The queen's man : a medieval mystery (36 page)

characters. Readers will learn more about John's attempt to usurp his brother's throne while Richard is being held prisoner. As tor Justin, he finds himself involved in a murder as he trio to help out a friend.

Q: What do you want readers to get out of this book?

A: I'd like them to finish The Queens Man and think, "I can't wait for Justin de Quincy's next adventure." I'd also like them to come aw av feeling they've learned something about the Middle Ages, and wanting to know more about that era.

Reading Group Questions and Topics for Discussion

Eleanor of Aquitaine was one o\ the most powerful and accomplished women in history. What other strong female characters (either real or fictional) have you read about recently? What are the similarities and differences between those characters and Eleanor. 1

What sort of confinements did women live within in medieval society 1 Although the position of women in society has changed dramatically since the Middle Ages, do you feel there are similarities between the way women live in society today and the way they lived then?

Did you notice Penman's use of medieval words and phrases in The Queens Man? Did it add to your enjoyment of the story or detract from it?

Every once in a while, Penman allows her characters to use modern phrases, such as when Luke—suffering from a hangover—says his mouth "feels like five miles of bad road." Did you notice these flashes of modern phrasing? Did they interfere with or contribute to your understanding of the characters or your enjoyment of the story?

In describing the process of working on a mystery, Penman has said it's necessary to leave clues for readers to pick up—should they choose to do so—so they can solve the puzzle. Were you trying to solve the mystery as you read through this story? What clues did you find?

Do you see any parallels between the medieval fear of leprosy and the modern fear o{ AIDS? If so, what are they?

What effect did the revelation about the murder of the goldsmith, Gervase Fitz Randolph, have on your feelings about his death?

If you had been Justin, would you have stopped to help Gervase? Would you have carried out your promise to deliver his letter?

The Queens Man

9. As you read about Gervase's family and their possible motives for murdering him, did you think one of them might have been involved in the killing?

10. After spending some time in the twelfth century with Justin de Quincy and Queen Eleanor, did their world seem surprisingly familiar? Or utterly alien? What were the most striking similarities between their society and ours? The greatest differences?

11. Do you think the changes in society have caused changes in human nature over the centuries?

12. How does this medieval mystery compare to contemporary murder mysteries? Do you prefer one over the other? If so, why?

13. The historical characters central to this story—Eleanor of Aquitaine and her sons Richard and John—have appeared in movies, books, and on television. How does Penman's portrayal of these characters compare to other portrayals you may have encountered?

14- Justin is very angry at his father for failing to acknowledge him as his son, and yet the Bishop of Chester made sure Justin was clothed and fed, that there was a roof over his head, that he received a first-class education, and that he became a squire for a local lord. Considering the bishop's position and the social values of twelfth-century England, do you think Justin was wronged by the bishop? What alternatives did the bishop have?

15. How would you describe the relationship between the bastard youth Justin and the aging Eleanor of Aquitaine? Why do you think she places so much trust in him?

About the Author

The story behind Sharon Kay Penman's first novel has almost become the stuff of legend. Working on it in precious moments carved out of her life as a student and then as a lawyer, she had completed five hundred pages—only to have the only copy stolen from her car. Fortunately for her legions of fans she began again. That novel, The Sunne in Splendour —retelling the story oi Richard III—was welcomed by readers on both sides of the Atlantic, and Ms. Penman has never looked back.

Penman has lived in England and Wales and currently resides in New Jersey. The Queens Man is her sixth novel and her first mystery. Previous works include When Christ and His Saints Slept, Here Be Dragons, Falls the Shadow, and The Reckoning. Ms. Penman is currently at work upon a new Justin de Quincy adventure, Cruel as the Grave.

Excerpts from reviews of Sharon Kay Penman's The Queen's Man

"Her writing is faultless, deftly interweaving the threads o^the various storylines into a glowing, living tapestry. This is storytelling at its

finest."

— The Philadelphia Inquirer

"Penman manages to illuminate the alien shadowland of the Middle Ages and populate it with vital characters whose politics and passions are as vivid as our own. She writes about the medieval world with vigor, compassion, and clarity."

— San Francisco Chronicle

"Once you enter Penman's world, you're hooked."

— Seattle Post-Intelligencer

"Readers...will be caught up in this masterfully told tale. Penman's authentic period details, larger-than-life characters, and fast-paced plot add up to great reading for both mystery fans and history buffs."

— Booklist

"A graceful style, plus a plot rich in local color, puts this among the most attractive by far of the recent spate of mysteries set in medieval times."

— Kirkus Reviews

"Penman here applies to mystery her talent for historical fiction....Well researched, credibly plotted, realistically detailed, and undeniably entertaining."

— Library Journal

"The sounds of swordplay and bodices being ripped are loud and frequent....Readers will cheer Justin's return in future adventures."

— Publishers Weekly

The Queens Man

"Murders pop up throughout The Queens Man, and betrayal seems to be a running theme. Author Penman paints detailed pictures of life on both sides of the street (rich and poor) in 12th century England."

— San Antonio Express Times

"There is much tension in the court....There are conspiracies and spies all over....[Her] other novels are gloriously multi-linear, having several plot lines and an abundance of characters; The Queens Man is skillfully linear, having one plot line and only characters associated with that line. She is equally successful with either form....Her prose is rich, her dialogue is masterful, never trite....Penman is simply one of the classiest acts in today's literary world."

Courier-Times (Roxboro, NC)

"Penman carries on her story telling with an...inventive plot [with]...numerous, plausible characters whose fate we will want to follow in future books....She has made her characters truly evil, her prison scenes horrific and her whores conveniently heartless....The subtle weaving of current topics...provides an interesting underlying comment on the times."

—Austin American Statesman

"It is through the characters created from her imagination that Penman manages to create a believable twelfth century environment."

— Chicago Tribune