What do you think?
Rate this book
The Spymaster's Daughter
In the court of Elizabeth I, the daughter of the queen’s powerful spymaster becomes a secret agent, and plays a dangerous role in saving her country from its ruthless enemies.
In Tudor England, traitors are everywhere and the queen’s spymaster, Sir Francis Walsingham, is assembling the greatest intelligence-gathering network in the world. Walsingham’s only daughter, Lady Frances Sidney, is smart, courageous, and unhappy in love. She longs for the excitement of decoding encrypted messages and setting traps for those working for rival Mary, Queen of Scots. But Frances's father refuses her any opportunity to contribute to the desperate effort of keeping England safe.
Then Elizabeth, impressed with Frances’s fiery spirit, calls her to court as a lady-in-waiting, and Frances seizes the chance to prove herself. Soon, she wins the trust of her father’s de-coders and begins her secret work, thrilled with the freedom to test her talents. But her peril is compounded as her beauty and wit also attract the romantic attention of two men, one the reckless Earl of Essex and the other her own brilliant but low-born servant, Robert Pauley. And when Frances uncovers the most dire plot of all, she will risk her father’s condemnation, her heart’s longing, and her very life to safeguard her queen.
In Tudor England, traitors are everywhere and the queen’s spymaster, Sir Francis Walsingham, is assembling the greatest intelligence-gathering network in the world. Walsingham’s only daughter, Lady Frances Sidney, is smart, courageous, and unhappy in love. She longs for the excitement of decoding encrypted messages and setting traps for those working for rival Mary, Queen of Scots. But Frances's father refuses her any opportunity to contribute to the desperate effort of keeping England safe.
Then Elizabeth, impressed with Frances’s fiery spirit, calls her to court as a lady-in-waiting, and Frances seizes the chance to prove herself. Soon, she wins the trust of her father’s de-coders and begins her secret work, thrilled with the freedom to test her talents. But her peril is compounded as her beauty and wit also attract the romantic attention of two men, one the reckless Earl of Essex and the other her own brilliant but low-born servant, Robert Pauley. And when Frances uncovers the most dire plot of all, she will risk her father’s condemnation, her heart’s longing, and her very life to safeguard her queen.
416 pages, Paperback
First published August 7, 2012
10 people are currently reading
275 people want to read
About the author
Jeane Westin
26 books30 followersJeane Westin's professional writing career began with a humourous camping disaster article for her local newspaper. National newspaper and magazine articles followed until she moved on to non-fiction books and then to long hardback historical novels. Jeane's second novel, 'Swing Sisters' came out of her youthful love of jazz, the major record collections she carted about the country and from wondering what women's role was during the early years of that special American music.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
August 18, 2012
Characters? Fantastic. Representation of court intrigue? Masterful. Random misprint leaving out several paragraphs explaining how the heroine got from trying to put off her unwanted beau to her father's offices? Not so great. A few other typos decreased my respect for the book.
December 21, 2012
I loved this book, it had all the right ingredients: lots of action, romance, Tudor era, interesting female protagonist who was a real historical figure that I knew very little about. I liked the ending, too, because it left the door open to a relationship between them after Essex was executed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 19, 2012
I love novels of historical intrigue and mystery and so was eager to read this one, but I was disappointed. The dialogue was forced and unnatural, and it gave the characters a two-dimensional feel. They didn't come to life for me and I felt like I was seeing their story from a distance, instead of being part of it. This is a shame, because the story itself was a well thought-out tale, with lots of court intrigue and espionage.
It takes place in the period of Elizabeth I's reign where she feels threatened by Mary Queen of Scots. The author uses Elizabeth's fear of Mary to create this tale of Sir Francis Walsingham's daughter, Lady Frances Sidney, who inspires to be an intelligencer as renowned as her father. Frances must battle her way through the malicious ladies of Elizabeth's court, aswell as an overly lusty Earl of Essex, as she tries to shows her skill in the work of ciphering. She receives tutoring from Dr John Dee, a mathematician and favourite of the Queen, aswell as help from her servant, Robert Pauly.
With Pauley brings the love interest of the novel. There are early references to the concept of 'Lady' and 'servant' that evokes the feeling of forbidden fruit, which adds spice to any romantic prospect.
Truthfully, there are many aspects of this novel that are well done, and even though the novel quickens it's pace about a third of the way through, the dialogue continued to hold it back. I found myself glazing over it just so I could read the inner thoughts of Frances and know how she really felt, instead of relying on her mechanical words.
It takes place in the period of Elizabeth I's reign where she feels threatened by Mary Queen of Scots. The author uses Elizabeth's fear of Mary to create this tale of Sir Francis Walsingham's daughter, Lady Frances Sidney, who inspires to be an intelligencer as renowned as her father. Frances must battle her way through the malicious ladies of Elizabeth's court, aswell as an overly lusty Earl of Essex, as she tries to shows her skill in the work of ciphering. She receives tutoring from Dr John Dee, a mathematician and favourite of the Queen, aswell as help from her servant, Robert Pauly.
With Pauley brings the love interest of the novel. There are early references to the concept of 'Lady' and 'servant' that evokes the feeling of forbidden fruit, which adds spice to any romantic prospect.
Truthfully, there are many aspects of this novel that are well done, and even though the novel quickens it's pace about a third of the way through, the dialogue continued to hold it back. I found myself glazing over it just so I could read the inner thoughts of Frances and know how she really felt, instead of relying on her mechanical words.
May 14, 2020
This book seemed to be about a woman trying to leave a “woman’s place” 100s of years before it was at all acceptable. It is also supposed to be historical fiction during Elizabeth Tudors time.
This book was a cheesy romance light disguised as historical fiction. The author threw in just enough details about the Tudors, and England, to claim it as such. However, she could have written the same love story during any reign - even in a fictional world without naming the queen.
It really isn’t very historically accurate in my opinion. The ending was rushed. I didn’t go into it hoping or wanting a predictable love story.
This book was a cheesy romance light disguised as historical fiction. The author threw in just enough details about the Tudors, and England, to claim it as such. However, she could have written the same love story during any reign - even in a fictional world without naming the queen.
It really isn’t very historically accurate in my opinion. The ending was rushed. I didn’t go into it hoping or wanting a predictable love story.
July 3, 2023
It took a couple of false starts for me to get into the story, but once I did, I was hooked. The story and characters, while over the top as they were, were fun to root for or against. Elizabethan England is not an easy time period to write well, as it has been done so much already. This author has found a few characters to cherry-pick from that time and flesh out an amusing story for her readers.
April 10, 2020
3.5
This was a fun easy read. It's been a while since I've torn through a book about the Tudors, but this one hit all the right spots. Westin's other novel, "His Last Letter" is one of my favorites and I think I must've originally skipped over this one after seeing the low Goodreads score. I'm also not a big fan of spy stuff, but luckily this book was more romance than spying. Woot.
This was a fun easy read. It's been a while since I've torn through a book about the Tudors, but this one hit all the right spots. Westin's other novel, "His Last Letter" is one of my favorites and I think I must've originally skipped over this one after seeing the low Goodreads score. I'm also not a big fan of spy stuff, but luckily this book was more romance than spying. Woot.
February 27, 2019
Great love story.
November 14, 2013
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales.
Quick & Dirty: Secrecy in the Elizabethian era proves to be a great weekend read.
Opening Sentence: At the sound of rapid hoofbeats drawing closer, Frances, Lady Sidney, lifted her head from a forbidden cipher book.
The Review:
As of late, I have fallen back in love with historical fiction. When I picked up Jeane Westin’s The Spymaster’s Daughter, I was immediately drawn to the period it was written in. I adore reading about Tudor England, especially ones of Elizabeth I. Westin’s promise of intrigue and mystery definitely lured my interest, and I couldn’t wait to start reading.
Lady Frances Sidney is the daughter of Sir Francis Walsingham, the queen’s spymaster. Lady Frances takes after her father and is a smart, tenacious, and courageous woman. Unfortunately in this time period, ladies belong in the court, serving the queen, or at home with a husband. Definitely is there no room for ladies of the court to be a spymaster. But Lady Frances refuses what is destined of her. Impressed by Lady Frances’ spirit, Queen Elizabeth gives her a chance to prove herself. She begins secret work, training under her father’s decoders, momentarily living the life of a spymaster. What Lady Frances doesn’t expect is risking her father’s condemnation, her heart’s longing, and her own life to do what is right.
Lady Frances is an interesting character. She is definitely tenacious and courageous, but at times I felt she was too head strong for her own good. I could only begin to understand what life was like back then, but Westin did a good job putting a Lady’s life at court into perspective. I adored Lady Frances. I loved how she went for what she believed in, but within reason. I enjoyed her adventures and day-to-day events. But there were times when her actions and I didn’t get along. I feel that I don’t understand or grasp the time period enough to respect some of those actions.
Westin’s secondary and supporting cast was well placed throughout the story. Each character had an obvious reason for being placed where they were. Some I loved, and others I didn’t. Pauley was one that I wasn’t sure about. He was an obvious plot bunny, one that I enjoyed and didn’t care for. I wanted to see much more of actual spy shenanigans, rather than certain scenes. But this is my personal preference and my expectations.
Westin’s writing was enjoyable. At times, I found the pacing to speed up and at times I felt it dragged a little. In a few areas of the book, I felt that there was too much information, and other times I wanted more. There are little bits and pieces that I found odd, but again, this is mostly due to my personal preferences.
Overall, I enjoyed many aspects of The Spymaster’s Daughter. I think you will also.
Notable Scene:
This madness had started in the coach on the way from Barn Elms. He had recognized something in her face, her eyes, something that he saw in his own mirror. . . betrayal.
Or could he have seen what he wanted to see?
He had to take his roving mind in hand. She was merely being kind to him. And she was a married woman, a queen’s lady, and he. . .a bastard of low rank. He clenched his fists, forbidding further runaway thoughts, though he doubted the ban would last the day. She would come to him again in the night.
FTC Advisory: NAL Trade/Penguin provided me with a copy of The Spymaster’s Daughter. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: Secrecy in the Elizabethian era proves to be a great weekend read.
Opening Sentence: At the sound of rapid hoofbeats drawing closer, Frances, Lady Sidney, lifted her head from a forbidden cipher book.
The Review:
As of late, I have fallen back in love with historical fiction. When I picked up Jeane Westin’s The Spymaster’s Daughter, I was immediately drawn to the period it was written in. I adore reading about Tudor England, especially ones of Elizabeth I. Westin’s promise of intrigue and mystery definitely lured my interest, and I couldn’t wait to start reading.
Lady Frances Sidney is the daughter of Sir Francis Walsingham, the queen’s spymaster. Lady Frances takes after her father and is a smart, tenacious, and courageous woman. Unfortunately in this time period, ladies belong in the court, serving the queen, or at home with a husband. Definitely is there no room for ladies of the court to be a spymaster. But Lady Frances refuses what is destined of her. Impressed by Lady Frances’ spirit, Queen Elizabeth gives her a chance to prove herself. She begins secret work, training under her father’s decoders, momentarily living the life of a spymaster. What Lady Frances doesn’t expect is risking her father’s condemnation, her heart’s longing, and her own life to do what is right.
Lady Frances is an interesting character. She is definitely tenacious and courageous, but at times I felt she was too head strong for her own good. I could only begin to understand what life was like back then, but Westin did a good job putting a Lady’s life at court into perspective. I adored Lady Frances. I loved how she went for what she believed in, but within reason. I enjoyed her adventures and day-to-day events. But there were times when her actions and I didn’t get along. I feel that I don’t understand or grasp the time period enough to respect some of those actions.
Westin’s secondary and supporting cast was well placed throughout the story. Each character had an obvious reason for being placed where they were. Some I loved, and others I didn’t. Pauley was one that I wasn’t sure about. He was an obvious plot bunny, one that I enjoyed and didn’t care for. I wanted to see much more of actual spy shenanigans, rather than certain scenes. But this is my personal preference and my expectations.
Westin’s writing was enjoyable. At times, I found the pacing to speed up and at times I felt it dragged a little. In a few areas of the book, I felt that there was too much information, and other times I wanted more. There are little bits and pieces that I found odd, but again, this is mostly due to my personal preferences.
Overall, I enjoyed many aspects of The Spymaster’s Daughter. I think you will also.
Notable Scene:
This madness had started in the coach on the way from Barn Elms. He had recognized something in her face, her eyes, something that he saw in his own mirror. . . betrayal.
Or could he have seen what he wanted to see?
He had to take his roving mind in hand. She was merely being kind to him. And she was a married woman, a queen’s lady, and he. . .a bastard of low rank. He clenched his fists, forbidding further runaway thoughts, though he doubted the ban would last the day. She would come to him again in the night.
FTC Advisory: NAL Trade/Penguin provided me with a copy of The Spymaster’s Daughter. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
September 25, 2013
Review posted on Dark Faerie Tales.
As of late, I have fallen back in love with historical fiction. When I picked up Jeane Westin’s The Spymaster’s Daughter, I was immediately drawn to the period it was written in. I adore reading about Tudor England, especially ones of Elizabeth I. Westin’s promise of intrigue and mystery definitely lured my interest, and I couldn’t wait to start reading.
Lady Frances Sidney is the daughter of Sir Francis Walsingham, the queen’s spymaster. Lady Frances takes after her father and is a smart, tenacious, and courageous woman. Unfortunately in this time period, ladies belong in the court, serving the queen, or at home with a husband. Definitely is there no room for ladies of the court to be a spymaster. But Lady Frances refuses what is destined of her. Impressed by Lady Frances’ spirit, Queen Elizabeth gives her a chance to prove herself. She begins secret work, training under her father’s decoders, momentarily living the life of a spymaster. What Lady Frances doesn’t expect is risking her father’s condemnation, her heart’s longing, and her own life to do what is right.
Lady Frances is an interesting character. She is definitely tenacious and courageous, but at times I felt she was too head strong for her own good. I could only begin to understand what life was like back then, but Westin did a good job putting a Lady’s life at court into perspective. I adored Lady Frances. I loved how she went for what she believed in, but within reason. I enjoyed her adventures and day-to-day events. But there were times when her actions and I didn’t get along. I feel that I don’t understand or grasp the time period enough to respect some of those actions.
Westin’s secondary and supporting cast was well placed throughout the story. Each character had an obvious reason for being placed where they were. Some I loved, and others I didn’t. Pauley was one that I wasn’t sure about. He was an obvious plot bunny, one that I enjoyed and didn’t care for. I wanted to see much more of actual spy shenanigans, rather than certain scenes. But this is my personal preference and my expectations.
Westin’s writing was enjoyable. At times, I found the pacing to speed up and at times I felt it dragged a little. In a few areas of the book, I felt that there was too much information, and other times I wanted more. There are little bits and pieces that I found odd, but again, this is mostly due to my personal preferences.
Overall, I enjoyed many aspects of The Spymaster’s Daughter. I think you will also.
As of late, I have fallen back in love with historical fiction. When I picked up Jeane Westin’s The Spymaster’s Daughter, I was immediately drawn to the period it was written in. I adore reading about Tudor England, especially ones of Elizabeth I. Westin’s promise of intrigue and mystery definitely lured my interest, and I couldn’t wait to start reading.
Lady Frances Sidney is the daughter of Sir Francis Walsingham, the queen’s spymaster. Lady Frances takes after her father and is a smart, tenacious, and courageous woman. Unfortunately in this time period, ladies belong in the court, serving the queen, or at home with a husband. Definitely is there no room for ladies of the court to be a spymaster. But Lady Frances refuses what is destined of her. Impressed by Lady Frances’ spirit, Queen Elizabeth gives her a chance to prove herself. She begins secret work, training under her father’s decoders, momentarily living the life of a spymaster. What Lady Frances doesn’t expect is risking her father’s condemnation, her heart’s longing, and her own life to do what is right.
Lady Frances is an interesting character. She is definitely tenacious and courageous, but at times I felt she was too head strong for her own good. I could only begin to understand what life was like back then, but Westin did a good job putting a Lady’s life at court into perspective. I adored Lady Frances. I loved how she went for what she believed in, but within reason. I enjoyed her adventures and day-to-day events. But there were times when her actions and I didn’t get along. I feel that I don’t understand or grasp the time period enough to respect some of those actions.
Westin’s secondary and supporting cast was well placed throughout the story. Each character had an obvious reason for being placed where they were. Some I loved, and others I didn’t. Pauley was one that I wasn’t sure about. He was an obvious plot bunny, one that I enjoyed and didn’t care for. I wanted to see much more of actual spy shenanigans, rather than certain scenes. But this is my personal preference and my expectations.
Westin’s writing was enjoyable. At times, I found the pacing to speed up and at times I felt it dragged a little. In a few areas of the book, I felt that there was too much information, and other times I wanted more. There are little bits and pieces that I found odd, but again, this is mostly due to my personal preferences.
Overall, I enjoyed many aspects of The Spymaster’s Daughter. I think you will also.
July 29, 2015
Not my favourite. I liked the concept enough to keep pushing through hoping it would get better. There were parts of the story I really enjoyed, but it was overshadowed by my annoyance with the writing style or the main character.
The writing felt disjointed. I'm fairly certain there was a whole transition completely skipped over at one point - I must have read those couple pages five times trying to figure out when the scene had changed, but finally just accepted it and moved on. Other times, it seemed as though the author thought "oh, I forgot to tell them xyz!" and just stuck it in haphazardly. I didn't think having Lady Rich present so much added to the story at all - knowing she existed is fine as a plot point, but there was no reason to keep bringing her into things. It felt forced, like the author was saying "Hey, I think you've forgotten her. DON'T FORGET HER. Okay, now carry on, I'll remind you again in 20 pages."
My annoyance with the main character is my own fault. I really wanted her personality to be more defiant. I really wanted to root for her, but the simple fact that she was so set in her social station annoyed me - I want my heroes to be the ones who don't need the maids and grooms, to break the demure lady quality more often than twice in a book, to circumvent the patriarchy and go after their own dreams. I knew going in that this was historical fiction, and I knew that none of those things would be the case, yet I still got annoyed with her. Frequently. Oh, and I prefer my heroines to be motivated by something other than romance. I mean, she was, but that subplot was unnecessary. I wanted more about her stealing books and teaching herself spy tasks and sneaking along on missions.
The writing felt disjointed. I'm fairly certain there was a whole transition completely skipped over at one point - I must have read those couple pages five times trying to figure out when the scene had changed, but finally just accepted it and moved on. Other times, it seemed as though the author thought "oh, I forgot to tell them xyz!" and just stuck it in haphazardly. I didn't think having Lady Rich present so much added to the story at all - knowing she existed is fine as a plot point, but there was no reason to keep bringing her into things. It felt forced, like the author was saying "Hey, I think you've forgotten her. DON'T FORGET HER. Okay, now carry on, I'll remind you again in 20 pages."
My annoyance with the main character is my own fault. I really wanted her personality to be more defiant. I really wanted to root for her, but the simple fact that she was so set in her social station annoyed me - I want my heroes to be the ones who don't need the maids and grooms, to break the demure lady quality more often than twice in a book, to circumvent the patriarchy and go after their own dreams. I knew going in that this was historical fiction, and I knew that none of those things would be the case, yet I still got annoyed with her. Frequently. Oh, and I prefer my heroines to be motivated by something other than romance. I mean, she was, but that subplot was unnecessary. I wanted more about her stealing books and teaching herself spy tasks and sneaking along on missions.
August 21, 2012
Wonderful! A captivating and heart wrenching love story! I love how this author gives such depth, and feeling to her characters. A fantastic, mesmerizing fictional tale of Frances Walsingham Sidney,as she struggles to find acceptance and equality in the elizabethan man's world of intelligencing! As well as finding forbidden love. This author is amazing! She has scored with every historical fiction book she has written ( and I have read them!) in my opinion. I cannot wait to see what this author comes up with next!
August 23, 2012
This is set during the era of Elizabeth I's reign. It reminds me quite a bit of Philippa Gregory, but faster-paced and less introspective. It didn't really do it for me, but it could be I just wasn't in the mood for it. The writing was fine, but it didn't transport me into a different time, and I thought the motivation for the main character was a little on the surface level side. Maybe it's just that I've been reading a lot about women trying to break into a man's world lately.
Read
September 27, 2012I don't usually read much historical fiction from the Tudor period but this was entertaining. A good airplane read. It takes place during the late 1500s during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Mary, Queen of Scots, is also involved. Frances is the only child of the Queen's spymaster and she longs to be a spy herself. She's smart, good at ciphering and the wrong gender. There's love, intrigue, danger and duty. The story is imagined but most of the characters were real people.
March 25, 2013
I read this book because I'm fascinated with the Elizabethian era and Francis Walsingham. It's about his daughter, and was very well written except for the habit that Westin had of writing things like, "A spymaster's daughter should..." It was an interesting technique for a while but then got annoying. However, I would recommend the book for those wanting to know more about women during that period.
October 20, 2012
while the historical parts are kind of interesting, I guess I'm not really into historical fiction before regency england b/c I really don't have the patience for how little freedom women had, despite how realistic the portrayal might be. also, really depressing ending. guess I like a happy ending as much as the next chick ;)
January 6, 2014
Not really sure how to rate this book. I enjoyed the story but have trouble suspending my disbelief when it comes to Elizabeth Tudor's time period. This trouble prevented me from getting immersed in the plot. I guess I have read too many nonfiction books about that fascinating queen and her time. Overall, good job to Ms. Westin for crafting an entertaining story.
March 19, 2014
for the most part, I enjoyed reading this book. Historical fiction taking place in tudor England, a great combo. It was ultimately the ending that ruined my enjoyment and lowered my rating. The ending felt too rushed as the author tried to end everything in five pages. After I read it, I discovered the author based the story on real people and events happening at the time.
November 4, 2012
A fiction story within the context of a historical period, rather than a fictonalized account of history. Difficult to read knowing the relationship between the two main characters was completely made up.
January 13, 2013
Update - gave up. Returned to library unfinished.
Kind of bored with the plot and heroine so far. Her single-minded focus on becoming an intelligencer becomes tedious. Still in the first few chapters and may return this one to the library unfinished.
Kind of bored with the plot and heroine so far. Her single-minded focus on becoming an intelligencer becomes tedious. Still in the first few chapters and may return this one to the library unfinished.
August 13, 2016
A good and enjoyable read! All the court intrigue. Thought it petered out towards the end but I am known to lose interest when the couple actually gets together. Also: hate Frances's father. All my visuals for this also came from GOT- haha not even sure if they were from the same era. Ummm
April 11, 2016
I am not usually a fan of love stories of passion loosely wrapped in a story line. I enjoyed this read particularly because of the depiction of life at this point in history-1500s. Interesting. loosely based on true people and events.
May 19, 2013
I enjoy historical fiction and loved the setting of the Elizabethan court for this book. It was a quick and easy read, very enjoyable.
March 30, 2014
I liked this book, but there's a major printing mistake right in the middle of the climax. It took me completely out of the story.
Want to read
May 25, 2015tuebl
April 29, 2016
I enjoyed it. Light reading set in Elizabethan times. A little bit of historical reference.
April 18, 2013
fast paced and fun
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews