A Mass for the Dead
Scotland 1373: Crispinus, the head of Oronsay Priory, is found dead, strangled and battered, his mouth stuffed with sand, in the middle of the tidal strand separating the holy island of Oronsay from the larger island of Colonsay. The Lord of the Isles, overlord of the islands, assigns the task of finding the killer to Muirteach, the Prior's bastard son.Since breaking with his father and leaving the monastery, Muirteach has spent his time acting as scribe for his uncle, an island chieftain. Muirteach's father, a powerful churchman, leaves behind a mistress and several other bastards as well as his embittered eldest son, who is thankful he will never hear the words, "My bastard son, the cripple" again.
As Muirteach seeks to find his father's murderer, he is helped by the physician Fearchar Beaton and his daughter Mariota. Muirteach himself is suspected of the murder, as are the Prior's mistress, her family, and the sub-prior. The killer strikes again, His Lordship wants the mystery solved before the Pope and the King in Edinburgh learn of it, and Muirteach himself must come to terms with his own troubled relationship with his father. Muirteach's investigation submerges him deep into a whirlpool of deceit, long-buried sins, and treachery, from which no one emerges unscathed.
Hardcover, $23.00
Susan McDuffie
author
Scottish Mysteries:
The Faerie Hills
Scottish Hebrides, Autumn 1373: The eight year old grandson of the powerful Lord of the Isles vanishes on the windswept island of Colonsay, and rumors fly that he has been spirited away by the faerie. Muirteach MacPhee investigates but he suspects the boy's disappearance has more to do with human greed and the mysterious piece of gold the lad found before he vanished. Muirteach scours the island, finding nothing except some hidden bones and an old man out looking for a lost goat. Mariota Beaton arrives from Islay to aid Muirteach in his search, but the lovely healer struggles with demons of her own.The island of Colonsay is rife with tales of faerie changelings, strange lights on the beach, and the bones of an infant found buried in a cave nearby. Muirteach's investigation brings past grievances and old wounds to light but may not be enough to save the life of the missing boy, or Muirteach's burgeoning relationship with Mariota.
THE FAERIE HILLS is an enigmatic historical mystery, set against a background of faerie lore and a Celtic culture that firmly believed in the "good people." With a plot "as intricate as a Celtic knot" it will appeal to lovers of medieval and historical mystery.
ISBN:978-159414-961-0 $25.95
Praise for THE FAERIE HILLS:"THE FAERIE HILLS beautifully evokes the sights, tastes, and aromas of life, death, and romance in the windswept Hebrides of 1373. Deeply rooted beliefs about the danger of stealing faerie treasure run like a golden thread through a closely woven plot as intricate as a Celtic knot. I enjoyed this thoughtful mystery, and look forward to more of Muirteach MacPhee's investigations."
Mary Reed, co-author of the Lord Chamberlin historical mysteries
Regency:
A Regency Sampler
Comprising 15 winning entries from Regency Press's first short story contest, this diverse collection runs the gamut from the intriguingly offbeat to the elegantly traditional and has something for just about every Regency taste. .... Of particular note are Sarah Anne Starr's memorable "Milady's Murderer" and Susan McDuffie's top-scoring epistolary story, "An Unusual Correspondence." A charming, uncommon collection. ~ The Library JournalSoftcover, $8.00
The Winter Holiday Sampler
"A Strange Occurrence Near G_" by Susan McDuffie ~ Christmas is the season of miracles. A wounded war veteran learns just how miraculous this time can be.Seventeen short stories of Regency England set during the winter holiday season. Hannukah, Solstice, Christmas, and New Year's Eve (and Day) are all to be found within these pages, along with love and adventure.
Softcover, $10.00
Reviews:
THE FAERIE HILLS
Kirkus Review (April 15, 2011)
McDuffie, Susan. The Faerie Hills: A Muirteach MacPhee Mystery. Five Star: Gale Cengage. Apr 2011. c.236p.
Editor ReviewIn the Isles of the Hebrides, Muirteach of Clan MacPhee solves his second mystery for the Lord MacDonald (A Mass for the Dead, 2006).In 1373, Muirteach's uncle is fostering Lord MacDonald's grandson, a headstrong young boy named Niall. Upon hearing tales of faerie gold, Niall takes to the hills to find treasure and never returns. His disappearance reignites old clan tensions. Niall's parents accuse the men of Clan MacRuari of murdering the boy in vengeance for the accidental killing of a MacRuari son decades ago. The islanders believe the fey folk took the boy as punishment. Muirteach, however, sees a human hand at work. He and his uncle's men comb the island for clues but find only the bones of an infant in a cave and word of a changeling in the next village. As Muirteach's love for the healer Mariota blossoms, the shadows of the faerie world grow darker. On the night of Samhain, when the dead walk amongst the living, another victim is struck down. Does a witch or the local faerie doctor hold the key to Niall's disappearance?Well-paced and engrossing, this blend of faerie lore and all-too-human intrigue will satisfy fans of fantasy and mystery alike.
Library Journal Review (March 1, 2011)
McDuffie, Susan. The Faerie Hills: A Muirteach MacPhee Mystery. Five Star: Gale Cengage. Apr 2011. c.236p.
When eight-year-old Niall vanishes while searching for fairy gold, Muirteach MacPhee is asked by his uncle, who is fostering the boy, to look for him. But the inhabitants of Colonsay off the coast of Scotland believe fairies have taken Niall. VERDICT A solid plot and an authentic rendering of the Hebrides Islands in 1373 make this a good choice for fans of Alys Clare and Cora Harrison.
A MASS FOR THE DEAD
Susan McDuffie writes a fine mystery, full of deception, personal turmoil, treachery, and romantic attraction. It is a comfortable story, rich with Celtic culture, with a grammar and diction that effortlessly catches the tone of its time, location, and people. The plot moves quickly and the characters are well-introduced, garnering emotional appeal with the reader. Her conclusion is satisfying, offering a medieval mirror to current criminal news. ~ Linda Piwowarczyk, Mystery Scene Magazine
McDuffie, who is a "Fan of all things Scottish," can plunge the reader into this world of the past and hold your interest. She gives us a much-needed Glossary, Cast of Characters, and a crude map. This tale is well worth your reading time. ~ Janet Overmyer, "I Love a Mystery"
A Mass for the Dead is a terrific read. Susan McDuffie clearly knows the world of her 14th century Scottish ancestors intimately, and has the storyteller's gift for bringing it and its people fully alive. ~ Rafe Martin, author of Birdwing and The World Before This One
Each page drew me closer to the climactic ending that will surely please every reader. ~ Diana Kirk, best-selling author of Song of Isis
In her new novel, Susan McDuffie captures the ancient world of the 14th century Scotland in our Clan's ancestral homes of Colonsay and Oronsay. With her authentic use of language and Gaelic phrases, and her vivid descriptions of scenery as well as characters, Ms. McDuffie creates images for the reader's imagination to become immersed in the world of her lead character, Muirteach. ~ Marty Rosser, Clan Society Secretary
Ms. McDuffie has the storyteller's gift of giving her reader characters that are flesh and blood. The reader will learn to care for its heroes and heroines. She has written a great mystery and the reader will be very satisfied with its ending. ~ Love Romances.com
Kirkus Review (April 15, 2011)
McDuffie, Susan. The Faerie Hills: A Muirteach MacPhee Mystery. Five Star: Gale Cengage. Apr 2011. c.236p.
Editor ReviewIn the Isles of the Hebrides, Muirteach of Clan MacPhee solves his second mystery for the Lord MacDonald (A Mass for the Dead, 2006).In 1373, Muirteach's uncle is fostering Lord MacDonald's grandson, a headstrong young boy named Niall. Upon hearing tales of faerie gold, Niall takes to the hills to find treasure and never returns. His disappearance reignites old clan tensions. Niall's parents accuse the men of Clan MacRuari of murdering the boy in vengeance for the accidental killing of a MacRuari son decades ago. The islanders believe the fey folk took the boy as punishment. Muirteach, however, sees a human hand at work. He and his uncle's men comb the island for clues but find only the bones of an infant in a cave and word of a changeling in the next village. As Muirteach's love for the healer Mariota blossoms, the shadows of the faerie world grow darker. On the night of Samhain, when the dead walk amongst the living, another victim is struck down. Does a witch or the local faerie doctor hold the key to Niall's disappearance?Well-paced and engrossing, this blend of faerie lore and all-too-human intrigue will satisfy fans of fantasy and mystery alike.
Library Journal Review (March 1, 2011)
McDuffie, Susan. The Faerie Hills: A Muirteach MacPhee Mystery. Five Star: Gale Cengage. Apr 2011. c.236p.
When eight-year-old Niall vanishes while searching for fairy gold, Muirteach MacPhee is asked by his uncle, who is fostering the boy, to look for him. But the inhabitants of Colonsay off the coast of Scotland believe fairies have taken Niall. VERDICT A solid plot and an authentic rendering of the Hebrides Islands in 1373 make this a good choice for fans of Alys Clare and Cora Harrison.
A MASS FOR THE DEAD
Susan McDuffie writes a fine mystery, full of deception, personal turmoil, treachery, and romantic attraction. It is a comfortable story, rich with Celtic culture, with a grammar and diction that effortlessly catches the tone of its time, location, and people. The plot moves quickly and the characters are well-introduced, garnering emotional appeal with the reader. Her conclusion is satisfying, offering a medieval mirror to current criminal news. ~ Linda Piwowarczyk, Mystery Scene Magazine
McDuffie, who is a "Fan of all things Scottish," can plunge the reader into this world of the past and hold your interest. She gives us a much-needed Glossary, Cast of Characters, and a crude map. This tale is well worth your reading time. ~ Janet Overmyer, "I Love a Mystery"
A Mass for the Dead is a terrific read. Susan McDuffie clearly knows the world of her 14th century Scottish ancestors intimately, and has the storyteller's gift for bringing it and its people fully alive. ~ Rafe Martin, author of Birdwing and The World Before This One
Each page drew me closer to the climactic ending that will surely please every reader. ~ Diana Kirk, best-selling author of Song of Isis
In her new novel, Susan McDuffie captures the ancient world of the 14th century Scotland in our Clan's ancestral homes of Colonsay and Oronsay. With her authentic use of language and Gaelic phrases, and her vivid descriptions of scenery as well as characters, Ms. McDuffie creates images for the reader's imagination to become immersed in the world of her lead character, Muirteach. ~ Marty Rosser, Clan Society Secretary
Ms. McDuffie has the storyteller's gift of giving her reader characters that are flesh and blood. The reader will learn to care for its heroes and heroines. She has written a great mystery and the reader will be very satisfied with its ending. ~ Love Romances.com
or purchase from Susan:
"Best Historical Novel of 2011" was awarded to The Faerie Hills by the New Mexico Book Awards. Read more here.
COMING SOON, Muirteach's next adventure: The Study of Murder
Muirteach MacPhee, sent to Oxford in 1374 to chaperone his lord's teenage son, investigates the mysterious disappearance of a lovely tavern maid and the slayings of two Oxford masters in THE STUDY OF MURDER. Mariota, Muirteach's wife, disguises herself as a boy to gain admittance to medical lectures at the schools until she too vanishes. Gleaning clues from a mysterious manuscript and aided by three teenaged boys and the local sheriff, Muirteach tracks a mad killer through the back streets of medieval Oxford to save his wife and solve the murders.
Muirteach MacPhee, sent to Oxford in 1374 to chaperone his lord's teenage son, investigates the mysterious disappearance of a lovely tavern maid and the slayings of two Oxford masters in THE STUDY OF MURDER. Mariota, Muirteach's wife, disguises herself as a boy to gain admittance to medical lectures at the schools until she too vanishes. Gleaning clues from a mysterious manuscript and aided by three teenaged boys and the local sheriff, Muirteach tracks a mad killer through the back streets of medieval Oxford to save his wife and solve the murders.