FACE DOWN O'ER THE BORDER (Lady Appleton Mysteries) by First Last

Susanna, Lady Appleton #10

by Kathy Lynn Emerson

The year is 1557. Mary Queen of Scots is a prisoner in England, and Scotland is in upheaval. Does this political unrest tie in with a murder involving Susanna Appletons friend Catherine, who has disappeared in the company of a notorious spy, and is now under suspicion of treason?

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Historical

Paperback

First published September 15, 2007

About the author

aka Kaitlyn Dunnett, Kate Emerson, Kaitlyn Gorton

Kathy Lynn Emerson began writing as a child: a newspaper for her dolls and then a rambling adventure series featuring characters from all her favorite television shows. In addition to contemporary, historical and time-travel romance (some written under the pen-name of Kaitlyn Gorton) and historical novels written as Kate Emerson, Kathy has written children's books, non-fiction, short stories, and historical mysteries. She won the Agatha award for mystery nonfiction for How to Write Killer Historical Mysteries. She also writes as Kaitlyn Dunnett.

Reviews

[Avid Series Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Face Down O'er the Border by Kathy Lynn Emerson is the 10th book of the Susanna, Lady Appleton historical mystery series set in 1577 Scotland. Susanna's good friend Catherine (Lady Glenelg) is living in Scotland with her mother-in-law Jean. Catherine's 8-year-old son Gavin is the Glenelg heir. He's required to live at Stirling Castle with Mary, Queen of Scots' son and 11-year-old heir. When both Catherine and her mother-in-law Jean fall down stairs in Jean's house, Catherine loses her memory of events leading up to the fall. Jean's dead - and marks on her neck are evidence of strangulation. Since the two women were known to quarrel, Catherine is an easy prime suspect.

Catherine's companion Annabel urges Catherine to flee. Catherine won't leave Scotland without her children; Catherine and Annabel go into hiding. When Susanna learns (later) of the events, she heads for Scotland with Nick Baldwin. When she reaches Scotland, Susanna doesn't know where Catherine is hiding. Susanna can't prove Catherine is innocent, unless she can identify the true killer. Susanna is also suspicious of Annabel, a (former?) spy. While Susanna is trying to find Catherine, Catherine and Annabel are plotting to rescue Gavin from Stirling Castle. Red herrings plus an island subplot make for an interesting story. The details of Scottish law in 1577 regarding murder are fascinating. Too bad this is the end of the series!

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perhaps not as satisfying an ending, especially since this is the last in the series, and I had hoped that there would be some resolution to the relationship between Susanna and Nick. Despite that, the writing was excellent, helping me to dive into the Scottish world during the time of Elizabethan England. I always learn something from her books which makes the time spent more valuable.

[Eileen Lynx · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good series. Kind of sad it’s the last book in the series.

[Beka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe more twisted than usual, but a nice mystery with Lady Appleton.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice time passer. Complicated plot which resolved nicely at the end.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting glimpse into another time, another country. A lost memory after a fall and a dead body there, upon coming to present all sorts of problems and issues to be solved.

[Lynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, but I really thought the mystery solution was a cop out and would have preferred one of the red herrings to be the actual solution. I think the author was setting up for this to be a conceivable end of the series, but it was a disappointment all the way around on that front. The over arcing story-lines came to an end, but but a conclusion.

The mystery had such potential, but it was lost in the end. I expected more from this author. In some ways I am glad this appears to be the last of the series, but in others, I will miss the characters. Good thing I have the earlier books to go back for re-visits.

[Addison Public Library]

In the tenth book in the series, Lady Susanna Appleton travels to Scotland to help a friend who is accused of murder. The problem is that she may actually have committed the crime! The facts that are known are that Catherine Glenelg and her mother-in-law fell down the stairs together. What isn't known is who strangled her mother-in-law after the fall. It's up to Susanna and Nick Baldwin to search the narrow twisting streets of Scotland's 15th century cities to try to find Catherine and clear up the mystery.

KD 7-15

Check out this book today!

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is about Susannah Appleton, widow, herbalist, solver of murders/mysteries during the reign of Elizabeth I. Extremely good characters and convoluted turns of events to keep a reader interested. This story is regarding her friend being accused of killing her mother-in-law and trying to escape Scotland with her children, one of which is her 8 yr old son who is part of the child king's, James VI, schoolfellows. Very good mystery and, of course, a bit of history along with it.

[KayDee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The year is 1577. Lady Susanna Appleton journeys to Scotland to help a friend who has been accused of murder, a murder she may have indeed committed. Catherine Glenelg is on the run with the help of a notorious spy named Annabel. The question is if Annabel is truly trying to help Catherine or if she has an agenda of her own . . .

[Spuddie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Last of this series, had been several years since I read the one before it...it was just okay. I really loved the first few in the series but grew weary of them after awhile. Glad I can now say I'm done with it!

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I especially loved this book because the story is centered in Scotland and it discusses some of the idiosyncrasies of Scottish law. I think these Lady Appleton books get better and better. I am so sorry this is the last available. Hope Emerson writes a new one soon.

[Maren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good mystery, although if this is the end of the series it doesn't really end anything.