A Cruel Courtship

Margaret Kerr #3

by Candace Robb

It is Scotland, 1297. In the weeks leading up to the Battle of Stirling Bridge, Margaret Kerr takes up residence in Stirling town. She has come to discover why the informer who has been providing Wallace and Murray with details of the English plans has become unreliable. Although fearful that she may have inherited her mother's visionary gift and curse, and estranged from her husband, Roger, she is as determined as ever to play her part in saving Scotland from the hammer of Edward Longshanks - King of England and would-be King of the Scots. She has accepted the undertaking at the request of James Comyn, kinsman of the deposed Scottish king, John Balliol. It is an important and difficult mission, for who holds Stirling Castle holds Scotland, and with fresh English recruits marching forth, a battle for the castle is imminent. But Margaret's loyalty to the cause is severely tested when Roger is killed. Now her spying role is doubly dangerous...

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Medieval, Historical Mystery, Historical, Crime, Scotland

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Storyteller, mythweaver, author of the Owen Archer, Kate Clifford, & Margaret Kerr mysteries. Primary residence, medieval York.

I blog about writing, medieval history, writing women's stories, and feature new scholarship in my field at candacerobbbooks.com, and share loads of medieval news, folklore, and whimsy on my facebook page, Candace Robb

Reviews

[Cat {Pemberley and Beyond} · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Cruel Courtship is the last book in the Margaret Kerr series. Set in Scotland in 1297, just before the Battle of Stirling Bridge, this book ties up several of the loose threads that have been left hanging over Margaret's head. It also allows Robb to 'retire' Margaret from her role, gently writing her out.

The bright side is that the spying and the wheels within wheels of military and personal politics run as gloriously as ever. The afterword leaves no doubt as to the importance and effects of the Battle of Stirling Bridge. There is also a wonderful bibliography that shows Robb’s continually high standards of research.

Unlike the previous two Kerr books, Margaret is no longer the same strong character that I had grown to love. Instead she has started to get the gift of Second Sight, allowing her to see fragments of the future or what may be. Drained by these visions, Margaret is mentally fragile and haunted by the knowledge that her husband may die. She regains some of her strength of character towards the end, but the story seems to flow around her.

Instead, other characters’ lives seem to have more political intrigue in them. It was a delight that characters, such as Hal, were written back into the story. We also find out whether Margaret’s brother, Andrew will survive his punishment as confessor in an English military camp (he knows to much to be allowed to live... doesn’t he?).

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Scottish early medieval historical fiction. Well-done, well-researched, not really mystery (in the modern sense, not 13th century), but Miss Margaret Kerr has questions to pose and puzzles to solve.

Can the Scots recover from the completely foolhardy step of asking their local empire-building conqueror to adjudicate rival inheritance claims for Scotland's throne, just after harshly annexing Wales? Of course he can! He'll just take it himself! Truth really is stranger than fiction.

Nicely done, and Ms. Robb can definitely write (would like to see her at Bouchercon in NO next year!), but I cannot get behind this series as I could the Owen Archers.

Maybe I just wasn't in the mood for (endless, it seemed) cold, dreary, slashing/drizzling rain, muck, blood and fear. While I came to understand that 13th century Scotland might actually have been that way, the books needed to come up for air occasionally.

[Cassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this one too, it's the sequel to "A Trust Betrayed" and "The Fire in the Flint". Great historical fiction.

I hope Ms. Robb will continue this series. It seems like it was left open for another book, what with Christiana's vision and all.

[Mary MacKintosh · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read the first two books in the Margaret Kerr series, started this one and decided to let go. The characters were not engaging to me anymore. The political and military actions were (to my mind) taking center stage and I lay the book down and could not make myself pick it up again.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Robb’s idea of what is the best way to end a series and mine are light years apart. Every character-based loose end is left hanging. Neither of the 2 prophesies Margaret’s seer mother made about her—which have driven much of the action and many of the significant relationships—are still in the future. Her brothers’ lives, one literally, are hanging in the balance. The romantic relationship that has been building through the 3 novels is put on hold because of their immediate goals. Another romantic interest arises in the final chapter—one who happens to be the only character in the series I do not have mixed feelings about. Our heroine discovers she has the Sight, her greatest fear throughout the series and is off-balance much of the novel. Historically Robb ending this First War of Independence saga at Stirling Bridge makes sense because what’s ahead is a long slog with little happy news and no decisive ending for 17 more years. But the best historical mysteries are about people caught up in extraordinary events, about the characters we care for that keep us coming back book after book. Yes the mysteries were solved with unexpected solutions. Yes, Robb did a powerful job depicting the tensions and terrible betrayals by people living in the middle of an occupied war zone. Yes, there were moments that moved me deeply. Yet I never got enough of any character old or new to understand and care.

[PR · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compelling but Messy

Not as well written as the first two seems rushed and too many stories wound up quickly at the end. This seemed an unedited version of the third boik. Many typos, transposed words unfinished thoughts...Many a copy of an advanced reader's edition for book sellers and reviewers to peruse before the book comes lut...have read many books like this from Amazon...price may determine quality ???? Anyway hope there will be more. Know the Scottish history a bit for the time and am still anxious to know what happens to these characters next...

[Diane G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I belatedly realized that Robb wrote this series some years ago now. I love her writing and eagerly await every new episode in each of her series. However I felt surpprised and disappointed not to find an ending in this series. To leave the readers with an ambiguous resolution after such a build-up, especially in a series with such definite history behind it, seems unfair. One can only hope that Robb will come back to this series one day.

[Leslie Conner · Rating 5 out of 5]

The character development in the series is satisfying. Candace Robb builds relationships to strengthen her story. She crafts the development creatively giving the supporting players full lives, experiencing their perspective, and visualizing their skills in support of the storyline.

[Ruhani · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so sad that this is the last book in the series and there won't be anymore. There's definitely potential to go further and the historical period is fascinating but I guess the author decided to give up on this series.

[Martina Sartor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Questa 3^ indagine di Margaret Kerr, sullo sfondo della storia scozzese, non mi ha convinto come le prime due. Narrazione un po' farraginosa, poca continuità e azione stagnante.

[DEBORAH · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book but.....

I loved this series, I truly did but the third book kind of just stops which is disappointing. I hope to see and read a forth.

[Sarà Grilli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Appassionante e scorrevole. Una trilogia stupenda.

[Michael Wojciehoski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bubo

Owls, visions, start of revolution and freedom. Trials and tribulations. Family reunion and renewal of friendships. Will there be a continuation?

[Gareld Butler · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a pretty boring book. While there are several murders to solve, our "intrepid" sleuth can only figure out whodunit after the murderer confesses, in spite of the fact that she apparently has "the Sight" which allows her to see some things that happen in the future. I thought there would be more historical references in this book and there were really very few. She consistently blurts out things that either embarrass others around her or get her in considerable trouble (including the possibility of being hung). In general, she seems pretty pathetic. I am glad the author has not continued this series.

[Sydney · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the final installment of the Margaret Kerr 13th Century, Scottish series, A Cruel Courtship, author Candace Robb brings the series to an end. Once again filled with more mystery, lies, and suspense, this novel will leave readers wondering how this final novel in the series will end, for all is not as it seems. Will the novel end in tragedy, or will everything finally all work out. I would recommend this novel to readers that enjoy Scottish, 13th century mystery novels and are readers of Candace Robb’s other novels.

Series: Margaret Kerr
Genre: historical; mystery; crime; European literature; Scotland; cultural; 13th century
Publisher: Diversion Books
Publication date: Originally published in 2005; reprinted August 19, 2015
Number of pages:

Other books in the series:
1-A Trust Betrayed
2-The Fire in the Flint

Content Rating: PG-13
Book Rating: 4 star

A review copy of this book was provided by Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours.

[weaverannie · Rating 3 out of 5]

In dit derde deel van de serie over Margaret Kerr vertrekt ze uit Perth naar Stirling. Ze reist met haar vriendin Ada, die in die stad een huis heeft. Ze zal doorgaan voor het nichtje van Ada. Doel van haar verblijf in Stirling is uitzoeken, waarom een van de spionnen van James en zijn mannen geen berichten meer doorgeeft.
Als ze in Stirling aankomen blijken ze midden in de strijd beland te zijn. Intriges, moord, spionnage, maar ook jaloezie leiden tot moord en doodslag.
Margaret probeert alle geheimen te ontraadselen. Tot haar ontsteltenis merkt ze, dat ze de helderziendheid van haar moeder heeft geërfd. Hoe moet ze daarmee omgaan?
Dat wordt vast een thema in een volgend boek in deze serie.

Candace Robb beschrijft historische situaties met veel gevoel voor detail. Aan het eind geeft ze bovendien meer uitleg over de politieke situatie in Schotland en over de plaatsen zoals die er nu uitzien.

[Sara La porta · Rating 2 out of 5]

La lettura del primo libro della serie è stata divertente, quella del secondo interessante, il terzo capitolo del "gioco di ruolo" con protagonista Margaret Kerr comincia ad essere un po' noiosetto e a tratti decisamente poco credibile e un poco zuccherosa. Alla fine però, se uno ha del tempo libero, è carino.

[MBP · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best in this series so far. I wonder if Candace Robb plans to write any more in the Margaret Kerr series?

[Elli · Rating 1 out of 5]

I like the Hawkenlye Mysteries and the Magdalene La Batard series too. Still trying to decide about this one - looks promising though.

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

not good... prefer Owen Archer!

[🌿Debbie 🌿 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interessante narrazione storica di avvenimenti reali misti ad un intrigante giallo di strane morti improvvise dove una giovane fanciulla con un "dono speciale ", cerca di risolverne il mistero.

[Susanne Mulholland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable

Love Candace Robb books and look forward to more Margaret Kerr.
An insight into Scottish life of the times with mystery and intrigue.

[Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it more on second reading.