The Traitor Queen

Kit Scarlett Tudor Mysteries #5

by Adele Jordan

Kit Scarlett is once more spying for Elizabeth Tudor! For fans of S J Parris, Andrew Taylor, S W Perry and Andrew Swanston.

Two powerful queens are pitted against each other – but who will be victorious?

1586

Female espionage agent, Kit Scarlett is stationed at Chartley Castle, where Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots, is under house arrest for plotting against the English Queen Elizabeth.

Kit helps Sir Francis Walsingham’s top codebreaker, Thomas Phelippes, as they intercept Mary Stuart’s communications with her conspiring supporters.

And when they have the proof that Mary Stuart has sanctioned Queen Elizabeth’s assassination, Kit races to deliver the message to Walsingham.

But before they can persuade Queen Elizabeth to sign Mary Stuart’s death warrant, the Scottish queen escapes.

And as Kit delves deeper into her mission, she finally discovers answers about her own past that shock her to her core.

With Queen Elizabeth’s life now in imminent jeopardy, can Kit find Mary Stuart and bring her to justice?

Even if Kit achieves her task, will she find the London she returns to is no longer the home she once thought it was…?

THE TRAITOR QUEEN is the fifth book in the Kit Scarlett Tudor Mysteries Series. It is a thrilling historical espionage adventure set in Elizabethan London with a feisty female lead.

THE KIT SCARLETT TUDOR MYSTERY
BOOK The Gentlewoman Spy
BOOK The Royal Assassin
BOOK A Spy at Hampton Court
BOOK The Lost Highlander
BOOK The Traitor Queen

271 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 30, 2023

About the author

Adele is a writer with a fascination for history. Her focus is fiction in the Tudor era, telling the stories of women and adventure. Whether it’s inspired by true events or created purely from imagination, she desires to write stories from this captivating era that haven’t been written before of those on the edges of society, the paupers, the spies, the workers and those who have not had a voice.

Adele studied English at the University of Exeter before moving into an eclectic career of publishing and marketing. Having worked with the National Trust’s photography department for two years, Adele travelled the country to visit the landscapes and historical places that have carved England and Wales’ heritage. When Covid struck, the job disappeared overnight, and Adele committed her time to ghost writing and authoring her own stories, returning to her childhood dream job. Since then, she has had over twenty successful books published as a ghost writer and hopes to turn that success into stories now written in her own name.

Reviews

[Nicola Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yesss, another one in the series! I’ve been following Kit and her espionage escapades for a while now and I always look forward to rejoining her in her story. And back with Walsingham, Iomhar and the quest to stop Mary from overthrowing the throne. They resume another race against time to save the queen!

I never get bored of these and eagerly await each new story. This one was amazing (as ever) and I’m always so sad I fly through them so quickly. Because honestly, they are SO easy to race through. Blink, half the book is done. Blink again and I’ve finished and googling whether there’s going to be another.

I love books set in the Tudor period and this one hits all the buttons. Seeing Kits story progress over the series has been a joy and it was great to have some more of her past revealed. And the ending?! My heart. It was everything and more and I absolutely loved it. Not me reaching for the tissues for a happy weep. Nope, not at all :’).

So sad to have finished it but so happy to have followed Kit and got to know her story. Top tier, 5/5 series.

Thank you to the author and publisher for this book on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.

[S Tondra · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Traitor Queen is the 5th book in the Kit Scarlett Tutor Mystery series and I could not find anywhere if this is officially the last book or not. Based off the ending and finally finding out things about Kit that have been mysteries since book one I would lean towards this maybe being the end. While I have enjoyed the series this was a bit predictable and I really wanted a bit more for Kit and Iomhar but I''m a romantic. Kit was her feisty, kick butt spy through the book and I quickly got through it because it was a fast paced read. If this is the last book well done Jordan on a great series and if not I will be back to read more.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this story in exchange for an honest review.

[Avril Hemingway · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've loved this seriesand from the beginning even though it's not my favourite era these books have been spell binding to read with me enjoying them all equally. This one is another great addition but I was so sad as it seems to be ending here. I was hoping it would carry on for longer with the Kit Imohar romance carrying on to progress at a slower pace instead of this one being the end. Ho hum what will be next from this author can't wait to see. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Collete Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

A brilliant series, I have immensely enjoyed every book. Gripping stories, of "will they,won't they", great twists and turns . I couldn't put the books down, proper page turning. Well done Ms Jordan I am looking forward to more books by you. I highly recommend that history fiction and facts lovers read these books.

[Charlie Cassidy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable page turner albeit fairly predictable & quietly laboured on occasions. Poor Iomhar seems to bear the brunt of all the woundings whilst Kit remains unscathed.
I was drawn to Moira & Doris but disappointed by Walsingham's lack of scheming deviousness & Niall's compliant timidity in the face of Kit's Alpha Female personna.

[Stacy Tomaszewski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've enjoyed this series, and the final chapter (it seems from the author's afterward) ends it on a high note. This is not a series for readers looking for historical accuracy, but it's an enjoyable what-if for fans of Tudor England and Elizabeth I.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing a pre-pub copy.

[jerry Cursons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent story involving Kit. What a great series these books have been. All though not totally historical actually correct on all events. I did enjoy the ending even though it was prodictable.

[Kelwyn Warlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is an excellent historical story

I have now read all five books. Individually, they left me wanting more. Now that I have finished book 5, I would like to know more about these well-rounded characters.

[Ray Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Fascinating Series

I have enjoyed reading this series and love the somewhat predictable ending. This last book ties the story up nicely.

[K BURT · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this whole series. Fast paced, page turning excitement. Will probably read the whole series again 😉

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

1586. Can Mary, Queen of Scots, imprisoned in Chartley Castle, be caught in an act of treason. And what of Kit's past.
An entertaining and well-written historical mystery thriller.