A Trust Betrayed

Margaret Kerr #1

by Candace Robb

The acclaimed author of the Owen Archer Series “lovingly re-creates medieval Edinburgh” in a novel that introduces Scottish sleuth Margaret Kerr (Publishers Weekly).   In the spring of 1297, the English army controls lowland Scotland and Margaret Kerr’s husband Roger Sinclair is missing. He had gone to Dundee in autumn, writing to Margaret with a promise to be home for Christmas, but it’s past Easter. He could be caught up in the swelling rebellion against the English—if he’s even alive. When his cousin is murdered on the streets of Edinburgh, Roger’s last known location, Margaret coerces her brother, a priest, to escort her to the city.   She finds Edinburgh scarred by war—houses burnt, walls stained with blood, shops shuttered—and the townsfolk simmering with resentment, harboring secrets. Even her uncle, innkeeper Murdoch Kerr, meets her questions with silence. Desperate, Margaret makes alliances that risk both her own life and that of her brother in her search for answers. She learns that war twists love and loyalties, and that, until tested, we cannot know our own hearts, much less those of our loved ones.   “Robb’s writing is so rich and historically true that this is a must for all lovers of historical mysteries.” —Historical Novel Society   “Thirteenth-century Edinburgh comes off the page cold and convincing, from the smoke and noise of the tavern kitchen to Holyrood Abbey under a treacherous abbot. Most enjoyable.” —The List (Edinburgh)

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

238 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 26, 2000

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

[Mfred · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unfortunately for Margaret Kerr of Perth, her books may always be compared to Robb's Owen Archer series, even if the comparison is somewhat unfair.

Margaret Kerr is not Owen Archer-- she is young and inexperienced, often jumps to conclusions too quickly, and makes hasty decisions putting quite a few people at risk. Her husband has gone missing in Edinburgh; her cousin-in-law who went off to find him comes back dead (and mutilated), so she sets off for Edinburgh ostensibly to figure out why. But really, Margaret's story is the story of why Scotland is at the brink of civil war with England.

Cheekily put, A Trust Betrayed is Braveheart but starring a woman and with historical accuracy.


Now I am not much of a fan of the mystery genre, but I go out of my way to find and read Robb's books. They go so far beyond genre conventions to tell true-to-life stories about people living in real historical events and settings. A Trust Betrayed succeeds in bringing Medieval Scotland to life much as the Owen Archer series brought York and Wales to life.

[Andrew✌️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a fan of medieval thrillers and I’ve known this author for many years. I have read almost all of the books in the Owen Archer series and have enjoyed them very much, for her ability to build an intriguing mystery in a very well-curated historical setting. For this reason, thanks to past experiences, I decided to start the Margaret Kerr series, of which this is the first book.

In 1297, the young Margaret Kerr leaves the city of Perth for go to Edinburgh to find her husband Roger, of whom she has not heard from for months, and the murderers of Jack, her husband's cousin, sent to look for him and returned as a corpse. The search is made even more difficult by the hostility of the inhabitants and the revolt of the Scots against the British.

However, looking at the mystery part, I found it rather disappointing, uncared for, almost an insignificant part of the story. Most of the ink is spent describing Margareth's life, her anxieties and fears, a rather chaotic family situation her husband is missing, the father ran away when the British arrived, the mother retired to a convent, apparently endowed with the gift of foresight, which seems to have only brought chaos to the family. When it finally comes to the solution of the mystery, it is dismissed fairly quickly.

I have to admit that building on experience with a previous series can create false expectations. Owen Archer and Margaret Kerr are different types of people in a different environment, after all. But I expected the mystery to be better developed, to create that suspense that makes you devour the pages and make many hypotheses about the possible killer.

Although this disappointed me, I want to read the next book, in the hope that there is a little more balance between the various elements of the story.

[Sydney · Rating 4 out of 5]

A historical mystery in 13th century Scotland, Candace Robb’s A Trust Betrayed, the first book in the Margaret Kerr series, is a hit. Candace’s book is full of secrets and suspense, leaving readers wondering what will happen next. With enticing characters and an intriguing story of a women who goes in search of her missing husband, readers will enjoy this thrilling tale in the first book in the Margaret Kerr series. I would recommend this novel to readers that thoroughly enjoy a book filled with mystery and intrigue.

Series: Margaret Kerr
Genre: historical; mystery; crime; European literature; Scotland; cultural; 13th century
Publisher: Mysterious Press
Publication date: October 26, 2000
Number of pages: 255

Other books in the series:
2-The Fire in the Flint
3-A Cruel Courtship

Content Rating: PG-13 (mystery and a bit of violence/crime)
Book Rating: 4 stars

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

[Ruhani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the characters, the setting, the atmosphere of this book. It is so smoothly written that you can go on and on reading it and you really feel the sense of menace and secrecy all around you. Definitely a contender for 5 stars but only getting 4 because I didn't really like the ending. There was no neat tying up of loose ends but more of preparing the reader for what comes ahead. Which is not a bad thing of course but not quite what I was hoping for.

[Cassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It's the first in a series about a young bride in historical Scotland whose husband disappears and whose cousin-in-law is murdered. She leaves her quiet town to go searching for her husband.

I anxiously awaited the sequels which my mom bought for me from a bookshop in England since they were not available in the states. I then devoured them both in a matter of days during my bedrest with the twins.

[Leslie Roper]

I like medieval mysteries and this, the first of a long series, is particularly intriguing with a woman protagonist, Margaret Kerr. Having said that I had some mixed feelings about it until I got to the end, which is a cliff-hanger so I find myself wanting to know more of what happens to the characters. Thus I will seek out the 2nd volume.

[Sharon · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is more of a 13th century political thriller than a mystery. I did not find the characters to be very well developed and in my opinion there was no real resolution at the end - probably because it is the first in the series. Still I felt disappointed.

[Patrizia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stelle e mezza

[Lucy Barnhouse · Rating 2 out of 5]

I made it through this book, but it was a slog. I've enjoyed Robb's other series, but this book really didn't do it for me. Here as elsewhere, Robb's evocation of local and historical atmosphere is good. But the prose of this novel felt heavily expository, telling instead of showing all manner of emotions and motivations. Partway through the novel, I wondered whether it might have been better started in the middle; towards the end, I found myself thinking that it would have worked better as a series of flashbacks or gradual revelations once we'd gotten to know and care about the characters by other means. I feel I should mention that the treatment of medieval medicine was good -- as I so rarely can say that about any historical fiction -- but I just couldn't get into either the emotional drama or the high politics that intertwine in this novel. I might give the second installment a try, because 1297 Edinburgh is (obviously) potentially explosive, but this book feels missable.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did enjoy the plot. This is the first book for this character, and I think she could develop to be as interesting as the Owen Archer character from this author, although at the moment her habit of jumping to conclusions is a little irritating. The only thing I found difficult about the book was the relentless 'dark' and damp weather, which may be a feature of this setting, but I did find depressing (as no doubt the characters would have done!!)

[Arybo ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mi è piaciuto tantissimo.

[Susan Jo Grassi · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a lover of history, this book intrigued me. It deals with the Scottish revolt against Edward I of England, known as Longshanks for his height and long legs. Edward had betrayed John Balliol, the king of Scotland, had invaded and was unmerciful in his treatment of the Scots. Two factions had arisen against the English, one, the supporters of John Balliol and the other, the supporters of Robert Bruce.

Margaret Kerr, the young wife of a merchant has received the body of his cousin, Jack, and wishes to find the murderer and her husband, who has been gone from their home for several months. What she finds is murder, cruelty, deceit and a coming war. Can she find the truth about Jack's murder, can she find her husband Roger and can she survive? Read the book and see.

[Kathleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well researched historical fiction, However, as a mystery, the plot development moves at a snail’s pace. I usually enjoy this genre of historical mysteries, but I struggled to finish this book. It was conversation after conversation following the same pattern. Margaret thinks she has a clue, goes to confront suspect/ witness and is interrupted at key point in the conversation, necessitating another conversation each one dropping another small clue. Very repetitive and very little action.
I liked Margaret’s character initially but she quickly became rather tiresome, going back and forth about her feelings for the husband who abandoned her.
Will not continue the series. I like this author’s Owen Archer series much better.

[Gareld Butler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting story about the wife of a Scottish merchant in the late 13th century who goes off in search of her husband, who has been missing for nearly a year. Previously she had sent his cousin to look for him but the cousin turned up dead so she decided she was just going to have to do the job herself. A good historical account of life in Scotland during that period, including the challenges she faces as a woman trying to get straight answers from strangers (or even from family members). I found the pace a bit slow but thought that the historical detail easily made up for it. I look forward to the next book in this series.

[PR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great writing

Regardless of other reviews I found this book intriguing...after Braveheart the movie and knowing what happened...it's nice to know more of the history of Scotland of the period. I love Candace Robb's scholarship and writing abilities...you are there in her books! I cannot wait to read the next books in this series and to read the other new series to me she has written. I have read all the Owen Archer books over the past many years and loved them, as well. Candace...keep writing!

[PeterK B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robb is an excellent writer and does well in giving us a flavor of life in the 1200s. The story is well presented with plenty of suspense and enough action.

At times however, it seemed too long.. I was wishing that Robb would have moved the plot along more quickly while Margaret was first in Aberdeen looking for her husband.

Otherwise, her books are among my favorites in the historic fiction/mystery genre.

[BRT · Rating 3 out of 5]

Going in, I thought this was more of a series with each book a separate mystery so I was quite surprised to read to an end without a closure. I realize now that it's more of a trilogy with a running main theme. Set in Scotland during a time of great political upheaval, Margaret Kerr travels to Edinburgh in search of her husband and to find out who murdered his cousin. Good period, place, and character descriptions, plenty of intrigue and mystery.

[Barbarar · Rating 1 out of 5]

Don't even know how to describe how I feel about that book. The only positive side is the snippet of Scottish history it provides - otherwise, simple plot and simple language. Hoped at the beginning of every page that finally someone would shut the mouth of this stupid egocentric woman. Acting like her in these times, nobody would have survived for long, nor would have her interlocutors. Totally unbelievable plot.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I might read on in the series, but I'll be hoping for a dramatic improvement. The setting is good, but the characters are all over the place and the "mystery" isn't much of one. I just didn't care if Margaret's husband is dead, missing, or just a jerk face.

[Katie Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the political background that Robb wove into this book - Balliol, Bruce, Longshanks, Wallace, Murray, and all the ordinary people trying to survive between them. And Margaret is an excellent MC, flawed in all sorts of believable ways but sympathetic nonetheless. Also I love Celia.

[Deryk Allan · Rating 3 out of 5]

An ok read, quite disjointed in places, and tended to jump between characters without any clue as to who was speaking, apparently the series gets better, as it's a short read i'll move onto the next book in the series and hope it picks up.

[C · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dark story

This is a confusing and complex tale. No one is what he seems. The characters are not likeable and too many theads of the plot wander through the story.

[Rannie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Neither enough history nor mystery for my taste

[G L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reminded me of the Pat McIntosh Gil Cunningham series (though that series is set 200 years later). Every bit as enjoyable. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the trilogy.

[Neill Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating story from thewars between the English and the Scots.

[Katrin V · Rating 3 out of 5]

Candace Robb consistently does a great job with historical details but this book is not as good as the Owen Archer series and feels unfinished- clearly a sequel was already envisaged.

[Winfred Bailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Do not like unfinished stories!

[Elena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sempre bello, ma la serie che per protagonista il capitano Owen Archer mi è piaciuta di più.

[Sasush · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow to develop but intriguing historical reference. Look forward to book 2.

[Sarà Grilli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Appassionante e scorrevole. Una trilogia stupenda.