Red Mass

by Rosemary Aubert

Book Overview

The fifth and concluding episode in the prize-winning Ellis Portal mystery series. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1882593952
• ISBN13: 9781882593958
• Release Date: April 2005
• Publisher: Bridge Works Publishing Company
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.4" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

I'm sorry to see this series end

RED MASS (Mystery-Ellis Portal-Toronto, CA-Cont) - VG Aubert, Rosemary, 5th in series Bridge Works, 2005, US Trade Paperback - ISBN: 1882593952 First Sentence: At Michaelmas in the autumn of the year, Canadian judges in black silk robes, red woolen sashes and starched white-linen collar tabs gather like red-winged blackbirds to celebrate the Red Mass. Ellis Portal is clean, sober, reinstated as an attorney and getting his life back on track. While attending the Red Mass, a church service celebrating the opening of the courts, Ellis' one-time close friend, john Stoughton-Melville, Stow," is removed from the church in handcuffs. Stow is accused of murdering his fatally ill wife five yours ago and has asked Ellis to defend him but offers no information as to what happened. Ellis' had loved Stow's wife and only because of an old promise does he agree to take the case. Aubert is one of the many under-recognized authors and her Ellis Portel series is a great one. The only problem I had with this book is that it is, apparently, the end of the series. Ellis Portal is a great character and part of the attraction to him is his foibles; that he is not perfect and not always likable. The other people in his life are those from when he was a successful judge, his life on the street and his continuing association with the people from that time in his life and those now that he is rebuilding his life. The plot is wonderfully twisty and you feel Ellis' frustration has he is trying to defend Stow with the end being a surprise. I did have a feeling the author intended there to be another book in this series but, due to a change in publishers, had to switch characters. I understand this from the author's perspective but it's a bummer for the reader. Still, I definitely recommend this book and, as usual, suggest reading the series from the beginning.