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Elizabeth I #6
The Queene's Christmas
The Queene's Christmas draws readers into the magnificent realm of Elizabeth Tudor and the magic of her Court at Yuletide, circa 1564. But in the intoxicating sixth novel of Karen Harper's celebrated Elizabeth I series, the Twelve Days of Christmas are murderously interrupted when the Dresser of the Queen's Privy Kitchen is found hanged and trussed like
the peacock he'd been fashioning for the holiday feast. With foul play afoot in her Court, Elizabeth does her royal utmost to track down the poor man's killer while striving to salvage the joy of Christmas. Doomed to suspect even her most trusted courtiers, she is nevertheless determined to vanquish the Christmas culprit-who will not only strike again but has
targeted Her Majesty as his ultimate prey.
the peacock he'd been fashioning for the holiday feast. With foul play afoot in her Court, Elizabeth does her royal utmost to track down the poor man's killer while striving to salvage the joy of Christmas. Doomed to suspect even her most trusted courtiers, she is nevertheless determined to vanquish the Christmas culprit-who will not only strike again but has
targeted Her Majesty as his ultimate prey.
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
7 people are currently reading
533 people want to read
About the author
Karen Harper
108 books1,515 followersA New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Karen Harper is a former college English instructor (The Ohio State University) and high school literature and writing teacher. A lifelong Ohioan, Karen and her husband Don divide their time between the midwest and the southeast, both locations she has used in her books. Besides her American settings, Karen loves the British Isles, where her Scottish and English roots run deep, and where she has set many of her historical Tudor-era mysteries and her historical novels about real and dynamic British women. Karen's books have been published in many foreign languages and she won the Mary Higgins Clark Award for 2005. Karen has given numerous talks to readers and writers across the county. Her most recent books include THE SOUTH SHORES TRILOGY (CHASING SHADOWS, DROWNING TIDES and FALLING DARKNESS.) Her latest historical is THE ROYAL NANNY. Please visit her website at www.KarenHarperAuthor and her fb page at www.facebook.com/KarenHarperAuthor
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
December 20, 2014
The recipes were my favorite thing in the book. I wonder what peacock and swan taste like? I'll never know because it won't be on my menu ever. :)
December 7, 2019
This one is a beaut. Elizabeth Tudor zips around the palace accompanied by her own personal Tudor Street Irregulars. These improbably include William Cecil, and that leads to a scene in which the Queene (sic) and Cecil have to employ Nancy Drew-level shenanigans to escape from a burning boat shed. Don't ask.
Nothing works. No one behaves in anything close to an accurate representation of the period, despite the fact that Harper has clearly done some research on the Yuletide customs of the day. How will you know? She will laboriously tell you as each of the twelve days comes and goes. This was the day they hauled in the yule log. This was the day they presented the peacock with a gilded beak. This was Boar's Head Night!
Another entry in the "Dead Royalty Who Should Have Been My Bestie" genre, but a deluxe model because it is part of a series.
Nothing works. No one behaves in anything close to an accurate representation of the period, despite the fact that Harper has clearly done some research on the Yuletide customs of the day. How will you know? She will laboriously tell you as each of the twelve days comes and goes. This was the day they hauled in the yule log. This was the day they presented the peacock with a gilded beak. This was Boar's Head Night!
Another entry in the "Dead Royalty Who Should Have Been My Bestie" genre, but a deluxe model because it is part of a series.
November 17, 2013
I'm not usually a fan of the early times in English history, but I read this book at the request of a friend who really loves these books. Surprise, surprise--I really enjoyed this book immensely!! This is a mystery involving Queen Elizabeth and her court in 1564. They are preparing to celebrate Christmas in the traditions of the time, to the definite dislike of the puritanical Protestant church leader. There is also the continuous conflict between sisters, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary of Scots, for throne of England.
At the start of these celebrations, Master Hodge Thatcher, Dresser of the Feast, is found hanging in the kitchen, dressed in the peacock feathers meant for the roasted bird. Queen Elizabeth is convinced that he was murdered and starts the investigation into his death. Then, the next days of the celebrations finds other deaths related to the each days activities. Who can the Queen trust? Clues seem to implicate those closest to her. The clues are truly interesting and red herons kept the story flowing. Queen Elizabeth's characterization is wonderfully done.
What I especially liked about the story was the deft way that the author used, and explained, so many traditions of the times, including an old time food recipe at the beginning of every chapter. This is the sixth book in this series. The excellence of this book is best proven when I say that I actually believe I want to rest of this books!
I listen to this in Audio, and the reader did an excellent dramatic reading. This added so much to the story too!
At the start of these celebrations, Master Hodge Thatcher, Dresser of the Feast, is found hanging in the kitchen, dressed in the peacock feathers meant for the roasted bird. Queen Elizabeth is convinced that he was murdered and starts the investigation into his death. Then, the next days of the celebrations finds other deaths related to the each days activities. Who can the Queen trust? Clues seem to implicate those closest to her. The clues are truly interesting and red herons kept the story flowing. Queen Elizabeth's characterization is wonderfully done.
What I especially liked about the story was the deft way that the author used, and explained, so many traditions of the times, including an old time food recipe at the beginning of every chapter. This is the sixth book in this series. The excellence of this book is best proven when I say that I actually believe I want to rest of this books!
I listen to this in Audio, and the reader did an excellent dramatic reading. This added so much to the story too!
September 22, 2013
First sentence: "I swear, Your Grace, that man will be the death of you yet!"
Elizabeth decides to throw an old-fashioned, festive Yuletide celebration for her ailing friend, Kat Ashley, despite protests from the leading churchmen. Of course, the Christmas season is full of mysteries to be solved.
I do love reading Christmas books in the middle of summer, gets me all ready for Fall. I found this book to be a fun read and liked all the medieval recipes that were included. I also liked the part the recipes played in the book. I do find myself finding the mysteries very easy to solve at this point and so will be taking a break from the series for awhile. These are fun little books to pick up every so often.
Elizabeth decides to throw an old-fashioned, festive Yuletide celebration for her ailing friend, Kat Ashley, despite protests from the leading churchmen. Of course, the Christmas season is full of mysteries to be solved.
I do love reading Christmas books in the middle of summer, gets me all ready for Fall. I found this book to be a fun read and liked all the medieval recipes that were included. I also liked the part the recipes played in the book. I do find myself finding the mysteries very easy to solve at this point and so will be taking a break from the series for awhile. These are fun little books to pick up every so often.
June 15, 2023
This book reads a bit like Karen Harper wrote it whilst reading “The Bumper Book of Metaphors and Similes for Keystage 2”! From such gems as 'his ruddy glow went white as bleached linen' to 'happy as a hawk in a windstorm', together with an enormous helping of the phrase ‘s blood to show us that the Queen wasn’t a total goody-goody!
That aside, it was quite a good yarn, if a little predictable - I got the murderer quite early on in the book, albeit that my feeling was based on a hunch rather than any clues. I think the fact it took me three weeks to read it speaks volumes and I don’t think I’ll be rushing to buy any more of the ‘Elizabeth I Mysteries’!
That aside, it was quite a good yarn, if a little predictable - I got the murderer quite early on in the book, albeit that my feeling was based on a hunch rather than any clues. I think the fact it took me three weeks to read it speaks volumes and I don’t think I’ll be rushing to buy any more of the ‘Elizabeth I Mysteries’!
September 2, 2008
I enjoyed this series at first, but am finding that as it progresses, the books become more predictable - a HUGE no-no in a mystery series. Also, the author's few yet glaring historical inaccuracies have really turned me off. Don't quote Hamlet before it was written. Don't cite nursery rhymes written about Mary Queen of Scots being deposed if it hasn't happened yet. And get your historical names right, Karen Harper.
August 30, 2016
Not convincing as a historical mystery. Has anachronisms such as Humpty Dumpty rhyme and Hamlet quote too early in time, along with some doubtful items such as wooden toothpicks to test baking doneness. The author appears to be using popular historical guides to the period rather than reading Tudor texts. The story reads in modern American English with a few period words dropped in.
December 16, 2013
A lively and colorful mystery. Nice Christmas details. It almost makes me like Queen Elizabeth but I am more a fan of Mary Queen of Scots and Grace O'Malley (Gráinne Ní Mháille), Queen of the pirates, both enemies of EI.
June 7, 2011
I read the whole thing. That's about all I can say for this. I did enjoy a little of historical cooking info.
December 9, 2023
A fun Christmas-themed read! A very good work of historical fiction, too- the court traditions and setting all seemed very accurate to the time period, and I especially liked the Tudor recipes at the beginning of each chapter. The characters were probably less historically faithful, but it’s a fictional book, so that was fine.
The plot was kind of hard to follow for me, perhaps because the setting was written with enough historical accuracy that sometimes I didn’t really know what historical event or relationship the characters were referencing. It’s also the 6th in a series, and this is one I think you’d benefit from starting at the beginning with.
The characters aren’t super compelling, but nor are they horrible- I thought Elizabeth was the most interesting, especially the portrayal of her emotions around marriage and her ruling of her kingdom. It definitely wasn’t the intention of the book, but something I took away was certainly how absolute Elizabeth’s power really was- I liked how her power was portrayed in this book, and how conscious the Elizabeth character was of it, from smaller interactions with her servants to conversations with the Earls of her kingdom.
The plot was kind of hard to follow for me, perhaps because the setting was written with enough historical accuracy that sometimes I didn’t really know what historical event or relationship the characters were referencing. It’s also the 6th in a series, and this is one I think you’d benefit from starting at the beginning with.
The characters aren’t super compelling, but nor are they horrible- I thought Elizabeth was the most interesting, especially the portrayal of her emotions around marriage and her ruling of her kingdom. It definitely wasn’t the intention of the book, but something I took away was certainly how absolute Elizabeth’s power really was- I liked how her power was portrayed in this book, and how conscious the Elizabeth character was of it, from smaller interactions with her servants to conversations with the Earls of her kingdom.
November 22, 2019
5 stars because:
1. I love all things Elizabeth 1. No woman was more loved and more plotted against than she
2. This is a well-written, entertaining story
3. Full of historical references and characters that any fan of this period will recognize
4. It is a story in itself but part of a collection of similar novels by the same author about the same character, so even when you finish reading this one and are left wanting more - and you will be left wanting more - there is more available!
5. Probably the best feature of this book: each chapter begins with a recipe from that period, giving more flavour (pun intended) to the context. For those of us who love reading AND cooking, this book satisfies on both counts. Trying the recipes is a challenge in itself because you have to use your own culinary experience, since in most cases there are no ingredient quantities mentioned. Just like the recipes my own grandmother has passed on..."you just go by the feel". Taste this one for yourself!
1. I love all things Elizabeth 1. No woman was more loved and more plotted against than she
2. This is a well-written, entertaining story
3. Full of historical references and characters that any fan of this period will recognize
4. It is a story in itself but part of a collection of similar novels by the same author about the same character, so even when you finish reading this one and are left wanting more - and you will be left wanting more - there is more available!
5. Probably the best feature of this book: each chapter begins with a recipe from that period, giving more flavour (pun intended) to the context. For those of us who love reading AND cooking, this book satisfies on both counts. Trying the recipes is a challenge in itself because you have to use your own culinary experience, since in most cases there are no ingredient quantities mentioned. Just like the recipes my own grandmother has passed on..."you just go by the feel". Taste this one for yourself!
December 11, 2017
This book by Karen Harper is one of several mysteries she has written about Queen Elizabeth I. For me, Harper captured the era with her descriptions of traditions, dress and conflicts. The author also added a recipe of the times at the beginning of each chapter, and that recipe was mimicked by the antagonist who was successfully ruining the Queen's best plans for a grand Christmas season. Along with the Queen, the reader follows the many leads toward the perpetrator, as one by one they turn out to be wrong. Throughout the story, we are reminded of the rivalry between Queen Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots. The Queen's bravery and insistence to participate in riding through snow and on ice may have been a bit overdone, but I felt the tension and was rooting for the Queen to survive!
I look forward to reading more books in this series.
I look forward to reading more books in this series.
January 25, 2026
I really wanted to like this book, but the anachronisms and the over the top way the author portrays Queen Elizabeth really sucked a lot of the enjoyment from the story. It was fine, but I wish the characters spoke with better period historicity, comparable to the receipts that the author posted in front of each chapter.
January 22, 2022
As much as I enjoyed the historical aspect of this book, along with the not to be followed, recipes, I found the actual story a bit lacking for my tastes. This is why it took me almost 2 months to read. It did pick up about half way through.
January 1, 2023
It was a different read than what I'm used to, and I did like it. However, I found my mind wondering a bit more in this read than usual. Would I recommend? Probably not. But, I may try to read another from this series.
June 17, 2023
Detailed look at the twelve days of a royal Christmas during Elizabeth's reign. Yes, there is a mystery and a murderer involved, but until the last couple of chapters, this seemed more about the spectacular of the holidays and a Frost Fair on the frozen Thames.
January 1, 2026
Another solid entry in the series. The usual cast of characters and the usual murder or two, enlivened by a bit of romance thrown in here or there. I particularly enjoyed the Christmas recipes, even though they were somewhat vague and the author warns readers not to trust them
It was a fun reead
It was a fun reead
February 11, 2026
I had trouble getting into it at first, as I found that the book personalities did not match what I knew of the historical personalities.. However, I decided to just enjoy the novel as it was written and not to make a historical exercise of it. I then enjoyed it.
January 9, 2021
Entertaining
December 3, 2023
4.5 stars. Well written. Would read another of this series.
January 6, 2024
Excellent story. I especially liked the recipes at the beginning of each chapter and how they tied in with the story.
March 17, 2026
This is Book number six in this Elisabeth and mysteries. This is a mystery that takes place over 12th night very interesting to see the traditions that Queen Elizabeth celebrated.
October 15, 2013
I love Karen Harper, Christmas, murder mysteries and Tudor-era historical fiction, so I was really excited to read this book. I loved the Christmas scenes that Harper described in other books. She is such a great storyteller and usually an expert at setting the scene. I have read the Matthew Shardlake mysteries by C.J. Sansom and expected something similar with this. However, right away I knew this wouldn't be as "gritty" and terrifying as a Sansom novel. This was more of a fun Fall read to get me in the mood for Christmas, than a gripping murder mystery. It almost veered into "camp" territory.
I was not scared at any point, and I didn't feel anything when some of the characters were attempted-murdered. I almost laughed at some of the hamfisted clues that the killer left. I would think if this really happened to Elizabeth, she would not be pacing, sick to her stomach, desperately trying to find out who the killer is. Overall I did not like this portrayal of Elizabeth. She gave up way too much of her power, allowed others to interrupt her, speak over her, Dudley made a fool of her in a very public way, appeared to be clueless in front of her Council and tricked into not trusting her closest friends. Also, the events with Dudley went nowhere. Spoiler alert: why did he fake having a head injury? That was never explained. Why did he not get punished for the mistletoe thing. She was angry with him, but ultimately nothing came of it. And making jokes about his killer that was originally a clue for Elizabeth, turned out to be just his jack@ss personality? Ok
If you want to read a really good Tudor murder mystery, try C.J. Sansom's Shardlake series - set in Henry the Eighth's time. Those books will terrify you. Sansom sets the scene so well that it's very hard to separate reality from fiction. When I laid down to sleep at night I couldn't get the book out of my head and thought a killer lurked behind my window. The Queene's Christmas was lighthearted and fun. A good Court story (which I also love) but not a gritty murder mystery.
I was not scared at any point, and I didn't feel anything when some of the characters were attempted-murdered. I almost laughed at some of the hamfisted clues that the killer left. I would think if this really happened to Elizabeth, she would not be pacing, sick to her stomach, desperately trying to find out who the killer is. Overall I did not like this portrayal of Elizabeth. She gave up way too much of her power, allowed others to interrupt her, speak over her, Dudley made a fool of her in a very public way, appeared to be clueless in front of her Council and tricked into not trusting her closest friends. Also, the events with Dudley went nowhere. Spoiler alert: why did he fake having a head injury? That was never explained. Why did he not get punished for the mistletoe thing. She was angry with him, but ultimately nothing came of it. And making jokes about his killer that was originally a clue for Elizabeth, turned out to be just his jack@ss personality? Ok
If you want to read a really good Tudor murder mystery, try C.J. Sansom's Shardlake series - set in Henry the Eighth's time. Those books will terrify you. Sansom sets the scene so well that it's very hard to separate reality from fiction. When I laid down to sleep at night I couldn't get the book out of my head and thought a killer lurked behind my window. The Queene's Christmas was lighthearted and fun. A good Court story (which I also love) but not a gritty murder mystery.
May 21, 2011
It's Christmas time in Elizabeth I's kingdom but that doesn't stop murder and mayhem! This is #6 in the Elizabeth I Mysteries by local author, Karen Harper. Bear in mind, the series is MUCH better if you start with #1 and progress reading them in order! This is what I've done and it's really helped "flesh out" the characters. And the idea of Queen Elizabeth turning amateur sleuth is intriguing to me because too many times history (as presented in novels) came be too dry (she was born, reigned, died). In these books the queen has a "Privy Plot Council" comprised of both commoners and nobility that assist her in finding clues and detecting the "bad guys". I particularly enjoy the way that the author (and avid Elizabethan fanatic) blends historical fact with fictional possibility to create a lively tale!
December 29, 2011
This is the only Tudor Christmas story I have ever seen, and I really loved it! Not only did it offer a good picture of what Christmas at Queen Elizabeth's court was really like, it also showed an exciting, and at times spine-tingling murder mystery taking place at Whitehall Palace. All of our favorite Elizabethan characters are in this book - including Good Queen Bess herself, her Earl of Leicester Robert Dudley, and her confidante and secretary William Cecil. There's danger, excitement, drama, and romance - all taking place during the most fesitve and exciting time of the year. Tudor Christmas 'recipes' are also given at the start of each chapter, and if you're brave and creative enough, I suppose you can try to make them! Enjoy this book - it's unlike any other Tudor book I've read!
August 17, 2014
This was my first book in the series and while it's not the first I found the characters easy enough to follow. Set at the time of Elizabeth I's court it was interesting to read about how the celebrated the twelve days of Christmas. One of the reasons I read these types of mysteries. The only problem I have with these (using historical figures as detectives) is you can usually cut out some of the suspects just because they are actual historical people and so unless they did indeed murder someone then you know it's not them. Overall it was a pretty decent mystery, it read well and quickly, and I enjoyed the overall story. Given time I will look up more, perhaps more recent books in the series.
November 17, 2008
I'm biased because I adore this particular genre and time period, and I thoroughly enjoyed this entire series of books by Karen Harper. They are written very similarly to Fiona Buckley's Ursla Blanchard Mysteries.... almost confusingly so. This series focuses on Queen Elizabeth I, herself, solving the murders of her subjects. Absolutely fictitious activities frequent the books (Elizabeth leaving the castle in disguise to chase down clues and criminals). But, this is why it is Historical "Fiction". Although not historically accurate, they did hold my interest with their depth of character, plot, and historical abundance.
February 3, 2014
I had just read a heavy book so I wanted a light read. It was that. however, as a mystery, I didn't really care who the murderer was. Not while I was reading and not at the end when it was revealed. I couldn't have cared less. The side love triangle of Meg/Ned/Jenks was mildly interesting but not explored deeply enough or resolved. I guess that's because this is a series. This was the first book I've read of this author, and I'm not likely to read anymore. It was alright, but when I read a mystery, I want to be following clues, making guesses, and the mystery seemed to be pushed aside.
January 3, 2008
this book was on display in our library with Christmas books and its hard to pass up a book with Elizabeth in the title. It was an interesting look into Christmas-the 12 days and other traditions-and England during the reign of Elizabeth I. It might have been better if I had read the first books and there were lots of characters to keep straight. The mystery was suspenseful but not one that could be figured out ahead of the end.
December 28, 2009
A very good addition to the author’s Elizabethian mystery series. Very interesting plot where Queen Elizabeth I has a small number of close attendants ( Privy Council) who help her solve murder mysteries that occur in the court. The book is well-written and gives a lot of information regarding the lives of both the noblemen and the commoners in that era. The depth of detail in the plot shows that a great deal of historical research was done by the author.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews