Goodreads Mobile | see what your friends are reading

Aug 09, 2009

Anna rated it:

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 wi More...

5 comments like (4 people liked it)

Apr 20, 2010

Joyce rated it:

First in the Justin de Quincy medieval mystery series, set in 1193 England.[return][return]Justin, the illegitimate son of the Bishop of Chester, after confronting his father over his birth, starts on his way from Winchester to London hoping to be able to find a way to make a living there. But a short way out of the city, he comes to the aid of a goldsmith and his groom who are attacked by robbers. Justin drives them f, but the goldsmith is mortally wounded. Before he dies, he entrusts to Jus More...

0 comments like

Apr 19, 2011

Ria rated it:

I was thrilled to find another historical mystery writer after the ilk of Ellis Peters my all time favorite. This particular book deals with Queen Eleanor of Acquitaine and her two sons, John and Richard. The protagonist is a young man of obscure birth who finds himself embroiled in a mystery surrounding Richard and John. Although there are a few gratuitous scenes, on the whole the book is entertaining and fairly well written. One thing that did grate on me was that the characters would speak in More...

0 comments like

Mar 17, 2009

Krista rated it:

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 phrase 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 More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Aug 07, 2011

Kendra rated it:

I really enjoyed this unusual story, a mystery set in 1193 England. As I have stated in other reviews, I love Sharon Kay Penman as an author, her books are thoroughly enjoyable while also being full of facts from the medieval time period she chooses. This book is about Justin, a bastard-born son of a high cleric who never acknowledged him. Justin sets out on his own to immediately stumble upon a murder on the road to London. As the man lay dying in Justin’s arms he whispers that a hidden let More...

0 comments like

Aug 23, 2010

Ana T. rated it:

The Queen's Man is SKP first book in the Justin de Quincy series. It's a mystery series set in medieval England (around 1193) and Justin is the illegitimate son of a bishop that, after finding out the truth about his birth, has a falling out with his father and decides to set out on his own.

While on the road he witnesses the robbery and murder of a goldsmith. The man's dying words ask him to deliver a letter to Queen Eleanor and, after reading said document and seeing how it might be More...

0 comments like

Apr 22, 2008

Workingartist rated it:

Love historical novels. Love mysteries. Loved this book. The story takes place in Medieval England, just after the 3rd Crusade. The story is centered around the efforts of Eleanor of Aquitaine to obtain the safe return to England of her son, Richard the Lionhearted. Along the way, you get a picture of what Medieval England could have been.

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Nov 17, 2011

Shannon rated it:

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 suspisciou people in the More...

0 comments like

Jul 12, 2010

Nissa rated it:

I don't read a whole lot of mysteries, so perhaps I'm not the best judge of this one, but I found the writing simplistic and lacking subtlety. I don't care to have every conclusion the protagonist comes to, however minor, completely spelled out for me. The dialogue was distracting - the characters seemed to speak in completely modern parlance most of the time, so when they used older language (how many times can you fit "for certes" on a page?), it was jarring. Penman explained many More...

2 comments like

Sep 21, 2011

Ruth rated it:

Pretty good! It was a bit short, but its seems to be an introduction to the series, so maybe thats just how its supposed to be.

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Oct 01, 2011

Lindsay rated it:

Richard the Lionheart is missing, John is planning to usurp the English crown, and Eleanor of Aquitaine is running out of people to trust. Justin de Quincy comes across a bloodstained letter destined for the queen, which will lead him on a hunt to track down a murderer.

Penman is undoubtedly one of my favourite authors of all time, however, I felt that The Queen's Man fell short of her normal literary brilliance. I suppose part of it has to do with the sheer length of the no More...

0 comments like

Dec 12, 2010

Marisa rated it:

This is the story of Justin de Quincy who, after finding himself jobless, hears a call for help. When he answers the man is dying and the murderers take off. The dying an tells Justin that he has a letter for the queen that is urgent and must get to her. Justin takes the letter to the queen and ends up in her service trying to find out who murdered the man to prevent him from getting the letter to her. But who can he trust when the Queens own son may be plotting against her.
This was a very More...

0 comments like

Sep 09, 2010

Melissa rated it:

I love mysteries and I love historical fiction. I had heard that Sharon Kay Penman was a good historical fiction writer and had planned to pick up some of her stuff. I didn't realize she also wrote mysteries until I stumbled upon this book at the library. I simply had to check it out! I am so glad I did. This book takes place in Medieval England. King Richard hasn't returned from the Crusades and no is quite certain he is even still alive. His brother, Prince John is eager to claim the th More...

0 comments like

May 17, 2009

Jmassa rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Feb 28, 2010

Babakathryn rated it:

Please remember-I am trying really hard to only give 5 stars to the top top classics--timeless things I will read over and over. And Harry Potter which I LOVED LOVED I only gave 4 stars too--so, believe me, for what I am trying to do here on goodreads, this is a GOOD BOOK!! They are a tiny, slightly less compelling than Penman's Here Be Dragons historical series. This is a mystery series, but still historical in nature. Henry II, Eleanor, John, Richard--if you love English historical novels, but More...

0 comments like

Jun 02, 2011

Art rated it:

Reminded me of reading "Babylon" by Catherine Jinks, or "The Name of the Rose" movie w/Sean Connering. Eleanor of Aquitaine, Richard The Lionhearted, and Prince John w/other characters thrown in.
My ancestors served the King/Queens of Ireland and England before coming to America. I also enjoyed the idea of a mystery to be solved in this time period. Ms. Penman did a good job keeping my interest and weaving a tale of red herrings for me to chase until the real culpit w More...

0 comments like

Dec 27, 2011

Becky rated it:

I liked the historical setting, 1193 during the reign of Eleanor of Aquitaine, more than the mystery story line. The story centers around a conflict between Eleanor's two sons...the missing Richard the Lion Heart and his brother, John, suspected of trying to overthrow Richard. Justin, an illegitimate son of a bishop, happens on the murder of a man carrying a message to the queen and becomes involved in trying to identify the murder. It is well written, worth the read, and good escape reading More...

0 comments like

Oct 14, 2011

Jackleen rated it:

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, Ki More...

0 comments like

Jun 06, 2009

Jenny rated it:

This is a good beach read for those who like historical mysteries. Accurately researched, fun, active, not deep. The book is set in a tense period, when Richard the Lionhearted is off on his crusade and is missing from the throne. He should be back by now, his ship should have docked a while ago, but nobody knows where he is. Penman does a good job of depicting the tension and the strategic struggles around the throne. I also like the way she draws Eleanor of Aquitaine, making her both subt More...

0 comments like

Feb 05, 2009

Becky rated it:

I absolutely loved this book! I picked it up by mistake at the public library and was completely surprised by it. I've always loved reading about the middle ages and Eleanor of Acquataine. This one also includes King Richard and Prince John. Penman's version of Prince John is by far the best I've ever seen. She doesn't turn him into some whiney little coward. He's this weasel who uses everyone to his advantage but can be stubbornly loyal to those he deems friends. I just loved it. A must read.

0 comments like

Dec 25, 2008

Tess rated it:

This is Penman's departure from historical fiction to the medieval mystery genre. The first in a series of 5 so far. I've only read this one, but I'm not interested in reading any more of these. I liked it, but it was such a disappointment after reading everything she'd written before this.

I loved all her previous historical fiction, especially the Welsh trilogy. I'm sure it's easier to make money putting out these mysteries, but I miss the young Penman.

0 comments like

Dec 13, 2011

Patricia rated it:

This is one of the first of a series of books set in my very favorite period, and the Queen referred to in the title is my great heroine, Eleanor of Aquitaine. Imagine - married first to Louis of France, organizes her divorce and marries Henry, soon to be King of England. The hero of this book, Justin, in a gentleman of ambiguous origins - his father is one of the Catholic bishops and we don't really know who his mother was. Justin is likable, and quick thinking, a likable hero.

Shar More...

0 comments like

Sep 30, 2009

Morgan rated it:

Very rarely do I ever read a book more than once, however this book keeps me reading over and over again. I started the series a little doubtful, for I usually read fairy, fantasy books. Such as Harry Potter, Eragon Series, Bartimaeus Trilogy, Twilight Series, etc. This book kept me on edge just as they had. I never tire of its story always intreagued by the adventure. Now that I find there is a series to read, I am nothing but hungry for more...

0 comments like

Oct 06, 2011

Ratforce added it

Another historical mystery series, this time set in medieval Europe, is the Justin de Quincy series by Sharon Kay Penman. They are filled with historical details, appealing characters, and lots of adventure. This is the first in the series.

For a fast-paced medieval mystery, take a look at The Queen’s Man by Sharon Kay Penman. Not only does this mystery series offer a well-researched view of life in medieval England, but it spans society from the lowliest beggars all the up to Queen More...

0 comments like

Sep 14, 2010

Andrea rated it:

This book was a lot of fun. It was a murder mystery that took place during the absence of Richard the Lion Hearted when he was captured in Austria. Lots of fun courtly intrigue from a character that was raised in the church. A very interesting dynamic. The mystery part lacked but the characters sparkled. If you like Eleanor or Aquitaine and the Plantagenets, you'll like this book.

0 comments like

Jan 27, 2011

Barbara rated it:

What a delightful mix of history and fiction! Weaving a completely fictional character into the world of Eleanore of Acquitane's latter years, and the era of Richard versus John... with a bit of murder mystery thrown in, Ms. Penman kept me captivated, as she does with her works that are closer to history!

Now I have to read the other three in this series!

0 comments like

Sep 16, 2007

Simone rated it:

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 More...

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

Jan 18, 2010

Sidhe1 rated it:

While I prefer Penman's pure historical fiction more than the medieval mysteries, this was a terrific read. I blasted through it in about 2 days. Fastest I've ever read one of her books, LOL. Of course her others are no shorter than about 600 pages. =)

I liked Justin de Quincy. He had a lot of courage but wasn't arrogant. He knew his limits and wasn't afraid to say when he was over his head, even if it was difficult for him. I wasn't sure his conversations with Eleanor of Aquitaine w More...

0 comments like

Oct 14, 2011

Kristen rated it:

It's times like these that I wish I could do half-star increments.

I liked the writing. I love how she wrote Eleanor of Aquitaine, but the story just seemed so... formulaic. *shrug*

I'll certainly read more of SKP's work. Eleanor is one of my favorite queens. But I'll just hope that there's more intrigue in the next books.

0 comments like

Nov 22, 2009

Jeannette rated it:

If you enjoy historical fiction and mysteries this is a good choice for you. King Richard is missing, England does not know if he is alive or dead. A goldsmith is murdered on his way to deliver a letter to Queen Eleanor, and a good samaritan is left to not only finish the murdered goldsmith's delivery, but then to figure out why he was murdered.

0 comments like