Reviewed by Karen Pirnot for Readers' Favorite

The Captive Queen, A Novel of Mary Stuart by Danny Saunders takes a different perspective on Mary, Queen of Scots. The research is good enough that readers will be invested in the plot from the first couple of chapters. Although from a historical perspective Mary is an interesting and tragic woman, author Saunders throws in a secondary story to pique interest. Charlotte Gray is an Englishwoman charged with a crime. She escapes England and ventures to Scotland where she hopes to become an attendant to Queen Mary. Charlotte's entrance into the court brings a bit of speculation and mystery to the era and her character is well written. The bulk of the book is concerned with Mary's flight from Scotland to England where she seeks assistance from her cousin Queen Elizabeth I. Instead of being granted asylum, Mary is virtually imprisoned for nineteen years while one scheme after another prevents her from taking her rightful place on the throne of Scotland.

Much has been written about Mary, Queen of Scots but The Captive Queen takes a different perspective on history. Saunders' introduction of the alluring Charlotte Gray gives an additional air of mystery to the novel and it makes the reader speculate when she will appear and disappear in the plot. I particularly liked the way Saunders portrayed the sturdiness of Mary. He made her very human while also elevating her to the status of her rightful place in history. Even those who have read much about this era in history will appreciate the author's efforts at emotionally restoring Mary to her birthright on the throne of Scotland.

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