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Master Mercurius Mysteries #5
The Vanishing Children
Master Mercurius is sent on another complicated mission! Perfect for fans of Andrew Taylor, C J Sansom, S J Parris and Ken Follett.
Three Jewish boys are missing … but why is nobody investigating?
1680, Leiden, The Netherlands
The Dutch Stadhouder, William of Orange, has summoned Master Mercurius — and that is never good news.
Mercurius has gained a reputation for himself with William for successfully undertaking diplomatic missions. And William is now paranoid that his own subjects — and the English exiles living in the Netherlands — are plotting against him.
Mercurius is sent to gather information, but he soon finds himself caught up in another mystery.
Three Jewish boys have vanished, and the local magistrates are doing nothing to investigate their disappearances.
Mercurius soon realises something sinister is going on and promises to unravel the mystery before he has to return to Leiden.
Who is abducting the young children? Are more at risk?
And is the Stadhouder right to fear a plot against him…?
The Vanishing Children is the fifth historical murder investigation in the Master Mercurius Mystery series: atmospheric crime thrillers set in seventeenth-century Europe.
Three Jewish boys are missing … but why is nobody investigating?
1680, Leiden, The Netherlands
The Dutch Stadhouder, William of Orange, has summoned Master Mercurius — and that is never good news.
Mercurius has gained a reputation for himself with William for successfully undertaking diplomatic missions. And William is now paranoid that his own subjects — and the English exiles living in the Netherlands — are plotting against him.
Mercurius is sent to gather information, but he soon finds himself caught up in another mystery.
Three Jewish boys have vanished, and the local magistrates are doing nothing to investigate their disappearances.
Mercurius soon realises something sinister is going on and promises to unravel the mystery before he has to return to Leiden.
Who is abducting the young children? Are more at risk?
And is the Stadhouder right to fear a plot against him…?
The Vanishing Children is the fifth historical murder investigation in the Master Mercurius Mystery series: atmospheric crime thrillers set in seventeenth-century Europe.
212 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 20, 2021
149 people are currently reading
157 people want to read
About the author
Graham Brack
36 books150 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 65 reviews
May 19, 2021
Master Mercurius is yet again given a mission by Wiliam of Orange. His task taskes him to Amsterdam where he tries to convince the 4 mayors of the city to rise taxes. In the meantime, he learns that 3 Jewish children have been abducted and Master accepts the challenge to solve the mystery and find the missing kids.
Another offering by Mr Brack which is well-researched and well-written, with lots of witticism and delicate humour. I especially appreciated the depiction of Amsterdam in the 1680s with its Jewish community, their origins and views on cohabitation with the Dutch community.
*Many thanks to Graham Brack, Sapere Books, and NetGalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*
Another offering by Mr Brack which is well-researched and well-written, with lots of witticism and delicate humour. I especially appreciated the depiction of Amsterdam in the 1680s with its Jewish community, their origins and views on cohabitation with the Dutch community.
*Many thanks to Graham Brack, Sapere Books, and NetGalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*
April 19, 2021
4★
“‘If I string one of them up from a ship’s yardarm it’ll soon bring the rest in line.’
‘Thank you, Captain,’ I responded, ‘but I’d rather convince them than kill them.’
Pringle shrugged. ‘As you wish. But killing one is sure to convince the other three.’
Yours is a very straightforward world, isn’t it? I thought.”
My goodness, Master Mercurius is moving up! He has been sent by William of Orange, the Stadhouder (head of state of the Netherlands) to deal with four mayors whom he wants to tax. Mercurius is a cleric who teaches at the University of Leiden. His claim to fame (for our eyes only) is that he is both a Protestant minister and a Catholic priest. Shhh. . . You never know who’s listening, and it could be worth his life if revealed to the wrong party.
He’s done some jobs for William, not the least of which was smoothing the way for William to marry Mary, his cousin. This began as a smart move to seal their place as first in line to the English throne following their uncle, Charles II. William seems to have been satisfied with Mary,
“to the point where he had hardly any mistresses at all worth talking about, and I rather suspected that those he had were kept just so that he did not let the United Provinces down in any international rulers’ mistresses league.”
William is bent on going to war with France, but he needs money – hence the tax-raising mission – but he wants Mercurius to smooth the way here, too. He should obtain some kind of agreement.
“To William’s way of thinking, compromise meant accepting the other side’s abject surrender gracefully.”
To impress the mayors and the people of Amsterdam, where Mercurius is sent, William arranges a carriage, a guard, a servant, a badge, a cloak, in essence, all the trappings of a high-born individual.
Mercurius is initially uncomfortable, but like many of us, he begins to enjoy what little power he enjoys. He is able to speak on behalf of William and even give some orders. Captain James Pringle heads the troop that accompanies him, and it is he who suggests in the first quotation, a ‘statement’ by hanging someone from the ship’s yardarm.
It took a while for the story to move to the vanishing children. Mercurius has solved some crimes in the past, one of which involved missing girls, but this one is missing boys, very young boys, from the ‘Portuguese’ community in Amsterdam. This is a Jewish community – Jews who were hunted out of Portugal, and some of whom converted to Christianity to avoid the Inquisition.
Three little fellows disappeared – snatched, it seems – from their homes. All were very young, and Mercurius notices some other coincidences that point him in the right direction.
As always, Brack writes an entertaining tale full of history and historical figures, without ever seeming to dump information the way some authors are inclined to. I do find myself looking up more about William and Mary, and if I didn’t already know about the red-light district in Amsterdam with naked ladies in the windows, I’d probably have checked that for accuracy too!
[I read recently that the council is now moving it out of the CBD and may ban tourists from the ‘coffee shops’ that sell cannabis – but I digress.]
Suffice to say, Mercurius was warned what he’d be getting into, so he convinced himself he must accept the carriage and escort and yes, a bit of luxury, in order to make the right impression and succeed in reaching an agreement.
Needless to say, Mercurius does what he can, hoping not to torture anyone if he can avoid it, and hoping not to be attacked or stabbed either. It’s hardly the life he imagined for himself, but he’s getting pretty good at it. He is adamant he won’t tell anyone about his dual ordinations, because he’d lose his position.
“What else could I do? I am a philosopher. Those skills are not much use for anything else, and there is no call for freelance philosophers.”
I don’t know. It seems to me we could use a few more level heads these days. Thanks to the author, Sapere Books and NetGalley for the review copy from which I’ve quoted. I'll be queuing up with the rest of the fans for the next one. :)
“‘If I string one of them up from a ship’s yardarm it’ll soon bring the rest in line.’
‘Thank you, Captain,’ I responded, ‘but I’d rather convince them than kill them.’
Pringle shrugged. ‘As you wish. But killing one is sure to convince the other three.’
Yours is a very straightforward world, isn’t it? I thought.”
My goodness, Master Mercurius is moving up! He has been sent by William of Orange, the Stadhouder (head of state of the Netherlands) to deal with four mayors whom he wants to tax. Mercurius is a cleric who teaches at the University of Leiden. His claim to fame (for our eyes only) is that he is both a Protestant minister and a Catholic priest. Shhh. . . You never know who’s listening, and it could be worth his life if revealed to the wrong party.
He’s done some jobs for William, not the least of which was smoothing the way for William to marry Mary, his cousin. This began as a smart move to seal their place as first in line to the English throne following their uncle, Charles II. William seems to have been satisfied with Mary,
“to the point where he had hardly any mistresses at all worth talking about, and I rather suspected that those he had were kept just so that he did not let the United Provinces down in any international rulers’ mistresses league.”
William is bent on going to war with France, but he needs money – hence the tax-raising mission – but he wants Mercurius to smooth the way here, too. He should obtain some kind of agreement.
“To William’s way of thinking, compromise meant accepting the other side’s abject surrender gracefully.”
To impress the mayors and the people of Amsterdam, where Mercurius is sent, William arranges a carriage, a guard, a servant, a badge, a cloak, in essence, all the trappings of a high-born individual.
Mercurius is initially uncomfortable, but like many of us, he begins to enjoy what little power he enjoys. He is able to speak on behalf of William and even give some orders. Captain James Pringle heads the troop that accompanies him, and it is he who suggests in the first quotation, a ‘statement’ by hanging someone from the ship’s yardarm.
It took a while for the story to move to the vanishing children. Mercurius has solved some crimes in the past, one of which involved missing girls, but this one is missing boys, very young boys, from the ‘Portuguese’ community in Amsterdam. This is a Jewish community – Jews who were hunted out of Portugal, and some of whom converted to Christianity to avoid the Inquisition.
Three little fellows disappeared – snatched, it seems – from their homes. All were very young, and Mercurius notices some other coincidences that point him in the right direction.
As always, Brack writes an entertaining tale full of history and historical figures, without ever seeming to dump information the way some authors are inclined to. I do find myself looking up more about William and Mary, and if I didn’t already know about the red-light district in Amsterdam with naked ladies in the windows, I’d probably have checked that for accuracy too!
[I read recently that the council is now moving it out of the CBD and may ban tourists from the ‘coffee shops’ that sell cannabis – but I digress.]
Suffice to say, Mercurius was warned what he’d be getting into, so he convinced himself he must accept the carriage and escort and yes, a bit of luxury, in order to make the right impression and succeed in reaching an agreement.
Needless to say, Mercurius does what he can, hoping not to torture anyone if he can avoid it, and hoping not to be attacked or stabbed either. It’s hardly the life he imagined for himself, but he’s getting pretty good at it. He is adamant he won’t tell anyone about his dual ordinations, because he’d lose his position.
“What else could I do? I am a philosopher. Those skills are not much use for anything else, and there is no call for freelance philosophers.”
I don’t know. It seems to me we could use a few more level heads these days. Thanks to the author, Sapere Books and NetGalley for the review copy from which I’ve quoted. I'll be queuing up with the rest of the fans for the next one. :)
April 24, 2021
The Master Mercurius series is perfect for those that enjoy historical mysteries. Brack can be counted on to provide a well thought out mystery, along with a strong sense of time and place, some philosophical discussion and lots of humor thrown in for good measure. This book continues to be just as entertaining as the prior four.
Once again, Mercurius has been called on by the Stadhouder. He is tasked with negotiating with the four mayors of Amsterdam who are refusing to pay the taxes due. This is new to Mercurius. As a university lecturer, he’s never been called upon to deal as an equal with the political bigwigs. But he’s smart enough to use his intellect and past experience to figure out how it’s done. “I was beginning to enjoy this. I do like a good argument. I was hampered to some extent by not having a clue what I was talking about, but I reckoned that if I simply contradicted everything Huydecoper said I would be able to keep my end up.” At the same time, he’s drawn into helping three Jewish families whose young sons have gone missing.
As in the prior books, Brack sprinkles in some real life renowned individuals, in this case John Locke. Make sure to read the Author’s Note, because almost all of the events are based on real occurrences.
It pays to read this series in order. Mr. Brack, please keep these books coming!
My thanks to NetGalley and Sapere Books for an advance copy of this book.
Once again, Mercurius has been called on by the Stadhouder. He is tasked with negotiating with the four mayors of Amsterdam who are refusing to pay the taxes due. This is new to Mercurius. As a university lecturer, he’s never been called upon to deal as an equal with the political bigwigs. But he’s smart enough to use his intellect and past experience to figure out how it’s done. “I was beginning to enjoy this. I do like a good argument. I was hampered to some extent by not having a clue what I was talking about, but I reckoned that if I simply contradicted everything Huydecoper said I would be able to keep my end up.” At the same time, he’s drawn into helping three Jewish families whose young sons have gone missing.
As in the prior books, Brack sprinkles in some real life renowned individuals, in this case John Locke. Make sure to read the Author’s Note, because almost all of the events are based on real occurrences.
It pays to read this series in order. Mr. Brack, please keep these books coming!
My thanks to NetGalley and Sapere Books for an advance copy of this book.
April 17, 2021
Master Mercurius is back, this time testing his powers of diplomacy on behalf of William of Orange and also getting himself involved in more detective work, investigating the disappearance of three small boys. As usual his mixture of intelligence and naivety allow him to float over many dangerous waters and at the same time succeed in his allocated tasks.
I enjoy the way this series is told as episodes from Mercurius's own journal. There are frequent, funny asides when he feels his secretary does not appreciate the words he is dictating in the right way. He is also very free with his own views on the people he meets and the ways of the world. It is all very informative about life at the time, and I learn a bit of history with each book.
This book has it all - an interesting mystery, plenty of historical fact and good characters all written with Brack's delightfully dry sense of humour. I hope there will be many more.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
I enjoy the way this series is told as episodes from Mercurius's own journal. There are frequent, funny asides when he feels his secretary does not appreciate the words he is dictating in the right way. He is also very free with his own views on the people he meets and the ways of the world. It is all very informative about life at the time, and I learn a bit of history with each book.
This book has it all - an interesting mystery, plenty of historical fact and good characters all written with Brack's delightfully dry sense of humour. I hope there will be many more.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
April 15, 2021
In this fifth episode of Graham Brack's excellent historical Master Mercurius series, Mercurius finds himself sent to Amersterdam on behalf of the Stadhouder, William of Orange, to demand that the Mayors of the city pay their taxes and to check on what the English there are plotting. After he arrive, he is also asked by the Jewish community to look into the disappearance of three young children.
An academic and protestant minister at the University of Leiden, Mercurius has often been called on by William to undertake diplomatic missions or solve mysteries. He has a way of noticing small details and thinking logically that stands him in good stead when taking a fresh look at mysteries that defy others.
The novel is written in a lively and wry style as Mercurius' clever mind and humour shine through. He's becoming better at being a diplomat although still uncomfortable with the trappings that go with that. It makes for an entertaining way to learn a little of the history and life of 17th century Holland and their European neighbours.
With thanks to Sapere Books and Netgalley for a copy to read
An academic and protestant minister at the University of Leiden, Mercurius has often been called on by William to undertake diplomatic missions or solve mysteries. He has a way of noticing small details and thinking logically that stands him in good stead when taking a fresh look at mysteries that defy others.
The novel is written in a lively and wry style as Mercurius' clever mind and humour shine through. He's becoming better at being a diplomat although still uncomfortable with the trappings that go with that. It makes for an entertaining way to learn a little of the history and life of 17th century Holland and their European neighbours.
With thanks to Sapere Books and Netgalley for a copy to read
July 6, 2021
Again a wonderful story about Master Mercurius in which he tries to find out where three stolen Jewish boys have gone. At the same time he's on a diplomatic mission for William of Orange, Stadhouder.
May 2, 2021
I’ve read all reviews that are currently on GR before I wrote down my own thoughts. When I first became aware of the fifth book in this delightful series, I immediately pre-ordered it so I wouldn’t have to wait for a review copy. After all, asking for review copies is still somewhat of a gamble; you can never be sure whether the publisher approves you or not. That is no problem in this case because I am a really big fan of this series from the first book on, for several special reasons. One of them is that in the first book one of the characters’ name is the 17th century version of my name. Not that Graham Brack knew that when he wrote the first book in the series, of course. My family tree goes back to 1520 (at least, that’s what we know now but we are still working on this) and the first Jannetje is mentioned in 1721. However, I was seriously triggered by the name ‘Jannetje Dirks’ in Death in Delft and add to that that I was born and raised in Leiden you will understand that I started reading this series with a more than average interest.
And I just love it! Not just for the reasons I mentioned here, but, as most of the reviewers inform us, also for the terrific humour, wonderful dialogues and very good characterization. I was planning to cite a few of my favourite parts in my review but guess what? Other reviewers seem to have the same favourites so I will only mention my absolute favourite here; “What else could I do? I am a philosopher. Those skills are not much use for anything else, and there is no call for freelance philosophers.” The funny thing is, in all five books, we never ever read anything about Mercurius’ teaching job at the University of Leiden. We suffer with him when the Rector wants him to undertake any real work, and we suffer with him when he is forced to eat the horrible food, but I do hope that in one of the following books in the series we read a little more about how Mercurius goes on teaching. I for sure would love to read more pearls of wisdom that come from his mouth – although in most instances it is not his goal to be wise but just to try and survive another awkward situation.
What I also like is the fact that the story triggers me to look up the historical details in Wikipedia. This is so much more fun than having to learn the ‘dry facts’ in school!
Mercurius is in his forties now; by all accounts it would be possible to read another five books in this series before we have to say goodbye to him. I hope Graham Brack thinks the same 😉.
And I just love it! Not just for the reasons I mentioned here, but, as most of the reviewers inform us, also for the terrific humour, wonderful dialogues and very good characterization. I was planning to cite a few of my favourite parts in my review but guess what? Other reviewers seem to have the same favourites so I will only mention my absolute favourite here; “What else could I do? I am a philosopher. Those skills are not much use for anything else, and there is no call for freelance philosophers.” The funny thing is, in all five books, we never ever read anything about Mercurius’ teaching job at the University of Leiden. We suffer with him when the Rector wants him to undertake any real work, and we suffer with him when he is forced to eat the horrible food, but I do hope that in one of the following books in the series we read a little more about how Mercurius goes on teaching. I for sure would love to read more pearls of wisdom that come from his mouth – although in most instances it is not his goal to be wise but just to try and survive another awkward situation.
What I also like is the fact that the story triggers me to look up the historical details in Wikipedia. This is so much more fun than having to learn the ‘dry facts’ in school!
Mercurius is in his forties now; by all accounts it would be possible to read another five books in this series before we have to say goodbye to him. I hope Graham Brack thinks the same 😉.
April 13, 2021
The Vanishing Children is the fifth book in the Master Mercurius Mysteries series by British author, Graham Brack. Just as Master Mercurius is trying to devise a way to answer his (Catholic) Bishop’s summons to Belgium, his Rector at the University of Leiden presents, to his dismay, an urgent summons from the Stadhouder, William of Orange. “I had noticed that working for the Stadhouder was hazardous.”
At the Stadhouder’s Palace, our favourite seventeenth Century man of the cloth and lecturer in moral philosophy learns he is destined for Amsterdam, charged with investigating what the English exiles in the city are plotting, and getting the city’s recalcitrant merchants, “those parasites in Amsterdam “, to pay their taxes. William tells him “I want you to go up there and put the fear of God into them, and who better to do it than someone who knows God’s ways intimately?”
So that he is afforded the respect due to the Stadhouder’s personal emissary, he has to wear a large jewelled collar and travel in a closed carriage, with a manservant, accompanied by the Captain of Horse (a Scot) and a troop of armed soldiers. After an awkward (for Mercurius, amusing for the reader) lunch stop en route, he arrives to a lukewarm reception from Amsterdam’s four mayors, who remain extremely resistant to the idea of paying William’s tax.
On top of his assigned diplomatic and plot-detecting tasks, Mercurius soon finds himself agreeing to investigate recent abductions from the Jewish quarter. “Three Jewish children have disappeared. We believe that they have been abducted and may still be living. But the authorities insist that all three must have suffered accidents. We cannot get the matter properly investigated.”
By the time Mercurius has, in between fruitless meetings with the mayors and covert observation of possible plotters, examined the scenes and questioned witnesses, it is clear that victim blaming is nothing new. As always, Mercurius humble about his abilities, and berates himself for his stupidity when the lightbulb moment hits. He gets a lesson in probability from a soldier and learns about the useful art of bluff from card-players.
If it takes a little while to get to the meat of the mystery, that’s because Mercurius does tend to offer commentary on everyday life and the people he encounters, which is probably the reason this series is so entertaining: a wealth of historical tidbits (including something about the Panama Canal), all wrapped up in dry humour and insightful observations about human behaviour.
Just as you don’t read McCall Smith’s No 1 Ladies Detective Agency series only for the detective aspect, you don’t read either of Brack’s series solely for the crime-solving, even though the mystery in this instalment is excellent. Some aspects of the resolution, though, do have Mercurius reconsidering his allegiance to the Catholic religion.
.
Everything about Master Mercurius is a delight, including the challenge of “being visibly Protestant but secretly Catholic” thus obliged to give occasional sermons in the Dutch Reformed Church: “it was becoming very difficult to preach doctrines about which I had grave reservations.” He is pleasantly surprised that the fathers of Amsterdam are not pushing their daughters onto him, testing his vow of celibacy, but is still tempted by one of the fairer sex. Every Master Mercurius novel is an opportunity to learn whilst laughing out loud. More, please!
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Sapere Books (but I also purchased a copy!)
At the Stadhouder’s Palace, our favourite seventeenth Century man of the cloth and lecturer in moral philosophy learns he is destined for Amsterdam, charged with investigating what the English exiles in the city are plotting, and getting the city’s recalcitrant merchants, “those parasites in Amsterdam “, to pay their taxes. William tells him “I want you to go up there and put the fear of God into them, and who better to do it than someone who knows God’s ways intimately?”
So that he is afforded the respect due to the Stadhouder’s personal emissary, he has to wear a large jewelled collar and travel in a closed carriage, with a manservant, accompanied by the Captain of Horse (a Scot) and a troop of armed soldiers. After an awkward (for Mercurius, amusing for the reader) lunch stop en route, he arrives to a lukewarm reception from Amsterdam’s four mayors, who remain extremely resistant to the idea of paying William’s tax.
On top of his assigned diplomatic and plot-detecting tasks, Mercurius soon finds himself agreeing to investigate recent abductions from the Jewish quarter. “Three Jewish children have disappeared. We believe that they have been abducted and may still be living. But the authorities insist that all three must have suffered accidents. We cannot get the matter properly investigated.”
By the time Mercurius has, in between fruitless meetings with the mayors and covert observation of possible plotters, examined the scenes and questioned witnesses, it is clear that victim blaming is nothing new. As always, Mercurius humble about his abilities, and berates himself for his stupidity when the lightbulb moment hits. He gets a lesson in probability from a soldier and learns about the useful art of bluff from card-players.
If it takes a little while to get to the meat of the mystery, that’s because Mercurius does tend to offer commentary on everyday life and the people he encounters, which is probably the reason this series is so entertaining: a wealth of historical tidbits (including something about the Panama Canal), all wrapped up in dry humour and insightful observations about human behaviour.
Just as you don’t read McCall Smith’s No 1 Ladies Detective Agency series only for the detective aspect, you don’t read either of Brack’s series solely for the crime-solving, even though the mystery in this instalment is excellent. Some aspects of the resolution, though, do have Mercurius reconsidering his allegiance to the Catholic religion.
.
Everything about Master Mercurius is a delight, including the challenge of “being visibly Protestant but secretly Catholic” thus obliged to give occasional sermons in the Dutch Reformed Church: “it was becoming very difficult to preach doctrines about which I had grave reservations.” He is pleasantly surprised that the fathers of Amsterdam are not pushing their daughters onto him, testing his vow of celibacy, but is still tempted by one of the fairer sex. Every Master Mercurius novel is an opportunity to learn whilst laughing out loud. More, please!
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Sapere Books (but I also purchased a copy!)
February 24, 2025
It’s been a while since I read one of the Master Mercurius books – featuring the 17th century cleric and philosopher at the University of Leiden – often called upon by the Stadhouder William of Orange to engage in some diplomatic chore he is woefully under prepared for. Previously he was sent to England to sound out a reluctant Mary, niece of King Charles II as a prospective bride for William.
Now in 1684, with Mary and William happily married, William sends for Mercurius again – to go as his emissary to Amsterdam. William needs the taxes of the reluctant mayors for his war chest against France. The mayors want their taxes directed at expanding trade in the East and West Indies. William is seeking a compromise, but as Mercurius knows too well, To William’s way of thinking, compromise meant accepting the other side’s abject surrender gracefully.
Thus a reluctant Mercurius sets out, resplendent in a bejeweled collar, travelling in a state coach, a manservant to attend to his needs, with an escort of troops from the UK, led by Scotsman Pringle.
The great thing about them was that their loyalty was never in question. They were unfailingly obedient to whoever paid them most. But it was always understood that if Britain needed them, they might be recalled at any time.
Naturally, negotiations do not go well – and William hovers in the background to take control personally – but in the midst of it all Mercurius is drawn into a mystery of very young children abducted from their homes in the Jewish quarter.
Forget the stuffy history curriculum taught in schools: Graham Brack brings the late 17th century to life with humour and intrigue – the customs, means of transport, food and clothing – the origins of the Panama Canal scheme THAT far back – and candid thoughts on persons in history, notably the Sun King himself, Louis XIV…
He was King before he was five years old, and made policy like a five-year-old for the rest of his life. Even in the duplicitous, treacherous world of seventeenth-century European politics, Louis stood out as particularly slippery.
Won’t leave it so long to read other books in the series.
Now in 1684, with Mary and William happily married, William sends for Mercurius again – to go as his emissary to Amsterdam. William needs the taxes of the reluctant mayors for his war chest against France. The mayors want their taxes directed at expanding trade in the East and West Indies. William is seeking a compromise, but as Mercurius knows too well, To William’s way of thinking, compromise meant accepting the other side’s abject surrender gracefully.
Thus a reluctant Mercurius sets out, resplendent in a bejeweled collar, travelling in a state coach, a manservant to attend to his needs, with an escort of troops from the UK, led by Scotsman Pringle.
The great thing about them was that their loyalty was never in question. They were unfailingly obedient to whoever paid them most. But it was always understood that if Britain needed them, they might be recalled at any time.
Naturally, negotiations do not go well – and William hovers in the background to take control personally – but in the midst of it all Mercurius is drawn into a mystery of very young children abducted from their homes in the Jewish quarter.
Forget the stuffy history curriculum taught in schools: Graham Brack brings the late 17th century to life with humour and intrigue – the customs, means of transport, food and clothing – the origins of the Panama Canal scheme THAT far back – and candid thoughts on persons in history, notably the Sun King himself, Louis XIV…
He was King before he was five years old, and made policy like a five-year-old for the rest of his life. Even in the duplicitous, treacherous world of seventeenth-century European politics, Louis stood out as particularly slippery.
Won’t leave it so long to read other books in the series.
April 23, 2021
I really enjoy this series. As usual, we find Master Mercurius on the road assigned to a task by William of Orange. It is his first trip to Amsterdam and his boss wants to collect taxes from that city's officials who are quite reluctant to part with monies and there are three children recently kidnapped from the Jewish population Mercurius is tasked to investigate.
Characters come alive, religion comes in and out of focus and Mercurius succeeds in his tasks.
Characters come alive, religion comes in and out of focus and Mercurius succeeds in his tasks.
April 14, 2021
Graham Brack writes historical mysteries that are both perceptive and hilarious. He explores serious issues (serious in Reformation-era 17th Century Nemetherlands) of religious conflict, gender, class, and an emerging push for more democratic government. Lest this make his writing sound polemical, let me emphasize the "hilarious" part. This is period detective fiction that will have you reading paragraphs aloud to anyone within earshot.
Exempli gratia—
"[O]n the few occasions that I have come across someone who really needed a priest, I have been as much use as a glass mallet."
"He was King before he was five years old and made policy like a five-year-old for the rest of his life."
"There is not much work for a door-to-door moral philosopher."
"To William's [of Orange] way of thinking, compromise meant accepting the other side's abject surrender gracefully."
Master Mercuius, the central character in this series, is a university lecturer, which requires being an ordained minister of the reformed church, but also an ordained Catholic priest—two irreconcilable identities. He's rather cautious and quite naive, not your typical detective/political fixer in any age, but certainly not in 17th Century Netherlands. He's also a somewhat cynical wit (see above). But somehow, Master Mercurius has come to the attention of William of Orange and keeps getting sent out on complicated, dangerous missions.
This time around, Master Mercurius is simultaneously engaged in three tasks:
• convince the four mayors of Amsterdam that the must pay the taxes owed to William
• determine whether there is anything nefarious going on among the English residents of Amsterdam, who fled their home country when the monarchy was restored (cameo appearance by John Locke)
• find a trio of kidnapped Jewish children and return them to their parents.
Just that.
If you haven't begun reading this series yet, do so at once! (Seriously. I almost never use exclamation points in book reviews.) If you have been reading this series, I assume you stopped paying attention to this review several paragraphs ago and are out now trying to hunt down a copy of The Vanishing Children. And if you aren't, why not?
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via Net Galley; the opinions are my own.
Exempli gratia—
"[O]n the few occasions that I have come across someone who really needed a priest, I have been as much use as a glass mallet."
"He was King before he was five years old and made policy like a five-year-old for the rest of his life."
"There is not much work for a door-to-door moral philosopher."
"To William's [of Orange] way of thinking, compromise meant accepting the other side's abject surrender gracefully."
Master Mercuius, the central character in this series, is a university lecturer, which requires being an ordained minister of the reformed church, but also an ordained Catholic priest—two irreconcilable identities. He's rather cautious and quite naive, not your typical detective/political fixer in any age, but certainly not in 17th Century Netherlands. He's also a somewhat cynical wit (see above). But somehow, Master Mercurius has come to the attention of William of Orange and keeps getting sent out on complicated, dangerous missions.
This time around, Master Mercurius is simultaneously engaged in three tasks:
• convince the four mayors of Amsterdam that the must pay the taxes owed to William
• determine whether there is anything nefarious going on among the English residents of Amsterdam, who fled their home country when the monarchy was restored (cameo appearance by John Locke)
• find a trio of kidnapped Jewish children and return them to their parents.
Just that.
If you haven't begun reading this series yet, do so at once! (Seriously. I almost never use exclamation points in book reviews.) If you have been reading this series, I assume you stopped paying attention to this review several paragraphs ago and are out now trying to hunt down a copy of The Vanishing Children. And if you aren't, why not?
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via Net Galley; the opinions are my own.
April 13, 2021
The Vanishing Children is the latest adventure with Master Mercurius by Graham Brack. I was almost as sceptical to reading these books at first as Mercurius is doubtful about him being sent on various diplomatic missions. But they are great and in this one I think our hero is getting more comfortable with the powers he has, acting on behalf of the Stadhouder. This book is as always filled with humor and some kind of crime. Master Mercurius is sent to Amsterdam to get the city to pay its taxes. While there he is confronted with the mystery of three missing jewish boys and the fact that no one seems to care. I must thank @netgalley @sappere.books for giving me this advance copy and @graham_brack for writing it.
July 28, 2021
Delightful,as always
April 12, 2021
In this cross between historical fiction and mystery, Mercurius, a professor of philosophy at Leiden University, a clergyman of the Reformed (Calvinist) church, and secretly an ordained Catholic priest, is assigned by William of Orange to negotiate the payment of taxes that have been refused by the city of Amsterdam. His role as diplomat is further complicated when the Jewish residents of the city appeal to him for help in finding three young children who have been abducted from their homes.
The mystery is well-developed and the writing is wry with a continual undercurrent of humor. The setting of Amsterdam in the Dutch Golden Age is interesting much as the politics and religious debate and confusion of the seventeenth century are fascinating. I particularly enjoyed this depiction of William of Orange and his wife, Mary.
All in all, I found this to be an engrossing read that I could finish within two days of starting it. I would recommend it to historical fiction and mystery fans, especially for those who would appreciate the chance to visit seventeenth century Holland.
(In the interest of full disclosure, I received a free promotional copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.)
The mystery is well-developed and the writing is wry with a continual undercurrent of humor. The setting of Amsterdam in the Dutch Golden Age is interesting much as the politics and religious debate and confusion of the seventeenth century are fascinating. I particularly enjoyed this depiction of William of Orange and his wife, Mary.
All in all, I found this to be an engrossing read that I could finish within two days of starting it. I would recommend it to historical fiction and mystery fans, especially for those who would appreciate the chance to visit seventeenth century Holland.
(In the interest of full disclosure, I received a free promotional copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.)
April 15, 2021
The fifth in the Master Mercurius series, the quality remains extremely high and extremely fun!
Here Mercurius is again summoned by William Of Orange, this time to go to Amsterdam to make the four mayors pay their taxes to him to help fund a potential war. He also wants him to find out what the English in the same city are up to and if they are plotting anything.
Of course Mercurius gets sidetracked along the way as he is approached by a member of the Jewish community in Amsterdam. He wants him to look into the disappearance of three young boys who all went missing in a short space of time. The Amsterdam authorities have dismissed their concerns and say the children must have wandered off and drowned in a canal!
Mercurius not only feels obliged to look into it but also knows that William will only be too happy to take the credit for finding the children and put more pressure on the mayors.
So, this is another great addition to the series. Told in the form of a memoir, the more tales we get in the series the less important the actual story/mystery is to me. Mercurius and his world are the stars of the show and hilariously so. It is such fun to spend time in the world. It’s an odd mixture of historical fiction, a mystery/whodunnit, a comedy and a memoir all wrapped up in and sprinkled with actual events.
The books are also the perfect size. At a little over 200 pages on average, they never overstay their welcome but have enough in them to make them a thoroughly enjoyable reading experience.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Sapere Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Here Mercurius is again summoned by William Of Orange, this time to go to Amsterdam to make the four mayors pay their taxes to him to help fund a potential war. He also wants him to find out what the English in the same city are up to and if they are plotting anything.
Of course Mercurius gets sidetracked along the way as he is approached by a member of the Jewish community in Amsterdam. He wants him to look into the disappearance of three young boys who all went missing in a short space of time. The Amsterdam authorities have dismissed their concerns and say the children must have wandered off and drowned in a canal!
Mercurius not only feels obliged to look into it but also knows that William will only be too happy to take the credit for finding the children and put more pressure on the mayors.
So, this is another great addition to the series. Told in the form of a memoir, the more tales we get in the series the less important the actual story/mystery is to me. Mercurius and his world are the stars of the show and hilariously so. It is such fun to spend time in the world. It’s an odd mixture of historical fiction, a mystery/whodunnit, a comedy and a memoir all wrapped up in and sprinkled with actual events.
The books are also the perfect size. At a little over 200 pages on average, they never overstay their welcome but have enough in them to make them a thoroughly enjoyable reading experience.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Sapere Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 20, 2023
In number 5 of the series, Mercurius continues to dictate his memoirs, reminiscing about the case he ended up dealing with when sent by the Stadhouser, William of Orange, as an emissary to Amsterdam where hostile officials are dragging their heels about paying taxes. This time, William supplies a military escort and a carriage so for once Mercurius can travel in style. His mission is difficult and he discovers that young children have been abducted from the Jewish quarter so sets out to try to find out what happened to them.
There was a small involvement of beginjs in this story, the Dutch term for the beguines (a secular order for women who wanted to live apart from men) who I had previously read about in histories of the middle ages. It would have been interesting if that had been more substantial. The story has the usual wry humour of Mercurius and it seems he has been put into an unsolvable situation with the counsellors, so there is an interest in how he is going to handle the various situations though he doesn't have to deal with matchmaking parents in this story. Altogether, I rate this as a 4 star read.
There was a small involvement of beginjs in this story, the Dutch term for the beguines (a secular order for women who wanted to live apart from men) who I had previously read about in histories of the middle ages. It would have been interesting if that had been more substantial. The story has the usual wry humour of Mercurius and it seems he has been put into an unsolvable situation with the counsellors, so there is an interest in how he is going to handle the various situations though he doesn't have to deal with matchmaking parents in this story. Altogether, I rate this as a 4 star read.
June 3, 2021
WHY ISN'T THIS SERIES BETTER KNOWN???
This delightful book continues the adventures of Master Mercurio, Master of Tehology at University of Leiden and secretly a Catholic priest. It is set in Holland, in 1680, and once again narrator Mercurio has been tasked by the Stadhouder, William of Orange to help him with a problem. The setting and the inclusion of real historical characters is fascinating, and the plot is clever, especially the case of three young Jewish children who have been kidnapped, but for me the MOST fun in the series is the narration. Mercurio's wry narration is so enjoyable that I COULD NOT resist interrupting my husband's reading several times to read him Mercurio's observations, like his assessment of King Louis of France, "He was King before he was five years old, and made policy like a five-year-old for the rest of his life."
This is a series you can pick up in the middle if you have not read the others.
PS Recently I posted a review of a Barker and Llewellyn novel and said it was my favorite historical mystery series. I had forgotten this one!! I'd call it a tie.
This delightful book continues the adventures of Master Mercurio, Master of Tehology at University of Leiden and secretly a Catholic priest. It is set in Holland, in 1680, and once again narrator Mercurio has been tasked by the Stadhouder, William of Orange to help him with a problem. The setting and the inclusion of real historical characters is fascinating, and the plot is clever, especially the case of three young Jewish children who have been kidnapped, but for me the MOST fun in the series is the narration. Mercurio's wry narration is so enjoyable that I COULD NOT resist interrupting my husband's reading several times to read him Mercurio's observations, like his assessment of King Louis of France, "He was King before he was five years old, and made policy like a five-year-old for the rest of his life."
This is a series you can pick up in the middle if you have not read the others.
PS Recently I posted a review of a Barker and Llewellyn novel and said it was my favorite historical mystery series. I had forgotten this one!! I'd call it a tie.
June 16, 2021
Fantastic Mercurius. A stupendously sarcastic personality and wonderful character. Read them all now and already looking forward to more dry humour with my detective fiction.
May 5, 2021
I was so glad to receive an ARC for this one. Right from its 1st book, Death in Delft, author Graham Brack has been hooked on his new series with his quirky writing, unique setting and distinctive story-lines. And as one would expect this latest entry continues and builds up on his world around his protagonist, Master Mercurius, however, in comparison, this one is more of a Political Thriller, while being light on the mystery element. Nonetheless, it doesn't make it a less of a read. Sure, like other entries of the series, the lack of historical knowledge about Netherlands/Holland might cause hindrance to some, until one realizes author Brack's writing is just too good to let go. #TheVanishingChildren #NetGalley
April 23, 2021
The Stadhouder William of Orange needs Master Mercurius to represent him in Amsterdam he sees plots everywhere against him, the local mayors are involved withholding taxes. Upon arrival Mercurius is more concerned by the disappearance of 3 Jewish children.
This is a great paced book with the ever changing map of royal plots intertwined with the changes in religion. Master Mercurius is a great character who is dragged into danger when investigating these mysteries. Working for William can become hazardous and Mercurius is a very reluctant participant. Mercurius trying to be a diplomat can certainly raise a smile. This story will be good use of whiling away an afternoon.
I was given an arc of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This is a great paced book with the ever changing map of royal plots intertwined with the changes in religion. Master Mercurius is a great character who is dragged into danger when investigating these mysteries. Working for William can become hazardous and Mercurius is a very reluctant participant. Mercurius trying to be a diplomat can certainly raise a smile. This story will be good use of whiling away an afternoon.
I was given an arc of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
April 18, 2021
This is the fifth book in the Master Mercurius series by Graham Brack but the first of his books I have read. This story takes place in 1684 in the Netherlands. Mercurius works at the university in Leiden but is called upon by William of Orange, the Stadhouder to go to Amsterdam to carry out a diplomatic mission for him. Whilst he is there, he hears of an incident involving the disappearance of three young Jewish boys. This incident has been neglected by the mayors of the town so Mercurius undertakes to investigate.
The story is told as a memoir. The character of Mercurius is charming and the story, although relatively short was packed with incident. There was a great sense of the historical setting which was evidently well-researched. The tone was light and humorous and I found it a delight to read.
I received a free review copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for my honest and unedited review.
The story is told as a memoir. The character of Mercurius is charming and the story, although relatively short was packed with incident. There was a great sense of the historical setting which was evidently well-researched. The tone was light and humorous and I found it a delight to read.
I received a free review copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for my honest and unedited review.
April 24, 2021
The Vanishing Children by Graham Brack is another chapter in the adventures of Master Mercurius written by himself in memoir form, this one in 1721, but taking place in 1680. Master Mercurius is an odd man, a lecturer at the university in Leiden, but a closet Roman Catholic priest with a penchant for figuring things out by accident. In this case he's been sent to Amsterdam by William of Orange, the reigning monarch, to ascertain why no taxes have been forthcoming and remedying the situation. As such, despite the tenants of his religion, he is given a carriage, a band of 20 soldiers to accompany him, a manservant, and a jeweled collar to identify him as William's messenger. Once in Amsterdam he was approached about the alleged kidnapping of three young boys from the Jewish quarter. The complaints of their parents having met deaf ears-the same mayors who were not paying taxes.
I found this book a little difficult to get started with, possibly because I haven't read any of the earlier tomes, but it didn't take too long before I had the players sorted and began to enjoy the story. Mercurius is an interesting man with an amazing inner life. His ongoing commentary is extremely entertaining, revealing a man of deep humor, and capable of much critical thought. He is able to be embarrassed by simple things that don't meet with his moral readiness, but a way of encouraging people to open up to him. He is a very interesting character. The matter of the taxes ended up being solved by William, with information supplied him by Mercurius but the kidnappings were solved by him alone in a fete of logic to be admired. This was an interesting book, set in a very interesting time. It contained a mystery perpetrated by one who was severely misguided and contained traces of the phobia against Jews that has been prevalent in Europe for centuries. I recommend it.
I was invited to read a free e-ARC of The Vanishing Children by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #thevanishingchildren
I found this book a little difficult to get started with, possibly because I haven't read any of the earlier tomes, but it didn't take too long before I had the players sorted and began to enjoy the story. Mercurius is an interesting man with an amazing inner life. His ongoing commentary is extremely entertaining, revealing a man of deep humor, and capable of much critical thought. He is able to be embarrassed by simple things that don't meet with his moral readiness, but a way of encouraging people to open up to him. He is a very interesting character. The matter of the taxes ended up being solved by William, with information supplied him by Mercurius but the kidnappings were solved by him alone in a fete of logic to be admired. This was an interesting book, set in a very interesting time. It contained a mystery perpetrated by one who was severely misguided and contained traces of the phobia against Jews that has been prevalent in Europe for centuries. I recommend it.
I was invited to read a free e-ARC of The Vanishing Children by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #thevanishingchildren
April 19, 2021
The Dutch Stadhouder, William of Orange, has summoned Master Mercurius — and that is never good news. Mercurius has gained a reputation for himself with William for successfully undertaking diplomatic missions. And William is now paranoid that his own subjects and the English exiles living in the Netherlands are plotting against him. Mercurius is sent to Amsterdam to gather information, but he soon finds himself caught up in another mystery. Three Jewish boys have vanished, and the local magistrates are doing nothing to investigate their disappearances. Mercurius quickly realises something sinister is going on and promises to unravel the mystery before he has to return to Leiden.
Another engrossing read, this is the fifth in the series, it could easily be read on its own but to fully appreciate it I'd recommend reading the whole series. I love Mercurius & the witty asides, which don’t detract from the mystery. Another very well written book that has a captivating mystery interlaced with historical facts & a main character who is getting more comfortable with his missions
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Another engrossing read, this is the fifth in the series, it could easily be read on its own but to fully appreciate it I'd recommend reading the whole series. I love Mercurius & the witty asides, which don’t detract from the mystery. Another very well written book that has a captivating mystery interlaced with historical facts & a main character who is getting more comfortable with his missions
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
April 22, 2021
‘Mercurius, As you love your country and your Stadhouder, please come at once.’
In this volume of his memoirs, dated 1721, Master Mercurius is now recounting events from 1680. He might have been enjoying his life in Leiden, but once again William of Orange wants his help. William is worried about possible plots against the King of England, and consequences for his country …
‘Where are you going, Mercurius? There’s more.’
… and he wants to raise money to go to war with France. So, he wants Mercurius to go to Amsterdam and meet with its four mayors and convince them to pay their taxes. They have refused, on the basis that war is bad for trade.
Mercurius travels to Amsterdam to meet with the mayors and also to gather information about any plots afoot.
‘However, I am not a moral philosopher for nothing, and one of the tricks of my trade is to harness the power of silence, especially when you have nothing useful to say, so I simply sat and waited for someone else to say something.’
But nothing is ever straightforward, and Mercurius finds himself caught in another mystery. Three Jewish boys have vanished in Amsterdam, and the authorities are doing nothing. Who abducted these boys, and why? Could other children be at risk?
This is another magnificent Master Mercurius mystery. Clever, witty, and full of historical detail. While it could easily be read as a standalone mystery, the series is just a delight. I am now looking forward to the next instalment.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Sapere Books for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
In this volume of his memoirs, dated 1721, Master Mercurius is now recounting events from 1680. He might have been enjoying his life in Leiden, but once again William of Orange wants his help. William is worried about possible plots against the King of England, and consequences for his country …
‘Where are you going, Mercurius? There’s more.’
… and he wants to raise money to go to war with France. So, he wants Mercurius to go to Amsterdam and meet with its four mayors and convince them to pay their taxes. They have refused, on the basis that war is bad for trade.
Mercurius travels to Amsterdam to meet with the mayors and also to gather information about any plots afoot.
‘However, I am not a moral philosopher for nothing, and one of the tricks of my trade is to harness the power of silence, especially when you have nothing useful to say, so I simply sat and waited for someone else to say something.’
But nothing is ever straightforward, and Mercurius finds himself caught in another mystery. Three Jewish boys have vanished in Amsterdam, and the authorities are doing nothing. Who abducted these boys, and why? Could other children be at risk?
This is another magnificent Master Mercurius mystery. Clever, witty, and full of historical detail. While it could easily be read as a standalone mystery, the series is just a delight. I am now looking forward to the next instalment.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Sapere Books for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
June 11, 2021
For some reason the Stadhouder William of Orange believes Master Mercurius is an excellent diplomat and so he asks him to go to Amsterdam and persuade the Mayors of the city that they need to pay taxes. Mercurius does not believe he is a great diplomat but it is not a good idea to refuse the Stadhouder so he goes to Amsterdam. His secondary mission is to find out if there are any plots against the capricious and paranoid William. Whilst there he discovers that three Jewish children have disappeared and he commits to helping that community.
As ever this is a fun and clever outing for Master Mercurius, the ordained Catholic priest and Reformed minister. Here the main setting is Amsterdam in the earlier days of the VOC, as the foundations for the Golden Age are being set. All the plot lines are neatly drawn and tidied up by the end but with a strong degree of political understanding. Here the plight of the Sephardic Jews is juxtaposed with the riches of the merchants and the instability of European politics, a heady mix and beautifully imagined
As ever this is a fun and clever outing for Master Mercurius, the ordained Catholic priest and Reformed minister. Here the main setting is Amsterdam in the earlier days of the VOC, as the foundations for the Golden Age are being set. All the plot lines are neatly drawn and tidied up by the end but with a strong degree of political understanding. Here the plight of the Sephardic Jews is juxtaposed with the riches of the merchants and the instability of European politics, a heady mix and beautifully imagined
May 9, 2021
I am a huge fan of this author and this series. I love the character of Master Mercurius and the clever way he solves the cases he is asked to assist with. I especially like the way he looked into the disappearance of three young boys that the local authorities have ignored. There is a lot of historical background in this series and I always learn a lot while being entertained by these well-researched, witty book. "The Vanishing Children" is another winner in this excellent historical mystery series.
April 20, 2021
The Vanishing Children is the fifth instalment of the Master Mercurius Mysteries, but it is not necessary to have read the proceeding four books in order to read this one. Aside from the occasional passing reference, these are standalone mysteries.
This time, Mercurius is tasked with investigating the disappearance of three Jewish boys in 1680s Amsterdam. It is a captivating, well-researched tale.
Despite the slim page count, Graham Brack packs both plot and character writing into his novel. The plot is fast paced without ever feeling rushed or superficial. With his dry sense of wit, Mercurius is an interesting and likeable narrator and a joy to spend time with.
I look forward to the next book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sapere Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This time, Mercurius is tasked with investigating the disappearance of three Jewish boys in 1680s Amsterdam. It is a captivating, well-researched tale.
Despite the slim page count, Graham Brack packs both plot and character writing into his novel. The plot is fast paced without ever feeling rushed or superficial. With his dry sense of wit, Mercurius is an interesting and likeable narrator and a joy to spend time with.
I look forward to the next book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sapere Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 19, 2021
1680 Master Mercurius has been summoned by William and sent to Amsterdam. As William is convinced that there are plots against him by the English exiles which is compounded by the Dutch merchants refusing to pay their taxes. An uphill mission for Mercurius to solve both problems. But on arrival he discovers that some children have gone missing and no action taken.
An entertaining and well-written historical mystery. Another good addition to the series with its likeable and interesting main character.
An entertaining and well-written historical mystery. Another good addition to the series with its likeable and interesting main character.
July 15, 2021
Great series
I thoroughly enjoyed this series and look forward to a sixth novel. Mercurius is a unique character with fantastic wit.
I thoroughly enjoyed this series and look forward to a sixth novel. Mercurius is a unique character with fantastic wit.
September 27, 2021
I enjoy a good murder mystery, and Graham Brack hits the spot by providing good entertainment in the persona of Master Mercurius – although this, the fifth in the series, is more mystery than murder. In addition to a good plot, we have humour, excellent location description (I am convinced that Mr Brack possesses a time machine), believable characters and excellent writing.
Using factual events of the late 1600s in The Netherlands and England – nearing the end of Charles II’s reign and the approaching coronation of James II and the Monmouth Rebellion - Brack has woven a mystery to be solved when three very young boys go missing from the Jewish quarter of Amsterdam. He is tasked with sorting all this out, plus there are some pompous Burghers who do not want to pay their due taxes, a suspicious Catholic priest, a rather likeable, if dutiful, cavalry officer, a servant, and a posh carriage. Add in some political machinations, which are beyond our hero’s comprehension, and you have a darn good tale.
Told first person by Master M himself, and written as if he is dictating his memoirs, the style is absorbing and frequently amusing – especially with his asides to his notes. I can guarantee a smile while reading. Our sleuth is a reluctant investigator and usually only manages to stumble on the right path by accident, while all he wants to do is pursue a quiet life at his Leiden University and be left alone to read. To his annoyance William of Orange tends to make a habit of scuppering his plans.
I have read all the books in the series, but they do not have to be read in order, although for the best enjoyment, I would suggest you start at the beginning, Death In Delft.
Originally Reviewed for Discovering Diamonds
Using factual events of the late 1600s in The Netherlands and England – nearing the end of Charles II’s reign and the approaching coronation of James II and the Monmouth Rebellion - Brack has woven a mystery to be solved when three very young boys go missing from the Jewish quarter of Amsterdam. He is tasked with sorting all this out, plus there are some pompous Burghers who do not want to pay their due taxes, a suspicious Catholic priest, a rather likeable, if dutiful, cavalry officer, a servant, and a posh carriage. Add in some political machinations, which are beyond our hero’s comprehension, and you have a darn good tale.
Told first person by Master M himself, and written as if he is dictating his memoirs, the style is absorbing and frequently amusing – especially with his asides to his notes. I can guarantee a smile while reading. Our sleuth is a reluctant investigator and usually only manages to stumble on the right path by accident, while all he wants to do is pursue a quiet life at his Leiden University and be left alone to read. To his annoyance William of Orange tends to make a habit of scuppering his plans.
I have read all the books in the series, but they do not have to be read in order, although for the best enjoyment, I would suggest you start at the beginning, Death In Delft.
Originally Reviewed for Discovering Diamonds
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