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Master Mercurius Mysteries #4
The Noose's Shadow
It’s another complicated mystery for Master Mercurius to solve! Perfect for fans of Andrew Taylor, C J Sansom, S J Parris and Ken Follett.
A man who nobody liked has been murdered … but who had a motive to kill? After a successful trip to England to secure the Princess Mary’s hand in marriage to William of Orange, Master Mercurius is back at the University of Leiden.
And once more, he finds himself embroiled in a local mystery.
A farmer named Wolf was stabbed to death outside his home, and his neighbour Jaco has been arrested for the murder.
But Jaco’s wife Sara is convinced her husband is innocent, and Mercurius believes her.
As Mercurius gathers the facts, it soon becomes clear that Wolf was a deeply unpopular man. But is that enough of a motive for murder?
With the shadow of the noose looming over Jaco, Mercurius is running out of time to catch the killer and stop an innocent man from hanging in his stead.
The Noose’s Shadow is the fourth historical murder investigation in the Master Mercurius Mystery atmospheric crime thrillers set in seventeenth-century Europe.
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
A man who nobody liked has been murdered … but who had a motive to kill? After a successful trip to England to secure the Princess Mary’s hand in marriage to William of Orange, Master Mercurius is back at the University of Leiden.
And once more, he finds himself embroiled in a local mystery.
A farmer named Wolf was stabbed to death outside his home, and his neighbour Jaco has been arrested for the murder.
But Jaco’s wife Sara is convinced her husband is innocent, and Mercurius believes her.
As Mercurius gathers the facts, it soon becomes clear that Wolf was a deeply unpopular man. But is that enough of a motive for murder?
With the shadow of the noose looming over Jaco, Mercurius is running out of time to catch the killer and stop an innocent man from hanging in his stead.
The Noose’s Shadow is the fourth historical murder investigation in the Master Mercurius Mystery atmospheric crime thrillers set in seventeenth-century Europe.
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
220 pages, Paperback
Published December 9, 2020
249 people are currently reading
140 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 75 reviews
November 28, 2020
4.5★
“‘Have you found his killer, Mercurius?’
‘Not exactly.’
‘This is a university, Mercurius. We deal in precision. The plausible answers are yes and no.’
‘I’m a lecturer in the Faculty of Theology, Rector. “Not exactly” is common parlance there.’
Another delightful adventure with our good, 17th century Dutch minister/priest, who was a lecturer at the University of Leiden and is now a memoirist. Mercurius is in his 80s, dictating his memoirs to his clerk, to whom he occasionally refers in brief asides throughout. It reminds us that these are tales from his youth, this one in William and Mary’s Dutch Republic of 1680 when he is forty-one. I’ll give you part of his introduction.
“Now and again, well-meaning readers take the trouble to tell me that I have erred in my recollection because such and such a building had fallen down by the time I describe, or I’ve got the name of somebody’s wife wrong. To which I ask how they know that? Surely because they have read somebody else’s recollection which is just as likely to be faulty as mine, if not more so, because I have an excellent memory. Bear in mind also that I may have changed one or two things to protect those I knew who are still alive, if any of them are, which I doubt. Anyway, these are my memoirs. If you don’t like them, write your own.
- - - Leiden, St Tiburtius’ Day, 1720.”
Mercurius is settling down by the fire after dinner when a young woman comes to the University asking for him. She is poorly dressed for the weather, obviously terrified, and begs him for help, saying her husband is going to be hanged for murder. She had heard about his success in Delft, solving the mystery of missing girls. She is beside herself, attractive and vulnerable – all things which pull the rug out from under our gentle, celibate cleric.
He escorts her through the stormy night back to her village, outside the city gates, and has to stay the night, sleeping chastely on the floor, of course. In the morning, he wanders outside to give her privacy to dress.
“. . . but eventually Sara pushed open the door and invited me back in. ‘You are very considerate, Master,’ she smiled. Why did God give women dimples? I am very susceptible to dimples. A happy young woman is the most glorious thing and I —
Mercurius! Remember what you are about!”
He has such a soft spot for women, and of course nobody knows he’s a Catholic priest. His temptations and the families who are seeking a worthy suitor for their daughter always make for some entertaining reading, as he tries awkwardly to fend them off without letting them suspect he is not just a lonely protestant bachelor.
The main story, of course, is the accusation against Sara’s husband, the many witnesses who saw his arguments with the victim, and the strong circumstantial evidence. The mayor offers him an assistant who proves a good sounding board for Mercurius. The case is looking pretty bad, and Mercurius begins to question his own motives. Is he trying to prove Jaco is innocent in order to impress a woman he’s attracted to? Or worse, is he secretly imagining she might become an eligible widow?!
“I was attracted to Sara, but she was another man’s wife, and I am not such a villain as to take advantage of the situation to tempt her astray. Wherever ‘astray’ is, which I am not too sure about.”
There is no shortage of possible suspects, since everyone who knew Wolf, the victim, wanted to congratulate the killer! No loss to society, it seems. Mercurius is thorough with his questioning, and I did begin to see where he might be going but not how or why, so I was pleased to see his conclusions.
This is a most enjoyable series with a lot of local colour, a wonderful feeling of place and the times, and the sense that this could well have been a small, undiscovered true story.
Thanks to Sapere Books for the preview copy for which I have waited impatiently. I have reviewed the earlier books in the series, beginning with Death in Delft, which I reviewed here:
Link to my Death in Delft review
While I'm on the subject, I'm also waiting for the next mystery in the author’s Josef Slonský contemporary series based in Prague, with excellent stories, characters, and his trademark humour. Here’s my review of the first of those, Lying and Dying:
Link to my Lying and Dying review
“‘Have you found his killer, Mercurius?’
‘Not exactly.’
‘This is a university, Mercurius. We deal in precision. The plausible answers are yes and no.’
‘I’m a lecturer in the Faculty of Theology, Rector. “Not exactly” is common parlance there.’
Another delightful adventure with our good, 17th century Dutch minister/priest, who was a lecturer at the University of Leiden and is now a memoirist. Mercurius is in his 80s, dictating his memoirs to his clerk, to whom he occasionally refers in brief asides throughout. It reminds us that these are tales from his youth, this one in William and Mary’s Dutch Republic of 1680 when he is forty-one. I’ll give you part of his introduction.
“Now and again, well-meaning readers take the trouble to tell me that I have erred in my recollection because such and such a building had fallen down by the time I describe, or I’ve got the name of somebody’s wife wrong. To which I ask how they know that? Surely because they have read somebody else’s recollection which is just as likely to be faulty as mine, if not more so, because I have an excellent memory. Bear in mind also that I may have changed one or two things to protect those I knew who are still alive, if any of them are, which I doubt. Anyway, these are my memoirs. If you don’t like them, write your own.
- - - Leiden, St Tiburtius’ Day, 1720.”
Mercurius is settling down by the fire after dinner when a young woman comes to the University asking for him. She is poorly dressed for the weather, obviously terrified, and begs him for help, saying her husband is going to be hanged for murder. She had heard about his success in Delft, solving the mystery of missing girls. She is beside herself, attractive and vulnerable – all things which pull the rug out from under our gentle, celibate cleric.
He escorts her through the stormy night back to her village, outside the city gates, and has to stay the night, sleeping chastely on the floor, of course. In the morning, he wanders outside to give her privacy to dress.
“. . . but eventually Sara pushed open the door and invited me back in. ‘You are very considerate, Master,’ she smiled. Why did God give women dimples? I am very susceptible to dimples. A happy young woman is the most glorious thing and I —
Mercurius! Remember what you are about!”
He has such a soft spot for women, and of course nobody knows he’s a Catholic priest. His temptations and the families who are seeking a worthy suitor for their daughter always make for some entertaining reading, as he tries awkwardly to fend them off without letting them suspect he is not just a lonely protestant bachelor.
The main story, of course, is the accusation against Sara’s husband, the many witnesses who saw his arguments with the victim, and the strong circumstantial evidence. The mayor offers him an assistant who proves a good sounding board for Mercurius. The case is looking pretty bad, and Mercurius begins to question his own motives. Is he trying to prove Jaco is innocent in order to impress a woman he’s attracted to? Or worse, is he secretly imagining she might become an eligible widow?!
“I was attracted to Sara, but she was another man’s wife, and I am not such a villain as to take advantage of the situation to tempt her astray. Wherever ‘astray’ is, which I am not too sure about.”
There is no shortage of possible suspects, since everyone who knew Wolf, the victim, wanted to congratulate the killer! No loss to society, it seems. Mercurius is thorough with his questioning, and I did begin to see where he might be going but not how or why, so I was pleased to see his conclusions.
This is a most enjoyable series with a lot of local colour, a wonderful feeling of place and the times, and the sense that this could well have been a small, undiscovered true story.
Thanks to Sapere Books for the preview copy for which I have waited impatiently. I have reviewed the earlier books in the series, beginning with Death in Delft, which I reviewed here:
Link to my Death in Delft review
While I'm on the subject, I'm also waiting for the next mystery in the author’s Josef Slonský contemporary series based in Prague, with excellent stories, characters, and his trademark humour. Here’s my review of the first of those, Lying and Dying:
Link to my Lying and Dying review
December 6, 2020
Anyone that enjoys historical mysteries would be hard pressed to find a better series than Graham Brack’s Master Mercurius series. This is the fourth book and it is just as entertaining as its predecessors.
Mercurius is both Protestant minister and Catholic priest. He also has previously been tasked with helping solve various investigations for Stadhouder William of Orange. This time, he’s investigating a murder. No royalty involved this time, just plain old farm folk.
There is a lot of humor here. Mercurius has a wicked wit that he shares with the reader. Also, as a theologian, he occasionally engages in religious discourse, such as the belief in free will vs. predestination. I enjoy these little asides and feel they greatly add to the story and our understanding of Mercurius.
It was fairly obvious to me who the murderer was from early on, but that didn’t dampen my enjoyment of the book.
While part of a series, this can easily be read as a stand alone.
My thanks to netgalley and Sapere Books for an advance copy of this book.
Mercurius is both Protestant minister and Catholic priest. He also has previously been tasked with helping solve various investigations for Stadhouder William of Orange. This time, he’s investigating a murder. No royalty involved this time, just plain old farm folk.
There is a lot of humor here. Mercurius has a wicked wit that he shares with the reader. Also, as a theologian, he occasionally engages in religious discourse, such as the belief in free will vs. predestination. I enjoy these little asides and feel they greatly add to the story and our understanding of Mercurius.
It was fairly obvious to me who the murderer was from early on, but that didn’t dampen my enjoyment of the book.
While part of a series, this can easily be read as a stand alone.
My thanks to netgalley and Sapere Books for an advance copy of this book.
December 3, 2020
Another wonderful book from Graham Brack in which our intrepid hero investigates a murder, meets not one but two beautiful women, and dreams about breaking his vow of celibacy. Will he or won't he? You must read it to find out.
In The Noose's Shadow Master Mercurius is back in his University after his successful visit to England. When he is requested to help a man who may have been wrongly arrested for committing a murder he leaps straight in. I am pretty sure by now that he prefers detective work to lecturing university students of whom he has a rather low opinion.
As usual the historical background is fascinating, the mystery intriguing and the humour deft and dry. A real pleasure to read and I am hoping for more books in this series!
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.
In The Noose's Shadow Master Mercurius is back in his University after his successful visit to England. When he is requested to help a man who may have been wrongly arrested for committing a murder he leaps straight in. I am pretty sure by now that he prefers detective work to lecturing university students of whom he has a rather low opinion.
As usual the historical background is fascinating, the mystery intriguing and the humour deft and dry. A real pleasure to read and I am hoping for more books in this series!
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.
December 1, 2020
Graham Brack’s Master Mercurius historical mystery series has the unusual setting of seventeenth century Netherlands. Mercurius is an unusual man himself. A Protestant minister, as required for his post in the Faculty of Theology at the University of Leiden, he has also been secretly ordained as a Catholic priest and consequently must remain unwed (difficult to do when he is such an eligible bridegroom). Through his skill as an investigator he has come to the attention of William of Orange, serving as a member of the delegation to London to secure Princess Mary's hand in marriage. Now retired, he is continuing to write his memoirs with the aid of his clerk.
In this fourth episode, Mercurius is recounting an investigation he undertook after a personal appeal from a young woman. Her husband, Jaco Zwart has been accused of murdering their neighbour and will be hung within days if the real culprit is not found. Mercurius quickly discovers that the murdered man, Franciscus Wolf is disliked by everyone due to his drunkenness, laziness and the abuse of his wife that caused her death. Wolf has made himself unpopular by allowing his pig to wander where it will, plundering vegetable plots badly needed by his neighbours to feed their families. Unfortunately Jaco was observed having a heated argument with Wolf after returning the pig from once such incursion into his gardene. Shortly after Wolf was found dead by his son Joost, having bled to death from a stab wound to his heart, with Jaco the last to have been seen with him.
At first glance, Mercurius has his work cut out proving Jaco’s innocence and saving him from the noose. Everyone he talks to disliked Wolf and either saw and heard nothing or witnessed Jaco arguing with him. Fortunately Mercurius is a patient man and uses logic and common sense to niggle away at the puzzle until he eventually sees the only possible solution that can explain what happened.
This series will appeal to those who enjoy historical mysteries based on real historical facts and figures. There is a very good sense of time and place in the setting with evocative descriptions of village and town life in this era. Much of the travel is on foot or by canal boat between towns and the effect of the often inclement or freezing weather is strongly felt. Mercurius has a wicked sense of humour and his commentary on the abysmal cooking at his college, his trials with horse riding and the efforts of parents with marriageable daughters in attempting to snare him as a son in law, all add up to an enjoyable read with an intriguing plot. 4.5★
With thanks to Sapere Books and Netgalley for a copy to read.
In this fourth episode, Mercurius is recounting an investigation he undertook after a personal appeal from a young woman. Her husband, Jaco Zwart has been accused of murdering their neighbour and will be hung within days if the real culprit is not found. Mercurius quickly discovers that the murdered man, Franciscus Wolf is disliked by everyone due to his drunkenness, laziness and the abuse of his wife that caused her death. Wolf has made himself unpopular by allowing his pig to wander where it will, plundering vegetable plots badly needed by his neighbours to feed their families. Unfortunately Jaco was observed having a heated argument with Wolf after returning the pig from once such incursion into his gardene. Shortly after Wolf was found dead by his son Joost, having bled to death from a stab wound to his heart, with Jaco the last to have been seen with him.
At first glance, Mercurius has his work cut out proving Jaco’s innocence and saving him from the noose. Everyone he talks to disliked Wolf and either saw and heard nothing or witnessed Jaco arguing with him. Fortunately Mercurius is a patient man and uses logic and common sense to niggle away at the puzzle until he eventually sees the only possible solution that can explain what happened.
This series will appeal to those who enjoy historical mysteries based on real historical facts and figures. There is a very good sense of time and place in the setting with evocative descriptions of village and town life in this era. Much of the travel is on foot or by canal boat between towns and the effect of the often inclement or freezing weather is strongly felt. Mercurius has a wicked sense of humour and his commentary on the abysmal cooking at his college, his trials with horse riding and the efforts of parents with marriageable daughters in attempting to snare him as a son in law, all add up to an enjoyable read with an intriguing plot. 4.5★
With thanks to Sapere Books and Netgalley for a copy to read.
February 24, 2021
Master Mercurius is called upon by a farmer's wife from Oegstgeest to rescue her innocent husband from the gallows. Another enjoyable book in the series.
December 7, 2020
The fourth installment in the Master Mercurius series, after his previous outing to England to arrange the marriage of Princess Mary to William Of Orange, we now find him back home in the University of Leiden and embroiled in a local mystery.
A farmer in a local town has been stabbed to death and his neighbour has been arrested for the murder and is due to hanged if found guilty. The accuseds wife is convinced he is innocent and visits Mercurius at the university pleading with him to help her husband.
Mercurius agrees and sets off to investigate and gather facts. As he talks to the neighbours and towns people he soon learns that the murdered farmer was a very unpopular person and many had reason to murder him but the question is, who did and can Mercurius find out before the accused faces the hang mans noose?
This is another great addition to this historical series set in 17th century Holland. Mercurius as ever is great fun to spend time with. A man of god with plenty of faults and a wicket dry sense of humour, he is one of a great cast of characters here in this local story.
The murderer I had copped fairly early on but that in no way diminishes the story or the enjoyment of it. The fun to be had here is the journey and the read. A world that is odd and familiar at the same time.
Highly recommended as is the whole series.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Sapere Books for an ARC.
A farmer in a local town has been stabbed to death and his neighbour has been arrested for the murder and is due to hanged if found guilty. The accuseds wife is convinced he is innocent and visits Mercurius at the university pleading with him to help her husband.
Mercurius agrees and sets off to investigate and gather facts. As he talks to the neighbours and towns people he soon learns that the murdered farmer was a very unpopular person and many had reason to murder him but the question is, who did and can Mercurius find out before the accused faces the hang mans noose?
This is another great addition to this historical series set in 17th century Holland. Mercurius as ever is great fun to spend time with. A man of god with plenty of faults and a wicket dry sense of humour, he is one of a great cast of characters here in this local story.
The murderer I had copped fairly early on but that in no way diminishes the story or the enjoyment of it. The fun to be had here is the journey and the read. A world that is odd and familiar at the same time.
Highly recommended as is the whole series.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Sapere Books for an ARC.
November 30, 2020
“‘A man has been murdered in Oegstgeest. His neighbour has been arrested and taken away, and his wife has asked me to prove his innocence.’
Hop nodded. ‘Is she attractive?’
‘What’s that got to do with it?’
‘I just wondered how she got you to work for nothing.’
‘I’ll have you know this is an act of Christian charity,’ I protested.”
The Noose’s Shadow is the fourth book in the Master Mercurius Mysteries series by British author, Graham Brack. On a cold January night in 1680, Mercurius finds he has promised an attractive young wife from a nearby village that he will save her husband from the noose.
Following advice from a colleague in the Faculty of Law, Mercurius cleverly gains the co-operation of the village Mayor, and prepares to question the accused, one Jacobus Zwart:
“‘Has he confessed?’
‘Well, no, not exactly. Not yet. But he will’” (once sufficient torture has been applied...) Mercurius needs to act quickly, so he is grateful to have the enthusiastic assistance of the clerk, and his own Rector, a French physician, to examine the victim’s body, once they get it through the Leiden City Gates:
“‘We’re taking him to the surgeon,’ I said.
‘It’s a bit late for that, don’t you think?’ said the guard. ‘I’m not a medical man, but he looks dead to me.’”
Having established the cause of death (a large knife), Mercurius, introduced by the clerk, makes enquiries of the close neighbours of the victim and the accused, and finds that all of them relate virtually the same version of events. He learns that the victim, Franciscus Wolf “had a wonderful gift for falling out with people and blaming them” and comments “It sounds like a large number of people here had a reason to kill Wolf” including the members of his late wife’s family.
Days later, Mercurius admits to the Rector that he is still at a loss:
“‘Mercurius,’ he asked, ‘have you any idea what you’re doing?’
‘I am improvising furiously,’ I admitted”, until he finally realises that his approach may have been faulty and he needs to reconsider “motive, means and opportunity”, applying the principles of apophatic theology.
Amid a wealth of historical tidbits, Brack once again gives the reader an excellent helping of historical crime fiction. Mercurius is such a likeable character: no stuffy religious type, but self-deprecating, down to earth and possessed of a genuinely good heart. Brack gives him plenty of humorous digressions and insightful asides, as well as wise words for those that need them. He also inflicts on him cold, wet weather, a night on a floor and a hangover.
And Brack does keep testing his protagonist’s vow of chastity by throwing pretty young women in his path, often with fathers who consider him a suitable match for their daughter, unaware that he is an ordained Catholic priest. Sometimes there are even cushy country parishes attached. And Mercurius is certainly tempted: “Why did God give women dimples? I am very susceptible to dimples.” More Mercurius memoirs will definitely be welcome!
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Sapere Books (but I also purchased a copy!)
Hop nodded. ‘Is she attractive?’
‘What’s that got to do with it?’
‘I just wondered how she got you to work for nothing.’
‘I’ll have you know this is an act of Christian charity,’ I protested.”
The Noose’s Shadow is the fourth book in the Master Mercurius Mysteries series by British author, Graham Brack. On a cold January night in 1680, Mercurius finds he has promised an attractive young wife from a nearby village that he will save her husband from the noose.
Following advice from a colleague in the Faculty of Law, Mercurius cleverly gains the co-operation of the village Mayor, and prepares to question the accused, one Jacobus Zwart:
“‘Has he confessed?’
‘Well, no, not exactly. Not yet. But he will’” (once sufficient torture has been applied...) Mercurius needs to act quickly, so he is grateful to have the enthusiastic assistance of the clerk, and his own Rector, a French physician, to examine the victim’s body, once they get it through the Leiden City Gates:
“‘We’re taking him to the surgeon,’ I said.
‘It’s a bit late for that, don’t you think?’ said the guard. ‘I’m not a medical man, but he looks dead to me.’”
Having established the cause of death (a large knife), Mercurius, introduced by the clerk, makes enquiries of the close neighbours of the victim and the accused, and finds that all of them relate virtually the same version of events. He learns that the victim, Franciscus Wolf “had a wonderful gift for falling out with people and blaming them” and comments “It sounds like a large number of people here had a reason to kill Wolf” including the members of his late wife’s family.
Days later, Mercurius admits to the Rector that he is still at a loss:
“‘Mercurius,’ he asked, ‘have you any idea what you’re doing?’
‘I am improvising furiously,’ I admitted”, until he finally realises that his approach may have been faulty and he needs to reconsider “motive, means and opportunity”, applying the principles of apophatic theology.
Amid a wealth of historical tidbits, Brack once again gives the reader an excellent helping of historical crime fiction. Mercurius is such a likeable character: no stuffy religious type, but self-deprecating, down to earth and possessed of a genuinely good heart. Brack gives him plenty of humorous digressions and insightful asides, as well as wise words for those that need them. He also inflicts on him cold, wet weather, a night on a floor and a hangover.
And Brack does keep testing his protagonist’s vow of chastity by throwing pretty young women in his path, often with fathers who consider him a suitable match for their daughter, unaware that he is an ordained Catholic priest. Sometimes there are even cushy country parishes attached. And Mercurius is certainly tempted: “Why did God give women dimples? I am very susceptible to dimples.” More Mercurius memoirs will definitely be welcome!
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Sapere Books (but I also purchased a copy!)
December 22, 2020
In this fourth story with Master Mercurius it’s January 1680 and cold, very cold. Sara Zwart is a young mother who asks Mercurius to help her. Her husband Jaco is been accused of murdering his neighbour Wolf and he will be hanged soon.
Mercurius cannot refuse helping Sara, not in the last place because she is very attractive. Of course he is bound by his vow to celibacy, and she is a married woman, but he is after all a man… Anyway, Mercurius and Sara leave for Oegstgeest, and the days following are spend with a lot of walking and talking. Walking, because Mercurius needs to visit all neighbours and talking, because he needs to get to the bottom of what happened. Het gets some help in the person of Boudewijn, the major’s clerk.
Although the mystery in this story is very real – but not very hard to solve if you pay attention – it is the many, many interesting facts that are presented here that make the book worthwhile. Not that the facts are presented in the form of lectures, no, we see the world through Mercurius’ eyes and are guided by what he thinks. Mercurius always thought that farmers were happy people, working hard but living very nicely off the land. He is sometimes shocked when he learns the truth: famers are very, very poor, with a very thin line between having enough food for the family and having not enough because they have to sell the food they grow because they need money too. And of course there are numerous times when Mercurius has to make difficult decisions because his faith(s) demand him to do or say things – or do or say nothing!
I’m a big, big fan of Master Mercurius; there is so much to find in his stories. I love the writing style and the witty dialogues. It’s also good to mention that Graham Brack uses a lot of Dutch words and he does this without making any mistakes. You can even follow the travels of Mercurius by looking at Google maps.
Looking forward to the next book already!
A small note on the Plague House in Oegstgeest, where Sara Zwart comes from. At the time of this story, in 1680, the Plague House was indeed standing on part of the land that was then Oegstgeest. Now it is almost in the middle of Leiden, and Oegstgeest is a village nearby. The Plague House never served as a plague house, and lately it was part of the famous museum Naturalis. Sadly, this year it was bought by a group of investors from Amsterdam, who are planning ‘rebuild’ it (I would say ‘destroy’ it) into apartments, with a food hall, some other café’s and a small part dedicated to ‘art’. Master Mercurius would probably not like it 😉.
Mercurius cannot refuse helping Sara, not in the last place because she is very attractive. Of course he is bound by his vow to celibacy, and she is a married woman, but he is after all a man… Anyway, Mercurius and Sara leave for Oegstgeest, and the days following are spend with a lot of walking and talking. Walking, because Mercurius needs to visit all neighbours and talking, because he needs to get to the bottom of what happened. Het gets some help in the person of Boudewijn, the major’s clerk.
Although the mystery in this story is very real – but not very hard to solve if you pay attention – it is the many, many interesting facts that are presented here that make the book worthwhile. Not that the facts are presented in the form of lectures, no, we see the world through Mercurius’ eyes and are guided by what he thinks. Mercurius always thought that farmers were happy people, working hard but living very nicely off the land. He is sometimes shocked when he learns the truth: famers are very, very poor, with a very thin line between having enough food for the family and having not enough because they have to sell the food they grow because they need money too. And of course there are numerous times when Mercurius has to make difficult decisions because his faith(s) demand him to do or say things – or do or say nothing!
I’m a big, big fan of Master Mercurius; there is so much to find in his stories. I love the writing style and the witty dialogues. It’s also good to mention that Graham Brack uses a lot of Dutch words and he does this without making any mistakes. You can even follow the travels of Mercurius by looking at Google maps.
Looking forward to the next book already!
A small note on the Plague House in Oegstgeest, where Sara Zwart comes from. At the time of this story, in 1680, the Plague House was indeed standing on part of the land that was then Oegstgeest. Now it is almost in the middle of Leiden, and Oegstgeest is a village nearby. The Plague House never served as a plague house, and lately it was part of the famous museum Naturalis. Sadly, this year it was bought by a group of investors from Amsterdam, who are planning ‘rebuild’ it (I would say ‘destroy’ it) into apartments, with a food hall, some other café’s and a small part dedicated to ‘art’. Master Mercurius would probably not like it 😉.
December 22, 2020
This story is set in Leiden (Verenigde Provincieën or the Dutch Republic) in 1680.
Mercurius is an undercover Roman Catholic priest, posing as a Calvinist minister and a lecturer at the faculty of theology. In a previous book, he was of service to the Stadhouder William of Orange and he still possesses a letter from him that says to give all assistance to the bearer. A letter that proves very useful in this story.
One night, Mercurius is called upon by a woman from the village Oestgeest whose husband is arrested for the murder of his neighbour. She’s adamant that her husband is innocent but shortly before the murder he was observed quarrelling with the victim. With the letter from the Stadhouder, Mercurius starts an investigation and aided by Boudewijn, the mayor’s clerk, he interrogates all the neighbours. The dead man was despised by all, not only for his unruly pig or his rudeness but also because he openly abused his now-deceased wife. All the neighbours appear to be god-fearing, good Calvinists and tell the same story. Nobody but the victim’s son thinks that the accused is a violent man but with no other clear suspects; he may well face the noose if Mercurius cannot solve this case.
My GR friend Ingrid pointed me to this series and I thank her for this pleasant new discovery. It’s the 4th book in the series but works just as well as a standalone.
I’m not really familiar with Leiden myself. It is home to the oldest Dutch university. It was renowned from the start and is still famous today. The Pesthuis, another institution mentioned in the book is better known to me as it housed a squatter’s community in the 1990s where I had some friends. The villages that are mentioned in the book, also still exist in name but the farmlands has changed into suburbs
The author has done a great deal of research on daily life in the 17th century, and there are several observations on farming, religion, and marriage that are new to me. In the first place, the differences between Catholic and Calvinist doctrines were a lot greater than I imagined. In school, we are told the general outlines of the dispute and schism, but the rigidness and small-mindedness of many beliefs and dogma’s are new. Phew, I’m happy to be born on this side of the border and in this day and age and raised a Catholic (as most Flemish people). If you think that the Puritans are a stiff and rigid bunch, think again and meet the Calvinists! Even today, there are some remote communities where things like sports on Sundays are frowned upon.
As a catholic priest, Mercurius is sworn to celibacy but as a warm-blooded young man, he’s certainly not impartial to female charms. The wife seeking help for her husband is attractive and the mayor’s daughter also makes an impression. The latter seems to like him as well but has her eye cast elsewhere.
The story progresses in the best of Agatha Christie traditions where the investigator interviews all the witnesses and neighbours of the victim and of the accused and looks for discrepancies or holes in the stories. I had 1 suspect from the start but started to doubt during the investigation. I won’t tell if I was right or not, but the solution is rather simple.
The writing is very clear and time appropriate. The use of Dutch words brings authenticity as well. At first, it was a bit strange to read an English language book that’s set in the Netherlands. The author uses appropriate Dutch terms for several words and expressions. I do wonder though how English speakers will pronounce words like Oestgeest or Koudevoet.
I thank Netgalley and Sapere Books for the free ARC they provided and this is my honest, unbiased review of it.
January 9, 2023
This is number 4 in the series about Master Mercurius, a 17th century Dutch minister (and secret Roman Catholic priest), who was a lecturer at the University of Leiden and is now dictating his memoirs to a clerk to whom he makes wry asides. Mercurius recalls another of his crime solving cases, this one dating from 1680 when he was forty-one. He became involved when the distraught wife of a man arrested for murder arrived at the University. The victim was a thoroughly unpleasant man, suspected of causing his wife's death through beatings, and who quarrelled with everyone in the farming neighbourhood outside Leiden where he lived, so there is no lack of motive but only the arrested man seemed to have had the opportunity.
I did (correctly) suspect a certain person which isn't always the case with these stories. A remark was made partway through which steered me in that direction. But I still enjoyed the story and Mercurius' plight when the mayor and his wife, who offer Mercurius the hospitality of their home for a couple of nights during the week or so he spends solving the crime, try to steer him towards their daughter who is eighteen and of suitable marriageable age. This isn't the first time such a thing has happened when Mercurius is working on a case: as a Protestant minister and university lecturer in Theology, he is seen as more of a 'catch' than the farm labourers and others in the vicinity. They are keen also that he might take on the role of local minister since the present incumbent is planning to leave to become a missionary - again, not the first time that a community has been hoping to snare Mercurius to act in that capacity. Part of the wry comedy is that, however attracted Mercurius might be to the woman in question - and this time also to the wife of the arrested man - apart from any other impediments, his secret identity as a Catholic priest means he must remain celibate. As he is socially awkward at times, he usually ends up digging himself deeper into a hole when he tries to get out of such situations.
I found this an enjoyable read and am awarding it 4 stars.
I did (correctly) suspect a certain person which isn't always the case with these stories. A remark was made partway through which steered me in that direction. But I still enjoyed the story and Mercurius' plight when the mayor and his wife, who offer Mercurius the hospitality of their home for a couple of nights during the week or so he spends solving the crime, try to steer him towards their daughter who is eighteen and of suitable marriageable age. This isn't the first time such a thing has happened when Mercurius is working on a case: as a Protestant minister and university lecturer in Theology, he is seen as more of a 'catch' than the farm labourers and others in the vicinity. They are keen also that he might take on the role of local minister since the present incumbent is planning to leave to become a missionary - again, not the first time that a community has been hoping to snare Mercurius to act in that capacity. Part of the wry comedy is that, however attracted Mercurius might be to the woman in question - and this time also to the wife of the arrested man - apart from any other impediments, his secret identity as a Catholic priest means he must remain celibate. As he is socially awkward at times, he usually ends up digging himself deeper into a hole when he tries to get out of such situations.
I found this an enjoyable read and am awarding it 4 stars.
December 8, 2020
The year is 1680 and Master Mercurius is part of the Theology faculty at the University of Leiden. He is a Protestant minister and is also secretly a Catholic priest. He has the reputation of being able to solve crimes, so a young woman comes to him for help when her husband Jaco is arrested and about to be hanged for a murder he didn’t commit. Mercurius agrees to look into the murder and find plenty of people who caould have had a motive to murder the upleasant Franciscus Wolf, but but becomes worried when Jaco Zwart seems to be the only one with the opportunity to commit the crime.
This is the fourth book in the Master Mercurius series. The last two books found Mercurius assisting Stadhouder William of Orange. In an author’s note, Brack says it was time for Mercurius to return to helping ordinary people like he did in the first book of the series. Although I enjoyed the history behind the last two books, I agree with Brack and really became engaged in this story and getting a look at everyday life during this time period in Holland. Mercurius is clever and intelligent, but somewhat naive and the sometimes awkward situations he finds himself in (like the mayor in the town he is investigating trying to fix him up with his beautiful young daughter) are uncomfortable for Mercurius but entertaining for the reader.
Like the other books in this series, The Noose’s Shadow is full of interesting, memorable characters. I love the Mercurius is able to deduce the solution to the murder. Although the book takes place in the 17th century, Mercurius is a witty and relatable character. When he is able to solve the crime, it says a lot about his character that his success in getting justice for the victim is bittersweet to him because of the circumstances of the murder and the fate awaiting the murderer. This book is my favorite in the series so far and I highly recommend it and the entire series.
I received this ebook from NetGalley through the courtesy of Sapere Books. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.
This is the fourth book in the Master Mercurius series. The last two books found Mercurius assisting Stadhouder William of Orange. In an author’s note, Brack says it was time for Mercurius to return to helping ordinary people like he did in the first book of the series. Although I enjoyed the history behind the last two books, I agree with Brack and really became engaged in this story and getting a look at everyday life during this time period in Holland. Mercurius is clever and intelligent, but somewhat naive and the sometimes awkward situations he finds himself in (like the mayor in the town he is investigating trying to fix him up with his beautiful young daughter) are uncomfortable for Mercurius but entertaining for the reader.
Like the other books in this series, The Noose’s Shadow is full of interesting, memorable characters. I love the Mercurius is able to deduce the solution to the murder. Although the book takes place in the 17th century, Mercurius is a witty and relatable character. When he is able to solve the crime, it says a lot about his character that his success in getting justice for the victim is bittersweet to him because of the circumstances of the murder and the fate awaiting the murderer. This book is my favorite in the series so far and I highly recommend it and the entire series.
I received this ebook from NetGalley through the courtesy of Sapere Books. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.
December 10, 2020
This is yet another delightful episode as we follow a new assignment for Master Mercurius in the nearby town of Oegstgeest, about an hour's walk from Leiden. Our robed friend is poignantly requested to save the life of a beloved husband by a female Mercurius couldn't possibly turn down. The effort will include many trips back and forth although he is offered shelter in the mayor's home several nights during his investigation. From the beginning it is clear (to me, at least) who the real murderer was, but the beloved husband is held in chains for the duration of the investigation.
I always enjoy the theological debates that Mercurius engages in as he expresses his thoughts to the reader. It is also fairly amusing to listen in to his cogitations about his attraction to females that are forbidden thoughts for the celibate priest that he is.
Eventually Mercurius gets there in the end with the help of apophatic theology! He does have some interesting interchanges with a horse provided to him by the mayor who is looking for a son-in-law. The horse provides some good comic relief. This was a very enjoyable book for me.
Kindle Unlimited
I always enjoy the theological debates that Mercurius engages in as he expresses his thoughts to the reader. It is also fairly amusing to listen in to his cogitations about his attraction to females that are forbidden thoughts for the celibate priest that he is.
Eventually Mercurius gets there in the end with the help of apophatic theology! He does have some interesting interchanges with a horse provided to him by the mayor who is looking for a son-in-law. The horse provides some good comic relief. This was a very enjoyable book for me.
Kindle Unlimited
December 9, 2020
Master Mercurius is a Dutch Reformed clergyman, university lecturer, and secretly a Catholic priest, a role that would get him fired from the university in 1680, when the events in the book take place. It is narrated by Mercius himself as part of his memoirs in 1720. As he says, “Bear in mind … that I may have changed one or two things to protect those I knew who are still alive, if any of them are, which I doubt. Anyway, these are my memoirs. If you don’t like them, write your own.”
The quote above should give you a sense of Mercurius’ temperament and the tone of the book. The intriguing character and his wry humor are perhaps my favorite aspect of the book.
A close second, though, is the historical setting, a very interesting time and place that we do not hear about often. There is a lot about the religious controversies of the age but also many glimpses into day-to-day life, like “the basis of private medicine is that someone who knows tells the patient that nothing can be done and pockets a handful of gold for it” or the practice, in the age before television, of sitting around the fire after dinner while someone reads to everyone.
But what about the plot? It kept moving, as Mercurio interviewed everyone around the victim and learned that pretty much everyone thought he was better off dead. I must say that I guessed the murderer very early, but the exact motive did not become clear until much later.
You can enjoy this book fully without reading the first three, and it does not contain spoilers that will interfere with your enjoyment of them when (not if!) you read them.
The Master Mercurio series has become one of my favorite series, so much so that as soon as I heard this instalment was coming out I put a note on my calendar to borrow it from Kindle Unlimited on the day of publication (It is certainly a bargain even if you have to pay $2.99 for it.) . I hope I will be putting many more such notes on my calendar in the future.
The quote above should give you a sense of Mercurius’ temperament and the tone of the book. The intriguing character and his wry humor are perhaps my favorite aspect of the book.
A close second, though, is the historical setting, a very interesting time and place that we do not hear about often. There is a lot about the religious controversies of the age but also many glimpses into day-to-day life, like “the basis of private medicine is that someone who knows tells the patient that nothing can be done and pockets a handful of gold for it” or the practice, in the age before television, of sitting around the fire after dinner while someone reads to everyone.
But what about the plot? It kept moving, as Mercurio interviewed everyone around the victim and learned that pretty much everyone thought he was better off dead. I must say that I guessed the murderer very early, but the exact motive did not become clear until much later.
You can enjoy this book fully without reading the first three, and it does not contain spoilers that will interfere with your enjoyment of them when (not if!) you read them.
The Master Mercurio series has become one of my favorite series, so much so that as soon as I heard this instalment was coming out I put a note on my calendar to borrow it from Kindle Unlimited on the day of publication (It is certainly a bargain even if you have to pay $2.99 for it.) . I hope I will be putting many more such notes on my calendar in the future.
December 2, 2020
Graham Brack's Master Mercurius novels are by far the most delightful historical mysteries I know of. The central character is well-developed and sympathetic. He's also quirky, which makes for a good deal of humor without turning the novels into slapstick. They are, in fact, the kind of novels that will have you laughing out loud and driving anyone else in the room up the wall as you keep interrupting their activities to say, "Just listen to this sentence!"
In The Noose's Shadow, Master Mercurius is attempting save a probably (though not certainly) innocent man from being convicted of killing a neighbor and summarily hung. Confession: I guessed the real killer pretty early on. Second confession: it didn't reduce my enjoyment one iota. The secondary characters in this novel are particularly engaging, with a delightful subplot of a small town mayor trying to marry his daughter off to Mercuius—which isn't going to happen, because while Mercurius is ostensibly Protestant, but is actually an ordained Catholic priest.
If you enjoy historical mysteries that have a light touch, grab any of the Master Mercurius titles you can find, shut yourself off somewhere you won't be interrupted, and start reading!
I received a free electronic review copy from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions are my own.
In The Noose's Shadow, Master Mercurius is attempting save a probably (though not certainly) innocent man from being convicted of killing a neighbor and summarily hung. Confession: I guessed the real killer pretty early on. Second confession: it didn't reduce my enjoyment one iota. The secondary characters in this novel are particularly engaging, with a delightful subplot of a small town mayor trying to marry his daughter off to Mercuius—which isn't going to happen, because while Mercurius is ostensibly Protestant, but is actually an ordained Catholic priest.
If you enjoy historical mysteries that have a light touch, grab any of the Master Mercurius titles you can find, shut yourself off somewhere you won't be interrupted, and start reading!
I received a free electronic review copy from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions are my own.
December 9, 2020
Master Mercurius is a wonderful soft hearted, open minded minister who takes it upon himself to sort out this perplexing mystery. We hear his inner turmoil with his lack of progress along with his unfulfilled marital state. A wonderful period mystery that goes along with the previous three to continue to build the strengthening relationship I am building with what I hope is only beginning.
Read
February 8, 2021I enjoy every mystery Mr. Brack writes. the ones in the Netherlands are complicated and compelling when you realize what period the world is in then and what period the author is writing in . Some comparisons are hard not to realize, life is difficult and interesting in both times. His character is both smart, wise and humorous. Worth my time in this stay at home , and find interesting books to read. Thanks Mr. Brack
January 28, 2021
This wonderful series gets better and better with every instalment. In the first few pages, Graham Brack re-establishes the crotchety cleric and his long-suffering secretary in the now-familiar surroundings of the University of Leiden and made me laugh out loud at least twice.
Like the very first book, the mystery is close to home about the brutal murder of an unpopular resident in a nearby village with an apparently innocent man accused of the crime. As usual, Master Mercurius not only brings his unworldly academic approach but his unflinching logic and sharp brain to painstakingly discover the true culprit.
The historical setting is brilliantly drawn and the character of Mercurius is richer and more enjoyable with each outing. A simply marvellous read.
Like the very first book, the mystery is close to home about the brutal murder of an unpopular resident in a nearby village with an apparently innocent man accused of the crime. As usual, Master Mercurius not only brings his unworldly academic approach but his unflinching logic and sharp brain to painstakingly discover the true culprit.
The historical setting is brilliantly drawn and the character of Mercurius is richer and more enjoyable with each outing. A simply marvellous read.
December 20, 2020
Love the series
Love this series. The Master is very human and l like the way books are written. Wish there were more books in the series!
Love this series. The Master is very human and l like the way books are written. Wish there were more books in the series!
January 4, 2021
This book was the one I liked most of all of Master Mercurius’ exploits. I think the averageness of the situation was a lure and the fact that I identified the culprit quite early on. Usually, the latter bit is a drawback but in this case, I could relax and let the investigation wind its way through strange and interesting characters before the sudden understanding dawns on our Master (who actually has higher qualifications now).
A woman in need comes to him one night for help and moved by her plea (as well as her, in general), Master Mercurius sets out to investigate. I was mildly familiar with the concept of coerced confessions to be a deciding factor in declaring one guilt from another series. He chooses the right people at the university to give him a leg up with appropriate help as required. Although older than when we first meet him, his mind is more challenging to control now than before. There is a better pattern of events here, the investigation is thorough and streamlined, which means even more mental monologue. This last bit is what I think I am reading this series for. I would definitely pick up the next book if and when it becomes available to me.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my reading of the series.
A woman in need comes to him one night for help and moved by her plea (as well as her, in general), Master Mercurius sets out to investigate. I was mildly familiar with the concept of coerced confessions to be a deciding factor in declaring one guilt from another series. He chooses the right people at the university to give him a leg up with appropriate help as required. Although older than when we first meet him, his mind is more challenging to control now than before. There is a better pattern of events here, the investigation is thorough and streamlined, which means even more mental monologue. This last bit is what I think I am reading this series for. I would definitely pick up the next book if and when it becomes available to me.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my reading of the series.
December 6, 2020
1680, Leiden, The Netherlands. After a successful trip to England to secure the Princess Mary’s hand in marriage to William of Orange, Master Mercurius is back at the University of Leiden.
A farmer named Wolf was stabbed to death outside his home, and his neighbour Jaco has been arrested for the murder. But Jaco’s wife Sara is convinced her husband is innocent, and Mercurius believes her. As Mercurius gathers the facts, it soon becomes clear that Wolf was a deeply unpopular man. With the shadow of the noose looming over Jaco, Mercurius is running out of time to catch the killer and stop an innocent man from hanging in his stead.
The fourth book in the series & it’s another page turner. I just love Mercurius the octogenarian minister who’s also a Catholic priest so he’s also celibate but this is tested in this book. The book is well researched with a fascinating historical background the mystery is well written & drew me in so much that I read the book in two sittings & I was kept guessing. Then there's the humour which adds a lighter feel to the book. I hope there are more books to come in the series
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
A farmer named Wolf was stabbed to death outside his home, and his neighbour Jaco has been arrested for the murder. But Jaco’s wife Sara is convinced her husband is innocent, and Mercurius believes her. As Mercurius gathers the facts, it soon becomes clear that Wolf was a deeply unpopular man. With the shadow of the noose looming over Jaco, Mercurius is running out of time to catch the killer and stop an innocent man from hanging in his stead.
The fourth book in the series & it’s another page turner. I just love Mercurius the octogenarian minister who’s also a Catholic priest so he’s also celibate but this is tested in this book. The book is well researched with a fascinating historical background the mystery is well written & drew me in so much that I read the book in two sittings & I was kept guessing. Then there's the humour which adds a lighter feel to the book. I hope there are more books to come in the series
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
January 10, 2021
Local farming life at the time of William of Orange is the basis for this mystery.
Master Mercurius back at the University of Leiden is asked by local farmers wife Sara to save her husband being held for the murder of local farmer Wolf. Mercurius uses his relationship with the Stadhouder to begin his own investigation. The local mayor offers his hospitality in hope that his daughter will take Mercurius eye even though Mercurius has secrets that make it not possible. Mercurius comes to many dead ends in his investigation and his liking for these two local women would complicate his investigation. This mystery really shows you the everyday life people had to cope with in 17th century Netherlands and how different choices can lead to murder. This is part of a series and l would recommend reading further books about Master Mercurius.
I was given an arc of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Master Mercurius back at the University of Leiden is asked by local farmers wife Sara to save her husband being held for the murder of local farmer Wolf. Mercurius uses his relationship with the Stadhouder to begin his own investigation. The local mayor offers his hospitality in hope that his daughter will take Mercurius eye even though Mercurius has secrets that make it not possible. Mercurius comes to many dead ends in his investigation and his liking for these two local women would complicate his investigation. This mystery really shows you the everyday life people had to cope with in 17th century Netherlands and how different choices can lead to murder. This is part of a series and l would recommend reading further books about Master Mercurius.
I was given an arc of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
November 30, 2020
I recently read The Noose's Shadow by Graham Brack. It's not about a beer loving policeman in Prague but a clergyman in the Netherlands during the seventeenth century. Although he also likes beer and solves mysteries, there is not much likeness between them. This time after returning from his mission in England we find Master Mercurius trying to solve who murdered Wolf the farmer? We also get to follow the difficulties Mercurius has with not getting married. I find myself liking this series more and more for every book Brack writes and have to thank #SapereBooks and #Netgalley for making them available to me. I also must thank @GrahamBrack for coming up with these characters. Keep up the good work please.
November 27, 2020
209 pages
4 stars
Master Mercurius is on a killer's trail once more.
It is 1680 in the Netherlands. A bad time to be a Catholic priest. Master Mercurius is one such, although before he took his vows, he was a protestant priest. He maintains that cover for safety's sake.
On a bitterly cold night and young woman asks Mercurius for help. Her husband has been arrested – for murder. She doesn't know why. She doesn't know where he is even being held.
Of course, Mercurius helps her by attempting to track down and bring the killer to justice.
The victim was a man named Wolf who was not well liked. Why was his neighbor arrested? What evidence does the constabulary have against Jaco?
This is a truly entertaining novel. I like Mercurius and his unusual way of investigating the incidents in which he finds himself involved. He is, of course, a product of the time in which he lives, but has some advanced notions about life, women and so on. I am looking forward to the next adventure in this series.
I want to thank NetGalley and Sapere Books for forwarding to me a copy of this very nice little book for me to read, enjoy and review.
4 stars
Master Mercurius is on a killer's trail once more.
It is 1680 in the Netherlands. A bad time to be a Catholic priest. Master Mercurius is one such, although before he took his vows, he was a protestant priest. He maintains that cover for safety's sake.
On a bitterly cold night and young woman asks Mercurius for help. Her husband has been arrested – for murder. She doesn't know why. She doesn't know where he is even being held.
Of course, Mercurius helps her by attempting to track down and bring the killer to justice.
The victim was a man named Wolf who was not well liked. Why was his neighbor arrested? What evidence does the constabulary have against Jaco?
This is a truly entertaining novel. I like Mercurius and his unusual way of investigating the incidents in which he finds himself involved. He is, of course, a product of the time in which he lives, but has some advanced notions about life, women and so on. I am looking forward to the next adventure in this series.
I want to thank NetGalley and Sapere Books for forwarding to me a copy of this very nice little book for me to read, enjoy and review.
December 29, 2020
Another good Graham Brack mystery!
This is my 4th Brack mystery and one of my favorites. He has an accurate understanding of human nature, and how behavior can be manipulated by circumstances. Sometimes Master Mercurius waxes philosophical a little too long, but I like that he is human in his feelings, and not overly pious. In this story the answer was more obvious to this reader than in other Brack novels, but it didn't detract from the enjoyment of reading how the unlikely detective reached his conclusion. Well done! More, please.
This is my 4th Brack mystery and one of my favorites. He has an accurate understanding of human nature, and how behavior can be manipulated by circumstances. Sometimes Master Mercurius waxes philosophical a little too long, but I like that he is human in his feelings, and not overly pious. In this story the answer was more obvious to this reader than in other Brack novels, but it didn't detract from the enjoyment of reading how the unlikely detective reached his conclusion. Well done! More, please.
December 10, 2020
Excellent as always
A nice satisfying read. The characters as always, fleshed out beautifully. One gets a real sense of the times and people, all too human, and all too frail. I am very taken with the strong moral element of a man who wrestles with his conscience and “mostly” wins.
A nice satisfying read. The characters as always, fleshed out beautifully. One gets a real sense of the times and people, all too human, and all too frail. I am very taken with the strong moral element of a man who wrestles with his conscience and “mostly” wins.
December 3, 2020
1690 Master Mercurius is approached by Sara Zwart of Oegstgeest Her husband, Jaco, has been arrested for the murder of their neighbour, Wolf and is due to be hanged. But she believes him to be innocent and wants his help to prove it. Mercurius investigates with the help of Boudewyn, the mayor's clerk.
Another enjoyable and well-written historical mystery with its likeable main character.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Another enjoyable and well-written historical mystery with its likeable main character.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Read
July 11, 2021Had to DNF this one at 70%. Got a bit tired of the formula whereby the protagonist interviews every single person in the village without uncovering anything of value. Could've used more twists imo. Still a good read for fans of humorous mysteries.
December 31, 2020
When a pretty young woman approaches Mercurius one evening saying that her husband is accused of murder and likely to be hung, for a fleeting moment he yearns to stay warm in front of the fire but then accedes to travel to her village to help. A neighbour has been stabbed shortly after arguing with the husband and although there are no direct witnesses all the evidence points to him. Mercurius is not as sure and takes advantage of the privileges granted to him as a cleric, and the holder of a dispensation from the Stadhouder, to investigate further.
This is another really entertaining outing for Master Mercurius. I love the setting in 17th century Holland, it is an unusual location but a very interesting time. Here the action is all focused around the poor villagers and their day-to-day lives, there are no courts or rich people, the sense of everyday life for the common person is well-imagined. These are never going to be high literature but for a solid and fun historical mystery it certainly hits the spot.
This is another really entertaining outing for Master Mercurius. I love the setting in 17th century Holland, it is an unusual location but a very interesting time. Here the action is all focused around the poor villagers and their day-to-day lives, there are no courts or rich people, the sense of everyday life for the common person is well-imagined. These are never going to be high literature but for a solid and fun historical mystery it certainly hits the spot.
May 24, 2021
Mercurius leaves behind his work for the Stadhouder - and to some extent, his work at University - and goes back to helping and ordinary poor woman who seeks his help to clear her husband of murdering their neighbour. If he can’t, her husband will hang leaving her a widow with two young children.
The trouble Mercurius finds is that though all the neighbours disliked the murdered man they can offer nothing that can help him in his quest.
Mercurius is always hamstrung by a pretty face first helping the condemned man’s wife then getting over his head with the young daughter of the mayor. He knows he won’t marry but he always ends up imaging himself with a pretty young wife and usually makes a bit of a fool of himself in the process.
This is a tricky tale for him to unravel. But he is nothing if not dogged even it it means he fails or finds the right person is behind bars, he’ll do his best to get to the truth.
The characters are very well drawn, you are there in Holland in the cold winter, you are with the self-deprecating Mercurius as his mind continually wanders off to a ‘I remember when...’ or some theological issue that being both a Protestant and a Roman Catholic continually throw up. He is smart, humourous and good company.
The trouble Mercurius finds is that though all the neighbours disliked the murdered man they can offer nothing that can help him in his quest.
Mercurius is always hamstrung by a pretty face first helping the condemned man’s wife then getting over his head with the young daughter of the mayor. He knows he won’t marry but he always ends up imaging himself with a pretty young wife and usually makes a bit of a fool of himself in the process.
This is a tricky tale for him to unravel. But he is nothing if not dogged even it it means he fails or finds the right person is behind bars, he’ll do his best to get to the truth.
The characters are very well drawn, you are there in Holland in the cold winter, you are with the self-deprecating Mercurius as his mind continually wanders off to a ‘I remember when...’ or some theological issue that being both a Protestant and a Roman Catholic continually throw up. He is smart, humourous and good company.
December 10, 2020
‘My room is cold in winter. It has always been so, but now that I am over eighty years old, I feel it all the more keenly.’
Master Mercurius may be an old man, but he is full of memories from the past. And, in this novel, he is remembering a case he solved in Leiden, The Netherlands in 1680. It is a few years after his successful trip to England when he is approached by Sara, a woman whose husband Jaco has been accused of murder. Sara has heard of Master Mercurius’s success in solving an earlier case in Delft and wants his help. She is convinced that Jaco is innocent.
But someone has murdered the farmer named Wolf. He was found stabbed to death outside his home not long after he and Jaco had words.
Master Mercurius investigates. He soon finds that nobody liked Wolf, but who would murder him and why? Mercurius needs to work quickly if he is to save Jaco from the noose.
‘Have you found his killer, Mercurius?’
‘Not exactly.’
‘This is a university, Mercurius. We deal in precision. The plausible answers are yes and no.’
‘I’m a lecturer in the Faculty of Theology, Rector. “Not exactly” is common parlance there.’
Mercurius, despite distractions which sometimes take the form of attractive young women, as well as frequent red herrings to distract the reader, investigates. There are several potential suspects and Mercurius is conscious, as he meets and questions them, that time is passing. All the (admittedly circumstantial) evidence seems to point to Jaco. Can Mercurius be mistaken about Jaco’s innocence?
This is a terrific fourth instalment in the Master Mercurius series. I love his asides as he examines his own conscience and motivation and enjoy the way in which the story unfolds. Mercurius is a likeably human minister and a priest.
‘You see, when we hear stories that are nearly identical, our nature is to try to harmonise them. We concentrate on what unites them, and therefore we construct one narrative that leads to one conclusion.’
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
Master Mercurius may be an old man, but he is full of memories from the past. And, in this novel, he is remembering a case he solved in Leiden, The Netherlands in 1680. It is a few years after his successful trip to England when he is approached by Sara, a woman whose husband Jaco has been accused of murder. Sara has heard of Master Mercurius’s success in solving an earlier case in Delft and wants his help. She is convinced that Jaco is innocent.
But someone has murdered the farmer named Wolf. He was found stabbed to death outside his home not long after he and Jaco had words.
Master Mercurius investigates. He soon finds that nobody liked Wolf, but who would murder him and why? Mercurius needs to work quickly if he is to save Jaco from the noose.
‘Have you found his killer, Mercurius?’
‘Not exactly.’
‘This is a university, Mercurius. We deal in precision. The plausible answers are yes and no.’
‘I’m a lecturer in the Faculty of Theology, Rector. “Not exactly” is common parlance there.’
Mercurius, despite distractions which sometimes take the form of attractive young women, as well as frequent red herrings to distract the reader, investigates. There are several potential suspects and Mercurius is conscious, as he meets and questions them, that time is passing. All the (admittedly circumstantial) evidence seems to point to Jaco. Can Mercurius be mistaken about Jaco’s innocence?
This is a terrific fourth instalment in the Master Mercurius series. I love his asides as he examines his own conscience and motivation and enjoy the way in which the story unfolds. Mercurius is a likeably human minister and a priest.
‘You see, when we hear stories that are nearly identical, our nature is to try to harmonise them. We concentrate on what unites them, and therefore we construct one narrative that leads to one conclusion.’
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
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