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Master Mercurius Mysteries #2
Untrue till Death
This time murder has hit close to home…
1674, Leiden, The Netherlands
After successfully solving the case of the missing girls in Delft, Master Mercurius has made a name for himself as a private investigator.
With unrest occurring both nationally and internationally, William of Orange is obsessed by plots against his leadership.
He calls on Mercurius to help to spy on state officials. But before Mercurius has a chance to investigate, his colleague at the University of Leiden is killed.
And when one of William’s men is also murdered, Mercurius suspects there could be a serial killer on the loose…
Are the two deaths connected? Is there a plot against the Dutch ruler?
And can Mercurius successfully solve another murder case…?
1674, Leiden, The Netherlands
After successfully solving the case of the missing girls in Delft, Master Mercurius has made a name for himself as a private investigator.
With unrest occurring both nationally and internationally, William of Orange is obsessed by plots against his leadership.
He calls on Mercurius to help to spy on state officials. But before Mercurius has a chance to investigate, his colleague at the University of Leiden is killed.
And when one of William’s men is also murdered, Mercurius suspects there could be a serial killer on the loose…
Are the two deaths connected? Is there a plot against the Dutch ruler?
And can Mercurius successfully solve another murder case…?
232 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 10, 2020
437 people are currently reading
271 people want to read
About the author
Graham Brack
36 books150 followersGraham Brack trained as a pharmacist but now writes crime fiction. He has been shortlisted three times for the Crime Writers Association's Debut Dagger (2011, 2014 and 2016) without ever winning it. Those three entries involved three different detectives.
The 2011 entry has been published as Lying and Dying by Sapere Books, and has been followed by seven more books about Josef Slonský, a Prague policeman, and his team.
The 2014 offering has been published as Death in Delft and features Master Mercurius, a seventeenth century university lecturer. The second Mercurius mystery, Untrue till Death followed in August 2020 and the third in the series Dishonour and Obey in October 2020. The fourth, The Noose's Shadow arrived in December 2020 and The Vanishing Children in 2021. The sixth book was The Lying Dutchman (2022) and the seventh was Murder in Maastricht (2023). The latest is The Moers Murders . The ninth in the series, Nun Shall Sleep, will be published in January 2026.
Graham is married to Gillian and has two adult children and three granddaughters. He lives in a small village in Northamptonshire.
The 2011 entry has been published as Lying and Dying by Sapere Books, and has been followed by seven more books about Josef Slonský, a Prague policeman, and his team.
The 2014 offering has been published as Death in Delft and features Master Mercurius, a seventeenth century university lecturer. The second Mercurius mystery, Untrue till Death followed in August 2020 and the third in the series Dishonour and Obey in October 2020. The fourth, The Noose's Shadow arrived in December 2020 and The Vanishing Children in 2021. The sixth book was The Lying Dutchman (2022) and the seventh was Murder in Maastricht (2023). The latest is The Moers Murders . The ninth in the series, Nun Shall Sleep, will be published in January 2026.
Graham is married to Gillian and has two adult children and three granddaughters. He lives in a small village in Northamptonshire.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
August 20, 2020
4.5 stars, rounded up
If you need a little humor with your mystery, this is it!
Mercurius makes for a wonderful “investigator”. A lecturer at the University of Leiden in the late 17th Century, he has a dry wit that he frequently shares with the reader. In this second book in the series, he is charged by no less than William of Orange to spy on state officials. But before he can even begin, there’s a murder.
Brack knows just the right amount of historical facts to add in to give us a true sense of time and place. I appreciated that his author’s note saved me the trouble of researching whether one major weather event was real. He also works in some fairly deep religious and philosophical points, but does it with humor. There’s a wonderful blurb on predestination, murder and the role of the killer. Kudos to Brack for writing a truly intellectually stimulating mystery.
I’m thrilled that there will be a third in the series. I will definitely be reading it.
My thanks to netgalley and Sapere Books for an advance copy of this book.
If you need a little humor with your mystery, this is it!
Mercurius makes for a wonderful “investigator”. A lecturer at the University of Leiden in the late 17th Century, he has a dry wit that he frequently shares with the reader. In this second book in the series, he is charged by no less than William of Orange to spy on state officials. But before he can even begin, there’s a murder.
Brack knows just the right amount of historical facts to add in to give us a true sense of time and place. I appreciated that his author’s note saved me the trouble of researching whether one major weather event was real. He also works in some fairly deep religious and philosophical points, but does it with humor. There’s a wonderful blurb on predestination, murder and the role of the killer. Kudos to Brack for writing a truly intellectually stimulating mystery.
I’m thrilled that there will be a third in the series. I will definitely be reading it.
My thanks to netgalley and Sapere Books for an advance copy of this book.
October 17, 2020
Graham Brack writes incredibly entertaining characters and this plus his terrific dry wit makes his books really good reads. If you like your historical fiction served up with a side of humour then this series is for you.
In Untrue till Death Master Mercurius is using his powers of detection on behalf of William of Orange and he nearly pays for it with his life. He finds out more than he likes about torture and hanging, meets a beautiful, young woman and earns a sizable amount of money for his pains. He certainly does not lead a dull life particularly for a cleric.
I was especially intrigued about the way people travelled by horse drawn barges everywhere - logical if you have more canals than roads. There were a lot of interesting facts like that in the book which made it all the more interesting to read.
I found it worth a full five stars and am looking forward to book 3 which is already happily waiting on my kindle.
In Untrue till Death Master Mercurius is using his powers of detection on behalf of William of Orange and he nearly pays for it with his life. He finds out more than he likes about torture and hanging, meets a beautiful, young woman and earns a sizable amount of money for his pains. He certainly does not lead a dull life particularly for a cleric.
I was especially intrigued about the way people travelled by horse drawn barges everywhere - logical if you have more canals than roads. There were a lot of interesting facts like that in the book which made it all the more interesting to read.
I found it worth a full five stars and am looking forward to book 3 which is already happily waiting on my kindle.
August 22, 2020
4.5★
“‘No doubt you are wondering why I sent Van Looy for you.’ I was, of course. A secondary question was why a man of sense would send Van Looy for anything.”
No rest for the weary – or is it the wicked? Master Mercurius is certainly not wicked, but he is a bit weary. He imagined a clerical, academic life for himself, but he recently earned a reputation as an investigator after he solved a case of missing girls in Delft. It seems likely that his quiet life will have to wait.
He’s an engaging character, only 33 years old in the late 1600s in the Netherlands, and he’s caught in the middle of a number of things. The English and the Dutch (and the rest of Europe) have been pitting themselves against each other for generations, although all the royal families keep intermarrying, ostensibly to promote peace.
Why they keep doing the same thing when it has never worked is anybody’s guess. Just because his sister marries a foreign prince doesn’t seem to affect a king’s decision to wage war. That’s the politics. (Or queens have their half-sisters executed, but I digress. That’s another story, and it’s English).
Then there’s religion, and in this case it’s Christian vs Christian. Catholic vs Protestant, i.e. Reformed, in the 17th century. Mercurius has complicated his life. I mean really, seriously complicated it.
“While Catholic students are admitted, the University is a pillar of the Reformed (that is, Protestant) faith, and my job depends upon my being an adherent; which I was, when I was appointed. However, for reasons which have nothing to do with this tale, I converted to Catholicism and was ordained a priest in 1664, with strict instructions not to reveal the fact to anyone. The reason for this injunction was the fear of my bishop that all his priests might be rounded up and burned, in which event it is a good idea to have some spares to hand.”
Got that? He’s both an ordained Protestant Minister and a Catholic Priest, the latter being a secret. I mean, when people burn each other for being of the ‘wrong’ faith, you have to be pretty careful.
“Voet firmly believed that God knew exactly who would be saved and who would be damned from the moment that He created the universe. This was also the required belief of ministers of the Reformed Church (like me) but inimical to Catholic priests (like me).
So he’s caught up in both politics and religion. The third complication, which stems from religion, is that he is a virile young man of 33 and an ardent admirer of women. He appreciates many of the older ones (and describes them wonderfully well), but it’s the younger ones who populate his dreams.
The girl who catches his eye in this story is a luscious young thing, and while investigating a murder (oh yes, did I mention that? – a colleague is murdered) he tries to figure out a way to remain true to his Catholic (celibate) position while dreaming about a future as a married Protestant. You know, the old cake and eat it too problem.
She seems equally interested in him until . . . no, no spoilers. So back to the beginning. He’s trying to find what the plot is and who the conspirators are against the current Stadhoulder, or Steward, William of Orange. “The Stadhouder is not exactly a king, though nobody had told William that.”
[His mother was the sister of King Charles II of England, and he . . . eventually . . . ascended to the English throne as William III in 1688. But I digress again.]
That is one of the delights of Graham Brack’s novels. He sets them firmly in place, right smack in the middle of the times about which he is writing. You can trust him on the people and the events, so I feel all of my mental images are reasonably accurate. The “reasonably” refers more to my visual interpretation than to his descriptions.
Of course he takes liberties with the real people, like William, but I think he does it with a certain level of respect and care for the truth while entertainingly filling in the blanks. Also, of course, Mercurius solves the mystery and will go on to solve more, as book number three is already written, Dishonour and Obey.
These are a treat for the historical fiction lover. As for anachronisms, I did mark several, but I have no way of knowing how old or new the phrases really are, besides which, the story is ostensibly actually Dutch, not English, isn't it, so how would I know? Anyway, I was soon wrapped up enough in the tale to keep moving along.
More, please, sir! Thanks to Sapere Books for the preview copy from which I’ve quoted. If you’re interested in more about the times, here are a couple of websites you might like to check.
https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/rijksst...
https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK...
p.s. After the author commented (below) about my mention of anachronisms, I'm adding a note, because he is right!
As for anachronisms, I need to remember that this is 'supposedly' an account in 17th century Dutch, 'translated' into English and then rewritten for the 21st century. So I have learned not to mind the few phrases that I may think sound a little modern. :)
“‘No doubt you are wondering why I sent Van Looy for you.’ I was, of course. A secondary question was why a man of sense would send Van Looy for anything.”
No rest for the weary – or is it the wicked? Master Mercurius is certainly not wicked, but he is a bit weary. He imagined a clerical, academic life for himself, but he recently earned a reputation as an investigator after he solved a case of missing girls in Delft. It seems likely that his quiet life will have to wait.
He’s an engaging character, only 33 years old in the late 1600s in the Netherlands, and he’s caught in the middle of a number of things. The English and the Dutch (and the rest of Europe) have been pitting themselves against each other for generations, although all the royal families keep intermarrying, ostensibly to promote peace.
Why they keep doing the same thing when it has never worked is anybody’s guess. Just because his sister marries a foreign prince doesn’t seem to affect a king’s decision to wage war. That’s the politics. (Or queens have their half-sisters executed, but I digress. That’s another story, and it’s English).
Then there’s religion, and in this case it’s Christian vs Christian. Catholic vs Protestant, i.e. Reformed, in the 17th century. Mercurius has complicated his life. I mean really, seriously complicated it.
“While Catholic students are admitted, the University is a pillar of the Reformed (that is, Protestant) faith, and my job depends upon my being an adherent; which I was, when I was appointed. However, for reasons which have nothing to do with this tale, I converted to Catholicism and was ordained a priest in 1664, with strict instructions not to reveal the fact to anyone. The reason for this injunction was the fear of my bishop that all his priests might be rounded up and burned, in which event it is a good idea to have some spares to hand.”
Got that? He’s both an ordained Protestant Minister and a Catholic Priest, the latter being a secret. I mean, when people burn each other for being of the ‘wrong’ faith, you have to be pretty careful.
“Voet firmly believed that God knew exactly who would be saved and who would be damned from the moment that He created the universe. This was also the required belief of ministers of the Reformed Church (like me) but inimical to Catholic priests (like me).
So he’s caught up in both politics and religion. The third complication, which stems from religion, is that he is a virile young man of 33 and an ardent admirer of women. He appreciates many of the older ones (and describes them wonderfully well), but it’s the younger ones who populate his dreams.
The girl who catches his eye in this story is a luscious young thing, and while investigating a murder (oh yes, did I mention that? – a colleague is murdered) he tries to figure out a way to remain true to his Catholic (celibate) position while dreaming about a future as a married Protestant. You know, the old cake and eat it too problem.
She seems equally interested in him until . . . no, no spoilers. So back to the beginning. He’s trying to find what the plot is and who the conspirators are against the current Stadhoulder, or Steward, William of Orange. “The Stadhouder is not exactly a king, though nobody had told William that.”
[His mother was the sister of King Charles II of England, and he . . . eventually . . . ascended to the English throne as William III in 1688. But I digress again.]
That is one of the delights of Graham Brack’s novels. He sets them firmly in place, right smack in the middle of the times about which he is writing. You can trust him on the people and the events, so I feel all of my mental images are reasonably accurate. The “reasonably” refers more to my visual interpretation than to his descriptions.
Of course he takes liberties with the real people, like William, but I think he does it with a certain level of respect and care for the truth while entertainingly filling in the blanks. Also, of course, Mercurius solves the mystery and will go on to solve more, as book number three is already written, Dishonour and Obey.
These are a treat for the historical fiction lover. As for anachronisms, I did mark several, but I have no way of knowing how old or new the phrases really are, besides which, the story is ostensibly actually Dutch, not English, isn't it, so how would I know? Anyway, I was soon wrapped up enough in the tale to keep moving along.
More, please, sir! Thanks to Sapere Books for the preview copy from which I’ve quoted. If you’re interested in more about the times, here are a couple of websites you might like to check.
https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/rijksst...
https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK...
p.s. After the author commented (below) about my mention of anachronisms, I'm adding a note, because he is right!
As for anachronisms, I need to remember that this is 'supposedly' an account in 17th century Dutch, 'translated' into English and then rewritten for the 21st century. So I have learned not to mind the few phrases that I may think sound a little modern. :)
September 2, 2020
After solving the case of the missing girls in Delft in 1671, Master Mercurius has enjoyed returning to his quiet life as a lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Leiden, but it was not to be. In 1674, William of Orange is two years into his role of Stadhouder (ruler) of the Dutch Republic and is concerned about plots against him by the faction he ousted. After hearing of Mercurius' success as a discrete investigator he summons him to the Hague and asks him to travel to Utrecht to spy on his agent there and report back on any hints of unrest. However, the death of one of Mercurius' colleagues soon leads him into the hunt for a murderer on top of looking into a possible plot against William.
As with the first novel in this series, this novel has a marvelous feel of both the place and the time. The descriptions of the journeys between towns, the towns themselves and surrounding countryside all make it come alive. Despite it being a complex period politically, this is all explained quite clearly and makes it possible to get a feel for the everyday life of the townsfolk and the people at the University.
Mercurius is a wonderfully warm character, with a ready wit (much of it unspoken) and an intuitive understanding of people as well as how justice can be achieved. He also has an eye for the ladies (one in particular) and rues that he cannot marry, as although he is a protestant priest employed at a reformist University, he has also secretly been ordained as a catholic priest, something he could never divulge and keep his job.
The mystery is well done complete with coded clues and false turns that keep Mercurius busy travelleing between towns trying to solve first one murder, then a second as well as looking out for those who would conspire against William. Mercurius also meets one of William's inquisitors and learns how prisoners are persuaded to give up their secrets. Definitely not a cosy mystery but one I'm guessing will lead to Mercurius being required as an investigator in the future now that William has observed his discretion and skill.
With many thanks to Sapere Books and Netgalley for digital copy to read
As with the first novel in this series, this novel has a marvelous feel of both the place and the time. The descriptions of the journeys between towns, the towns themselves and surrounding countryside all make it come alive. Despite it being a complex period politically, this is all explained quite clearly and makes it possible to get a feel for the everyday life of the townsfolk and the people at the University.
Mercurius is a wonderfully warm character, with a ready wit (much of it unspoken) and an intuitive understanding of people as well as how justice can be achieved. He also has an eye for the ladies (one in particular) and rues that he cannot marry, as although he is a protestant priest employed at a reformist University, he has also secretly been ordained as a catholic priest, something he could never divulge and keep his job.
The mystery is well done complete with coded clues and false turns that keep Mercurius busy travelleing between towns trying to solve first one murder, then a second as well as looking out for those who would conspire against William. Mercurius also meets one of William's inquisitors and learns how prisoners are persuaded to give up their secrets. Definitely not a cosy mystery but one I'm guessing will lead to Mercurius being required as an investigator in the future now that William has observed his discretion and skill.
With many thanks to Sapere Books and Netgalley for digital copy to read
June 13, 2024
Mercurius is the Master!
Master Mercurius is called upon by William of Orange to help investigate the conspiracies that are being committed against him. So he is determined to make sure that he is not injured or killed in the process. He is not the bravest person in The Netherlands.
The case is manhandled by Mercurius in a manner. Not that he does it on purpose. But he has to be careful about how much he is giving away to the conspirators. Somehow, someone knows what is going on and they are unwilling to take responsibility for their own actions.
The business is not the same thing as Mercurius and his associates think. They believe that they are bound to make a rightful arrest eventually, and they will probably be correct, but at what cost?
The criminals are not as bad at hiding their locations as they are in committing a criminal act. Who are they? Where are they hiding? Will they be apprehended?
Let’s hope all will be revealed.
A very good book. Much appreciated humor and lovely characters.
Five stars. 💫💫💫💫💫
Master Mercurius is called upon by William of Orange to help investigate the conspiracies that are being committed against him. So he is determined to make sure that he is not injured or killed in the process. He is not the bravest person in The Netherlands.
The case is manhandled by Mercurius in a manner. Not that he does it on purpose. But he has to be careful about how much he is giving away to the conspirators. Somehow, someone knows what is going on and they are unwilling to take responsibility for their own actions.
The business is not the same thing as Mercurius and his associates think. They believe that they are bound to make a rightful arrest eventually, and they will probably be correct, but at what cost?
The criminals are not as bad at hiding their locations as they are in committing a criminal act. Who are they? Where are they hiding? Will they be apprehended?
Let’s hope all will be revealed.
A very good book. Much appreciated humor and lovely characters.
Five stars. 💫💫💫💫💫
November 2, 2020
I just loved this second historical mystery in which master Mercurius meets treason in his own university grounds.
May 15, 2022
It was 1674 when Master Mercurius was contacted by William of Orange, requesting he investigate a plot against him – the Stadhouder – by a faction he’d ousted. Mercurius headed to Utrecht, against his better judgment, but when he heard of the death of a colleague from the University of Leiden, he could feel danger moving closer. When an earthquake, which did much damage, uncovered the murder of another man, this time one of the Stadhouder’s men, Mercurius joined forces with one who saved his life. But there was more to come, with betrayal and corruption unearthed by Mercurius…
Untrue till Death is the 2nd in the Master Mercurius Mysteries by Graham Brack and Mercurius proves himself, once again, to be an excellent sleuth. But he was closer to his own death in this book, which obviously he avoided – there is a #3 to follow! Recommended.
Untrue till Death is the 2nd in the Master Mercurius Mysteries by Graham Brack and Mercurius proves himself, once again, to be an excellent sleuth. But he was closer to his own death in this book, which obviously he avoided – there is a #3 to follow! Recommended.
August 24, 2020
I was so pleased to see that the second book in this series was available on Netgalley, and even more when I received my review copy. I was not disappointed. This second book with Master Mercurius as the leading character describes how he, in his own unique way, prevents a murder that could have well lead to a big change in history.
You may recall I read the first book in this series with great pleasure partly because the setting is my home town. Untrue till Death is set in several well-known Dutch cities and at two well-know universities. What added to the fun this time was Mercurius' observations regarding the inner workings of a young university. Some of those observations are still very true these days.
The plot was clever and not at all unlikely.
It is not necessary to have read the first book in the series but if you like this one, please do yourself a favor and pick up a copy. And furthermore, to my delight, the third book in the series, Dishonour and Obey, is available for pre-order - which I did, of course. It will be published in October and I'm already looking forward to it.
Mercurius is a unique character and even if you don't like history, by reading his observations you will gain insight in this turbulent time in the history of a part of Europe.
Thanks to Netgalley for this digital review copy.
You may recall I read the first book in this series with great pleasure partly because the setting is my home town. Untrue till Death is set in several well-known Dutch cities and at two well-know universities. What added to the fun this time was Mercurius' observations regarding the inner workings of a young university. Some of those observations are still very true these days.
The plot was clever and not at all unlikely.
It is not necessary to have read the first book in the series but if you like this one, please do yourself a favor and pick up a copy. And furthermore, to my delight, the third book in the series, Dishonour and Obey, is available for pre-order - which I did, of course. It will be published in October and I'm already looking forward to it.
Mercurius is a unique character and even if you don't like history, by reading his observations you will gain insight in this turbulent time in the history of a part of Europe.
Thanks to Netgalley for this digital review copy.
February 19, 2025
In Untrue till Death, the second entry in this series, Master Mercurius (a Protestant cleric/academic living in the Netherlands in the late 17th century, also a closeted Catholic priest) is initially tasked with identifying individuals whom William of Orange can count on for support in an uneasy political environment. When one of William's existing supporters is found murdered, Mercurius' charge expands - find out who did this, and why.
The tone of this book seemed to be slightly different from the first. Of course, it's been a couple of years since I read the first one, and I read that in print but listened to this one, so it's possible my comparisons are off base.
That said, even more so than in the first book, Mercurius is assisted in his detection activities by a number of other individuals. His clever insights don't really begin to appear until the very end of the book, as others work out clues more readily than he does early on in the story. He seems to be as much an observer as an actor for much of the story.
Also, I don't remember that the language in the first volume included quite as many 21st century idioms, which at times took the edge off my appreciation of Mercurius' witticisms. Still, it's difficult to avoid smiling at his self-deprecations, and especially his observations on academic institutions. Apparently not much has changed over the centuries when it comes to jockeying for status while avoiding too heavy a workload. :-)
The tone of this book seemed to be slightly different from the first. Of course, it's been a couple of years since I read the first one, and I read that in print but listened to this one, so it's possible my comparisons are off base.
That said, even more so than in the first book, Mercurius is assisted in his detection activities by a number of other individuals. His clever insights don't really begin to appear until the very end of the book, as others work out clues more readily than he does early on in the story. He seems to be as much an observer as an actor for much of the story.
Also, I don't remember that the language in the first volume included quite as many 21st century idioms, which at times took the edge off my appreciation of Mercurius' witticisms. Still, it's difficult to avoid smiling at his self-deprecations, and especially his observations on academic institutions. Apparently not much has changed over the centuries when it comes to jockeying for status while avoiding too heavy a workload. :-)
September 23, 2025
Untrue till Death (Master Mercurius Mysteries #2) by Graham Brack
Synopsis /
1674, Leiden, The Netherlands
After successfully solving the case of the missing girls in Delft, Master Mercurius has made a name for himself as a private investigator.
With unrest occurring both nationally and internationally, William of Orange is obsessed by plots against his leadership.
He calls on Mercurius to help to spy on state officials. But before Mercurius has a chance to investigate, his colleague at the University of Leiden is killed.
And when one of William’s men is also murdered, Mercurius suspects there could be a serial killer on the loose…
My Thoughts /
Forget the present day, if only for a while…
17th century Netherlands - and typical aspects of Leiden included its role as a major university city, its prominent canals, a bustling urban environment with a large population, and its identity as the "key city" with the Pieterskerk (a significant Protestant church) and a rich history tied to St. Peter. The city was also known for its textile industry, which was a major contributor to its economy and the reason for its rapid growth around this time.
1674 was a hard time in Leiden; but I suppose the same could be said for anywhere else in the World. Compared to the present day, there have been a lot of advances made since 1674; but while there are no historical records of widespread crime specifically in Leiden in 1674 readily available, Brack depicts a setting where private investigator Master Mercurius investigates murders and other crimes, placing crime within the broader context of political unrest in the city during that period.
So who is our mc? Well, Master Mercurius, is an ordained Catholic priest, who has bowed to current circumstance and has (additionally) been ordained as a Protestant minister, which allows him to be accepted in the society and able to work as a gifted cleric at Leiden University. And after successfully solving the case of the missing girls in Delft in book #1, Master Mercurius has made a name for himself as a private investigator
Brack has created an excellent narrator with Master Mercurius – the premise being that Mercurius is writing his memoirs and looking back on some of the more colourful aspects of his life. Mercurius is not always at ease with his calling and even less keen on some of the tasks he's asked to perform. But he undertakes these tasks with a self-deprecating humour and lays bare all his personal weaknesses openly for the reader.
One of the advantages of a modern university is that it houses experts on every conceivable branch of knowledge, so when an emergency strikes the right person is close at hand. Admittedly, I have not yet met with an accident that has called for me to push my way through the crowd whilst yelling, ‘Let me through! I’m a moral philosopher!’ but it may happen one day.
In this instalment, the current stadtholder, William of Orange ('stadholder': a powerful position whereby the stadtholder became the de facto head of state – serving as a representative and often military leader for the province or region) is concerned that there are plots afoot to oust him from his position and he asks Mercurius to investigate.
Brack writes a compelling account of duplicity and intrigue and has Mercurius in a struggle for survival on this a secret mission to ferret out conspiracy plots against the ruling authority. Along the way, the body count begins to pile up and Mercurius has to sift out the traitors from the loyalists – and maybe even the lute players.
His name, I discovered, was Beniamino. Beniamino was a scheming, unprincipled scoundrel, with loose morals, unhealthy appetites and an utter indifference to the truth; but then I could simply have told you that he was a lute-player and saved myself a lot of words.
Mercurius' abilities as a detective often clash with his calling as an ordained minister and university lecturer – the secrets he uncovers and his personal faith put him in conflict with those he serves. Mercurius lives in a time of violent action and rebellion.
The man who killed William the Silent had his hand burned off and was quartered and disembowelled alive. Of course, that was ninety years ago. We’re not as cruel these days. They probably won’t bother burning his hand off.
Throughout, Mercurius does not lose his sense of humility and one of his greatest characteristics is his ability to include – the inclusion of others poorer or less educated than he. He has a sharp intellect and a mind for solving mysteries; a rapier wit combined with a shared view of martyrdom and sense of justice combine to make Mercurius a very likeable character.
Erasmus famously said that he spent his money on books, and if he had any left over, on food. I disagree. You can always borrow books, but you can’t eat a loaf and give it back.
If you feel like you'd like to take a step back to this turbulent time in the history, Master Mercurius will keep you in good company.
Synopsis /
1674, Leiden, The Netherlands
After successfully solving the case of the missing girls in Delft, Master Mercurius has made a name for himself as a private investigator.
With unrest occurring both nationally and internationally, William of Orange is obsessed by plots against his leadership.
He calls on Mercurius to help to spy on state officials. But before Mercurius has a chance to investigate, his colleague at the University of Leiden is killed.
And when one of William’s men is also murdered, Mercurius suspects there could be a serial killer on the loose…
My Thoughts /
Forget the present day, if only for a while…
17th century Netherlands - and typical aspects of Leiden included its role as a major university city, its prominent canals, a bustling urban environment with a large population, and its identity as the "key city" with the Pieterskerk (a significant Protestant church) and a rich history tied to St. Peter. The city was also known for its textile industry, which was a major contributor to its economy and the reason for its rapid growth around this time.
1674 was a hard time in Leiden; but I suppose the same could be said for anywhere else in the World. Compared to the present day, there have been a lot of advances made since 1674; but while there are no historical records of widespread crime specifically in Leiden in 1674 readily available, Brack depicts a setting where private investigator Master Mercurius investigates murders and other crimes, placing crime within the broader context of political unrest in the city during that period.
So who is our mc? Well, Master Mercurius, is an ordained Catholic priest, who has bowed to current circumstance and has (additionally) been ordained as a Protestant minister, which allows him to be accepted in the society and able to work as a gifted cleric at Leiden University. And after successfully solving the case of the missing girls in Delft in book #1, Master Mercurius has made a name for himself as a private investigator
Brack has created an excellent narrator with Master Mercurius – the premise being that Mercurius is writing his memoirs and looking back on some of the more colourful aspects of his life. Mercurius is not always at ease with his calling and even less keen on some of the tasks he's asked to perform. But he undertakes these tasks with a self-deprecating humour and lays bare all his personal weaknesses openly for the reader.
One of the advantages of a modern university is that it houses experts on every conceivable branch of knowledge, so when an emergency strikes the right person is close at hand. Admittedly, I have not yet met with an accident that has called for me to push my way through the crowd whilst yelling, ‘Let me through! I’m a moral philosopher!’ but it may happen one day.
In this instalment, the current stadtholder, William of Orange ('stadholder': a powerful position whereby the stadtholder became the de facto head of state – serving as a representative and often military leader for the province or region) is concerned that there are plots afoot to oust him from his position and he asks Mercurius to investigate.
Brack writes a compelling account of duplicity and intrigue and has Mercurius in a struggle for survival on this a secret mission to ferret out conspiracy plots against the ruling authority. Along the way, the body count begins to pile up and Mercurius has to sift out the traitors from the loyalists – and maybe even the lute players.
His name, I discovered, was Beniamino. Beniamino was a scheming, unprincipled scoundrel, with loose morals, unhealthy appetites and an utter indifference to the truth; but then I could simply have told you that he was a lute-player and saved myself a lot of words.
Mercurius' abilities as a detective often clash with his calling as an ordained minister and university lecturer – the secrets he uncovers and his personal faith put him in conflict with those he serves. Mercurius lives in a time of violent action and rebellion.
The man who killed William the Silent had his hand burned off and was quartered and disembowelled alive. Of course, that was ninety years ago. We’re not as cruel these days. They probably won’t bother burning his hand off.
Throughout, Mercurius does not lose his sense of humility and one of his greatest characteristics is his ability to include – the inclusion of others poorer or less educated than he. He has a sharp intellect and a mind for solving mysteries; a rapier wit combined with a shared view of martyrdom and sense of justice combine to make Mercurius a very likeable character.
Erasmus famously said that he spent his money on books, and if he had any left over, on food. I disagree. You can always borrow books, but you can’t eat a loaf and give it back.
If you feel like you'd like to take a step back to this turbulent time in the history, Master Mercurius will keep you in good company.
May 5, 2021
There would be a record somewhere of my ordination, and I wouldn’t put it past them to send a copy to my employers, who would immediately dismiss me, just to discourage anyone else from doing the same thing. That’s the trouble with bishops; they take religion too seriously.
In seventeenth century Holland. Master Mercurius, lecturer in Philosophy at Leiden University, hides his ordination as a Catholic priest from his reformist employers and, in his aging years, he is writing a journal of the events shaping his life. He recounts how in 1674, he is summoned to the rector’s office by the secretary, Van Looy, a man universally disliked, to hear the Stadhouder William of Orange, impressed by Mercurius’ solving the mystery of three missing girls (Death in Delft), has sent for him.
The pretext is a system to determine the salaries of lecturers but the Stadhouder, alert to plots against him, has a man in Leiden monitoring student’s affiliations. He also has concerns for the health of Voet - the aging priest and professor at the University of Utrecht and his ears and eyes in that city - and sends Mercurius there to arrange for a successor whose loyalty can be assured, once the old man has passed on.
These were volatile times. Just look at the English, as dull a nation as you could wish to meet; in barely a quarter of a century they had beheaded their king, set up a republic, brought back the king’s son, who had been in exile in the Netherlands, which he then showed his gratitude towards by declaring war on us…
After a fairly slow start, the action ramps up with the murder of Van Looy and his real identity is revealed. Predictably, Mercurius sets out to find the killer(s) and comes close to being a victim himself, with suspicion cast with the arrival of lute player Beniamino, whose musical ability pales compared to his bawdy repertoire. As Mercurius observes:
There is undoubtedly some strange species of attraction between young girls and lute players that is like to bring about their ruin — the young women, not the lute-players — and there is many a maid in this land who has danced a horizontal galliard and has a little lutenist to show for it.
The strength in author Graham Brack’s writing is in its characters. Violence of the day (including torture) is handled sensitively, and counterbalanced by detail of day-to-day travel (on foot, by barge, carriage or on horseback) and historic buildings. Food preparation and bodily hygiene also testify to the level of research – including a meteorological event that took place in Utrecht in 1674 (a tornado by the sound of it). This is a very promising series, and I hope we hear more of the character Beniamino in future books. But for me it is the dry wit that bring a smile.
Holy Scripture tells us that the love of money is the root of all evil (First letter to Timothy, chapter six, I believe), which I have always thought a bit harsh on bankers and rather lenient on lawyers.
Well said.
In seventeenth century Holland. Master Mercurius, lecturer in Philosophy at Leiden University, hides his ordination as a Catholic priest from his reformist employers and, in his aging years, he is writing a journal of the events shaping his life. He recounts how in 1674, he is summoned to the rector’s office by the secretary, Van Looy, a man universally disliked, to hear the Stadhouder William of Orange, impressed by Mercurius’ solving the mystery of three missing girls (Death in Delft), has sent for him.
The pretext is a system to determine the salaries of lecturers but the Stadhouder, alert to plots against him, has a man in Leiden monitoring student’s affiliations. He also has concerns for the health of Voet - the aging priest and professor at the University of Utrecht and his ears and eyes in that city - and sends Mercurius there to arrange for a successor whose loyalty can be assured, once the old man has passed on.
These were volatile times. Just look at the English, as dull a nation as you could wish to meet; in barely a quarter of a century they had beheaded their king, set up a republic, brought back the king’s son, who had been in exile in the Netherlands, which he then showed his gratitude towards by declaring war on us…
After a fairly slow start, the action ramps up with the murder of Van Looy and his real identity is revealed. Predictably, Mercurius sets out to find the killer(s) and comes close to being a victim himself, with suspicion cast with the arrival of lute player Beniamino, whose musical ability pales compared to his bawdy repertoire. As Mercurius observes:
There is undoubtedly some strange species of attraction between young girls and lute players that is like to bring about their ruin — the young women, not the lute-players — and there is many a maid in this land who has danced a horizontal galliard and has a little lutenist to show for it.
The strength in author Graham Brack’s writing is in its characters. Violence of the day (including torture) is handled sensitively, and counterbalanced by detail of day-to-day travel (on foot, by barge, carriage or on horseback) and historic buildings. Food preparation and bodily hygiene also testify to the level of research – including a meteorological event that took place in Utrecht in 1674 (a tornado by the sound of it). This is a very promising series, and I hope we hear more of the character Beniamino in future books. But for me it is the dry wit that bring a smile.
Holy Scripture tells us that the love of money is the root of all evil (First letter to Timothy, chapter six, I believe), which I have always thought a bit harsh on bankers and rather lenient on lawyers.
Well said.
August 15, 2020
“This was getting murkier by the moment, and all my instincts were telling me that this was the moment to ask for a passport so I could go to Sweden to study some important theological papers, if I could think of any that were convincing enough. Or, if not Sweden, then maybe Poland. Scotland, if there were absolutely no alternatives.”
Untrue Till Death is the second book in the Master Mercurius Mysteries series by British author, Graham Brack. Now an aged cleric, Master Mercurius dictates to his clerk a second episode that occurred during his days as a young lecturer in moral philosophy and ethics at the University of Leiden. It’s a very candid account: Mercurius freely admits to his weaknesses and deficits, his poor judgement of character.
His tranquil existence is disturbed when the Rector assigns him a seemingly mundane task, which he is then told to present to the Stadhouder, William III of Orange, in The Hague. While reluctant, Mercurius can hardly refuse: the Rector is his superior, and clearly a very clever man who just might be aware of the potentially damaging secret Mercurius holds.
When he meets the Stadhouder, Mercurius understands this was merely a pretext, and that his unwanted reputation for solving problems, attributed to a success three years earlier in Delft, has drawn William’s unsolicited attention.
William is acutely aware of the murmurs of conspiracy and sends an unenthusiastic Mercurius to check on a loyal supporter at the University of Utrecht. Always endeavouring to remain apolitical at a time when “avoiding alignment with either side seemed prudent”, Mercurius is dismayed to have to act for William on a “diplomatic mission to which I was supremely ill-suited.”
The events that follow see Mercurius, as well as investigating two murders, so smitten with a beautiful young woman he considers breaking vows, buying a weapon he concedes he is very unlikely to use, travelling in the unwelcome company of a lutenist, developing an aversion for apples, narrowly avoiding being stabbed, unravelling convoluted connections and loyalties, conversing with a master torturer, and taking a lot of barge journeys.
Brack’s protagonist is a very likeable fellow: the polar opposite of a stuffy clergyman, a good man, self-deprecating and with a dry sense of humour, who tries hard to resist temptation and whose priorities regarding food and refreshment, Brack fans will agree, align with those of Josef Slonský, despite his lesser means and opportunity.
Brack gives Mercurius a cheeky comment on the pronunciation of languages: “I find English names very difficult to say sometimes. Why they can’t have honest Dutch names like Terhoeven, Van Leeuwenhoek or Gijsbert Voet I have no idea. Anyone can pronounce those”
The astute reader who deduces, early on, the result of his lightbulb moment will, nonetheless, be eager follow Mercurius as he discovers the how and why of the guilty parties. The plot has enough twists and red herrings to keep the reader guessing, and the era is evoked with ease. Brack seamlessly incorporates a wealth of interesting historical facts into the narrative, as well as a generous helping of (sometimes dark) humour. This is brilliantly entertaining historical crime fiction and fans will be pleased to know that the third instalment, Dishonour and Obey, follows soon.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Sapere Books (but I also purchased a copy!)
Untrue Till Death is the second book in the Master Mercurius Mysteries series by British author, Graham Brack. Now an aged cleric, Master Mercurius dictates to his clerk a second episode that occurred during his days as a young lecturer in moral philosophy and ethics at the University of Leiden. It’s a very candid account: Mercurius freely admits to his weaknesses and deficits, his poor judgement of character.
His tranquil existence is disturbed when the Rector assigns him a seemingly mundane task, which he is then told to present to the Stadhouder, William III of Orange, in The Hague. While reluctant, Mercurius can hardly refuse: the Rector is his superior, and clearly a very clever man who just might be aware of the potentially damaging secret Mercurius holds.
When he meets the Stadhouder, Mercurius understands this was merely a pretext, and that his unwanted reputation for solving problems, attributed to a success three years earlier in Delft, has drawn William’s unsolicited attention.
William is acutely aware of the murmurs of conspiracy and sends an unenthusiastic Mercurius to check on a loyal supporter at the University of Utrecht. Always endeavouring to remain apolitical at a time when “avoiding alignment with either side seemed prudent”, Mercurius is dismayed to have to act for William on a “diplomatic mission to which I was supremely ill-suited.”
The events that follow see Mercurius, as well as investigating two murders, so smitten with a beautiful young woman he considers breaking vows, buying a weapon he concedes he is very unlikely to use, travelling in the unwelcome company of a lutenist, developing an aversion for apples, narrowly avoiding being stabbed, unravelling convoluted connections and loyalties, conversing with a master torturer, and taking a lot of barge journeys.
Brack’s protagonist is a very likeable fellow: the polar opposite of a stuffy clergyman, a good man, self-deprecating and with a dry sense of humour, who tries hard to resist temptation and whose priorities regarding food and refreshment, Brack fans will agree, align with those of Josef Slonský, despite his lesser means and opportunity.
Brack gives Mercurius a cheeky comment on the pronunciation of languages: “I find English names very difficult to say sometimes. Why they can’t have honest Dutch names like Terhoeven, Van Leeuwenhoek or Gijsbert Voet I have no idea. Anyone can pronounce those”
The astute reader who deduces, early on, the result of his lightbulb moment will, nonetheless, be eager follow Mercurius as he discovers the how and why of the guilty parties. The plot has enough twists and red herrings to keep the reader guessing, and the era is evoked with ease. Brack seamlessly incorporates a wealth of interesting historical facts into the narrative, as well as a generous helping of (sometimes dark) humour. This is brilliantly entertaining historical crime fiction and fans will be pleased to know that the third instalment, Dishonour and Obey, follows soon.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Sapere Books (but I also purchased a copy!)
August 27, 2020
Mercurius is such a great character with personality and quite an irreverent sense of humour. In those terms this is as good as in the first book. The mystery wasn’t quite as good in this one though it doesn’t stop me looking forward to the next one! Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.
August 22, 2020
The second in the series of Master Mercurius, a lecturer and man of God(in a couple of ways!) in Leiden University in the Netherlands, it’s set in the late 17th century and it is a blast.
Mercurius is summoned by William Of Orange to spy on officials in another town to see if there is a plot to overthrow him. After his investigative exploits in the past, Mercurius name precedes him. William is sure he is the man to trust and find any plots, but even before Mercurius can leave there is a murder.
I really enjoyed the first in the series and if anything this one is even better. Mercurius is a fantastic character. He had the dry wit in the first book but here he’s in overdrive and I genuinely laughed out loud numerous times at his quips.
The world Brack brings you into is incredibly vivid, interesting, repulsive, funny and charming. You will get lost in it straight away.
The book is a mixture of history, humour and whodunnit. It sounds mad but it all works perfectly. Throw in some real life characters along with some actual historical events and you have one hugely interesting, charming and imminently readable book. At under 300 pages, like it’s predecessor, it’s the prefect length. Nice and lean but with enough space to let the characters breath.
If you can’t guess I absolutely loved this book. I can’t wait for the final instalment.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Sapere books and Graham Brack for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Mercurius is summoned by William Of Orange to spy on officials in another town to see if there is a plot to overthrow him. After his investigative exploits in the past, Mercurius name precedes him. William is sure he is the man to trust and find any plots, but even before Mercurius can leave there is a murder.
I really enjoyed the first in the series and if anything this one is even better. Mercurius is a fantastic character. He had the dry wit in the first book but here he’s in overdrive and I genuinely laughed out loud numerous times at his quips.
The world Brack brings you into is incredibly vivid, interesting, repulsive, funny and charming. You will get lost in it straight away.
The book is a mixture of history, humour and whodunnit. It sounds mad but it all works perfectly. Throw in some real life characters along with some actual historical events and you have one hugely interesting, charming and imminently readable book. At under 300 pages, like it’s predecessor, it’s the prefect length. Nice and lean but with enough space to let the characters breath.
If you can’t guess I absolutely loved this book. I can’t wait for the final instalment.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Sapere books and Graham Brack for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 4, 2022
In book 2 of the series Master Mercurius is asked to produce a salary scheme that would make it impossible for university staff to work out what others are being paid, but it turns out to be a cover for an intelligence mission which William of Orange (the future King of England who co-reigned with his wife Mary since she had the closer link to the English throne) wants him to carry out. Along the way, things become complicated when a sudden death turns out to be murder and connected with Mercurius' mission.
This was an interesting tale and more jokey than volume 1. I didn't mind the use of modern day slang, something I usually find irritating in a historical novel, because it did add to the humour, but at times the comedy became too much and undercut the suspense. This was especially so with the scenes starring a certain torturer. Things became a bit cartoonish and I didn't enjoy it as much as the first book, which I gave a full five stars. So I am awarding this three stars.
This was an interesting tale and more jokey than volume 1. I didn't mind the use of modern day slang, something I usually find irritating in a historical novel, because it did add to the humour, but at times the comedy became too much and undercut the suspense. This was especially so with the scenes starring a certain torturer. Things became a bit cartoonish and I didn't enjoy it as much as the first book, which I gave a full five stars. So I am awarding this three stars.
August 17, 2020
I love Graham Brack's Master Mercurius novels. They offer solid historical fiction, interesting mysteries—and a central character and narrator full of brilliant, tongue-in-cheek humor. This is one of those books that it's dangerous to read when around other people: you'll keep saying "Let me just read you these two sentences" and repeatedly interrupting whatever they're trying to focus on.
A sampling:
"Molenaar was made of caution. I suspect the first word he uttered as a child was "perhaps."
"His name, though spelled Brough, was pronounced Bruff, he explained. I find English names very difficult to say sometimes. Why they can't have honest Dutch names like Terhoeven, Van Leeuwenhoek or Gijsbert Voet I have no idea. Anyone can pronounce those names."
"I have heard many worse lute players, but also many more melodious tomcats."
I trust you can see what I mean.
The novels are set in 17th Century Leiden. Mercurius, a secret Catholic priest in this Protestant stronghold, is on the faculty of the university there. He's been charged with finding an incomprehensible way of calculating salaries so that faculty are unable to compare their earnings with one another, but his focus quickly changes following the murder of a despised coworker.
I have only one complaint about this series, which is that it consists of only three novels. I've read two of them and am eagerly anticipating reading the third while simultaneously dreading that moment when there will be no more left to read.
I received a free electronic ARC of this title from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions are my own.
A sampling:
"Molenaar was made of caution. I suspect the first word he uttered as a child was "perhaps."
"His name, though spelled Brough, was pronounced Bruff, he explained. I find English names very difficult to say sometimes. Why they can't have honest Dutch names like Terhoeven, Van Leeuwenhoek or Gijsbert Voet I have no idea. Anyone can pronounce those names."
"I have heard many worse lute players, but also many more melodious tomcats."
I trust you can see what I mean.
The novels are set in 17th Century Leiden. Mercurius, a secret Catholic priest in this Protestant stronghold, is on the faculty of the university there. He's been charged with finding an incomprehensible way of calculating salaries so that faculty are unable to compare their earnings with one another, but his focus quickly changes following the murder of a despised coworker.
I have only one complaint about this series, which is that it consists of only three novels. I've read two of them and am eagerly anticipating reading the third while simultaneously dreading that moment when there will be no more left to read.
I received a free electronic ARC of this title from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions are my own.
October 18, 2021
3.5 stars
April 4, 2025
Rated 4 stars. This is #2 in the Master Mercurius historical mystery series set in 17th century Netherlands. Read this on Kindle while listening to Hoopla Audio. Excellent audio narration by Alex Wyndham!
A very entertaining series written with humor, excellent historical references and interesting political intrigue. Also should mention that this series is in the "gritty" category. Looking forward to continuing this series!
A very entertaining series written with humor, excellent historical references and interesting political intrigue. Also should mention that this series is in the "gritty" category. Looking forward to continuing this series!
August 10, 2020
I really enjoy the author’s Josef Slonský series, but wasn’t sure what to expect when I first read the prior book in the Master Mercurius series. If you are new to this series, put aside what you think a mystery set in the Netherlands during the 17th century might be like. This isn’t like plodding through a history book. “Untrue Till Death” is a fast-paced, interesting novel that is full of wit and humor. I am not familiar with this part of history but had no problem becoming engaged with the story or connecting with the main character. Master Mercurius, who is both a Protestant minister and also secretly a Catholic priest, is easy to relate to. He is dealing with university politics, resisting temptation, and trying to succeed in his job just like someone in modern times.
“Untrue Till Death” is the second book in this series, but stands alone if you’ve missed the first one. In this installment, Master Mercurius is given a task that is actually a cover for a secret mission for Stadhouder William of Orange. He has been asked to visit a nearby university and find out if the Stadhouder’s elderly informant is still up to doing his job after a recent setback in his health. Mercurius is already anxious about this assignment when a murderer strikes, making the mission more sensitive and dangerous than before. Now Mecurius has to find out who he can trust and catch a killer before he becomes the next victim.
Graham Brack takes the reader on a journey along with Mercurius in his quest to complete his assignment for the Stadhouder. The plot of the book is complex but entertaining . I wasn’t as adept as Mercurius at being able to distinguish between the heroes and the traitors, so I was surprised when all the details were disclosed at the end of the story. I like everything about this book - the main character, the interesting secondary characters, the setting, the plot, and the humor. I have not yet been disappointed by any of Brack’s books and am excited to see there will be another book in this series that is currently planned for later this year.
I received this ebook through the courtesy of Sapere Books. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.
“Untrue Till Death” is the second book in this series, but stands alone if you’ve missed the first one. In this installment, Master Mercurius is given a task that is actually a cover for a secret mission for Stadhouder William of Orange. He has been asked to visit a nearby university and find out if the Stadhouder’s elderly informant is still up to doing his job after a recent setback in his health. Mercurius is already anxious about this assignment when a murderer strikes, making the mission more sensitive and dangerous than before. Now Mecurius has to find out who he can trust and catch a killer before he becomes the next victim.
Graham Brack takes the reader on a journey along with Mercurius in his quest to complete his assignment for the Stadhouder. The plot of the book is complex but entertaining . I wasn’t as adept as Mercurius at being able to distinguish between the heroes and the traitors, so I was surprised when all the details were disclosed at the end of the story. I like everything about this book - the main character, the interesting secondary characters, the setting, the plot, and the humor. I have not yet been disappointed by any of Brack’s books and am excited to see there will be another book in this series that is currently planned for later this year.
I received this ebook through the courtesy of Sapere Books. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.
August 14, 2020
4.25 Stars
1674, Leiden, The Netherlands
After successfully solving the case of the missing girls in Delft, Master Mercurius has made a name for himself as a private investigator. With unrest occurring both nationally and internationally, William of Orange is obsessed by plots against his leadership. He calls on Mercurius to help to spy on state officials. But before Mercurius has a chance to investigate, his colleague at the University of Leiden is killed. Then one of William’s men is also murdered, Mercurius suspects there could be a serial killer on the loose.
Another very well written fast paced story from the author. This is the second book featuring Mercurious & it could easily be read on its own. I really like Mercurious, his manner & humour makes for an easy to read book & the pages flew by. I loved how Mercurious solved everything - I certainly didn't work it out. I look forward to more in this enthralling series
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
1674, Leiden, The Netherlands
After successfully solving the case of the missing girls in Delft, Master Mercurius has made a name for himself as a private investigator. With unrest occurring both nationally and internationally, William of Orange is obsessed by plots against his leadership. He calls on Mercurius to help to spy on state officials. But before Mercurius has a chance to investigate, his colleague at the University of Leiden is killed. Then one of William’s men is also murdered, Mercurius suspects there could be a serial killer on the loose.
Another very well written fast paced story from the author. This is the second book featuring Mercurious & it could easily be read on its own. I really like Mercurious, his manner & humour makes for an easy to read book & the pages flew by. I loved how Mercurious solved everything - I certainly didn't work it out. I look forward to more in this enthralling series
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
August 29, 2020
‘I just get things wrong now and again, that’s all.’
Leiden, The Netherlands, 1674. As a result of his success in solving the case of the missing girls in Delft, Master Mercurius has made a name for himself. He is summoned by William of Orange, who, suspicious that there is a plot to overthrow him, wants Master Mercurius to investigate. But before Master Mercurius can start, one of his colleagues at the University of Leiden is murdered.
This novel is presented to us as part of Master Mercurius’s memoir:
‘Now that I am advanced in years, the time has come to set down my memoirs before senility sets in and I can no longer remember what happened.’
Because the story is presented in this way, Master Mercurius has some mischievous fun with the reader in the beginning as he moves backwards and forwards between events. He may not have liked his murdered colleague very much, but who murdered him and why? And then another man is murdered. Is William of Orange in danger? Will Master Mercurius work out who is killing whom before William of Orange runs out of apples?
Poor Master Mercurius. He is both an ordained Protestant Minister and a Catholic Priest. Politics, religion, and an eye for women. At least in his dreams. Life is complicated.
‘That’s the trouble with bishops; they take religion too seriously.’
I really enjoyed this second book in the Master Mercurius series. Mercurius himself is both observant and witty, and there are plenty of laugh out loud moments as he investigates:
‘No doubt you are wondering why I sent Van Looy for you.’
‘I was, of course. A secondary question was why a man of sense would send Van Looy for anything.’
I really enjoyed this novel. Master Mercurius is growing on me (there is a third book I’ve yet to read). If you have not yet made his acquaintance, and you enjoy historical whodunnits with humour, then I can recommend this series. I can also recommend Mr Bracks’s Josef Slonský series as well.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Sapere Books for providing me with a free electronic copy of this
book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Leiden, The Netherlands, 1674. As a result of his success in solving the case of the missing girls in Delft, Master Mercurius has made a name for himself. He is summoned by William of Orange, who, suspicious that there is a plot to overthrow him, wants Master Mercurius to investigate. But before Master Mercurius can start, one of his colleagues at the University of Leiden is murdered.
This novel is presented to us as part of Master Mercurius’s memoir:
‘Now that I am advanced in years, the time has come to set down my memoirs before senility sets in and I can no longer remember what happened.’
Because the story is presented in this way, Master Mercurius has some mischievous fun with the reader in the beginning as he moves backwards and forwards between events. He may not have liked his murdered colleague very much, but who murdered him and why? And then another man is murdered. Is William of Orange in danger? Will Master Mercurius work out who is killing whom before William of Orange runs out of apples?
Poor Master Mercurius. He is both an ordained Protestant Minister and a Catholic Priest. Politics, religion, and an eye for women. At least in his dreams. Life is complicated.
‘That’s the trouble with bishops; they take religion too seriously.’
I really enjoyed this second book in the Master Mercurius series. Mercurius himself is both observant and witty, and there are plenty of laugh out loud moments as he investigates:
‘No doubt you are wondering why I sent Van Looy for you.’
‘I was, of course. A secondary question was why a man of sense would send Van Looy for anything.’
I really enjoyed this novel. Master Mercurius is growing on me (there is a third book I’ve yet to read). If you have not yet made his acquaintance, and you enjoy historical whodunnits with humour, then I can recommend this series. I can also recommend Mr Bracks’s Josef Slonský series as well.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Sapere Books for providing me with a free electronic copy of this
book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
November 28, 2023
Having dipped into this series by reading the short story, “In Dulci Jubilo” earlier this week, I was tempted to read one of the substantive novels in this engaging series. Book two duly picked up and read. Now the review.
These books are such an escape, just what good fiction should be.
Being taken back to the 17th Century and the political realities within The Netherlands we have an excellent guide in Master Mercurius. The premise is that he is writing his memoirs and highlighting some of the more colourful aspects of his life.
This second instalment is a wonderful account of the duplicity and intrigue of the time and how our protagonist finds himself in a struggle for survival on a secret mission to route out conspiracies and plots against the ruling authorities.
When the body count begins Mercurius is tasked with finding the murderer and by consequence expose those out to overthrow the ‘government’ by violent action and rebellion.
I love the qualities our narrator brings to the story. The self-deprecating humour and personal weaknesses are declared openly to us. All the time he carries secrets and a personal faith that puts him in conflict with those he serves.
I enjoyed the story, the imagined milieu of the two Dutch towns he visits. This is entertaining historical fiction while having crimes and motives modern readers can easily identify with. The religious baggage and university pomp is mere decoration albeit a reflection of the time. I loved his shared view of martyrdom and sense of justice.
At the time of writing in this instance he is about 36 so he has much to tempt him and challenge his direction in life. Unfortunately, his ability to investigate and uncover evidence around crime scenes and again in this story, murder makes him an unlikely but in demand detective. However, what I find his greatest strength is his inclusion of others of poorer and less educated ranks of society coupled with his humility and wisdom to approach sharper intellects and scientific minds to help solve his investigations.
The final truth being I enjoy spending time in his company and seeing his time through his eyes.
These books are such an escape, just what good fiction should be.
Being taken back to the 17th Century and the political realities within The Netherlands we have an excellent guide in Master Mercurius. The premise is that he is writing his memoirs and highlighting some of the more colourful aspects of his life.
This second instalment is a wonderful account of the duplicity and intrigue of the time and how our protagonist finds himself in a struggle for survival on a secret mission to route out conspiracies and plots against the ruling authorities.
When the body count begins Mercurius is tasked with finding the murderer and by consequence expose those out to overthrow the ‘government’ by violent action and rebellion.
I love the qualities our narrator brings to the story. The self-deprecating humour and personal weaknesses are declared openly to us. All the time he carries secrets and a personal faith that puts him in conflict with those he serves.
I enjoyed the story, the imagined milieu of the two Dutch towns he visits. This is entertaining historical fiction while having crimes and motives modern readers can easily identify with. The religious baggage and university pomp is mere decoration albeit a reflection of the time. I loved his shared view of martyrdom and sense of justice.
At the time of writing in this instance he is about 36 so he has much to tempt him and challenge his direction in life. Unfortunately, his ability to investigate and uncover evidence around crime scenes and again in this story, murder makes him an unlikely but in demand detective. However, what I find his greatest strength is his inclusion of others of poorer and less educated ranks of society coupled with his humility and wisdom to approach sharper intellects and scientific minds to help solve his investigations.
The final truth being I enjoy spending time in his company and seeing his time through his eyes.
September 20, 2020
This is the second in the Master Mercurius series set in the 1600s in The Netherlands. Master Mercurious works at the University of Leiden and has developed a reputation for being a good sleuth having solved the case of missing girls in Book #1. We meet him again here during a time of strife and uncertainty. William of Orange seeks Master Mercurious’ help to keep tabs on officials he doesn’t trust. But two murders occur and Mercurius sets out to figure out what’s going on. I love the historical setting and the oft deprecating humor at his own expense that Mercurius deploys. He’s an interesting character - an ordained Protestant minister but actually a Catholic priest trying his best not to give away his faith and having a hard time dodging eating meat on Fridays! I enjoyed this one - a solid historical mystery - but I definitely preferred Book 1, which kept me a lot more engaged than this one. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
August 18, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed the first Master Mercurius book, and in this second instalment, Graham Brack has really hit his stride. This was a joy to read from the very first page, with the dry, sly professorial humour of the main character making me laugh out loud. I also loved the aside reactions from his long-suffering secretary, as Mercurius dictated this adventure from his youth.
This was a history lesson fully coloured in, with historical fact and real figures blended seamlessly into the twists and turns of the treasonous plot, narrated by the ever-entertaining Mercurius who usually feels out of his depth. An absolute delight and I can't wait for book three in this excellent series.
This was a history lesson fully coloured in, with historical fact and real figures blended seamlessly into the twists and turns of the treasonous plot, narrated by the ever-entertaining Mercurius who usually feels out of his depth. An absolute delight and I can't wait for book three in this excellent series.
May 21, 2022
These comments relate to the first two books jointly, rather than separate comments on each...
At first, I wasn't sure about this series, but with so many fans I thought I'd give it a try. Alex Wyndham does such a great job getting into character that I was hooked on that format right away. However, the plot and setting not so much... missing girls and their families wasn't doing it for me, although I realize it was as much about introducing the protagonist to the potential audience. Also, I'm not a big fan of real historical figures as secondary characters generally, though here they did come across as interesting.
I'd seen reviewers state that they found the second book's story an improvement when they'd found the first lacking. I'll agree mostly, but there was a nasty surprise involved: torture. I loathe it in books set in Ancient Rome, realizing that it wasn't just the Inquisition, but still, yuck! To be fair, Mercurius wasn't too thrilled about it either. That aside, the story was a bit easier to get traction with this one.
As for Master Mercurius... he's both a terrific and frustrating character. His asides are quite funny, though on occasion I thought I heard an echo of "insert joke here" from the author. My main issue here reminds me the Flavia de Luce series by Alan Bradley, where in the first few books her family remains publicly Protestant, yet much is made of their considering themselves as Catholics. That failed for me there, fortunately dropped in later Flavia stories.
I can't really suspend disbelief to accept Mercurius as a public Protestant minister, yet not only a subsequent Catholic convert but also an RC priest as well! It is mentioned that the Catholic authorities approve of this seeing him as a (potential) spy in that camp, yet after two books this has never happened. When he mentions the difficulty of avoiding meat on Fridays in Protestant surroundings, I yawn. Harder to take are the scenes where he's attracted to women, but confident that he can keep up this priestly celibacy indefinitely; there are comments made that he's getting a bit old to still be a single minister. This seems to be some plot device that's important to the author, or that he found a clever idea for a series, but incredibly frustrating for me as it's never explained why he became a Catholic, brushed aside with "for reasons of my own" which I interpret as Brack not being able (wanting) to come up with a buy-able background there.
I'm looking for forward to the third book set in England. Unfortunately, at present the series beyond that is unavailable in audio format (sigh).
At first, I wasn't sure about this series, but with so many fans I thought I'd give it a try. Alex Wyndham does such a great job getting into character that I was hooked on that format right away. However, the plot and setting not so much... missing girls and their families wasn't doing it for me, although I realize it was as much about introducing the protagonist to the potential audience. Also, I'm not a big fan of real historical figures as secondary characters generally, though here they did come across as interesting.
I'd seen reviewers state that they found the second book's story an improvement when they'd found the first lacking. I'll agree mostly, but there was a nasty surprise involved: torture. I loathe it in books set in Ancient Rome, realizing that it wasn't just the Inquisition, but still, yuck! To be fair, Mercurius wasn't too thrilled about it either. That aside, the story was a bit easier to get traction with this one.
As for Master Mercurius... he's both a terrific and frustrating character. His asides are quite funny, though on occasion I thought I heard an echo of "insert joke here" from the author. My main issue here reminds me the Flavia de Luce series by Alan Bradley, where in the first few books her family remains publicly Protestant, yet much is made of their considering themselves as Catholics. That failed for me there, fortunately dropped in later Flavia stories.
I can't really suspend disbelief to accept Mercurius as a public Protestant minister, yet not only a subsequent Catholic convert but also an RC priest as well! It is mentioned that the Catholic authorities approve of this seeing him as a (potential) spy in that camp, yet after two books this has never happened. When he mentions the difficulty of avoiding meat on Fridays in Protestant surroundings, I yawn. Harder to take are the scenes where he's attracted to women, but confident that he can keep up this priestly celibacy indefinitely; there are comments made that he's getting a bit old to still be a single minister. This seems to be some plot device that's important to the author, or that he found a clever idea for a series, but incredibly frustrating for me as it's never explained why he became a Catholic, brushed aside with "for reasons of my own" which I interpret as Brack not being able (wanting) to come up with a buy-able background there.
I'm looking for forward to the third book set in England. Unfortunately, at present the series beyond that is unavailable in audio format (sigh).
September 2, 2023
I really like this author. I finished all but one of his other series, Josef Slonský Investigations, and it was one of my favorites, a mix of likable characters and dry humor. This series has some of those same characteristics, and I'm getting to like it a lot, too. Master Mercurius comes up with these retorts, usually not spoken aloud, that are hilarious. One example was when he was looking for a certain Englishman to help translate a document. He writes:
I'm looking forward to reading number 3 soon.
His name, though spelled Brough, was pronounced Bruff, he explained. I find English names very difficult to say sometimes. Why they can’t have honest Dutch names like Terhoeven, Van Leeuwenhoek or Gijsbert Voet I have no idea. Anyone can pronounce those.
I'm looking forward to reading number 3 soon.
August 6, 2021
I have moved straight on from book one. I find that I am equally taken with Master Mercurious as I was Slonsky in the last series.
This is a quite different story as Mercurious is requested to help the Stadhouder ( William of Orange) to uncover plots against him. It shows another chapter in Dutch history about which I knew nothing.
The humour that I found in the first of the series continues and indeed grows here. It is different to the humour of the last series because as Slonkys humour was shared with others, it had an in built censorship. The humour of Master Mercurious is all in his mind as he continues to write this as his memoir. Not only does it reflect on him himself, but it is also about both churches within which he holds position and the university.
As in the previous series some of the action covered in the book is, to say the least, unpleasant but again the author manages to pass over it , very much as Mercurious would want to have done.
Also as in the previous book, after solving the problem , our hero goes on to deliver the 'wisdom of Solomon' to bring the story to a close.
Its straight on to the next, I think. Praise indeed.
This is a quite different story as Mercurious is requested to help the Stadhouder ( William of Orange) to uncover plots against him. It shows another chapter in Dutch history about which I knew nothing.
The humour that I found in the first of the series continues and indeed grows here. It is different to the humour of the last series because as Slonkys humour was shared with others, it had an in built censorship. The humour of Master Mercurious is all in his mind as he continues to write this as his memoir. Not only does it reflect on him himself, but it is also about both churches within which he holds position and the university.
As in the previous series some of the action covered in the book is, to say the least, unpleasant but again the author manages to pass over it , very much as Mercurious would want to have done.
Also as in the previous book, after solving the problem , our hero goes on to deliver the 'wisdom of Solomon' to bring the story to a close.
Its straight on to the next, I think. Praise indeed.
April 11, 2022
3.75*.....
August 15, 2020
17th Century Netherlands again comes to life with Master Mercurius at the center of the action though he is very ill equipped to be such a figure. He is on the job sussing out conspiracy plots and solving a murder as he travels between the Hague and the University of Leiden when called on by William of Orange to investigate.
There is always humour to be found in this author's writing and since I enjoyed the first book of the series I pre-ordered this book so I could get it as soon as available. [It is available through Kindle Unlimited as well.]
I am looking forward to the third book of the series as Mercurius is quite the interesting character.
There is always humour to be found in this author's writing and since I enjoyed the first book of the series I pre-ordered this book so I could get it as soon as available. [It is available through Kindle Unlimited as well.]
I am looking forward to the third book of the series as Mercurius is quite the interesting character.
October 9, 2020
I enjoyed this! Entertaining, witty, well-researched, and a delightful main character in Master Mercurius.
What makes our Dutch sleuth so endearing is that he is fallible - he doesn't get everything right, but manages to muddle through until he can make a satisfactory conclusion. Although, meanwhile, he is torn between the need to get up at unearthly hours or the comfort of his bed, and the direction that his double-life as a secret Catholic and the open one of a Protestant - with all the conflicts these raise for his needs and emotions.
Nor are the supporting characters stereotypical of this type of murder mystery novel. Add to that, the interest of the stories being set in the Netherlands, we have the result of an engrossing read that is entertaining, informative and a little different to many another in this genre. Although this one is quite easily a stand-alone in the series, I would suggest reading Book One (Death In Delft) first because they are so good!
I have travelled to the Netherlands several times and know The Hague and Utrecht well, so this was another aspect of why I enjoyed this tale: the description of the cities and travel by barge along the network of canals were particularly absorbing. I especially liked the way that the author wove the historical facts into the story - the storm and its consequences is one of those things that could easily be thought of as far-fetched writer's imagination added in for a convenient plot device, until you realise it did actually happen!
My only very slight niggle was that Mercurius's religious dilemma was perhaps mentioned too often. Once I knew he was secretly a Catholic priest I really didn't need the too-often reminders.
I did guess 'who-did-it' quite early on, but so what? Good plot, good characters, a good read ... and one of those excellent novels that has you looking up Wikipedia to find out more about the facts behind the fiction.
Reviewed for Discovering Diamonds
What makes our Dutch sleuth so endearing is that he is fallible - he doesn't get everything right, but manages to muddle through until he can make a satisfactory conclusion. Although, meanwhile, he is torn between the need to get up at unearthly hours or the comfort of his bed, and the direction that his double-life as a secret Catholic and the open one of a Protestant - with all the conflicts these raise for his needs and emotions.
Nor are the supporting characters stereotypical of this type of murder mystery novel. Add to that, the interest of the stories being set in the Netherlands, we have the result of an engrossing read that is entertaining, informative and a little different to many another in this genre. Although this one is quite easily a stand-alone in the series, I would suggest reading Book One (Death In Delft) first because they are so good!
I have travelled to the Netherlands several times and know The Hague and Utrecht well, so this was another aspect of why I enjoyed this tale: the description of the cities and travel by barge along the network of canals were particularly absorbing. I especially liked the way that the author wove the historical facts into the story - the storm and its consequences is one of those things that could easily be thought of as far-fetched writer's imagination added in for a convenient plot device, until you realise it did actually happen!
My only very slight niggle was that Mercurius's religious dilemma was perhaps mentioned too often. Once I knew he was secretly a Catholic priest I really didn't need the too-often reminders.
I did guess 'who-did-it' quite early on, but so what? Good plot, good characters, a good read ... and one of those excellent novels that has you looking up Wikipedia to find out more about the facts behind the fiction.
Reviewed for Discovering Diamonds
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