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Merlin Investigation #3
The Pendragon Murders
Merlin investigates a royal mystery at Stonehenge.
A baron and his sons are found dead at Stonehenge. King Arthur's potential heirs start to mysteriously die. And only Merlin can prove that the murders are not the work of the plague, but something much more sinister.
A baron and his sons are found dead at Stonehenge. King Arthur's potential heirs start to mysteriously die. And only Merlin can prove that the murders are not the work of the plague, but something much more sinister.
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 17, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
November 2, 2019
This book was supposed to be a "historical mystery". There wasn't much of a mystery and it definitely had very little to do with history. Also Merlin didn't investigate. He mostly just complained about his arthritis - understandable at his age but not something you want to read about in 3 hundred something pages. The book is very repetitive (and it showed...) and if half the pages have been torn out, you would still get all the "intelligence" (Yeah, I'm sure that is the word they used in king Arthur's times...) and you would still wish half the dialogues weren't there at all. Everyone had problems thinking (and it showed). Everyone was constantly bickering (and it showed). And have I mentioned how repetitive the story was? (And it showed....) The editor didn't do his/her job... and it showed.
Page 114:
-It must have occured to you that keeping them secret will only lead to more unpleasantness.
And 6 lines later:
-Keeping all these sons secret can only lead to unpleasantness.
(In case you didn't get it the first time...)
Pages 170 and 171:
"Take our two honored guests to their 'quarters'. Send the rest of their men to the field west of town. But keep close guard on them. Make sure they undersand that any attemt to rescue Arthur will result in his death."
Robin bowed his head slightly. "You want us to keep both Arthur and Merlin?"
Marmaduke nodded. "Disarm the rest of them and hold them in a little camp where they can rest themselves and lick their wounds. Keep careful guard over them. But they won't make any trouble as long as we've got their king."
"And what shall we do about him?" Robin pointed to the litter that carried Bruce.
Marmaduke squinted, then took a few steps toward it. Unhappy at what he was seeing, he muttered, "I'll have to think. Disarm the rest of them. Keep them all in one place, and make sure there are enough of our men guarding them so they won't try anything." He grinned. "Not that they would, while we hold their king."
(Wonder how many times we need this "intelligence" to get the point... Guess Robin had problems understanding and it showed...)
Also at some point they proceded very slowly due to some conditions... a few pages further on they proceded very fast due to the same conditions...
Sorry about the repeated phrase but if you've read the book, you understand... it must have been there some 50 times...
Page 114:
-It must have occured to you that keeping them secret will only lead to more unpleasantness.
And 6 lines later:
-Keeping all these sons secret can only lead to unpleasantness.
(In case you didn't get it the first time...)
Pages 170 and 171:
"Take our two honored guests to their 'quarters'. Send the rest of their men to the field west of town. But keep close guard on them. Make sure they undersand that any attemt to rescue Arthur will result in his death."
Robin bowed his head slightly. "You want us to keep both Arthur and Merlin?"
Marmaduke nodded. "Disarm the rest of them and hold them in a little camp where they can rest themselves and lick their wounds. Keep careful guard over them. But they won't make any trouble as long as we've got their king."
"And what shall we do about him?" Robin pointed to the litter that carried Bruce.
Marmaduke squinted, then took a few steps toward it. Unhappy at what he was seeing, he muttered, "I'll have to think. Disarm the rest of them. Keep them all in one place, and make sure there are enough of our men guarding them so they won't try anything." He grinned. "Not that they would, while we hold their king."
(Wonder how many times we need this "intelligence" to get the point... Guess Robin had problems understanding and it showed...)
Also at some point they proceded very slowly due to some conditions... a few pages further on they proceded very fast due to the same conditions...
Sorry about the repeated phrase but if you've read the book, you understand... it must have been there some 50 times...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 24, 2018
Not sure if I liked this one, was very slow at times. I also did not like the extra deaths, too many, although maybe more likely in the time.
It all seemed so neat at the end, when I suspected the murderer sooner and Merlin (as he admits) was blind.
I think I would skip this series.
It all seemed so neat at the end, when I suspected the murderer sooner and Merlin (as he admits) was blind.
I think I would skip this series.
November 1, 2018
Interesting interpretation of Merlin and Arthut,
January 20, 2023
Set back in the times of Camelot, merlin has to solve the murders of Aurthur's heirs.
January 21, 2025
Last in this series.
June 19, 2013
Overall The Pendragon Murders was a good book. The title gave away what was supposed to be a mystery solved at the end, which is a pretty big spoiler provided by the author. I was also disappointed with the effort the author put in on occasion, as when Merlin was speaking in Latin, it was clearly the few Latin phrases the author knew eg. Caveat emptor - very shallow effort because Merlin is well travelled and well read and I presume well versed in Latin.
The mystery was quite good despite the title giving it away.
The mystery was quite good despite the title giving it away.
July 25, 2010
I found this on our last travels to WA State. New author and mystery to me, so now I need to locate the first two in the series.
Interesting idea but some of the anachronisms got to me - Merlin talking about conscious and unconscious brain and his arthritis. Were those terms around in 600AD?? I don't think so. I'll still look for the earlier books.
Interesting idea but some of the anachronisms got to me - Merlin talking about conscious and unconscious brain and his arthritis. Were those terms around in 600AD?? I don't think so. I'll still look for the earlier books.
October 19, 2012
I found this book incredibly amusing. It reminded me of the show BBCs Merlin. Everyone bickering , Arthur having a bunch of illegitimate sons, Nimue masquerading as a boy. It was all very funny. Then again I enjoy sarcasm and bickering characters. There wasn't really much of a mystery aspect , but I still found it a wonderful read. It's a new take on the legends!
April 29, 2010
It's not a bad story at all, at the traditional / cozy end of the mystery spectrum (not at all cutesy cozy though) but my god everyone is constantly bickering and picking on or at each other / playing or assuming mind games. Relentlessly. Everyone. Did I mention relentlessly?
November 29, 2011
This book was a selection of the library book club. It was entertaining and enjoyable. Some members objected that this book--set in Arthurian times--didn't use "old" English, but its lack didn't bother me. I like reading about Camelot!
Want to read
August 10, 2011Was excited to find this at the dollar store and had to get it. Now I need to find #2!
August 27, 2012
A good way to conclude this series. I have always thought Merlin viewed this way was much more interesting, and if he existed, was probably close to the real thing.
October 29, 2019
Yes, clapping hands.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews