Dragon's Lair

September 15, 2003
In Penman's third polished medieval mystery (after 1998's Cruel as the Grave), her dedicated and resourceful hero, Justin de Quincy, tries to recover, quite literally, a king's ransom in coffers of precious metals and bales of wool, which are as valuable as gold, that have been stolen in northern Wales. It's 1193, and Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine fervently needs to ransom her eldest son, Richard Lionheart, from the Holy Roman Emperor before King Philippe of France can interfere and her younger son, John, can seize the crown. Justin proceeds into the thickets and wild forests of Wales, where he's deeply mistrusted both as an Englishman and an outsider. He must penetrate abundant Welsh intrigues and deceptions in order to discover the treasure as well as solve murders and comfort bereaved lovers. Despite a large cast of characters from every social class, Penman keeps them all clearly distinguishable. Her familiarity with Cheshire and Wales is evident in her descriptions of the terrain and verdure, while her use of modern language, with only an occasional "for certes" to remind readers of the period, makes the story a pleasure to read. Author tour. (Oct. 13)FYI:The first mystery in the series, The Queen's Man (1996), was nominated for an Edgar. Penman is also the author of The Sunne in Splendour (1982) and five other historical novels.

June 1, 2003
Justin de Quincy heads for Wales, where a payment to help ransom Richard Lionheart has disappeared. The third in a series.

Copyright 2003 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2004
Adult/High School-In this sequel to The Queen's Man (Ballantine, 1998), Dowager Queen Eleanor is desperately trying to rescue her son Richard Lionheart, imprisoned by the Holy Roman Emperor. Meanwhile, her youngest son, John, plots to ensure that his brother never leaves prison alive. Justin De Quincy, the illegitimate son of the Bishop of Chester, is sent to Wales by the queen to recover one of the ransom payments, which has mysteriously disappeared. It was primarily in the form of fine Cistercian wool sent in wagons under guard to Chester. De Quincy investigates the theft and delves into the labyrinthine politics of Wales. Davydd, a prince of North Wales, claims the payment was stolen and the guards slain. Using friends and contacts and his own wits, De Quincy comes close to tracking it down, and then becomes a target himself. Amid scheming, murder, and mayhem, he ultimately prevails. Medieval Britain comes alive in this fast-paced tale. Students of history and those just looking for a good mystery will be equally rewarded.-Molly Connally, Chantilly Regional Library, VA

Copyright 2004 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2003
Welcome to twelfth-century English and Welsh politics by way of this riveting and rich mystery novel. It is the third in the author's series of medieval mysteries featuring Eleanor of Aquitaine, queen of England and certainly one of history's most colorful royal figures. Penman, also the well-established author of several non-mystery historical novels, pulls from the Plantagenet period in English history a particularly engrossing event: Queen Eleanor's son, the famous crusader Richard the Lionheart, is now king, but he is being held for ransom by the Holy Roman Emperor, and the queen is doing everything possible to gather enough money to meet the ransom demands. Enter one Justin de Quincy, a relatively low-born individual, whom the queen trusts implicitly. Off to Wales Queen Eleanor sends him, to investigate the loss of a shipment of precious Welsh wool that was coming her way as part of her demand that all corners of the realm help in her effort to free her adored son. The plot then takes complicated, but plausible and even delicious, turns.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2003, American Library Association.)