A Pig of Cold Poison

March 29, 2010
In McIntosh's busy seventh Gil Cunningham mystery (after 2009's The Stolen Voice
), the 15th-century Scottish constable investigates a series of poisonings. When actor Dan Gibson falls down “deathly sick” at the end of a mummer's play performed on All Hallow's Eve at Gil's sister's house in Glasgow, it appears Dan was poisoned by the drops of medicine fellow actor Nanty Bothwell, who was playing an apothecary, gave him. Many of those present saw Dan and Nanty, who were rivals in love over the actress playing the apothecary's daughter, quarrel beforehand. Since Nanty is as distraught as everyone else at Dan's demise, Gil isn't so sure of Nanty's guilt. Soon more victims fall prey to the unknown poisoner. While the action gets off to a fast start, the onslaught of characters and conversation makes the plot somewhat difficult to follow. Series fans will be pleased to revisit old friends, but newcomers may find themselves lost in the Scottish hills.

May 1, 2010
In McIntoshs latest medieval mystery starring Glasgow sleuth Gil Cunningham, a fast-acting poison is claiming some unlikely victims. First, actor Dannie Gibson dies after being dosed by fellow actor Nanty Bothwell during a performance, but even though the two men were romantic rivals for apothecary Francis Renfrews daughter, Agnes, Cunningham questions whether Gibsons death was deliberate. A second poisoning causes circumstantial evidence to point to the dysfunctional Renfrew family, between whose three generations of members little love is lost. As Gil works to uncover the composition of the poison and the motive for murder, his wife, Alys, is badly shaken by unintentionally witnessing a difficult childbirth. Despite a somewhat hasty wrap-up, the seventh in the series (after The Stolen Voice, 2009) is notable for its well-rounded characters and authentic historical background. Readers should be aware that the authenticity extends to language; McIntosh provides a Scots dictionary Web site, but a brief glossary (noting, for example, that the pig of the title is an earthenware vessel) would have been helpful.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)