Rating: 
Summary: Superb Penman medieval mystery!
Review: I greatly enjoyed the second adventure of Justin de Quincy, the "spyman" of Eleanor of Aquitaine. The story is well-plotted and suspenseful. The characters seem to step right out of the Middle Ages in believability. The pacing of the plot is superbly handled--I found myself wanting to get back to reading the story every time I put it down and I found myself mentally cursing any distraction that interrupted my reading. I can hardly wait until another Justin de Quincey mystery is published.
Rating: 
Summary: Not a patch on her previous novels.
Review: I look forward to her next book about Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry. Let's hope that it runs to a few more pages than her last two mystery novels. Quite good in their own way but do not compare with previous work.
Rating:
Summary: Justin de Quincy solves another murder
Review: I really enjoy reading mysteries set in the fairly distant past, and this series about Justin de Quincy, the "Queen's Man" of Eleanor of Aquitaine is uniformly excellent. The writing is crisp, the dialogue appears authentic, and the little touches concerning everyday life give the books that perfect ring of truth that is important when writing about so long ago. If the author can't make you believe in the scenario, nothing is going to help the work to be successful. This one is, and I enjoyed it as much as I did the first book in the series. Now I will wait (as patiently as possible) for the next book in the series to appear, for I'm sure that I will enjoy it also.
Rating:
Summary: another fine historical mystery from author Penman
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this second novel about Justin de Quincy, who we first met in Penman's The Queen's Man, referring to Justin's career as aide to Queen Eleanor, mother of Richard the Lion-Hearted and Prince John. It is 1193 and Richard is being held for ransom. While Eleanor tries to raise the money and keep John from a treasonous grab for the throne, Justin gives her invaluable assistance and also solves a murder closer to home.Penman brings the 12th century to life with details about the everyday existence of people as they go about their business. Her style is wonderful, flowing easily and beautifully, and she writes well for different characters -- the conversations with Prince John and Justin's enemy/ally Durand fairly sizzle with malice and innuendo. A notable undercurrent in this novel is the relationship between parents and children, and we see the consequences of familial dysfunction in the case of Justin and his estranged father, the two murder suspects and their bullying patriarch, and Prince John and his politically astute mother. This is a terrific novel and I can't wait to read more of this series -- Justin de Quincy is a fun protagonist and Eleanor and John and Durand are compelling historical figures who jump right off the page. Lovely.
Rating: 
Summary: Good beginner's book for one interested in medieval history.
Review: I was dissapointed. Very predictable plot and elementary in it's descriptions and development. After reading her other works, I expected more from Penman. Much more depth and richer characterization comprised her trilogies, which I truly enjoyed. Cruel As The Grave overpromises and underdelivers for those of us with more experience in 'the realm', both historically, and fictionally. It is a good book for a high school reader who's interest has been piqued in their medieval history class, but still needs easily understandable vocabulary and no complexity.
Rating:
Summary: This book is a web-weaving masterpiece, well done!
Review: I was thrilled to read Penman's follow up mystery novel tol "The Queen's Man"." Cruel as the Grave" left me wanting for more as I turned each page. The characters were well thought out and believable. Her historical accuracy of the times was well researched and her decriptive scenes were well received by this reader.Like a fine meal, I hated to finish it!
Rating: 
Summary: Not bad
Review: I'm only a few chapters into this at the moment but I can't say that it's grabbed me like her other books have. Her next historical novel is due to be published in 2000 and continues the story of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. Can't wait for that one. Ms Penman has taken a long enough hiatus from writing her epics I think!
Rating:
Summary: Authentic medieval setting
Review: If you like novels about the Middle Ages, you should enjoy this one--Penman's knowledge about daily life in the Middle Ages is exceptional. Although the other characters aren't quite as thoroughly developped as we've come to expect from Penman, these little murder mysteries are just plain fun, and the repeating characters are becoming more and more alive as the series continues. Do read "The Queen's Man" first!
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant as all her books have been
Review: In 1193 London, fifteen-year old Melangell, daughter of a Welsh peddler, is found murdered in the St. Mary Magdalene churchyard. Her clothing was torn and blood was spewed all over a nearby cross. While the teen lies dead, across town, Justin de Quincey knows where his duty lies. Being the "Queen's Man", Justin works for Eleanor in her quest to locate her missing son, Richard. Justin understands that part of his job is to keep Richard's devious younger brother, John, in line even though that dubious task seems at times to be impossible. The bellicose John will do anything to change his job title from prince to king. Would that include having his minions murder the young daughter of a poor Welshman as Justin is beginning to believe? The second de Quincey Medieval mystery, CRUEL IN THE GRAVE, is a fantastic historical who-done-it that profoundly brings to life all of the scheming and intrigue that surrounds yet is abetted by John. The characters are al! l genuine with many of them stepping out of the history books into an exciting murder mystery. Only someone with the talent of Sharon Kay Penman could have penned this spectacular story because only a skilled author could manage to take readers on an amazing trip back to the twelfth century as happens with this book. This reviewer recommends this novel and its prequel THE QUEEN'S MAN, for anyone who loves historical fiction, but especially mysteries. Harriet Klausner
Rating: 
Summary: Great historical fiction
Review: In Cruel as the Grave, Justin Quincey is back in his second adventure as "the Queen's man." When we left The Queen's Man, the queen's eldest son Richard had been found, and the murder of a merchant had been solved. The mystery this time lies in the murder of a 15-year-old Welsh girl, killed in a graveyard. The two main suspects are a pair of brothers, both of whom knew the girl intimately and neither of whom is saying anything. While the murder isn't all that original, to be sure, and its frustrating to read a murder mystery in which DNA and fingerprinting hadn't been discovered yet, its still intriguing to see how investigators of the period used what they had to solve a case. Justin comes to most of his conclusions by deductive reasoning, but still manages to catch the girl's killer.
While the royal aspect doesn't figure as much into the mystery at hand, Justin once again has to sift through the fascinating intrigues of court life and make sense of the complicated relationship between Eleanor and her younger son, John. Justin is there at the seige of Warwick Castle, and has the chance to observe John's character with close scrutiny.
While Penman's medieval mysteries aren't as fine as her epic historical novels, she gives us an excellent, approachable look into one of the most fascinating periods of English history.
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