Susan McDuffie, A Mass for the Dead

A Mass for the Dead

Susan McDuffie

Five Star, November 2006, $25.95

ISBN: 1594144893

In 1373 Scotland, oyster digger Alasdair Beag finds the murdered corpse of the Oronsay Isle Priory Crispinus McPhee on the beach. Crispinus' brother Gillespic informs his nephew Muirteach that he must report the death of his father the Lord of the Isles John MacDonald. Muirteach has mixed feelings about his late father who called him "the cripple", but travels to the see MacDonald regardless, so he can inform him. MacDonald assigns Muirteach to investigate and uncover the identity of his dads killer; the Lord of the Isles knows he must tell his father King Robert II, but decides to wait until the homicide case is resolved before informing the Pope that one of his key churchmen is dead.

Muirteach returns home accompanied by physician Fearchar Beaton and his daughter, outspoken Mariota. He begins his inquiry, starting with Beag and then with his father's handfast mistress and her brothers. As he continues to dig for clues, he learns a much wider truth about his father than just who killed his father and why.

Historical mystery readers will want to peruse A MASS FOR THE DEAD, an exciting tale that brings to life the political intrigue of fourteenth century Scotland, where Church and State intermingle to the benefit of leaders at the cost of followers. The storyline is fast-paced but driven by Muirteach, who is a fully developed individual with likes, hates and resentments, as he is forced to satisfy the whims of his superiors by investigating the death of his loathsome father. As he uncovers the truth with the help of Mariota, sub-genre fans will want to join them on their amateur sleuth caper.