The queen's man
In 12th Century England, a murder investigation by the astute Justin de Quincy uncovers a dangerous plot. With King Richard the Lionheart missing after his crusade, Prince John schemes to seize the throne. Justin must navigate treacherous court politics to expose the truth and prevent a royal coup.
This book is the first in the Justin de Quincy mystery series, introducing the protagonist and the historical setting. While it establishes ongoing character arcs, the central mystery of this particular novel reaches a resolution.
The novel is set against the backdrop of real historical events in 12th-century England, specifically during the period when Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned and Prince John was maneuvering for power. Many characters are based on actual historical figures, woven into a fictional mystery.
The Queen's Man marks a shift for Penman into a more focused mystery narrative, distinct from her earlier, broader historical sagas that often spanned decades and multiple generations. It retains her meticulous historical research but centers on a single protagonist solving a specific crime.