Murder at the Queen's Old Castle / Cora Harrison.

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  • Additional Information
    • Publication Information:
      First world edition.
    • Abstract:
      Summary: "Despite its regal name, the Queen's Old Castle is nothing but a low-grade department store, housed within the decrepit walls of what was once a medieval castle, built at the harbour entrance to Cork city. On her first visit for fifty years, the Reverend Mother is struck by how little has changed - apart, that is, from the strange smell of gas ... But when the store's owner staggers from his office and topples over the railings to his death, Mother Aquinas is once again drawn into a baffling murder investigation where suspects are all too plentiful. An unpopular man, Joseph Fitzwilliam had been disliked and feared by all who worked for him. And when the contents of his will are revealed, suspicion widens to include his own family ..."--Publisher's description.
    • ISBN:
      9780727888303
      0727888307
      9781847519566
      1847519563
    • Accession Number:
      on1055137884
      1055137884
    • Accession Number:
      fay.596569

Reviews

Booklist Reviews 2018 November #1

Harrison delivers another entertaining installment in her charming historical-mystery series set in 1920s Cork, Ireland, and featuring Reverend Mother Aquinas, who has a knack for getting involved in murder cases. This time the murder victim literally lands at her feet while she's shopping in the Queen's Old Castle department store. She's come to the store at the invitation of old Joseph Fitzwilliam, the dour owner, who's agreed that Aquinas can take some of the items damaged in the recent flood for the poor children who attend the reverend mother's convent school. Shocked by the murder, she teams up with her old friend Dr. Scher and her former pupil, police Inspector Patrick Cashman, to find the killer. There are plenty of suspects, from the victim's rather odd family to the poorly paid clerks who work at the store to the young and badly treated shop apprentices. Using her powerful intellect and her intimate knowledge of the citizens of Cork, the reverend mother is the first to understand the motive behind the terrible deed. Sparkling descriptions of life in 1920s Cork and fascinating historical details combine to ably support a clever plot and an intriguing cast. Copyright 2018 Booklist Reviews.

LJ Reviews 2018 December #1

This sixth entry (after Death of a Novice) in the popular 1920s Ireland-set "Reverend Mother" mystery series begins with a sale at the Queen's Old Castle department store in Cork. Reverend Mother Aquinas, accompanied by Brian Mahoney, a former student who's now apprenticed at the store, witnesses the murder of the despised shop owner Joseph Fitzwilliam. Eileen MacSweeney, another former student who's now an aspiring reporter, rushes to sell the story to the local paper. Yet another previous pupil of the reverend mother, Insp. Patrick Cashman, discovers that many store employees had opportunity to commit the crime and the victim's family all had motive. Mother Aquinas pursues her own investigation as increasing violence at the store leads her to believe all the witnesses are in danger. VERDICT A very public murder on the shop floor with a store full of suspects presents a classic conundrum. Mother Aquinas shares the narrative with Eileen and Inspector Cashman providing an array of insights and detection methods. This highly readable historical series is perfect for fans of authors who focus on a vivid locale such as Andrea Camilleri and Ann Cleeves.—Catherine Lantz, Univ. of Illinois at Chicago Lib.

Copyright 2018 Library Journal.

PW Reviews 2018 November #3

Harrison is at the top of her game in her sixth whodunit set in 1920s Cork, Ireland, featuring the Reverend Mother Aquinas (after 2018's Death of a Novice). Joseph Fitzwilliam, the notoriously tight-fisted owner of a "shop selling cheap clothes and household linens" known as the Queen's Old Castle, has offered to let the reverend mother take her pick of water-damaged goods to distribute to the city's poor. While doing so, the religious leader is horrified to see Joseph, who's clutching a small barrel-shaped canister used for transporting change, fall over a railing outside his office on an overhead platform to his death. The canister smells of gas, suggesting he was poisoned. Joseph's hysterical widow, who witnessed his fatal fall, cries murder, then points her finger at 14-year-old shop employee Brian Maloney, accusing the boy of mistakenly killing her husband instead of herself. While the politics of the time are not central to the plot as in other entries, the fair-play puzzle is among Harrison's finest. Agent: Peter Buckman, Ampersand Agency (U.K.). (Jan.)

Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly.