sad to see it end. Would have loved more stories with these characters.

[Barb Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series makes me glad I'm retired so that I can happily delve into details and background and rabbit holes and dictionaries and history books....

-I love the characters in these books.
-I love that there is a Scots dictionary to look up words I don't know.
-I love that the stories take place with subtle history woven through them but if I want to learn more I can find out.
-I love that there are historical maps that I can continually refer to.
-I love that the mystery is not super easy to figure out. And that the story is so interesting that I don't care if I do.

...But I don't like that it's been 8 years since this last book came out in the Gil Cunningham series!! I'm really hoping there are more in the works. 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼

[Donald · Rating 3 out of 5]

There seemed a lot of too-ing and fro-ing in this one, some of it frankly unnecessary, except as an opportunity for kidnap victim to be moved on, as the searchers went home for the night instead of pressing on. There were a number of rumours and subplots hinted at that didn't gel together until the end.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gil and his wife Alys are asked to investigate when the heavily pregnant bride of the Lanimer Man goes missing. This leads them into all sorts of 15th century mischief. I do enjoy this series, even if I struggle at times with the Scots words.

[E.M. Farmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Choppy and not the best editing.

Editing mistakes and too many foreign words to look up make this a hard book to enjoy. The plot was excellent; the characters good but it just DID NOT flow.

[Miki · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like this series but this book was a little confusing. There was plot upon plot upon plot and I never did find out why the lady was kidnapped.

[Lynne Tull · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yea, I am caught up with the author. I am getting better at keeping track of all of these characters, but have not perfected the technique. You would think after eleven books I would have figured it out. No, I have not; blaming it on the language barrier. I still haven't figured out the significance of the cover of the book. I think I must have skipped over some passage that told me why Alys (I think that is Alys?) is dancing with the devil? Waiting for next book. Recommend.