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Graham Brack
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Death in Delft: A 17th Century historical murder mystery (Master Mercurius Mysteries Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Graham Brack (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 out of 5 stars 2,796 ratings
The new historical mystery series you need to get your hands on! Perfect for fans of Andrew Taylor, C J Sansom, S J Parris and Ken Follett.

Three missing girls. Only one body. Where are the others?

1671, Delft

Three young girls have been abducted from their homes.

The body of one has been found in a shallow grave. The other two are still missing.

The murder has shocked everyone in the peaceful city of Delft and the mayor is desperate to catch the perpetrator before panic can spread any further.

With the bitterly cold January weather intensifying it is doubtful that the other two girls are still alive.

But whoever took them is still at large.

The mayor requests the help of Master Mercurius, a gifted cleric from a nearby university, and local artist Vermeer, who uses his skills to sketch the crime scenes.

Can they find the missing girls before it’s too late? Will Mercurius be able to track down the killer?

Or will more victims succumb to Death in Delft…?

Death in Delft is the first historical murder investigation in the Master Mercurius Mystery series: atmospheric crime thrillers set in seventeenth-century Europe.

‘A thoroughly engaging mystery with a convincing evocation of place and time, and an appealingly humble sleuth. I look forward to the future adventures of Master Mercurius.’ Linda Stratmann, author of The Early Casebook of Sherlock Holmes series

THE MASTER MERCURIUS MYSTERY SERIES:
BOOK ONE: Death in Delft
BOOK TWO: Untrue Till Death
BOOK THREE: Dishonour and Obey
BOOK FOUR: The Noose's Shadow
BOOK FIVE: The Vanishing Children
BOOK SIX: The Lying Dutchman
BOOK SEVEN: Murder In Maastricht
BOOK EIGHT: The Moers Murders
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  1. Book 1 of 8
    Master Mercurius Mysteries
  2. Print length
    245 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    April 6, 2020
  6. File size
    2.8 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Graham Brack hails from Sunderland and met his wife, Gillian, in Aberdeen, where they were both studying pharmacy. After their degrees Gillian returned to Cornwall and Graham followed. This is now called stalking but in 1978 it was termed ""romantic."" They have two children, Andrew and Hannah, and three grandchildren, Miranda, Sophie, and Olivia. Gillian and Graham now live in Northamptonshire. Graham's foray into crime writing began in 2010 when he entered the Crime Writers' Association's Debut Dagger competition and was highly commended for Lying and Dying (previously titled The Outrageous Behavior of Left-Handed Dwarves), in which the world was introduced to Lt. Josef Slonský of the Czech police. Slaughter and Forgetting followed. Both have been republished by Sapere Books along with another four in the series, Death On Duty, Field of Death, A Second Death, and Laid in Earth. In 2014 and 2016 Graham was shortlisted for the Debut Dagger again. The earlier novel, Death in Delft (previously titled The Allegory of Art and Science), is set in seventeenth-century Delft and features the philosophy lecturer and reluctant detective Master Mercurius. Sapere Books published it in 2020.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B084NZKMD1
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Sapere Books
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 6, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.8 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 245 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1913518462
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 8 ‏ : ‎ Master Mercurius Mysteries
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 2,796 ratings

About the author

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Graham Brack

Graham Brack

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Graham Brack has been writing for as long as he can remember, but now concentrates on crime fiction. Three times shortlisted for the Crime Writers' Association's Debut Dagger prize (in 2011, 2014 and 2016) he never quite managed to win it.

Graham lives with his wife Gillian in Northamptonshire and has two children and three granddaughters, who are too young to be allowed to read Grandad's books, so he provides other stories for them.

He trained and practised as a pharmacist and has also written about football, rugby, cricket and medical law. He is an ordained priest in the Church of England.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
2,796 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this historical mystery well-crafted and enjoyable, with clever writing that's easy to read. The book features interesting characters and a setting that adds atmosphere, while being well-researched. Customers appreciate the humor, with one review highlighting the self-deprecating narrator, and they value the faith element, with one review noting the protagonist's philosophical and humanitarian ideas.

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Story qualityMystery qualityCharacter developmentWriting styleHumorFaithDepthAtmosphere
49 customers mention "Story quality"49 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story of this historical murder mystery, finding it very readable and fun to read about a mystery set in the 17th century, with one customer noting how it held them enthralled throughout.

"...book and I hope the others in the series offer In a gentle, engaging story...that these days of uncertainty and pandemic have left us in......" Read more

"...the protagonist, writing of it long after the fact, the story unfolds at a measured pace, with some ruminations upon how the protagonist saw..." Read more

"...Brack does an excellent job of hooking the reader and keeping him guessing as to what’s behind the girls’ disappearances." Read more

"...paced, the characters interesting, the protagonist’s insights and asides amusing and very human. I am eager to read the next book in the series." Read more

27 customers mention "Mystery quality"27 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy this historical mystery, praising its well-crafted narrative and good historical content, with one customer noting its nicely paced plot and another highlighting its unusual detective character.

"...Brack does an excellent job of hooking the reader and keeping him guessing as to what’s behind the girls’ disappearances." Read more

"...The mystery was nicely paced, the characters interesting, the protagonist’s insights and asides amusing and very human...." Read more

"A very good murder mystery with well-fleshed out characters and very funny passages...." Read more

"...The historical details are fascinating and I find myself following up with Wikipedia articles during the course of reading these books...." Read more

23 customers mention "Character development"23 positive0 negative

Customers find the characters interesting, with one review noting how the historical figures are woven into a cohesive whole.

"...true knowledge of some factual details with well rounded filling in of the characters to serve the story is so well done!..." Read more

"...interesting, the protagonist’s insights and asides amusing and very human. I am eager to read the next book in the series." Read more

"A very good murder mystery with well-fleshed out characters and very funny passages...." Read more

"...Master Mercurius is a very interesting character. Some of his ideas may strike you as modern but he is still a man of his time...." Read more

15 customers mention "Writing style"15 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style of the book, finding it clever and easy to read, with one customer noting the self-deprecating narrator.

"Subtle humor, funny, new ,and innovative writing and situational story. New. To me. Different. In a good way. Subtle humor...." Read more

"Well written, fun and well researched, I really love this series! I’m very happy to have found this! I’m binging on one of these books a day!" Read more

"...The writing is superb. (And as someone who works in publishing I’m a seasoned judge of the craft.)..." Read more

"...occasionally meeting famous historical figures; these novels are easy to read, but not banal, and they don’t feel like written from 21st century..." Read more

12 customers mention "Humor"12 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the humor in the book.

"...New. To me. Different. In a good way. Subtle humor. But not to subtle for the reader to get it and laugh aloud often! I loved this book...." Read more

"A very good murder mystery with well-fleshed out characters and very funny passages...." Read more

"...thought those stern looking Protestants could be so reasonable and funny - really loved the first three books, looking forward reading the rest in..." Read more

"...has a delightful self-deprecating opinion of himself and a wry sense of humor, especially in relating his interactions with his scribe Van der Meer...." Read more

11 customers mention "Faith"11 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the religious themes in the book, with one review noting how the protagonist is a closet priest who follows his faith, while another highlights his philosophical and humanitarian ideas that require thought.

"...The story was well crafted, complete unto itself and full of insightful wisdom...." Read more

"...a fast-paced story, with a number of possible suspects and a number of possible motives...." Read more

"The protagonist is well-rounded, not just a man of religion...." Read more

"...The amateur sleuth is a college lecturer and ostensibly a reformed pastor, though actually also a Catholic priest— a dangerous calling at the..." Read more

8 customers mention "Depth"8 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the depth of the book, noting its well-researched content and vivid descriptions of Delft, with one customer highlighting the balanced approach to incorporating science in the narrative.

"...I loved the subtle , quiet and funny..really funny...way this author fleshes out his characters in his tale...." Read more

"...detail about Delft and the period; the author has done some impressive research. Brack originally trained and practiced as a pharmacist...." Read more

"Well written, fun and well researched, I really love this series! I’m very happy to have found this! I’m binging on one of these books a day!" Read more

"...The author cleverly brings art and science together to craft this novel. It is not pretentious. It is written in common, everyday language...." Read more

7 customers mention "Atmosphere"7 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the atmosphere of the book, with several noting how the setting adds to the story, and one customer describing it as remarkable.

"...Death in Delft is quite enjoyable. Interesting characters and well-plotted, at least until toward the end when there are a few holes...." Read more

"It's a good read with a likeable lead, good mystery, and an interesting setting...." Read more

"The mystery is interesting and so is the main character. Good setting. I've been to Delft, so I loved reading a book set here...." Read more

"...However, it was a relaxing read, in a relaxing setting." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • pollymom
    5.0 out of 5 stars I was not sure at first but so glad I bought the five so far in this series and Havre finished this first book!
    Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Subtle humor, funny, new ,and innovative writing and situational story. New. To me. Different. In a good way. Subtle humor. But not to subtle for the reader to get it and laugh aloud often! I loved this book. Cannot wait to read the next four...would recommend highly to those who do not always ish to read dramatic stories of this period filled with violence, pestilence, inevitable or close outcomes, known historical outcomes ,etc. A vacation from completely true historical characters t least in name...v some characters in this first book truly lived...the imaginative way this author incorporates true knowledge of some factual details with well rounded filling in of the characters to serve the story is so well done! The story was well crafted, complete unto itself and full of insightful wisdom. I loved the subtle , quiet and funny..really funny...way this author fleshes out his characters in his tale. What a neat change of Pace this book and I hope the others in the series offer In a gentle, engaging story...that these days of uncertainty and pandemic have left us in...feeling a need for a respite and this nice Change of pace necessitates.!!!riding reviews non a Kindle is a nightmare, just sayin' Anyay look forward to the next book and the next and the next...
    One person found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Unusual writing style for a murder mystery, but good.
    Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Told by the protagonist, writing of it long after the fact, the story unfolds at a measured pace, with some ruminations upon how the protagonist saw things at the time versus how he sees them now, a few infusions of dry wit, a pronounced lack of sensationalism or edgy prose aiming to thrill or keep the reader on th edge of his seat. Mauritius is an academic, who juggles the circumstance of being both a Catholic priest and a protestant minister ( keeping the former, prohibited ordination a secret from authorities in The Netherlands), with internal arguments for ecumenism. He seems to be dominated by cognition, weighing everything in pros & cons, with a gift for rationalization, but a generally strog valence towards homouring his religion/ religious vows. An unwitting intellectual humanist, the only passion swaying his behavior is compassion/ empathy - and even acts inspired or driven by those feelings are carried out in a passionless mode. Writing this review, I realize, for me, the book was more a study of this main character, and less a mystery about 3 young girls being abducted, an the efforts to effect their return, and discover who had abducted them, and why. It is that mystery too, and that mystery is resolved.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Glynn Young
    5.0 out of 5 stars Investigating disappearances, with a little help from Vermeer and von Leeuwenhoek
    Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    It’s Holland, 1671. Master Mercurious is a professor at the University of Leiden. As a professor, he’s also an ordained Protestant minister. Unknown to anyone but himself, he’s also a consecrated Catholic priest. It’s an unusual combination, but this is 17th century Europe and 17th century Holland, and the wars of religion are still fresh in people’s minds. Holland is officially Protestant, which is why Mercurious keeps his Catholic position a secret.

    His university rector gives him an assignment – to travel to Delft to assist the mayor in solving a terrible crime. Three young girls have disappeared, and the body of one has turned up. The girls have barley even a passing acquaintance with each other. One comes from the upper class, one from the middle class, and one from the lower class. The girl found dead is the poor one.

    Master Mercurious feels a bit out of his depth. He’s never investigated a crime before, and he knowns no one in Delft. He soon makes two friends who help him in his investigation – the ascientist and creator of the single-lens microscope Antonie von Leeuwenhoek and the painter Johannes Vermeer. The three follow all kinds of leads and end up in a number of blind alleys, until they stumble upon what the three girls had in common.

    “Death in Delft” by Graham Brack is the first of four novels in the Master Mercurious series, and it’s full of twists and turns. It’s chock full of historical detail about Delft and the period; the author has done some impressive research.

    Brack originally trained and practiced as a pharmacist. In addition to the Master Mercurious series, he’s also written seven novels in the Investigator Josef Slonsky series, set in Prague.

    “Death in Delft” is a fast-paced story, with a number of possible suspects and a number of possible motives. Brack does an excellent job of hooking the reader and keeping him guessing as to what’s behind the girls’ disappearances.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Peter Lynch
    4.0 out of 5 stars clever
    Reviewed in the United States on December 12, 2021
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    The protagonist is well-rounded, not just a man of religion. He is someone you would want to sit down and have a drink with a talk late into the night. The mystery was nicely paced, the characters interesting, the protagonist’s insights and asides amusing and very human. I am eager to read the next book in the series.
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  • Pepperpod
    5.0 out of 5 stars excellent read!
    Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2024
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    A very good murder mystery with well-fleshed out characters and very funny passages. Our protagonist is kind and has his own quirks which make him very human.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    3.0 out of 5 stars Wouldn't download to my Fire tablet
    Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2020
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    When a purchased book won't download to an Amazon product, one has reason to be a bit miffed.
    It did download to my PIXEL 3A, so I can read it, and it's pretty good.
    Soo, should you buy it? Maybe. The story is good, but you have to be sure that you can read it.
    (This isn't the only book I've actually paid for that wouldn't download to my Fire tablet.)
    One person found this helpful
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  • Robin McLennan
    5.0 out of 5 stars very enjoyable and clever!
    Reviewed in the United States on November 30, 2024
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Well written, fun and well researched, I really love this series! I’m very happy to have found this! I’m binging on one of these books a day!
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  • History Lover
    4.0 out of 5 stars A good historical mystery
    Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2020
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    This book is set in Delft in 1671. The author really gets a feel for life in Holland during this period. The main character Mercurius is a Protestant minister, but also a secret Catholic priest. At the same time he is a professor at the University of Leiden. Owing to his knowledge, he is asked to solve the abduction of three young girls in Delft. Master Mercurius is a very interesting character. Some of his ideas may strike you as modern but he is still a man of his time. There are other books in the series which I am looking forward to.
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • DM
    5.0 out of 5 stars Immersive, Witty
    Reviewed in Canada on October 15, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This is the type of light mystery I could read over and over, despite knowing how it ends. The author has created a world that's fun to be immersed in because of the atmosphere, the characters, and the humour.

    I don't want to repeat what others have said, but I agree with the positive reviews of this book and of the whole series. The main character, Master Mercurius, is likable and sympathetic; his skills, wit, inner struggles, as well as the unfortunate but humorous situations he finds himself in, work together to make this story colourful and engaging.

    The fact that he is known by his peers as a Protestant minister, and is secretly a Catholic priest, gets him into comical situations now and then. Also, bringing historical figures, like Vermeer, into the story was fascinating for me, and I spent quite a bit of time reading about their lives after finishing the book.

    I've listened to the first three books in audio format, which were expertly narrated by Alex Wyndham. My family and I have become instant fans of the combination of Brack's writing and Wyndham's narration. Alex is able to bring the book's characters to life in a believable and very entertaining way. And the combination of Brack's wit and Wyndam's delivery is just brilliant.

    It's been a highlight over the last year to listen to the first three books in the series, and we are eagerly awaiting the news that the rest of the series will become available in audio format as well, with Alex Wyndham narrating.
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  • Shobha
    5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it
    Reviewed in India on May 24, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Absolutely loved this book. Master Mercurius feels like a friend in two books I’ve read, and like a good friend, you wish to meet him again and again and hear his stories. Needless to say I’ll be reading all the books in the series and May they be many!
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  • Elisabeth Townsend
    5.0 out of 5 stars Death in Delft
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 3, 2024
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    As someone born and brought up in Ho;lland I enjoyed the references to Dutch towns and customs. However I wonder how much research Graham did on Dutch history. It may be more than I ever did, but it irked me somewhat to read people being addressed as ‘mijnheer’ and especially ‘mevrouw’ for everybody in the book. Mevrouw is reserved for upper class people and the difference between being called ‘Vrouw’ or ‘Mevrouw’ has always been quite elusive. Nowadays I think everybody gets called by their first name, but this would not have been the case in the 17th century. It would simply have been left out. Also the fact there is a Vismarkt does not mean that fish was landed and prepared there. There is a Vismarkt in Groningen and Utrecht, which is about as far from the sea as you can get.
    The story is wonderful and I think Master Mercurius is very lovable.
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  • Christine Boos
    4.0 out of 5 stars Very good!
    Reviewed in Germany on January 17, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    That was sooo good!
    A mystery set in 1671 in Delft involving Vermeer and Leeuwenhoek!! The first one, as the painter of the crime scene, the latter one as the forensic investigator. The main character though is the fictive Master Mercurius teaching at Leiden university. He has been called upon to investigate the disappearance of three young girls.... A lively investigation with a touch of dry humour, an informative insight into Dutch society, details of the true characters'lives and achievements make this mystery novel a great read!! I read that the second novel involves William of Orange. I will definitely read the whole series! Highly recommended!
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  • Gene
    5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent 17th Century Murder Mystery
    Reviewed in Australia on July 14, 2020
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Loved this book, it was so refreshingly different. The author has a dry wit that brought touches of unexpected humour to liven up some of the darker passages. The townsfolk were all original and easy to visualise and their dialogue matched their personae. The plot was well thought out and very believable while raising lots of questions relating to morality, justice and mercy, along the way. Mr Brack brought the 17th Century to life again in this little gem and I can't wait for the second instalment.
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