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Justin de Quincy #1
The Queen's Man
It's 1193, and King Richard has disappeared on his way back to England after fighting in the Crusades. Justin de Quincy, the well-educated but illegitimate son of a bishop, is tapped to search for the missing ruler, and he turns out to be just the chap to blow away the cobwebs that often hang over historical mystery.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published August 29, 1996
About the author
Sharon Kay Penman
36 books4,172 followersPenman received her bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Austin, she majored in history, and also received a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from Rutgers University School of Law, and later worked as a tax lawyer.
The Sunne in Splendour, a novel about Richard III of England is one of the most popular books on the Historical Novel Society's list of best historical novels. In 1996, following the success of When Christ and His Saints Slept (which dealt with the Anarchy and the early career of King Henry II of England), Penman ventured into the historical whodunnit with four mysteries set in the court of Eleanor of Aquitaine during the reign of Richard I. The mysteries did not enjoy the same success as her "straight" historical novels, to which she returned in 2002, with Time and Chance, again covering the life of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II. In 2008, she published Devil's Brood, which was to be the final book in her trilogy about Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. She soon realized that there was still more of the Angevins' story to tell and the result was Lionheart , followed by The King's Ransom. Henry and Eleanor's celebrated and controversial son, Richard the Lionheart is the major character in both books, although Eleanor, John, and Richard's favorite sister, Joanna, also get to spend time on center stage. She has just finished The Land Beyond the Sea, set in the Kingdom of Jerusalem in the late 12th century. It will be published in the U.S. by G.P. Putnam's and in the U.K. and Down Under by Macmillan and co; the publication date is early March, 2020.
The Sunne in Splendour, a novel about Richard III of England is one of the most popular books on the Historical Novel Society's list of best historical novels. In 1996, following the success of When Christ and His Saints Slept (which dealt with the Anarchy and the early career of King Henry II of England), Penman ventured into the historical whodunnit with four mysteries set in the court of Eleanor of Aquitaine during the reign of Richard I. The mysteries did not enjoy the same success as her "straight" historical novels, to which she returned in 2002, with Time and Chance, again covering the life of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II. In 2008, she published Devil's Brood, which was to be the final book in her trilogy about Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. She soon realized that there was still more of the Angevins' story to tell and the result was Lionheart , followed by The King's Ransom. Henry and Eleanor's celebrated and controversial son, Richard the Lionheart is the major character in both books, although Eleanor, John, and Richard's favorite sister, Joanna, also get to spend time on center stage. She has just finished The Land Beyond the Sea, set in the Kingdom of Jerusalem in the late 12th century. It will be published in the U.S. by G.P. Putnam's and in the U.K. and Down Under by Macmillan and co; the publication date is early March, 2020.
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June 30, 2020
“She was aging as she’d lived, in defiance of all the rules … she was no stranger to a mother’s grieving; she’d buried four of her children so far. But none were so loved as Richard.”
Small wonder that Eleanor of Acquitaine is one of the most celebrated and well-known figures in all of British history - erstwhile Queen of France; later wife to Henry II and Queen of England; mother to future kings; queen dowager and regent of that English throne as her much-loved son, Richard the Lionheart, tilted against the hated Muslims during the Third Crusade; and stalwart guardian of that throne against the machinations of her last son, John, later known as the Prince of Darkness. THE QUEEN’S MAN is at once realistic, credible, informative and every bit as entertaining as a modern murder mystery but it tells the story of a brilliant mistress of Machiavellian espionage who pulled on her minion’s strings so as to keep herself alive through eight decades of continuous 12th century medieval tumult and warfare and in hopes of the return of her much loved son, Richard, from his military sojourn in the Middle East.
THE QUEEN’S MAN tells the story of Justin de Quincy, the clever, ambitious bastard son of a high born cleric who educated the lad but, under the cloud of a career crushing scandal, refused to acknowledge the boy with his name. De Quincy’s secret commission, given to him direct from the hands of the celebrated Eleanor of Acquitaine was the investigation of the murder of a goldsmith found in possession of a letter that confirmed the missing Richard the Lionheart remained alive. The unstated sub-objective of de Quincy’s orders was to determine if the murderer had been committed at the behest of Prince John in his quest to usurp the English throne from the grip of the absent Lionheart.
Make no mistake! THE QUEEN’S MAN is a long, long way from a cozy mystery as it paints a gritty portrait of both English and French-speaking Norman medieval society that will appeal to contemporary readers - the slums, the prisons, the docks, alehouses, outdoor markets, gaming houses, bordellos, the street walkers, stables, rooming houses, the pickpockets, scamps, cut-purses and thieves. Penman's brilliant characterizations, her often humorous and always vivid dialogue, and atmospheric descriptions of an astonishingly wide variety of colourful settings bring medieval England to life in an easy-reading eminently enjoyable historical mystery. Two thumbs up! “
Paul Weiss
Small wonder that Eleanor of Acquitaine is one of the most celebrated and well-known figures in all of British history - erstwhile Queen of France; later wife to Henry II and Queen of England; mother to future kings; queen dowager and regent of that English throne as her much-loved son, Richard the Lionheart, tilted against the hated Muslims during the Third Crusade; and stalwart guardian of that throne against the machinations of her last son, John, later known as the Prince of Darkness. THE QUEEN’S MAN is at once realistic, credible, informative and every bit as entertaining as a modern murder mystery but it tells the story of a brilliant mistress of Machiavellian espionage who pulled on her minion’s strings so as to keep herself alive through eight decades of continuous 12th century medieval tumult and warfare and in hopes of the return of her much loved son, Richard, from his military sojourn in the Middle East.
THE QUEEN’S MAN tells the story of Justin de Quincy, the clever, ambitious bastard son of a high born cleric who educated the lad but, under the cloud of a career crushing scandal, refused to acknowledge the boy with his name. De Quincy’s secret commission, given to him direct from the hands of the celebrated Eleanor of Acquitaine was the investigation of the murder of a goldsmith found in possession of a letter that confirmed the missing Richard the Lionheart remained alive. The unstated sub-objective of de Quincy’s orders was to determine if the murderer had been committed at the behest of Prince John in his quest to usurp the English throne from the grip of the absent Lionheart.
Make no mistake! THE QUEEN’S MAN is a long, long way from a cozy mystery as it paints a gritty portrait of both English and French-speaking Norman medieval society that will appeal to contemporary readers - the slums, the prisons, the docks, alehouses, outdoor markets, gaming houses, bordellos, the street walkers, stables, rooming houses, the pickpockets, scamps, cut-purses and thieves. Penman's brilliant characterizations, her often humorous and always vivid dialogue, and atmospheric descriptions of an astonishingly wide variety of colourful settings bring medieval England to life in an easy-reading eminently enjoyable historical mystery. Two thumbs up! “
Paul Weiss
November 27, 2018
I've always enjoyed Sharon Penman's historical novels but didn't know she had also written a series of historical mysteries set in the English court of Eleanor of Aquitaine. Her son, Richard the Lionheart is currently missing on crusade, feared dead and his brother John is plotting to declare him dead and take his crown. This first in the series is perhaps not as well crafted as her historical novels set in the same period, but is nonetheless a very enjoyable read if, like me, you enjoy cosy historical mysteries.
Justin de Quincy has recently discovered he is the bastard son of the high ranking clergyman who had the 'goodness' to take him in and bring him up as an orphan. Fleeing to London he witnesses the murder of a wealthy jeweler who tells him before he dies that he is carrying an important secret letter from France to be delivered to Eleanor. Concerned that the jeweler's letter may have important news, Justin braves the court to deliver it himself and finds himself recruited to investigate the murder and become embroiled in the politics and espionage of the court. I'm now looking forward to Justin's further adventures as the Queen's man. 3.5★
Justin de Quincy has recently discovered he is the bastard son of the high ranking clergyman who had the 'goodness' to take him in and bring him up as an orphan. Fleeing to London he witnesses the murder of a wealthy jeweler who tells him before he dies that he is carrying an important secret letter from France to be delivered to Eleanor. Concerned that the jeweler's letter may have important news, Justin braves the court to deliver it himself and finds himself recruited to investigate the murder and become embroiled in the politics and espionage of the court. I'm now looking forward to Justin's further adventures as the Queen's man. 3.5★
September 17, 2014
1193 and Richard the Lionheart is feared dead, leaving an opportunity for his brother John to claim the throne of England. Their mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine, awaits news of Richard and soon employs the services of Justin de Quincy, after the murder of a goldsmith who was on his way to the Queen with important information about Richard. This leads Justin, The Queen’s Man, to set out on a journey to discover the secrets behind the murder and the secrets within the royal court.
This is the first of four books in the Justin de Quincy series and my first introduction to Sharon Kay Penman. I understand that for a Penman novel this series is light on the historical detail compared to her normal novels. I really enjoyed it as a good entertaining mystery, a fast read with excellent character development. There was a varied mix of very likeable characters and very unlikeable villains and I quickly found myself rooting for my favourites. I would have liked a little more historical detail included but I guess I need to look to her other works for that. Overall, an enjoyable read and I look forward to continuing with the rest of the series in the future.
This is the first of four books in the Justin de Quincy series and my first introduction to Sharon Kay Penman. I understand that for a Penman novel this series is light on the historical detail compared to her normal novels. I really enjoyed it as a good entertaining mystery, a fast read with excellent character development. There was a varied mix of very likeable characters and very unlikeable villains and I quickly found myself rooting for my favourites. I would have liked a little more historical detail included but I guess I need to look to her other works for that. Overall, an enjoyable read and I look forward to continuing with the rest of the series in the future.
December 5, 2012
The Queen's Man is the first of Sharon's books to introduce Justin de Quince the illegitimate son of a Bishop in the England of Richard I - who has been off fighting in the Crusades. Justin finds himself involved in a Medieval Murder mystery. He is Queen's Man to Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine. I found this a most readable novel and of excellent quality. There is a very good twist at the end too which I didn't see coming. The historical background is impeccable as always in Sharon Penman's books. Eminently readable and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
January 21, 2020
The Queen's Man by Sharon Kay Penman is an entertaining medieval mystery of 1192! A young squire, twenty-year-old Justin, unexpectedly learns a lot about the world of London and the court of Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine in only a few months one winter after a protected and privileged upbringing. Losing his temper results in a new vocation and a more risky lifestyle. It is a good thing he learned to use a sword as well as he has learned to use his excellent mind! All he is lacking is experience and seasoning - which is soon remedied...
After an angry Justin confronts the Bishop of Chester, Aubrey de Quincy, and accuses the high-born churchman of being his father and hiding this fact for twenty years, he rashly leaves Aubrey's house forever. Justin had been told his mother was a whore. He believed Aubrey a benefactor who had taken pity on him. Aubrey had given Justin a home and a first-class education since he had been a baby. Justin cannot forgive Aubrey in particular for lying about his mother.
On the road, Justin has cooled off. Taking stock of his situation, he realizes he doesn't have much money, friends or a clue where to go. All he has is his sword and his beautiful horse, Copper. Miserably drinking a cup of bad ale in an even worse alehouse, he overhears men talking about the King's brother John, the Count of Mortain. John is hiring men with swords in London.
London! Perhaps in London Justin could find work as a scribe. He can read and write, speak both French and English. Or he could join John's military force. Justin isn't certain he wants to support John in a campaign for Richard's throne, though, the possible reason behind John's need of fighting men.
King Richard, Eleanor's son, has been missing for three months. The King had embarked on a Crusade to the Middle East. It is known the King had disappeared while returning to England. The rumors going around spoke of the King being imprisoned by the King Philip of France.
Justin heads for London. However, he is not the only rider on the lonely road through the woods. Behind him he hears shouts and sounds of a struggle. Turning back, passing a riderless horse, he interrupts a life and death struggle between four men. A young man is lying very still on the snowy path, and an older man is trying very hard to not get knifed by another man. A fourth man is holding a panicked horse. Justin shouts and races towards them. The older man is stabbed and quickly searched by the murderous robber, and then the two attackers gallop away before Justin can stop the robbers.
The dying man is Gervase Fitz Randolph, a wealthy goldsmith from the town of Winchester. Clutching at Justin, he forces a promise from him with his last breath. Deliver the enclosed letter which is a copy of another letter acquired by the Archbishop of Rouen through spies. The Archbishop wishes to give it to the Queen of England. How had Fitz Randolph got such a letter anyway?
The letter was written by Henry, Emperor of Rome to Philip, King of France, informing Philip that Henry was holding King Richard captive. It is a letter which was, maybe, giving the signal to begin a civil war in England after, perhaps, Richard's murder was, maybe, being secretly negotiated by John, IF John was partnering with Henry; or more hopefully, a chance for a quick offer by Eleanor to ransom Richard secretly before word got out of his being definitely alive and a prisoner. If in fact John had nothing to do with Henry's capture of Richard, the fact of Richard's imprisonment could trigger John to try to overthrow Richard before Richard could be returned to England. But at the moment, the Queen has no clue this letter exists, or that Fitz Randolph was bringing her such a letter.
Gentle reader, Queen Eleanor has no idea if her son John is actively conspiring to overthrow his brother Richard, although his desire to do so is known to her. She loves both of her ambitious sons. But none of this infighting between factions supporting either brother could be exposed publically for obvious reasons. Not knowing why Richard has disappeared without a clue to where he is for three months has been bad enough for the country, a real scary moment.
Meanwhile, Justin is determined to see the Queen. Seeing the goldsmith murdered in front of him has deeply affected him. He has never seen anything so merciless before. The envelope has the goldsmith's blood on it. He can't get the image of the stain out of his head. Despite his bravery, he has never been part of such vicious violence.
Queen Eleanor is in her residence in the Tower on the second floor. On the first floor hundreds of petitioners are hoping for an audience with the Queen. Justin is weary and wondering how he can get selected to see the Queen in this mob. He waits and waits, there being no place to go anyway, when he catches the eye of a gorgeous young woman. As it happens, Claudine de Loudun is a kinswoman and attendant of the Queen. She likes his dark hair, grey eyes "and a smile like the sunrise." She noticed his high-born manners and the sword he is wearing.
She visits the Queen, bypassing all of her other courtiers, and tells her about the interesting petitioner downstairs.
And so the adventure, and the new job as 'The Queen's Man' begins. First assignment? Find out who killed the goldsmith and why. Were the killers after the letter? If so, who hired them? Or was the murder the idea of Fitz Randolph's wife, or one of his unlovable adult children?
This is an interesting read, if sometimes stereotypical. I thought it realistic, and readers can easily see how Justin grows sadly wiser about the sophisticated treacheries around him by impoverished crooks, opportunistic swordsmen/sheriffs for hire, as well as high-born social climbers and aristocrats. Of course, he also meets wonderful folks, and rescues a puppy, who become friends! It seems Justin could be good at this - if he survives. Mixing into politics and ordinary crimes are both killer!
After an angry Justin confronts the Bishop of Chester, Aubrey de Quincy, and accuses the high-born churchman of being his father and hiding this fact for twenty years, he rashly leaves Aubrey's house forever. Justin had been told his mother was a whore. He believed Aubrey a benefactor who had taken pity on him. Aubrey had given Justin a home and a first-class education since he had been a baby. Justin cannot forgive Aubrey in particular for lying about his mother.
On the road, Justin has cooled off. Taking stock of his situation, he realizes he doesn't have much money, friends or a clue where to go. All he has is his sword and his beautiful horse, Copper. Miserably drinking a cup of bad ale in an even worse alehouse, he overhears men talking about the King's brother John, the Count of Mortain. John is hiring men with swords in London.
London! Perhaps in London Justin could find work as a scribe. He can read and write, speak both French and English. Or he could join John's military force. Justin isn't certain he wants to support John in a campaign for Richard's throne, though, the possible reason behind John's need of fighting men.
King Richard, Eleanor's son, has been missing for three months. The King had embarked on a Crusade to the Middle East. It is known the King had disappeared while returning to England. The rumors going around spoke of the King being imprisoned by the King Philip of France.
Justin heads for London. However, he is not the only rider on the lonely road through the woods. Behind him he hears shouts and sounds of a struggle. Turning back, passing a riderless horse, he interrupts a life and death struggle between four men. A young man is lying very still on the snowy path, and an older man is trying very hard to not get knifed by another man. A fourth man is holding a panicked horse. Justin shouts and races towards them. The older man is stabbed and quickly searched by the murderous robber, and then the two attackers gallop away before Justin can stop the robbers.
The dying man is Gervase Fitz Randolph, a wealthy goldsmith from the town of Winchester. Clutching at Justin, he forces a promise from him with his last breath. Deliver the enclosed letter which is a copy of another letter acquired by the Archbishop of Rouen through spies. The Archbishop wishes to give it to the Queen of England. How had Fitz Randolph got such a letter anyway?
The letter was written by Henry, Emperor of Rome to Philip, King of France, informing Philip that Henry was holding King Richard captive. It is a letter which was, maybe, giving the signal to begin a civil war in England after, perhaps, Richard's murder was, maybe, being secretly negotiated by John, IF John was partnering with Henry; or more hopefully, a chance for a quick offer by Eleanor to ransom Richard secretly before word got out of his being definitely alive and a prisoner. If in fact John had nothing to do with Henry's capture of Richard, the fact of Richard's imprisonment could trigger John to try to overthrow Richard before Richard could be returned to England. But at the moment, the Queen has no clue this letter exists, or that Fitz Randolph was bringing her such a letter.
Gentle reader, Queen Eleanor has no idea if her son John is actively conspiring to overthrow his brother Richard, although his desire to do so is known to her. She loves both of her ambitious sons. But none of this infighting between factions supporting either brother could be exposed publically for obvious reasons. Not knowing why Richard has disappeared without a clue to where he is for three months has been bad enough for the country, a real scary moment.
Meanwhile, Justin is determined to see the Queen. Seeing the goldsmith murdered in front of him has deeply affected him. He has never seen anything so merciless before. The envelope has the goldsmith's blood on it. He can't get the image of the stain out of his head. Despite his bravery, he has never been part of such vicious violence.
Queen Eleanor is in her residence in the Tower on the second floor. On the first floor hundreds of petitioners are hoping for an audience with the Queen. Justin is weary and wondering how he can get selected to see the Queen in this mob. He waits and waits, there being no place to go anyway, when he catches the eye of a gorgeous young woman. As it happens, Claudine de Loudun is a kinswoman and attendant of the Queen. She likes his dark hair, grey eyes "and a smile like the sunrise." She noticed his high-born manners and the sword he is wearing.
She visits the Queen, bypassing all of her other courtiers, and tells her about the interesting petitioner downstairs.
And so the adventure, and the new job as 'The Queen's Man' begins. First assignment? Find out who killed the goldsmith and why. Were the killers after the letter? If so, who hired them? Or was the murder the idea of Fitz Randolph's wife, or one of his unlovable adult children?
This is an interesting read, if sometimes stereotypical. I thought it realistic, and readers can easily see how Justin grows sadly wiser about the sophisticated treacheries around him by impoverished crooks, opportunistic swordsmen/sheriffs for hire, as well as high-born social climbers and aristocrats. Of course, he also meets wonderful folks, and rescues a puppy, who become friends! It seems Justin could be good at this - if he survives. Mixing into politics and ordinary crimes are both killer!
March 6, 2013
For certes, this book was not for me. Part of the reason was that, every time a character said "for certes" (i.e. EVERY TIME ANYONE SPOKE) I couldn't help hearing it in a Valley Girl accent. "Like, for certes, you know?"
August 26, 2011
Having developed a strange addiction for historical mysteries, I can not tell you how happy I was to find that my favorite author of historical fiction, Sharon Kay Penman, had written a historical mystery series. This is a historical mystery with style; the historical details and medieval setting are perfectly drawn, as we can only expect from a writer of this quality.
The date is Epiphany, 1192, medieval England and Eleanor of Aquitaine is apprehensively awaiting word from her son, King Richard Lionheart, who has disappeared on route from Acres two months earlier. Eleanor, now in her seventies, controls England for Richard, for now. However, as the time passes with no word of Richard, even the most loyal begin to believe him dead. Her youngest son, Prince John wants to be King and is developing plans to clear his own road to the throne. And, Eleanor, with all her strength of will, may not be able to stop these mechanisms of John without assistance.
Justin de Quincey is raised and educated as a knight but unacknowledged, by his father the Bishop of Coventry, Aubrey de Quincey. When Justin confronts his father with regard to his bastardry, he realizes he can no longer continue in this circumstance and abandons his current life. Justin needs to find a new master and sets out to London in the midst of a snow storm. On the road past Winchester, Justin becomes involved in a robbery, a very suspicious robbery that has every appearance of a planned murder. Justin is in time to save the groom but unfortunately, Gervase the goldsmith dies in Justin’s arms. But not before, Gervase elicits a deathbed promise to deliver a blood stained letter. The recipient of this letter would be Queen Eleanor. As Justin is no fool, and is not about to march into the presence of royalty on the say so of man he only knew for mere moments, Justin opens and reads the letter. He is left in shock as he now possesses dangerous secret knowledge as to what had befallen the missing king.
Justin presents himself to the Queen who is impressed with his honesty and sincerity. Eleanor, fearing that John is involved in this mysterious robbery cum murder, makes Justin a Queen’s man and demands that he quietly investigates this murder and determines the persons involved. The investigation takes him back to Winchester where Justin finds too many potential murder suspects, including the goldsmiths own family, as well as, a very real violent murderer, well known in the local community. As Justin approaches the solution to this crime, he is joined by a colourful well drawn cast of characters, Sheriffs, butchers, grooms, barmaids and the Queens own cousin and lady in waiting, providing a romantic interest for Justin. However, one of these new friends is spying for John and as he is followed about in his investigation, Justin wonders who he can trust.
Penman twists and turns this mystery and keeps you guessing right up to the end, an excellent mystery novel. But what makes this a true gem is the fine historical detail that Penman brings to the story. If you are looking for an excellent historical mystery, you need look no further than Sharon Kay Penman. I am eagerly awaiting the next in this series, Cruel as the Grave
The date is Epiphany, 1192, medieval England and Eleanor of Aquitaine is apprehensively awaiting word from her son, King Richard Lionheart, who has disappeared on route from Acres two months earlier. Eleanor, now in her seventies, controls England for Richard, for now. However, as the time passes with no word of Richard, even the most loyal begin to believe him dead. Her youngest son, Prince John wants to be King and is developing plans to clear his own road to the throne. And, Eleanor, with all her strength of will, may not be able to stop these mechanisms of John without assistance.
Justin de Quincey is raised and educated as a knight but unacknowledged, by his father the Bishop of Coventry, Aubrey de Quincey. When Justin confronts his father with regard to his bastardry, he realizes he can no longer continue in this circumstance and abandons his current life. Justin needs to find a new master and sets out to London in the midst of a snow storm. On the road past Winchester, Justin becomes involved in a robbery, a very suspicious robbery that has every appearance of a planned murder. Justin is in time to save the groom but unfortunately, Gervase the goldsmith dies in Justin’s arms. But not before, Gervase elicits a deathbed promise to deliver a blood stained letter. The recipient of this letter would be Queen Eleanor. As Justin is no fool, and is not about to march into the presence of royalty on the say so of man he only knew for mere moments, Justin opens and reads the letter. He is left in shock as he now possesses dangerous secret knowledge as to what had befallen the missing king.
Justin presents himself to the Queen who is impressed with his honesty and sincerity. Eleanor, fearing that John is involved in this mysterious robbery cum murder, makes Justin a Queen’s man and demands that he quietly investigates this murder and determines the persons involved. The investigation takes him back to Winchester where Justin finds too many potential murder suspects, including the goldsmiths own family, as well as, a very real violent murderer, well known in the local community. As Justin approaches the solution to this crime, he is joined by a colourful well drawn cast of characters, Sheriffs, butchers, grooms, barmaids and the Queens own cousin and lady in waiting, providing a romantic interest for Justin. However, one of these new friends is spying for John and as he is followed about in his investigation, Justin wonders who he can trust.
Penman twists and turns this mystery and keeps you guessing right up to the end, an excellent mystery novel. But what makes this a true gem is the fine historical detail that Penman brings to the story. If you are looking for an excellent historical mystery, you need look no further than Sharon Kay Penman. I am eagerly awaiting the next in this series, Cruel as the Grave
November 17, 2011
Penman wrote these medieval mysteries to take a break from her more flowery medieval prose. Unlike the latter, she didn't necessarily know what the outcome would be to various mysteries so it gave her a new stretch in her writing career.
QUEEN'S MAN follows the ... son of a Bishop who, by chance, is charged by Queen Eleanor to solve the mystery of a murdered goldsmith in connection with Richard the Lion Hearted. During this investigation, our hero meets a number of suspiscious people in the town, as well as makes a few friends here and there.
The dialogue and descriptions are sparse compared to her more Historical works. If anything, this series focuses on movement
and pacing. I would say this is more of a fun and quick read than the usual elegant, flowery and heart breaking Historical pieces Penman is usually know for in her works.
OVERALL GRADE: C plus.
QUEEN'S MAN follows the ... son of a Bishop who, by chance, is charged by Queen Eleanor to solve the mystery of a murdered goldsmith in connection with Richard the Lion Hearted. During this investigation, our hero meets a number of suspiscious people in the town, as well as makes a few friends here and there.
The dialogue and descriptions are sparse compared to her more Historical works. If anything, this series focuses on movement
and pacing. I would say this is more of a fun and quick read than the usual elegant, flowery and heart breaking Historical pieces Penman is usually know for in her works.
OVERALL GRADE: C plus.
March 10, 2009
First, let me start by saying that if I could have given this 3.5 stars, I would have. But since we don't have that luxury, I had to fall back to 3 stars. I liked this book, it was fun and entertaining -- but did I REALLY like it? Would phrases from the book stand out in my mind for weeks or years to come? No, it was simple escapism with some education thrown in for good measure. I would highly recommend to to anyone interested in some entertaining historical fiction though.
I'm an avid English history fan. I especially like the period from about the 1100 - 1700. I also love a good mystery, so imagine my delight when I stumbled upon Sharon Kay Penman's "The Queen's Man"! Sharon Kay Penman has made quite a name for herself (and rightly so) in the historical fiction realm. Now she's set her sights on a mystery series too.
I really enjoyed the first in this series about Justin de Quincy and the services he provides for Eleanor of Aquitaine as she tries to tread the treachorous waters of foreign poliy in 1193. The book was a nice mix of historical settings, interesting characters and a plot that kept a good pace.
Justin does aid the Queen, and solves the mystery. But more than that he discovers more about himself and the larger world around him. This book wasn't earth-shattering literature, but it was a rollicking fun read that managed to teach me more about the medieval times. Now that's entertainment!
Now I'm on to the second book in the series, "Cruel as the Grave". Can Justin help Eleanor rescue Richard the Lionhearted from the clutches of the King of France?
I'm an avid English history fan. I especially like the period from about the 1100 - 1700. I also love a good mystery, so imagine my delight when I stumbled upon Sharon Kay Penman's "The Queen's Man"! Sharon Kay Penman has made quite a name for herself (and rightly so) in the historical fiction realm. Now she's set her sights on a mystery series too.
I really enjoyed the first in this series about Justin de Quincy and the services he provides for Eleanor of Aquitaine as she tries to tread the treachorous waters of foreign poliy in 1193. The book was a nice mix of historical settings, interesting characters and a plot that kept a good pace.
Justin does aid the Queen, and solves the mystery. But more than that he discovers more about himself and the larger world around him. This book wasn't earth-shattering literature, but it was a rollicking fun read that managed to teach me more about the medieval times. Now that's entertainment!
Now I'm on to the second book in the series, "Cruel as the Grave". Can Justin help Eleanor rescue Richard the Lionhearted from the clutches of the King of France?
July 20, 2009
This is historical fiction, heavy on the history. But I don't want to give the impression that is a bad thing, it was in fact one of the things that I loved most about this book. Ms. Penman does a wonderful job of working in a surprising amount of detail about political and living condition in the 12 century as well as facts about the lives of Eleanor of Aquitaine and her sons Richard and John. The story centers around Justin de Quincy, who is the illegitimate child of a Bishop. He was raised with all the education of a young knight, but suddenly finds himself without a home or direction when his parentage comes to light. As he wanders toward London he becomes witness to a murder and the dying man asks Justin to take over a mission to Queen Eleanor. From there a tale that combines both a murder investigation and political intrigue unfolds. It was a enthralling tale, that kept you wondering right up until the end. All the history made it a slightly denser read than a more pulp-fiction style mystery, but it was so worth the extra cognitive effort. Eleanor is both an amazing character and an amazing historical figure. Penman's depiction of her makes me want to run right out and get her books that center on Eleanor's life.
February 4, 2011
I’ve actually read this one before, but there are four books in Sharon Kay Penman’s Justin de Quincy mystery series, and I decided to read them in order, to get a better feel for the back ground story of Richard the Lionheart and the conspiracies to gain the throne of England.
This book was even better than I remembered. I’m not a huge fan of mysteries, mostly because the characters are weak and I demand a clever plot that always keeps you guessing. Ms. Penman not only gives all that I ask for, but she adds her historical expertise with a fantastic (and true!) background story, while helping the reader understand more about the medieval world in which Justin de Quincy lived. The characters were wonderful and she kept me on the edge of my seat hoping my heroes would survive.
I’m so looking forward to next in the series, Cruel as the Grave!
This book was even better than I remembered. I’m not a huge fan of mysteries, mostly because the characters are weak and I demand a clever plot that always keeps you guessing. Ms. Penman not only gives all that I ask for, but she adds her historical expertise with a fantastic (and true!) background story, while helping the reader understand more about the medieval world in which Justin de Quincy lived. The characters were wonderful and she kept me on the edge of my seat hoping my heroes would survive.
I’m so looking forward to next in the series, Cruel as the Grave!
September 15, 2007
I'm a little disappointed by this book. In the first place, the characters seem a little caricatured. Secondly, it reads a little like "History For Dummies"...not just in the explanations of who Eleanor of Aquitaine was and her general history, which I can certainly understand that not everyone would know or remember right off the bat, but in the explicit statements about stuff like "people used CHAMBERPOTS then! No toilets!" or "Church bells rang ALL THE TIME...it's how important news was announced and time was marked via religious services!" In other words, the sort of details that would be better worked seamlessly into the story, instead of explicitly stated. I'll probably read the second one, which I also got from the library, to see if it goes anywhere of interest, but so far I'm not terribly moved by the series.
June 1, 2018
I've been meaning to read Penman for a while, but I was a bit underwhelmed with this. I was largely attracted to the medieval aspect, but I didn't really feel like I was reading about a different time all that much. All the characters spoke mostly like modern people, with the occasional old-fashioned term thrown in for colour I suppose. The plot was below average for a mystery due to the ending. I'm not going to bother with the rest of the series because to be honest Justin isn't a compelling protagonist because he has little to no personality, but I do have another of Penman's books that I'll try in the hopes she improved as a writer after this.
November 5, 2016
Well, I liked this one, but it did get a bit tedious, cause it felt like the hero went thru the same things over and over. Yes, I probably will read the next one just to see how things go, but am not sure I will continue after that unless things get much less tedious. <><
June 2, 2008
A nice historical mystery. My main complaint was that it was too short!
March 7, 2021
I've read four of Penman's longer historical novels and loved each of them, so I was excited to try this, a shorter historical mystery. In the end I enjoyed some of it it, but didn't love it as much as her others. This is a nice story of a young man, reeling from finding out who his father actually is, who then tries to save a man who's being robbed and killed on the road to London. Before the man dies he entrusts the hero with a letter that must be secreatly delivered to the Queen. Queen Eleanor then charges him to find who was behind the murder.
I think the main problem with this book was the MC, Justin. He never develops much of a personality. None of the characters do, in fact, though I rather liked Luke, a deputy sheriff. The mystery plot was OK but not especially puzzling, and the lack of characters to get to know meant there were times I was just turning pages to finish the story. I'll definitely read more of her longer works, but probably not another in this series. 2.5 stars, but I'm not rounding them up this time.
I think the main problem with this book was the MC, Justin. He never develops much of a personality. None of the characters do, in fact, though I rather liked Luke, a deputy sheriff. The mystery plot was OK but not especially puzzling, and the lack of characters to get to know meant there were times I was just turning pages to finish the story. I'll definitely read more of her longer works, but probably not another in this series. 2.5 stars, but I'm not rounding them up this time.
October 16, 2016
This series of historical novels by Sharon Penman are very jolly, mainly historically satisfactory and my main complaint is they are too short and there are only 4 of them. Justin de Quincy is a very likable hero with a few faults to keep him a bit human. He likes dogs, so he must be OK! He becomes an agent of the Queen (Eleanor of Aquitaine) inadvertently, manages to make a fair job of his first assignment and is kept on.
Recommended as light relief very competently constructed and clearly well-informed.
Recommended as light relief very competently constructed and clearly well-informed.
August 6, 2022
Since this was Penman's first mystery but she had written historical fiction before I expected the mystery to be subpar but the historical setting to be very rich. However, while the mystery plot was fine, this didn't really evoke a feeling of the past. The character interaction was mostly modern with some sprinkles of old and formal expressions and very few things that happened necessarily needed to be set in medival England. Also, I really had to suspend my disbelieve in regards to the characters a lot and I never felt like I got to know the protagonist very well.
However, it is a very quick and consumable read with some almost cozy elements, so I totally get why this would work for readers with different expectations of historical fiction.
However, it is a very quick and consumable read with some almost cozy elements, so I totally get why this would work for readers with different expectations of historical fiction.
June 19, 2021
Historical mystery set in the 12th century when King Richard is missing feared dead and Queen Eleanor is governing the country on behalf of him. Justin de Quincy, illegitimate son of a Bishop, stumbles upon a royal letter that brings him in contact with the Queen. The Queen entrusts him with a task that ends up with him becoming the Queen's Man. Engaging and entertainingly written with the 12th century brought to life with memorable and realistic characters. There are 3 or 4 more books in the series so far and I certainly hope to follow the adventures of Justin de Quincy.
March 27, 2013
I'm reading this book for the umpteenth time and still enjoying it as much today as I did the first time round. Probably even more now I know how much work it takes.
I love her characters, her portrayal of John and Eleanor is masterful. In my opinion, she is the queen of the genre.
I love her characters, her portrayal of John and Eleanor is masterful. In my opinion, she is the queen of the genre.
Read
June 1, 2014Unfinished. Just not for me.
July 2, 2022
The Queen’s Man
By Sharon Kay Penman
Reviewed July 3, 2022
It is Epiphany in the year 1193 and Richard I (The Lionheart) is missing, supposed to have returned to England after being away on Crusade.
In Winchester, young Justin de Quincy, who all his life has been told that he is the bastard son of a whore and an unknown man, learns the truth. Yes, he is a bastard, but his father is far from unknown. He is the bishop who took him. But rather than treating him as the son he is, the bishop allowed Justin to think of himself as a kind of charity case. Having no desire to live any longer under the same roof as his father, Justin leaves, heading toward London and a new life.
Along the way, Justin comes upon the scene of the brutal robbery of a goldsmith. Before the man dies, he gives Justin a letter that needs to be delivered personally to Queen Eleanor.
Thus starts Justin’s new life as the queen’s man, as Eleanor tasks him with finding the murderer, and learning how this murder ties in with events surrounding the disappearance of her son, King Richard I.
This is a fast-paced, exciting mystery, filled with court intrigues, beautiful damsels (not always in distress), heartless killers, plots and counter-plots, and spies. Who to trust is something Justin must learn, and learn quickly, because trusting the wrong person can lead to dire consequences.
The Queen’s Man is a really good Medieval who-done-it, and the first in a trilogy featuring Justin de Quincy, and if the next two are as good as the first, this is going to be an excellent mystery series.
By Sharon Kay Penman
Reviewed July 3, 2022
It is Epiphany in the year 1193 and Richard I (The Lionheart) is missing, supposed to have returned to England after being away on Crusade.
In Winchester, young Justin de Quincy, who all his life has been told that he is the bastard son of a whore and an unknown man, learns the truth. Yes, he is a bastard, but his father is far from unknown. He is the bishop who took him. But rather than treating him as the son he is, the bishop allowed Justin to think of himself as a kind of charity case. Having no desire to live any longer under the same roof as his father, Justin leaves, heading toward London and a new life.
Along the way, Justin comes upon the scene of the brutal robbery of a goldsmith. Before the man dies, he gives Justin a letter that needs to be delivered personally to Queen Eleanor.
Thus starts Justin’s new life as the queen’s man, as Eleanor tasks him with finding the murderer, and learning how this murder ties in with events surrounding the disappearance of her son, King Richard I.
This is a fast-paced, exciting mystery, filled with court intrigues, beautiful damsels (not always in distress), heartless killers, plots and counter-plots, and spies. Who to trust is something Justin must learn, and learn quickly, because trusting the wrong person can lead to dire consequences.
The Queen’s Man is a really good Medieval who-done-it, and the first in a trilogy featuring Justin de Quincy, and if the next two are as good as the first, this is going to be an excellent mystery series.
June 3, 2020
Although it took me nearly a year to finish...I actually really enjoyed it. She has wonderful character development and, once I started reading it in earnest, an engaging plot. Some words will not be familiar to most readers. However, growing up in Appalachia, I had no trouble at all. Now I am looking forward to the next book in this series.
August 2, 2025
Generally interesting in the first half but before too long we knew who had committed the murder(s) so it just became a question of whether our main characters would catch them, which of course they will, it's a book, so it was boring. There was some cool stuff toward the end as we found out the why behind everything but the actual reason for the initial murder really bothered me and robbed me of much of the enjoyment. Certainly not my favorite SKP.
June 24, 2009
A gift from Wanda, thanks dear friend.
Opening:
"Do you think the king is dead?"
Aubrey de Quincy was caught off balance and furious with himself for his negligence; he ought to have expected this. Throughout their meal, the sole topic had been King Richard's disappearance. All of England - and indeed, most of Christendom - talked of little else this Christmastide, for more than two months had passes since the Lionheart had sailed from Acre. By December, other crusaders had begun to reach English ports. But none had word of the king.
This book is about the friendship between Justin de Quincy, the bastard son of bishop Aubrey de Quincy and Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine.
It is well know that Richard III was captured by his enemies while his returning from the Acre crusade.
Then the Archbishop of Rouen got a copy of a letter sent to the Holy Emperor to Philippe, king of France, which was secretly sent to Eleanor, telling about the captivity of his son.
Justin is then in charge of finding the missing and future heir of the throne of England.
Prince John will be known as "Prince of Darkness" which denomination was given by Eleanor herself.
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The plot continues in the next book of the series Cruel as the Grave.
Opening:
"Do you think the king is dead?"
Aubrey de Quincy was caught off balance and furious with himself for his negligence; he ought to have expected this. Throughout their meal, the sole topic had been King Richard's disappearance. All of England - and indeed, most of Christendom - talked of little else this Christmastide, for more than two months had passes since the Lionheart had sailed from Acre. By December, other crusaders had begun to reach English ports. But none had word of the king.
This book is about the friendship between Justin de Quincy, the bastard son of bishop Aubrey de Quincy and Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine.
It is well know that Richard III was captured by his enemies while his returning from the Acre crusade.
Then the Archbishop of Rouen got a copy of a letter sent to the Holy Emperor to Philippe, king of France, which was secretly sent to Eleanor, telling about the captivity of his son.
Justin is then in charge of finding the missing and future heir of the throne of England.
Prince John will be known as "Prince of Darkness" which denomination was given by Eleanor herself.
[image error]
The plot continues in the next book of the series Cruel as the Grave.
April 9, 2022
The Queen’s Man is an intriguing mystery with interesting plot lines and characters. It is an enjoyable read.
February 21, 2019
King Richard has been gone for two months and his brother John is determined to take the throne for himself. When word is sent to England of Richard's imprisonment, there are people who want that letter to go missing. Justin is travelling south looking for work when he witnesses what seems to be bandits attacking riders, but finds himself caught up in a royal conspiracy instead. He agrees to take the letter to Queen Eleanor and finds himself in her service with a murder to investigate.
I admit that I'm more of a Tudor and Plantagenet/War of the Roses kind of reader so the events in the book are less familiar to me. I liked the characters of The Queen and Justin himself was reasonably interesting. I did think that leaving home because your mentor turns out to be your father was a bit extreme-can't you just talk to the guy who did after all take you in when he didn't have to? Anyway, the plot itself was interesting enough until Justin arrives in the town to investigate and seems to come across one annoying character after another. The sly mistress, the spoiled daughter, the evil law enforcer...it just put me off the whole story. I'm very much about liking most of the characters so when there are lots of nasty and annoying characters I can lose interest. I'd rather have seen Justin on a mission to rescue Richard personally. This wasn't bad but just didn't suit me personally.
I admit that I'm more of a Tudor and Plantagenet/War of the Roses kind of reader so the events in the book are less familiar to me. I liked the characters of The Queen and Justin himself was reasonably interesting. I did think that leaving home because your mentor turns out to be your father was a bit extreme-can't you just talk to the guy who did after all take you in when he didn't have to? Anyway, the plot itself was interesting enough until Justin arrives in the town to investigate and seems to come across one annoying character after another. The sly mistress, the spoiled daughter, the evil law enforcer...it just put me off the whole story. I'm very much about liking most of the characters so when there are lots of nasty and annoying characters I can lose interest. I'd rather have seen Justin on a mission to rescue Richard personally. This wasn't bad but just didn't suit me personally.
October 30, 2016
Warning: This review contains a minor spoiler.
Justin deQuincy, age 20, has just discovered who is his father - and been rejected by him. Driven by youthful male hormones, natural intelligence and curiosity, and a wounded son's compulsion to prove himself, he rashly intervenes in a murder/theft, and becomes ensnared in danger, intrigue and the charm and power of a queen.
I keep reading books by Sharon Kay Penman, even though I usually only give them 3 stars. Her books are very well-researched, putting you right in the time and place. Her insight into human nature, and especially the nature of leadership, is very astute. She does character and setting so well, but her plots tend to be a little meandering and flabby; they lack the tightness, order and drama that I like in a plot. For example, this book is a murder mystery, and ALL of the original suspects/motivations turn out to be red herrings. So much the of plot is therefore extraneous, and I felt a little cheated. But, Penman does character and setting so well that I still enjoyed the book, and will probably continue to read her oeuvre - which is, fortunately, quite large.
Like my reviews? Check out my blog at http://www.kathrynbashaar.com/blog/
Justin deQuincy, age 20, has just discovered who is his father - and been rejected by him. Driven by youthful male hormones, natural intelligence and curiosity, and a wounded son's compulsion to prove himself, he rashly intervenes in a murder/theft, and becomes ensnared in danger, intrigue and the charm and power of a queen.
I keep reading books by Sharon Kay Penman, even though I usually only give them 3 stars. Her books are very well-researched, putting you right in the time and place. Her insight into human nature, and especially the nature of leadership, is very astute. She does character and setting so well, but her plots tend to be a little meandering and flabby; they lack the tightness, order and drama that I like in a plot. For example, this book is a murder mystery, and ALL of the original suspects/motivations turn out to be red herrings. So much the of plot is therefore extraneous, and I felt a little cheated. But, Penman does character and setting so well that I still enjoyed the book, and will probably continue to read her oeuvre - which is, fortunately, quite large.
Like my reviews? Check out my blog at http://www.kathrynbashaar.com/blog/
July 11, 2020
For certes, tis entertaining.
This is the first in a medieval mystery series featuring Justin de Quincy, the illegitimate son of a bishop, who had taken him in and raised him as an orphan. The story begins when Justin learns the truth about his paternity. Shaken and angered he sets off for London to start a new life. He comes across a man, a goldsmith, who has been murdered. Justin finds a letter on the body concerning the disappearance of Richard the Lionhearted. He takes the letter to Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, who engages him to discover the identity of the goldsmith’s murderer.
Even though the hero is a bit bland the mystery is tightly constructed,i.e., not over complicated and the characters are engaging. Penman does tend to use the “for certes” expression far too much, but it is an enjoyable easy read. Alas, with Penman’s death some questions will go unanswered: will Luke marry Aldrich, will Nell find happiness, and will Justin discover the truth about his mother and will he find his lady love?
This is the first in a medieval mystery series featuring Justin de Quincy, the illegitimate son of a bishop, who had taken him in and raised him as an orphan. The story begins when Justin learns the truth about his paternity. Shaken and angered he sets off for London to start a new life. He comes across a man, a goldsmith, who has been murdered. Justin finds a letter on the body concerning the disappearance of Richard the Lionhearted. He takes the letter to Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, who engages him to discover the identity of the goldsmith’s murderer.
Even though the hero is a bit bland the mystery is tightly constructed,i.e., not over complicated and the characters are engaging. Penman does tend to use the “for certes” expression far too much, but it is an enjoyable easy read. Alas, with Penman’s death some questions will go unanswered: will Luke marry Aldrich, will Nell find happiness, and will Justin discover the truth about his mother and will he find his lady love?
September 4, 2013
I came to this book without having read any of Penman's historical fiction -- which I own and plan to read. So, I was able to experience this book purely as a historical mystery. To me, it stands up well against the many other series I read (Robb, Tremayne, Frazer, et al.). The murder mystery is the engine, but not the fuel that powers the story. And, there are many other non-murderous mysteries that keep the plot roiling. I found the characters well drawn and all very believable an interesting. Justin's education in being the queen's man is realistic and itself a major plot point -- will he learn enough and quickly enough to survive? I ended the novel looking forward to the remaining two in the series and to all of Penman's fiction.
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