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Murder at the Queen's Old

by Cora Harrison
Murder at the Queen's Old Castle. Severn House. (Reverend Mother, Bk. 6). Jan. 2019. 240p. ISBN 9780727888303. $28.99. M
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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.
Reviewed by Catherine Lantz, Univ. of Illinois at Chicago Lib. , Dec 01, 2018
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