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Miscellaneous Dragon's Lair: A Medieval Mystery by Sharon Kay Penman $23.95 / Putnam / 2003 Dragon's Lair is a fast-paced romp through the wilds of medieval Wales and the snares of English court life. Filled with a cavalcade of charming, down-to-earth characters, the reader is instantly transported into another era through Penman's descriptive prose. With an unlikely hero and a twisting plotline that is covert but never confusing, Dragon's Lair takes the mystery genre in a whole new direction. Justin de Quincy, Queen Eleanor's "man," is the main character, just as he was in Penman's first two mystery novels, The Queen's Man and Cruel as the Grave. A complicated man-young in age yet with wisdom and critical thinking skills beyond his years-Justin is instantly likeable. Self-effacing and brash at the same time, he has no qualms about throwing back a pint or two, chasing after the village girls, or wrapping a suspect in a web of deceit in order to solve a crime. And this time, the crime involves some stolen wool sacks that were traveling from Wales to London, in order to serve as part of the ransom to free King Richard the Lionheart from the jails of the German king. The wool is missing, four men are dead, the only suspect is an illusive Robin Hood-type character, and no one is talking. Justin's ability to blend in anywhere, from the stews of a dockside tavern to the intrigues of a Welsh court, stand him in good stead as he investigates this complicated mystery. In Penman's third mystery and ninth historical novel, the speech and mannerisms of the classes of medieval England and Wales flow smoothly in Dragon Lair. All is not gold lace and shining horseflesh in Penman's world. Mud, dirt, and ashes stain the pages of the novel, reminding the reader that the medieval era was not as clean as the movies would have us believe. The despair of the lower classes also leaps off the pages, as does the self-imposed prisons of the nobility and the clergy. At the heart of any mystery novel is the plot, and Dragon's Lair does not disappoint. The clues that Justin discovers are deftly woven into the tapestry of the novel, brilliantly highlighted by the characters and the setting. With more twists and turns than a garden maze, Justin untangles the subterfuge and misdirection with the ease of a master detective. Despite threats upon his life (and upon those he cares about), Justin is able to find peace with the happenings in Wales and please Queen Eleanor with a handsome addition to King Richard's ransom. Dragon's Lair is an enjoyable mystery with a well thought-out plot, likeable characters, and vivid descriptions that bring the Middles Ages to life. If you are looking for a mystery that will keep you turning the pages, look no further! Penman has done her historical research, fleshed out her characters, and created a twisting mystery that will keep even the most hard to please mystery readers entertained. —Michelle Santos

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