I was drawn to this historical mystery after enjoying the first book in Brack’s modern day Josef Slonsky series. This book takes us back to mid 17th C Delft. Our main character is a cleric from a nearby university, called in to lead a criminal investigation. Three girls have gone missing but only a single body has been found. Vermeer figures in the book as he draws the crime scenes.
Brack employs a wicked sense of humor.

“I just wonder what he did to be imprisoned in one [an asylum]. “
“ I’m not sure. Some say he threatened to kill his mother, but you don’t get put away for doing people a service.”

Brack uses humor to give us a good taste of Mercurius’ personality. I loved his opinions on the daily services of the church, not to mention confession. And as one would expect, he’s a bit of an innocent. But Mercurius is also a philosopher in the true sense, as well as a merciful priest.
Brack uses just enough old vocabulary to give the book a feel for the 17th Century without making it difficult for the reader to understand. He makes sure to give us a complete feel for the place and time. We’re treated to several discussions on the differences in the two faiths, Catholic and Protestant. He also does a great job of showing us the political climate and philosophies of the day.
I also will admit to learning about the scientific discoveries made by Van Leeuwenhoek during this time.
I loved the ending to the book. I can only hope this is the start of a new series as Mercurius is someone I would relish watching solve additional crimes.
My thanks to netgalley and Sapere Books for an advance copy of this book.

I very much enjoyed this book. It was nice to read a mystery which was not gory and written in quite a gentle style.

5★
“‘Last I heard he was in an asylum.’

‘An asylum?’

‘You know, a madhouse. Place where they put the insane.’

‘I know what one is,’ I said. ‘I just wondered what he did to be imprisoned in one.’

‘I’m not sure. Some say he threatened to kill his mother, but you don’t get put away for doing people a service.’”

“He” is the feeble-minded brother-in-law of the renowned Dutch painter Jan Vermeer (“Girl With The Pearl Earring”). Vermeer’s mother-in-law is a notoriously difficult, demanding woman, whom everyone would like to see the back of. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

Graham Brack’s latest novel is completely different from his popular Josef Slonsky Investigations series that takes place in contemporary Prague. This is the first of a new series in the Netherlands during the 17th century. The book is introduced by the old Master Mercurius as his colourful memories.

“It is possible that in these pages I have been indiscreet to some extent. I would ask your pardon if that is the case, except that I don’t give a fig.”

His memories would certainly be indiscreet if any of the people in this account were to read them, but they are a delight for us. Who would want to read this about herself?

“She was as short a woman as I had ever seen who was not a dwarf, but nearly as broad as she was tall. It was as if her Maker had used the normal amount of flesh but had erected it on soft foundations.”

But back to the story. It is 1671. Master Mercurius is a 33-year-old Catholic priest – no, a Protestant minister – no, a, well, he’s sort of both. He was ordained as a Catholic priest, but had to hide that in these times when Protestants burned Catholic priests.

He is a lecturer at the University of Leiden, (where he needs to be a Protestant minister) enjoying life, when the Rector summons him and says the Mayor of Delft has asked that he send an educated man to help investigate the disappearance of three little girls. He’s puzzled, but agrees.

He meets with the mayor and other civic leaders, several of whom are real historical characters. Some of them vie for superiority and don't get along with each other. Fortunately, being a minister or priest has its advantages, as they don't take it out on him.

[My Goodreads review includes the painting "View of Delft" by Jan Vermeer 1659-1660

He approaches the project methodically, interviewing each of the very different families, and we get a sense of what he’s noticing. The missing girls come from completely different backgrounds, one a prized only child and one a spurned bastard, but age seems to be the common factor. Again, his position as a minister/priest, serves him well when dealing with the bereft parents.

I particularly enjoy Vermeer, who adored his wife (but not her mother) and their nine children. He never had much money, but he seems an interesting, intelligent man who thrived on the vibrancy of his household. Mercurius is invited to dinner.

“To say that the children were excited was an understatement. I could not count them, though I think there may have been nine, but since they refused to sit still it was difficult to be sure. I once gave a friend some help loading piglets on a cart and the effect was very similar.
. . .
There was another boy, Franciscus, who was about six and appeared to be a species of comet, flying rapidly about the house and transiting the room at intervals before vanishing again for a while.”

Vermeer is a major character as is Van Leeuwenhoek, who is recognised as the father of microbiology. He was a cloth trader, and inspected the weave with magnification and figured out how to make lenses that showed even greater detail of the “animacules” in our mouths.

Brack has a light touch when fitting in circumstances and events of the times without ever seeming as if he’s finding an excuse to show off or lecture, as I feel so many authors do. Everything flows naturally. We see the ins and outs of the homes and alleyways.

Plenty of odd goings on and clues and hints and an awful lot of walking in mud and cold from town to town. These were not easy times. But he’s young, fit, intelligent and has a quick mind as well as a nice sense of humour and a very caring nature.

The various situations where people are trying to matchmake for him, believing he’s a Protestant minister who can marry, are tenderly funny.

“If I am frank, much of the conversation of the evening passed me by, because I was regarding the young lady opposite and ensuring that my next confession would be a lengthy affair.”

The few anachronisms I noted turned out not to be, so well done with the research, and more fool me! I’m looking forward to spending more time with this religious fellow, although that’s not my usual choice of companion. But then, neither did I think a Czech detective would be.

Thanks to Sapere Books and NetGalley for the preview copy. I loved it!

This book was an absolute delight to read, for several reasons. First, Master Mercurius himself. What a smart, funny man, who, despite he is very learned, sometimes displays a lack of knowledge of things that other people take for granted. Especially when it comes to relations between men and women; the way he sometimes reacted to the young ladies in this story made me laugh out loud. Sometimes however he suddenly displays a very good insight in the human mind and furthermore, he is not rigid, he knows how to ‘bend the rules’ to keep people happy.
Then the story – a plot like this that is very well understandable for the time the story is set in, and even nog quite unthinkable these days. The love of a father for his daughter(s) plays a central role but it takes some time before it is clear how important this is.
And more: Anthony van Leeuwenhoek and Johannes Vermeer play a crucial role in this story. Both are given an important role that not only has to do with the things they are famous for – although I loved the scene where Mercurius, to his utter fascination (and a bit of horror), discovers what it is that Van Leeuwenhoek does.

Those of you who can’t be bothered reading a more personal explanation, please stop here.

I also wanted to read this book because it is set in Delft (which I know quite well) and Master Mercurius is from Leiden (where I was born). To my great pleasure Graham Brack didn’t make the mistakes other authors make when trying to set a story in the Netherlands (or Holland, in this case). First, he uses ‘mijnheer’, ‘mevrouw’ and ‘juffrouw’ (Mr, Mrs and Miss) in the correct way. He also writes all surnames the correct way and he has actually made a good study of the town of Delft as it was in 1671. He uses the word ‘hofje’ for a small enclosed street of almshouses. ‘Hofjes’ still exist but they are no longer almshouses, of course. They are very sought after (I lived in one; it was built in 1669).
Master Mercurius lives in difficult times, because religion plays a major role in society. Nowadays, almost nobody is bothered by the fact you are Catholic, Protestant or even Remonstrant, the latter being frowned upon. I can tell you they still exist – I was baptized Remonstrant – and that brings me to the last point that makes me like this book so much. My name is in it. Well, obviously not my 20th century name, but ‘Jannetje Dircks’, that’s me…. My first name is Jannetje and my father’s name is Dirk.
Of course this is all purely coincidence and I liked the book more because of Master Mercurius and the story than of the things I say in the two last paragraphs, but it earned the book an extra star ;-) and I’m very much looking forward to more books in this series.

Thanks to Netgalley and Sapere Books for this digital review copy.

Death In Delft is the first book in the Master Mercurius Mysteries series by British author, Graham Brack. In the chill of a Dutch February, University of Leiden lecturer, Master Mercurius is sent to Delft by the Rector, at the request of the Mayor of Delft, who requires someone with “a quick wit, a knowledge of God’s law and abundant energy”. Not until he arrives does the cleric understand that he is investigating the abduction, over recent weeks, of three young girls, all eight or nine years old, one of whom appears to have been murdered.

Once the basic facts are established, the sites of the abductions, and the grave of the dead girl, are visited. Mercurius is accommodated at the Inn and given free rein to interrogate and investigate. The late seventeenth century offers little technology to assist an investigator, but this is Delft, and Johannes Vermeer has obliged with some Scene-Of-Crime sketches, and likenesses of two of the girls from parental descriptions (who needs cameras or identikit?); when copies are needed to hand around, a talented woodcut artist is engaged.

The body is examined and Reinier de Graaf offers an enlightening opinion on cause of death; later, Anton van Leeuwenhoek helpfully applies scientific method to underpin certain deductions; (might as well use the local talent….) Mercurius makes enquiries by day and in the evenings, dines with each of the town’s burghers. And within the week, he has indeed solved this puzzling case.

Brack’s protagonist is an interesting and easily likeable character: Master Mercurius is clearly a good man, if not overly devout or pious: “I hesitate to claim any special holiness of my own, but fortunately I have been prevented from sin by an almost total lack of opportunities: I have no need of money, and women have always found me immensely resistible, so occasions for sin do not often come my way.”

He describes himself as “neither fish nor fowl, a Catholic masquerading as a Protestant, concealing what should be open.” He also reveals a talent for the bluff. The story is told by a late-in-life Mercurius who is setting down certain life episodes as journal entries.

Brack’s plot has enough twists and red herrings to keep the reader guessing, and he evokes the era with ease. He seamlessly incorporates a wealth of interesting historical facts into the narrative, as well as a generous helping of (sometimes dark) humour. It seems that, for much of this tale, Graham Brack has tongue firmly planted in cheek. This is brilliantly entertaining historical crime fiction and it is to be hoped that he has many more doses of Master Mercurius up his sleeve!
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Sapere Books (but I also purchased a copy!)

This is my first book by this author, but it won’t be my last.

Since I am Dutch myself I couldn’t resist a book taking place in The Netherlands with a lot of historical figures.

I enjoyed the writing style of the author. It flows really well and I found it easy the picture the story in my head. The story itself is engaging and full of twists. I didn’t guess who it was.

Master Mercurius was an interesting and likeable character. he had his flaws, which made him more real.

I enjoyed this story a lot and would definitely recommend it.

2552 kb

5 stars

I, too, am a big fan of Mr. Brack's Josef Slonsky series. So, I thought that I would give this new series a try.

This series is set in the 17th Century in Holland and features Master Mercurius. He is a Catholic priest at heart who bows to pressure and also takes up the mantle of a Protestant cleric. He has found a position as a lecturer at the University of Leiden. He is summoned and asked to go to Delft to investigate a series of kidnappings of young children – all girls. Just before he arrives, a body is found. Where are the other two missing children?

Along the way of his search for the missing girls, he meets several inhabitants of the town who are helpful. A few take some convincing, however. He also meets Johannes Vermeer whose powers of observation set Master Mercurius upon the path to the solution of the puzzle.

This book is very well written. I should not have been concerned about Mr. Brack's ability to begin a new series. This book is intelligent and interspersed with Mercurius' self-deprecating style of humor. I was chuckling over some of his comments. I really liked the Master. He was a humble man of God who was also learned enough to know that he needed assistance in sorting out the dilemma. I saw his constant battle within himself to remain Catholic while putting on a show of being a Protestant cleric to the public. It must have been a horrible time in which to live when one has to hide one's faith to survive.

I want to thank NetGalley and Sapere Books for forwarding to me a copy of this very excellent book for me to read, enjoy and review.

This mystery book is told with a lightness that makes it so endearing and enjoyable to read. Set in Delft in the 1671, told in the first person, by Master Mercurius, a cleric being of both Catholic and Protestant ilk . He is sent over to Delft from his University to assist solving the disappearance of 3 girls, aged eight yr old, one of who is discovered in a grave soon before his arrival.
The mystery is very well laid out and very well told - I am not a fan of books written in the first person, but this book really speaks to me, it puts me in the picture very easily, as we travel to the books end. The era is perfectly depicted as are the people in it. I will certainly look out for more books in this series.

*Many thank to Graham Brack, Sapere Books and NetGalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*
Three things prompted me to request this novel: the fact that it is a historical fiction set in the 17th century Netherlands and the author, whose series with Josef Slansky I found quite enjoyable.
Master Mercurius, a protestant minister and a scholar at Leiden University, is asked to travel to Delft and assist the local men of importance to solve a mystery of the abduction of three young girls, one of whom was found dead. Mercurius is helped, among others, by Master Vermeer, who, in fact, finds the clue to the mystery.
Mercurius is a likeable character, intelligent, witty, with a common sense and some distance towards himself. And he has a secret. He converted to Catholicism in France, and became an ordained priest. His Protestant status allows him to be accepted in the society and to pursue his academic career. The descriptions of the places, the clothes, the architecture, the customs and the interiors are superb, and you do get the feel of the times.
There are some hints in the novel that it is the first one of a new series, which sounds promising to the fans of HF.

I chose to read this new historical mystery series from Graham Brack because I adore his Prague set Josef Slonsky series. This takes a rather different path, we are in 19th century Netherlands, a Protestant country, where the Catholic ordained priest, Master Mercurius, has bowed to current circumstances and has additionally been ordained as a minister too, his heart though lies with the Catholic faith. It his latter ordination that allows him to be employed as a gifted cleric at Leiden University. It is 1871, amidst a bitterly cold winter, the Rector has asked Mercurius to travel to the small town of Delft at the request of their mayor.

Delft is in a state of fear and anger, three young girls, aged between 8 and 9 years old, have been abducted, and one, Gertryd, has been discovered dead with a cross on her face in a frozen shallow grave. It is Mercurius's task to find the murderer, and hopefully discover the remaining girls, Magdalena and Anna, alive. There are worries that other girls are at risk of being taken too, and it is a matter of urgency that Mercurius gets to the truth as soon as possible. He works with a group of leading men in Delft, including the rational and logical Van Leeuwenhoek, and to my great delight, the artist, Johannes Vermeer, whose artistic talent has been deployed to draw a picture of the dead girl in her grave. Vermeer is a bright, benevolent, happily married man with 9 children, who loved his wife so much that he was willing to convert to Catholicism. Trying to find a connection between the taken girls proves to a difficult task, they come from different backgrounds, Magdalena was born out of wedlock, she and her mother are shunned by the community, and the sheltered Anna comes from a privileged and wealthy family.

It is Vermeer who eventually hones on the crucial factor that connects the girls and this allows Mercurius to get closer to the tragic truth of what lies behind the abductions, aided by a strange comment made by Anna's mother that she knew that this would happen one day. Brack creates a vibrant picture of the period in Delft with his rich descriptions, the poverty, the position of women and girls, the prostitution, the effects on a person of being a Catholic in a Protestant nation, and the attitudes of the time. Mercurius in a compassionate and merciful man, doing what he needs to survive, having to keep his Catholic faith secret, a man of his time. This is a great start to this new historical series, although I am not certain that I will be pursuing it further, I am just a greater fan of the Slonsky series and hope that Brack will continue that. Many thanks to Sapere Books for an ARC.