Thomas could not explain the near-hypnotic spell cast by the painted features, but he sincerely hoped they were having the same effect on his companion.

He had seen it innumerable times indeed, he could summon up those features in memory more clearly than he could those of his own father, who was enjoying an acrimonious eighth decade in Peoria, Illinois. The portrait had an odd effect on some people. Whatever his thoughts, they had not been pleasant ones. Lines bracketed the tight-set mouth and made deep vertical indentations between the narrowed eyes, which were focused, not on the beholder, but on some inner vision. It was not the face of a young man, although the subject had been barely thirty years of age when it was painted. Shoulder-length brown hair framed the man’s spare face. Yet the overall impression was sober to the point of grimness. RECENT cleaning had brought out the richness of the colors: a background of smoldering scarlet, the crimson of rubies in the jeweled collar and hat brooch, the gold threads in the undertunic displayed by open collar and slashed sleeves. So, even if I don't think this quite matches Joesphine Tey's The Daughter of Time or Elizabeth Peters Amelia Peabody The Crocodile on the Sandbank I'm awfully fond of this one nevertheless. As Jacqueline notes enthusiastically, it's all set at an 'English house party.straight out of all those British detective stories' she revels in, and there are allusions to Ellery Queen and Agatha Christie within as well and lots of delightfully quirky characters-in medieval costume and roles no less with medieval banquets. I'd read that book first, since I think it would be less fun afterward (since it deals with many of the same points) while this Peters' novel is all the more fun if you get the allusions.The book also pokes gentle fun at the mystery genre in general. In that regard you can rather see this as a homage and sequel to Josephine Tey's The Daughter of Time, also a contemporary mystery dealing with the two Princes in the Tower allegedly murdered by Richard the III of England.

While she's perhaps not as brilliant a creation as her Amelia Peabody, I'm very fond of this not so mild-mannered librarian amateur detective.But then this book also caters to my interest in things Richard III, sending up 'Ricardians' (defenders of the maligned king) with gentle affection. First, it features Peters' detective Jacqueline Kirby-She of the Purse. I find this book tremendous fun for several reasons.

The murders of richard iii