Rough going, but a good read! - Rated 
"Oh what a tangled web we weave," Shakespeare would write some 100 years later. In the meantime, Pat McIntosh gives us a taste of what he might have meant in her second of a series featuring Gil Cunningham in "The Nicholas Feast."
Set in 1492 (a convenient year for any historical writer!), "The Nicholas Feast" finds young (and still single) Mr. Cunningham, student of law and nephew of a local official, embroiled in solving his second murder in less than a month (The first being "The Harper's Quine"). Gil is on hand to observe academic ceremonies of his alma mater during this church holiday and it's not time (hardly before lunch) that a murder is committed. Young William Irvine, one of the students and an actor at the pageantry observance, is found in the coal house with lots of clues and non-clues scattered about his person. He is the bastard son of the influential Montgomery family and Gil discovers that he is even more than that. He's a 16-year-old extortionist, who many at the school would have motive for his death. Complications, indeed, arise. And Gil is given two days to solve the case. Or else.
McIntosh clearly demonstrates her knowledge of historical Glasgow (which apparently was no more beautiful than it is now) and following the success of her first Cunningham novel knows how to create a readable historical murder mystery. Her style is terse and moves quite easily--except for the fact that, in order to accentuate the local color, she drops into too much Scots dialect for most American readers, anyway. Some would be fine, but too much is, well, too much and it becomes a stumbling block at times.
The plot moves quite well, despite that, until the climactic scene (ah, yes, Ms McIntosh has read all of Agatha Christie's works, it seems) and relies upon the old "gather everyone in parlor and I'll tell solve the crime while surrounded by all the characters who COULD have done the deed." Sigh, indeed.
Character-wise, though, the author gets a good mark here. Clearly, she's entranced by her central character (as she should be) and Gil Cunningham has the makings of a fine 15th century sleuth and academic. His romantic interest, Alys, though comes across a bit syrupy but credit goes to the author for providing us with a 15th century woman, ready to jump into the 20th century: she can read; she has a mind of her own; she's ready to act independently; and she's also likeable. I suspect Ms McIntosh will wed the two sooner of later.
A third in the series is already out (a good sign). "The Nicholas Feast" is a good read.
Entertaining & satisfying - Rated 
A second novel, the second book in a series, is always the hardest to write: inspiration may flag in the author while the readership had raised expectations. No such problem with the second Gill Cunningham mystery. 'The Nicholas Feast' is a worthy sequel to 'The Harper's Quine'.
Newly qualified notary Gilbert Cunningham accepts an invitation to attend a celebration at Glasgow University of which he is an old student. At first only the west of Scotland weather spoils the programme of Mass, procession, feast and student play. Then the student, William, who had hogged all the best bits in the play, is found strangled. Gill, who with two of the lecturers has an unshakeable alibi, is called upon to find out what happened before William's noble kinsman descends on the University and violates its legal autonomy in his quest for vengeance.
If the victim in 'The Harper's Quine' was almost universally mourned, the late William is a very different character. He emerges as a bully with scant regard for the rules, a probable blackmailer and a possible spy. The experienced reader of novels set in the middle ages may just, by asking the right question, identify the murderer and his motive fairly early on, but this does not detract from a fine, twisty plot with a crisp resolution.
The sub-plot, involving Gill's betrothal to Alys, the daughter of the French Master-Mason Pierre, is overshadowed by the hostility of Gill's formidable mother, who is aghast at his proposed marriage and renunciation of a career in the celibate priesthood. Yet it is Lady Cunningham herself who is able to provide the last snippet of evidence which identifies the real culprit.
Once again, an authoritative mediaeval society is depicted from the servants to the nobility. The all-pervading presence of religion in the Age of Faith adds depth and authenticity to characters' actions. (When three students find their dead class-mate, their teacher, himself a priest, deals with their shock and grief by taking them aside and setting them to pray for William's soul.) The very different status of women is comically underlined when the porter refuses Alys entry to the University buildings and is incredulous to hear her taking in Latin.
Entertaining, challenging and satisfying; an enjoyable read.
Roll on the next tale next summer.
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