Red Mass (Ellis Portal Mystery, #5) by Rosemary Aubert


Red Mass (Ellis Portal Mystery, #5)
Title : Red Mass (Ellis Portal Mystery, #5)
Author :
Rating :
ISBN : 1882593952
ISBN-10 : 9781882593958
Language : English
Format Type : Paperback
Number of Pages : 291
Publication : First published January 1, 2005

The fifth and final episode in Aubert's prize-winning series finds once-disgraced Toronto attorney Ellis Portal readmitted to the practice of law. Within moments, a superior court justice is charged with murder, and Ellis is tricked into defending him. Then Ellis faces his own daughter who's prosecuting the case.


Red Mass (Ellis Portal Mystery, #5) Reviews


  • Maddy

    RATING: 3.25

  • LJ

    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.

  • Luce Cronin

    The last in the series of Ellis Portal detective stories. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Reads quickly, and does not disappoint. I loved all the novels in that series!

  • Bronwyn

    Enjoyable even thou I had not read others in the series now I want to read the rest of them.

  • Penny

    This is the 5th and final book of a series about 'Ellis Portal', a disgraced-but-recovered Canadian barrister. Interesting look at Canadian trials ... but I knew what was going on in the ostensible mystery, even though the protagonist didn't (rather obtusely). The ending was just irritating. That may be because I despise lawyers.

  • Jacqueline Trescott

    Rosemary Aubert, a college friend, has made a wonderful career of writing mysteries. Red Mass follows Ellis Portal through a complicated trial with questions that are unanswered to the end. Rosemary gives a deft combination of the characters, main and secondary, as well as the prison, hospital and court worlds of Toronto. Hope there's many more.

  • Barbara

    Recommended by Aunt Joan.
    Ellis Porter mystery series.