Prince of Darkness ~ Sharon Kay Penman

The last book on Justin de Quincey, or maybe not but is currently last book. Lady Claudine summons Justin on behalf of Prince John who needs his assistance. Justin is upset but he is the Queen's Man and believes she would want him to assist John. Someone is plotting against Prince John they claim that they have a letter where he has planned to kill his brother Richard, he needs Justin's help in proving the document is a forgery. Justin and Durand set out to prove John's innocence, but stumble upon dead monks and a lady who is deeply involved in this conspiracy against John. Immediately suspicion falls on Justin and Durand when they are discovered with the bodies, they quickly invent a story to get away. The plot thickens as to who you can trust and who is behind the murders.

Another great blend of secondary characters I loved how finally Justin was partnered with his nemesis, Durand who unknown to John is loyal to the Queen, and in the prvious books there was lots of tension between these two, but to see how they come together to unravel the plot against John is great.

I hope she writes another story with this great characters.

Cruel as the Grave Sharon Kay Penman

Justin de Quincy is back again in the 2nd book of this medieval series. Justin is called upon by a friend to solve the murder of a 15-year old Welsh girl Melangell who was killed in the church graveyard. The accused are two brothers who seem to be hiding something are not helpful in solving the mystery of this young girl. The father also seems to be hiding something. Again Justin has his work cut out for him to find a killer and the reason why.

It is April 1193 and Justin is summoned back to court by Eleanor of Aquitaine while Richard the Lionheart sets in a German prison his younger brother John seizes Windsor Castle and the Queen ask Justin to undertake a dangerous mission by asking him to mediate a truce with John. Also, Justin discovers that Claudine de Loudun is with child and she wants to abort the child with special herbs, not sure what to do Justin confides in the Queen, which upsets Claudine. The Queen arranges for Claudine to leave and have the child and home found for the child.

I do not read many mystery's, but the clues that Justin was able to discover and how he unraveled those clues were interesting. Although, not a terrible read was not as good as the first book and I was not impressed with the discovery of the killer. Many of the same characters return in this book, which I enjoyed.

The Queen's Man - Sharon Kay Penman

1st Book of the Justin de Quincy Series

New author for me and I am pleased to say I thoroughly enjoyed the story. This is the first book in a series that begins in 1192 with the main character Justin de Quincy who grew up as an orphan and was taught by a high ranking bishop who paid for his education, housing etc. During his search for his mother he discovers the bishop is his father.

Justin sets out to find his fate in the world, when he stumbles upon an ambush where he witnesses a murder. As the goldsmith lies dying he ask Justin to deliver a message to Queen Eleanor. Once he delivers the letter the Queen becomes worried her son King Richard the Lionheart has been missing for a couple of months and her youngest son John is plotting to take over the throne.

Queen Eleanor is impressed with Justin and asks him to identify the killer(s). He gladly accepts the task. Justin returns to the town of the goldsmith to begin his investigation, here he discovers some interesting characters. Who can he really trust?

The book is well written nice quick read, very little romance, nice plot and some twists. I am looking forward to reading the remaining 3 books in the series.