Rating: 
Summary: Combining mystery, medieval England, and excellent writing
Review: I was about 100 pages into this book 24 hours ago. However, since I'd checked it out from the local library, I had to return it today.So, yeah. 200 pages in about 20 hours. And I really didn't mind. The Queen's Man follows Justin de Quincy, an illegitimate child of a bishop, as he investigates the murder of a goldsmith that he just happened to witness. Very soon, the Queen of England, her son, most of the court, the King of France, sheriffs of two English towns, and an entire London street find themselves wrapped up in Justin's work. Sharon Kay Penman managed to combine three things I love: mystery, medieval England, and an awesome writing style. It's a fascinating book, and she's excellent at weaving a plot in such a way that you're kept guessing right up until the end--things never end up where you expect them to be.
Rating: 
Summary: Another Great Work by Penman
Review: I am an avid fan of Penman's work. I decided to try these mystery books, because I wanted a shorter read than the 700+ page books she writes. I was very pleased with my decision! While it lacked the romance of "Here Be Dragons", which is why it didn't get a five star rating, the characters were still engaging and entertaining. Trying to figure out the mystery was also a different twist from her other novels and I found it to be very enjoyable. Penman's strengths lie with the fact she can intertwine historical fact so well with fiction. You never know where the truth ends and the fiction begins and in the end you are always in love with the characters. I admired the strength of Eleanor and the courage of Justin and as with "Here Be Dragons", I felt that these characters stuck with me long after closing the cover to the book. I recommend to anyone, but if you want the best of the best from Penman, read "Here Be Dragons"...
Rating: 
Summary: A bit of a let down
Review: I'm not normally a mystery reader. Perhaps I was expecting too much. I liked this book for the author's wonderful depiction of medieval society and the main character Justin De Quincy is well written. However, the solution to the mystery was a bit of a let down. I guess I hoped for some twist and turn in the story that led to a dramatic ending that I least expected. That was sadly not the case. I nearly gave the book 4 stars because the writing was excellent. However, the plot was less than thrilling at times and the ending was blah. So, 3 stars it is - and I hope that I'm not being too harsh simply because of my lack of mystery reading experience. Maybe the obvious is the usual solution????
Rating:
Summary: I feel compelled to act!
Review: Having not read any other of Penman's books prior to the Queen's Man (a tragedy i soon rectified), i came to this exceptional novel from a somewhat different perspective than the average Medieval History aficionado. I, in fact, had long since forgotten almost all i once new of medieval history. From this starting point, i feel that the previous reviews of this book are a bit unfair. My wife (who is a certified Medieval History aficionado and owner of all Penman books) finally convinced me give this book a whirl on one of my many :( intl. business trips this year. Trapped on a plane for hours on end, I read. This book grabbed me from page one! Every last character, real or fictional, was developed in a beautifully three dimensional way that is rare indeed. I became enchanted by the setting in its historical detail to the point where I could really imagine walking the streets of medieval London or the dungeons of the local gaol. The central story of the murder mystery is used as a vehicle to tie together the threads of history, plots, sub-plots, betrayals, love stories and more. Breathtaking! When your done, Book 2: Cruel is the Grave is even better. I am currently reading When Christ and His Saints Slept and I daresay I'm addicted. The Queen's Man and Cruel is the Grave are no doubt lighter in nature to her other Historical Novels, but will be far more accessible to the bulk of readers. Likely to wet your appetite for her more intimidating novels (which I highly recommend too and are equally addicting). I hope this review convinces others to enter Penman's world, for I feel sure they will not regret it.
Rating:
Summary: MEDIEVAL MYSTERY SLEUTHING . .. SOMETIMES GOOD
Review: Penman wrote these medieval mysteries to take a break from her more flowery medieval prose. Unlike the latter, she didn't necessarily know what the outcome would be to various mysteries so it gave her a new stretch in her writing career.
QUEEN'S MAN follows the ... son of a Bishop who, by chance, is charged by Queen Eleanor to solve the mystery of a murdered goldsmith in connection with Richard the Lion Hearted. During this investigation, our hero meets a number of suspisciou people in the town, as well as makes a few friends here and there.
The dialogue and descriptions are sparse compared to her more Historical works. If anything, this series focuses on movement
and pacing. I would say this is more of a fun and quick read than the usual elegant, flowery and heart breaking Historical pieces Penman is usually know for in her works.
Rating:
Summary: very enjoyable medieval mystery
Review: This is the first book I've read by Sharon Penman, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Told in the third-person, the narrative describes the actions and feelings of a queen, a criminal and a slew of London archetypal characters, but primarily our perspective is that of Justin de Quincy, the well-educated but illegitimate son of a cleric who is trying to find his place in the world. A dramatic chance encounter leaves him with an introduction to Eleanor of Aquitane, who subsequently engages De Quincy as her agent in solving a local mystery that may have international implications. The plot is interesting, the dialogue is authentic without being heavy-handed, and the characters are realistic in their histories and actions. Penman knows her period, which shines through many details. This is the first book I've read by Sharon Penman but it won't be the last.
Rating:
Summary: A Unique Historical Murder Mystery
Review: A unique creation by Sharon Penman, DeQuincy, is placed in a medieval secret agent role as Queen Eleanor's "man". Although I was skeptical at first, I found Penman's feel for the medieval England of Henry & Eleanor from her previous historical novels sets such a great stage for the storyline that I couldn't help but be drawn into her tale, which is set in England in 1192-1193. In fact, I also found the follow up "Cruel As The Grave" worthwhile. Penman emerged long ago as one of the best historical novelists and continues to solidify her reputation with each new release. The "Queen's
Man" novels are unique side trips where she plays with fictional characters based on her strong historical story lines. Penman's special genius
lies in the bright and shining historical detail that she can weave into both plot and dialog (she's a very good student of history and at
times is absolutely brilliant in conveying to us the workings of medieval minds). Penman's true genius is the broad historical scope that is painted on top of the shimmering details of brief moments. It truely does feel as if you
are living the story yourself, and it is this bringing us readers in as witnesses that stands as Penman's contribution to the art of the historical
novel. If you prefer to read in chronological order:
1101-1154 When Christ And His Saints Slept (Vol 1 of Trilogy)
1156-1171 Time And Space (Vol 2 of Trilogy)
12th Cent Devil's Brood (Vol 3 of Trilogy)- not yet released
1192-1193 The Queen's Man
1193 Cruel As The Grave
1183-1232 Here Be Dragons (Vol 1 of Welsh Trilogy)
1231-1267 Falls The Shadow (Vol 2 of Welsh Trilogy)
1271-1283 The Reckoning (Vol 3 of Welsh Trilogy)
1459-1492 The Sunne In Splendour
Rating:
Summary: Well researched, well written
Review: This is one of those serendipitous finds that makes your day! It is an exceptionally well researched book about the middle ages, and while it is not a "traditional" murder mystery (the criminal is not too hard to spot)--that's not the point! The point is to have fun in the medieval ambiance and to endulge in travelling back to a time that fascinates most of us.
Rating:
Summary: A fun read!
Review: I love all of Sharon Penman's books, including this one (though admittedly it is neither as "deep" nor as detailed as her major works). Still, if you're a medieval fan, you're going to enjoy this work. On the other hand, if you're really looking more for a detective story, you may be a bit disappointed--the "mystery" is at the periphery, not at the heart of the book: that is reserved for Eleanor of Aquitaine and the Queen's Man and Medieval England! Penman brings to this book what she brings to all of her books: her love of the Middle Ages, her vast knowledge of the period, and her extraordinary writing ability.
Rating:
Summary: A debt of gratitude
Review: In 1996, I decided I wanted to broaden my horizons and branch out into reading medieval historical fiction. This desire resulted in three Christmas presents from my parents: The Queen's Man, The Reckoning, and When Christ and His Saints Slept. I tried reading WCAHSS at least two or three times, but found myself frustrated. My knowledge of medieval history has never been strong, and not knowing what was truth, what was fiction, I felt strangely uncomfortable. The books sat on my shelf for a few years, until last November, after finishing a high fantasy novel, I decided again to read something more firmly based in reality. Looking at The Reckoning, and WCAHSS, I quickly came face to face with the same frustrations as before -- I didn't know what to believe, what to except on faith, what was real, what was not. So I picked up The Queen's Man, seeing that it was not history, per se, believing that with this I could get a grasp on Penman's style, perhaps a bridge into the larger historical works. I was hooked immediately. Justin de Quincy's character was likeable (in a somewhat modern sense), and Eleanor of Aquitane was regal beyond measure. Not having read much mystery, outside of a few Grisham novels and The Alienist, I didn't have much to judge this against. Others have said it is not a strong "mystery", but it worked for me, kept me intellectually engaged throughout. I fell in love with this book, with Penman's writing, and immediately bought Here Be Dragon's. While I acknowledge that this book pales in comparison to the majesty of Here Be Dragons, what would normally get 3 stars, here gets 4 -- without this, I never would have entered the greater side of Penman's works, and indeed a debt is owed.
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