Publication
Robinson (2007)
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Description
At the May Day dancing at Glasgow Cross, Gil Cunningham sees not only the woman who is going to be murdered, but her murderer as well. Gil is a recently qualified lawyer whose family still expect him to enter the priesthood. When he finds the body of a young woman in the new building at Glasgow Cathedral he is asked to investigate, and identifies the corpse as the runaway wife of cruel, unpleasant nobleman John Semphill. With the help of Maistre Pierre, the French master-mason, Gil must ask questions and seek a murderer in the heart of the city.
User reviews
LibraryThing member Meredy
Six-word review: Well-intentioned first novel misses the mark.
Extended review:
This novel possesses a considerable amount of charm and some promising narrative potential. The setting is Glasgow in 1492, and the details of ordinary life in fifteenth-century Scotland are entertaining enough, complete
The problem is that this story is almost entirely lacking in narrative tension. There is no driving passion of any kind, the focal character has nothing at stake, there is nothing to fear, no important character is ever in any danger, and even the romantic component of the story proceeds without obstacle or impediment apart from an extremely minor tiff. I don't remember ever reading something called a "murder mystery" that felt more lacking in suspense in any regard; I could barely muster any curiosity about the solution. The overall effect is about as ho-hum as a white dinner roll served cold.
Moreover, there are too many characters with too little to distinguish them, and the legal business is difficult to follow. So when it comes to what is essentially a courtroom drama in the last portion, I hardly knew what was going on. I could see that the author had something like a "Where's Waldo" vision of a roomful of people each engaged in some pertinent activity, but it was too much to track all at once. The "whodunit" question is almost a matter of indifference, apart from a natural desire to see justice done, and the way that justice is done here seems arbitrary and contrived.
I did enjoy the language effects throughout, even though the author didn't trouble to interpret many instances of tongues other than English or even explain what "Ersche" was (I eventually figured it out). I knew a good many of the Scots expressions--e.g., bannock, usquebae, kirk, burn--but there were others unfamiliar to me, and context clues were often insufficient. There were also utterances in other languages, including Italian, that seemed important but that were left untranslated. For instance, after speaking with an Italian musician, a character reports, "I ask about his knife. He says he drew because he thought he saw something--an uomo cattivo, a ladro--in the kirkyard." Because this seemed like a significant statement of a witness at the time, I'd have liked to know what a "ladro" was, but the author did not see fit to reveal it--even though according to the text this statement was made by the person who was translating the Italian's remarks for the main character.
In sum, the proportion of weaknesses to strengths seems too high for me to give this book better than a half-hearted rating, even though I came to it optimistically and wanted to like it.
Extended review:
This novel possesses a considerable amount of charm and some promising narrative potential. The setting is Glasgow in 1492, and the details of ordinary life in fifteenth-century Scotland are entertaining enough, complete
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with glimpses of social conditions, economics, politics, education, ecclesiastical life, language, clan rivalries, and even dentistry. The historical elements appear to be well researched, and the landscape through which the characters move is vividly depicted.The problem is that this story is almost entirely lacking in narrative tension. There is no driving passion of any kind, the focal character has nothing at stake, there is nothing to fear, no important character is ever in any danger, and even the romantic component of the story proceeds without obstacle or impediment apart from an extremely minor tiff. I don't remember ever reading something called a "murder mystery" that felt more lacking in suspense in any regard; I could barely muster any curiosity about the solution. The overall effect is about as ho-hum as a white dinner roll served cold.
Moreover, there are too many characters with too little to distinguish them, and the legal business is difficult to follow. So when it comes to what is essentially a courtroom drama in the last portion, I hardly knew what was going on. I could see that the author had something like a "Where's Waldo" vision of a roomful of people each engaged in some pertinent activity, but it was too much to track all at once. The "whodunit" question is almost a matter of indifference, apart from a natural desire to see justice done, and the way that justice is done here seems arbitrary and contrived.
I did enjoy the language effects throughout, even though the author didn't trouble to interpret many instances of tongues other than English or even explain what "Ersche" was (I eventually figured it out). I knew a good many of the Scots expressions--e.g., bannock, usquebae, kirk, burn--but there were others unfamiliar to me, and context clues were often insufficient. There were also utterances in other languages, including Italian, that seemed important but that were left untranslated. For instance, after speaking with an Italian musician, a character reports, "I ask about his knife. He says he drew because he thought he saw something--an uomo cattivo, a ladro--in the kirkyard." Because this seemed like a significant statement of a witness at the time, I'd have liked to know what a "ladro" was, but the author did not see fit to reveal it--even though according to the text this statement was made by the person who was translating the Italian's remarks for the main character.
In sum, the proportion of weaknesses to strengths seems too high for me to give this book better than a half-hearted rating, even though I came to it optimistically and wanted to like it.
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LibraryThing member cathyskye
First Line: At the May Day dancing at Glasgow Cross, Gilbert Cunningham saw not only the woman who was going to be murdered, but her murderer as well.
I am a fan of both historical mystery series and of mysteries set in Scotland. Many of the historical mystery series I've found are set in the
Gil Cunningham is a newly qualified lawyer whose family expects him to join the priesthood. Although Gil likes the idea of practicing the law, he's not so sure about his vocation for the priesthood. During the May Day celebrations, Gil notices an attractive woman. Later that evening he stumbles upon her body in a building under construction at Glasgow Cathedral, and he's asked to investigate along with Maistre Pierre, a French master mason. The victim was the runaway wife of a cruel and unpleasant nobleman. She had left him to live with a blind harper to whom she bore an infant son. Will Gil be able to find her murderer?
Even though the book was filled with unpleasant people, the murderer's identity was rather easy for me to deduce. I didn't find myself caring much because McIntosh's skill in characterization and her richly appointed setting more than made up for that one small weakness. The Harper's Quine is an excellent beginning to this historical mystery series, and I'm looking forward to reading more.
I am a fan of both historical mystery series and of mysteries set in Scotland. Many of the historical mystery series I've found are set in the
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eastern part of Scotland. Having more than a drop of Highland blood in my veins, I'm a firm proponent of the idea that there's more to Scotland than Edinburgh and its environs. As a result, I was thrilled when I found this mystery series set in fifteenth-century Glasgow.Gil Cunningham is a newly qualified lawyer whose family expects him to join the priesthood. Although Gil likes the idea of practicing the law, he's not so sure about his vocation for the priesthood. During the May Day celebrations, Gil notices an attractive woman. Later that evening he stumbles upon her body in a building under construction at Glasgow Cathedral, and he's asked to investigate along with Maistre Pierre, a French master mason. The victim was the runaway wife of a cruel and unpleasant nobleman. She had left him to live with a blind harper to whom she bore an infant son. Will Gil be able to find her murderer?
Even though the book was filled with unpleasant people, the murderer's identity was rather easy for me to deduce. I didn't find myself caring much because McIntosh's skill in characterization and her richly appointed setting more than made up for that one small weakness. The Harper's Quine is an excellent beginning to this historical mystery series, and I'm looking forward to reading more.
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LibraryThing member PuddinTame
This is an accomplished mystery with a strong sense of history and character. The writing is quite polished, especially for a first novel.
The setting is Glasgow in 1492. The intriguing adventures of the young lawyer, soon to be priest, allow the reader to view a wide section of Scotland - servants,
There was a cast of interesting and likeable characters that I look forward to meeting again. The only disappointment is waiting for the second book.
The setting is Glasgow in 1492. The intriguing adventures of the young lawyer, soon to be priest, allow the reader to view a wide section of Scotland - servants,
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nobles, impoverished gentry. The story touches on points of Scottish law and the intricacies of marital finances, the travels of young scholars, the mingling and separation of lowlander and highlander.There was a cast of interesting and likeable characters that I look forward to meeting again. The only disappointment is waiting for the second book.
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LibraryThing member hailelib
The first book in a series with Gil Cunningham as the investigator. It's May Day, 1492 in Glasgow and Gil is watching the festivities and he not only meets Alys, daughter of the mason overseeing some building at St. Mungo's, but also sees the woman who was to be murdered and her murderer. Gil has
I enjoyed this book as much for the period detail as for the story. We get something of the everyday life of the people of Glasgow and the way recent political events have affected them. For instance, Gil had been studying law in Paris but his family having picked the wrong side and perishing in battle, he is left with few funds and no lands. The only way to support himself seems to be the priesthood. There are also a number of Campbells and Stewarts about.
I enjoyed this mystery and its setting and will be looking for the next in the series. Recommended for those who like historical mysteries.
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been living with his uncle, Canon David Cunningham, and studying to practice law and become a priest. He's not overly enthusiastic about this future so welcomes the opportunity to investigate the crime. By the last chapter, Gil solves the murder and finds that the course of his life has changed.I enjoyed this book as much for the period detail as for the story. We get something of the everyday life of the people of Glasgow and the way recent political events have affected them. For instance, Gil had been studying law in Paris but his family having picked the wrong side and perishing in battle, he is left with few funds and no lands. The only way to support himself seems to be the priesthood. There are also a number of Campbells and Stewarts about.
I enjoyed this mystery and its setting and will be looking for the next in the series. Recommended for those who like historical mysteries.
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LibraryThing member jamespurcell
Excellent first book in what should be a fun series to read. Good characters and a suitable plot with insights into the life, laws and customs for the time in Glasgow and its environs. An Ershe, Scot, Latin, Italian, French dictionary would have been useful, just kidding. With a grand daughter just
*Link to Scottish Language Dictionary on LibraryThing author page.
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starting university and planning to major in Classics, I now have a demonstrable vocation for her to consider; as my personal translator. In this book, the multiple languages* are used aptly to demonstrate, how rich and diverse, life in the border counties could be.*Link to Scottish Language Dictionary on LibraryThing author page.
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LibraryThing member lexieconyngham
I thoroughly enjoyed this. The settin gwas convincing, and what must have been detailed research was used with a light touch and a clear sense of affection for the background. characters were well-drawn and sympathetic, and the hero particularly interesting in his scholarship and indecision about
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his future. I found the conversations witty and realistic and the plot was complex and convincing. Anyone concerned by the Scots or Gaelic terms will find they are smoothly explained in the text (along with the Latin, French and Italian!). I'm very much looking forward to the next in what I believe is already a long series. Show Less
LibraryThing member Zumbanista
A Tale A Bit Long In The Telling
It took me almost a third of this historical mystery to really settle into the story. To begin with, the writing is so richly descriptive that I almost couldn't follow the narrative. The Harper's Quine by Pat Mcintosh features meticulous research and intelligent
Although by the end, I was well acquainted with the main characters, I found it initially very hard to distinguish between the various side characters. My confusion continued to the closing chapters unfortunately.
The author has an excellent knowledge of the workings of the medieval church, law, everyday life, Scottish environs and the era.
As many other reviewers have mentioned, it would have been ideal to append a glossary for the archaic Scots and Ersche vocabulary not found in the modern dictionary. It was a real shame to miss out on the meanings of these words and phrases which couldn't always be gathered from their context.
Even though the standard of writing is high, I am not all that motivated to follow Gil and Alys Cunningham through the next 8 books in this series based on the pace and progress of the storyline.
It took me almost a third of this historical mystery to really settle into the story. To begin with, the writing is so richly descriptive that I almost couldn't follow the narrative. The Harper's Quine by Pat Mcintosh features meticulous research and intelligent
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writing but the mystery unfolds very slowly and passively so that I didn't find it as exciting as I'd hoped. It's a whodunit solved by a great deal of time-consuming and methodical detection.Although by the end, I was well acquainted with the main characters, I found it initially very hard to distinguish between the various side characters. My confusion continued to the closing chapters unfortunately.
The author has an excellent knowledge of the workings of the medieval church, law, everyday life, Scottish environs and the era.
As many other reviewers have mentioned, it would have been ideal to append a glossary for the archaic Scots and Ersche vocabulary not found in the modern dictionary. It was a real shame to miss out on the meanings of these words and phrases which couldn't always be gathered from their context.
Even though the standard of writing is high, I am not all that motivated to follow Gil and Alys Cunningham through the next 8 books in this series based on the pace and progress of the storyline.
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LibraryThing member Auntie-Nanuuq
Gil is studying to be a lawyer, with little or no prospects of property his plan is to enter the priesthood as well. While watching the May Day celebrations with an anonymous young woman, unbeknown to Gil he sees a murder & their victim pass in front of him.
Later as Gil begins to investigate the
I liked the story, I liked the characters. I will admit that I became impatient towards the end & bored with the narrative, so I skipped much of it. I knew who the murderer was....
I found the map in front of the book to be severely lacking as it didn't have all the landmarks on it.
Later as Gil begins to investigate the
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murder he also gets to know the anonymous young woman better.I liked the story, I liked the characters. I will admit that I became impatient towards the end & bored with the narrative, so I skipped much of it. I knew who the murderer was....
I found the map in front of the book to be severely lacking as it didn't have all the landmarks on it.
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Language
Original language
English
ISBN
9781845294618
Pages
320