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Elizabethan Mysteries #1
Murder at Hatfield House
FIRST IN A NEW SERIES!
1558. Kate Haywood, a simple musician in the employ of a princess, will find herself involved in games of crowns as she sets out to solve the murder of the queen’s envoy....
England is in tumult under the rule of Queen Mary and her Spanish husband. Confined to house arrest at Hatfield House, young Princess Elizabeth is the country’s greatest hope. Far from court intrigues, Elizabeth finds solace in simple things: the quiet countryside and peaceful recreation, including the melodies of her chief musician and his daughter, Kate Haywood.
But Kate will prove herself most valuable when an envoy of the queen—sent to flush out heretics in the princess’s household—is found dead on the grounds of Hatfield. Acting as Elizabeth’s eyes and ears, Kate is sent out on the trail of a killer whose mission could destroy her family, friends—and the future of England.
1558. Kate Haywood, a simple musician in the employ of a princess, will find herself involved in games of crowns as she sets out to solve the murder of the queen’s envoy....
England is in tumult under the rule of Queen Mary and her Spanish husband. Confined to house arrest at Hatfield House, young Princess Elizabeth is the country’s greatest hope. Far from court intrigues, Elizabeth finds solace in simple things: the quiet countryside and peaceful recreation, including the melodies of her chief musician and his daughter, Kate Haywood.
But Kate will prove herself most valuable when an envoy of the queen—sent to flush out heretics in the princess’s household—is found dead on the grounds of Hatfield. Acting as Elizabeth’s eyes and ears, Kate is sent out on the trail of a killer whose mission could destroy her family, friends—and the future of England.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
November 17, 2019
Setting: Elizabeth I Period
Mystery,Amateur Sleuth,
Historical Series
Princess Elizabeth is under house arrest, but she and her servants enjoy their time in the country away from the danger.
The daughter of Elizabeth's chief musician Kate Haywood, lives to make music and supports Elizabeth whom Kate considers the true Queen.
Then, an envoy of Queen Mary arrives determined to prove that Elizabeth and her household are plotting against the Queen and Kate is tasked with following a mysterious killer.
This first book in the series is before Elizabeth became Queen of England, and told from the view point of musician Kate.
While Kate is a fictional servant who doesn't hesitate to put herself in danger for the princess, many of the other characters are of historical significance, and I found the time period in this story presented realistically which made it work so well.
An excellent start to a new historical mystery series and I look forward to more from this author.
Mystery,Amateur Sleuth,
Historical Series
Princess Elizabeth is under house arrest, but she and her servants enjoy their time in the country away from the danger.
The daughter of Elizabeth's chief musician Kate Haywood, lives to make music and supports Elizabeth whom Kate considers the true Queen.
Then, an envoy of Queen Mary arrives determined to prove that Elizabeth and her household are plotting against the Queen and Kate is tasked with following a mysterious killer.
This first book in the series is before Elizabeth became Queen of England, and told from the view point of musician Kate.
While Kate is a fictional servant who doesn't hesitate to put herself in danger for the princess, many of the other characters are of historical significance, and I found the time period in this story presented realistically which made it work so well.
An excellent start to a new historical mystery series and I look forward to more from this author.
January 15, 2019
It's no secret that I have a deep admiration for, and fascination with, England's Queen Elizabeth I. That was the major reason to visit Hatfield House, especially the one remaining medieval portion of it, a manor house where Elizabeth lived as a princess. So of course I had to read this book! And it was a fine read -- not spectacular but suitably Elizabethan in setting. I still find it mildly disappointing when books set in this period feature nearly modern language, but I guess that's inevitable; who is going to read a light mystery written in Chaucerian prose?! So I accept it for what it is, and will keep an eye out for #2 in the series, set at Elizabeth (only a princess under de facto house arrest in this volume)'s Coronation. Spoilers: -- she becomes Queen!
May 26, 2022
I thought this was just an okay Elizabethan mystery.I was definitely looking for something a little more involved and exciting.Set during the time of Queen Mary I,Kate Haywood lives at Hatfield House employed by Princess Elizabeth as her personal musician.But all is not well at Hatfield as the princess comes under suspicion for her religious practices by Queen Mary.Mary immediately sends out a team of her most loyal supporters to investigate.When one is found dead in the woods on the estate,Princess Elizabeth enlists Kate's help to catch the culprit before they all end up in the Tower.
I liked the writing and research it must have took to put this together but was less than thrilled with the characters,Kate seemed slightly mad running after suspects and Braceton, the typical religious,fanatic sent to take them all down.Princess Elizabeth seemed stupid and as we all know she was anything but.I just couldn't get behind the characters and half way through I figured it all out but the why and who didn't make much sense to me.Also, I like reading about the Tudors for the period details which this definitely lacked but I may give this series another chance hoping it gets better.
I liked the writing and research it must have took to put this together but was less than thrilled with the characters,Kate seemed slightly mad running after suspects and Braceton, the typical religious,fanatic sent to take them all down.Princess Elizabeth seemed stupid and as we all know she was anything but.I just couldn't get behind the characters and half way through I figured it all out but the why and who didn't make much sense to me.Also, I like reading about the Tudors for the period details which this definitely lacked but I may give this series another chance hoping it gets better.
December 1, 2013
Here is a new historical mystery series set in the tumultuous and terrifying time of Queen Mary reigning in England. I eagerly read this book because this time period is fertile for a suspenseful murder mystery.
The reigning queen is Mary, Daugter of Henry VIII, and a rabid Catholic. Her reign was filled with executions of Protestants, thus earning her the name "Bloody Mary." Mary took control of the government after the failed attempt by Henry VIII's only legitimate son, Edward VI, to by-pass Mary and turn the throne over to his cousin Lady Jane Grey. Mary seized the throne and had her cousin Jane publicly executed. Being of the protestant faith would get you killed under Mary's rule as a heretic and traitor. It is in this highly charged political atmosphere that this story takes place. Catholic Queen Mary has a protestant sister, Elizabeth, who has the only other legitimate claim to the throne. Elizabeth tries to live a quiet life at Hatfield manor house and avoid her sister's wrath, which means enduring Mary's agents who regularly search her home trying to find Protestant teachings or bibles to try her as a traitor.
The story starts as one such agent from Queen Mary, Lord Braceton, is approaching Hatfield house and his assistant is shot with an arrow and dies. Needless to say, Braceton proceeds to make Elizabeth and her household suffer for the murder of his assistant. Elizabeth, under house arrest, begins turning to Kate (18 year old musician)to secretly be her eyes and ears. Kate vows to help her princess and uncover who the murderer is, even if she is placed in increasing peril.
Kate Haywood is a kind girl in a harsh and dangerous time. She loves her father and is devoted to her friends and the Princess. She is brave in her desire to help others and was a heroine that I found easy to root for her success. Her father, Matthew Haywood, lives for his music and is a delight. Princess Elizabeth Tudor is portrayed as loyal to those who have been loyal to her, fierce in her sense of duty to those who rely on her, has a terrible temper that she holds in check, and very politically savvy. I really liked the portrayal of a steely woman caught in the middle of dangerous political plots. I must mention Anthony, the young law apprentice who likes Kate more than as a friend, even if she doesn't realize it. Ned, a mute kitchen boy, is a bittersweet character. Lord Braceton is portrayed to give a sense of just how scary the times were with powerful bullies throwing their weight around. I both feared the character and what he might do while wishing for him to get justice delivered upon him.
Most of the story takes place at Hatfield House or nearby, Princess Elizabeth's residence town. There are a few scenes at other manor houses. The dark hallways, tower rooms, and hidden passageways add to the historical time and the sense of danger. The village is also a great setting with danger seemingly in every encounter.
The plot presents a well hidden enemy who clearly has an agenda against the Queen and any of the Queen's officials. The killer is quick and deadly, can strike with an arrow or a knife. But why and who is elusive. I was guessing until close to the reveal. The pace kept steady as Kate investigated and more incidences of murder occured.
The climax with Kate and the killer is intense and dramatic. I did feel the resolution to the killer confrontation was sudden and seemed a let down. The wrap-up nicely setups the next book and promises to provide even more political intrigue for Kate.
I found this a great historical suspense with a solid murder mystery and very enjoyable heroine.
Rating: Near Perfect - Buy two copies: one for you and one for a friend.
Join me at Mysteries and My Musings book blog
http://www.mysterysuspence.blogspot.com
The reigning queen is Mary, Daugter of Henry VIII, and a rabid Catholic. Her reign was filled with executions of Protestants, thus earning her the name "Bloody Mary." Mary took control of the government after the failed attempt by Henry VIII's only legitimate son, Edward VI, to by-pass Mary and turn the throne over to his cousin Lady Jane Grey. Mary seized the throne and had her cousin Jane publicly executed. Being of the protestant faith would get you killed under Mary's rule as a heretic and traitor. It is in this highly charged political atmosphere that this story takes place. Catholic Queen Mary has a protestant sister, Elizabeth, who has the only other legitimate claim to the throne. Elizabeth tries to live a quiet life at Hatfield manor house and avoid her sister's wrath, which means enduring Mary's agents who regularly search her home trying to find Protestant teachings or bibles to try her as a traitor.
The story starts as one such agent from Queen Mary, Lord Braceton, is approaching Hatfield house and his assistant is shot with an arrow and dies. Needless to say, Braceton proceeds to make Elizabeth and her household suffer for the murder of his assistant. Elizabeth, under house arrest, begins turning to Kate (18 year old musician)to secretly be her eyes and ears. Kate vows to help her princess and uncover who the murderer is, even if she is placed in increasing peril.
Kate Haywood is a kind girl in a harsh and dangerous time. She loves her father and is devoted to her friends and the Princess. She is brave in her desire to help others and was a heroine that I found easy to root for her success. Her father, Matthew Haywood, lives for his music and is a delight. Princess Elizabeth Tudor is portrayed as loyal to those who have been loyal to her, fierce in her sense of duty to those who rely on her, has a terrible temper that she holds in check, and very politically savvy. I really liked the portrayal of a steely woman caught in the middle of dangerous political plots. I must mention Anthony, the young law apprentice who likes Kate more than as a friend, even if she doesn't realize it. Ned, a mute kitchen boy, is a bittersweet character. Lord Braceton is portrayed to give a sense of just how scary the times were with powerful bullies throwing their weight around. I both feared the character and what he might do while wishing for him to get justice delivered upon him.
Most of the story takes place at Hatfield House or nearby, Princess Elizabeth's residence town. There are a few scenes at other manor houses. The dark hallways, tower rooms, and hidden passageways add to the historical time and the sense of danger. The village is also a great setting with danger seemingly in every encounter.
The plot presents a well hidden enemy who clearly has an agenda against the Queen and any of the Queen's officials. The killer is quick and deadly, can strike with an arrow or a knife. But why and who is elusive. I was guessing until close to the reveal. The pace kept steady as Kate investigated and more incidences of murder occured.
The climax with Kate and the killer is intense and dramatic. I did feel the resolution to the killer confrontation was sudden and seemed a let down. The wrap-up nicely setups the next book and promises to provide even more political intrigue for Kate.
I found this a great historical suspense with a solid murder mystery and very enjoyable heroine.
Rating: Near Perfect - Buy two copies: one for you and one for a friend.
Join me at Mysteries and My Musings book blog
http://www.mysterysuspence.blogspot.com
July 3, 2015
As a forewarning, this review may contain some small spoilers, nothing that tells you the killer, but some events that I'll describe happen later in the book.
I really liked this book. It had an exciting cast of characters, a good mystery, and a fun storyline. I'm glad I picked it up!
To start with, the characters were really great. I loved Kate and Elizabeth and the rest of the cast of characters. They were all described vividly and they were what I'd expect to find if I lived in 16th century England.
The mystery was good, but the author made a few small mistakes, at least to me, please skip this paragraph if you want to avoid any and all spoilers, read on if you don't mind vague and small spoilers. To start with when Lord Braceton comes to Hatfield House he isn't expected, so how would the murderer expect him to come and try to kill him. Secondly, Princess Elizabeth was under house arrest, not allowed to leave her chambers, so why would the killer mistake Kate for Elizabeth and try to kill her?
Overall, however, an enjoyable read. I'll read the next one!
I really liked this book. It had an exciting cast of characters, a good mystery, and a fun storyline. I'm glad I picked it up!
To start with, the characters were really great. I loved Kate and Elizabeth and the rest of the cast of characters. They were all described vividly and they were what I'd expect to find if I lived in 16th century England.
The mystery was good, but the author made a few small mistakes, at least to me, please skip this paragraph if you want to avoid any and all spoilers, read on if you don't mind vague and small spoilers. To start with when Lord Braceton comes to Hatfield House he isn't expected, so how would the murderer expect him to come and try to kill him. Secondly, Princess Elizabeth was under house arrest, not allowed to leave her chambers, so why would the killer mistake Kate for Elizabeth and try to kill her?
Overall, however, an enjoyable read. I'll read the next one!
February 12, 2015
Oh where do I begin? For a history buff, this for me is a foray into the unknown. An Elizabethan murder mystery with a hint of romance.
It starts out with the execution of Lady Jane Grey, and then deeper into the intrigue of court politics, sinister dealings and heated whispers.
Amanda has woven a tale transporting the reader into the rich history of early Tudor times. I have visited Hatfield House (well worth a visit) and she has described the atmosphere to perfection.
A fabulous read, and am thoroughly enjoying the sequel. For someone (me) who isn't really keen on murder mystery stories, I am now a convert thanks to Amanda. If I had three thumbs, they would all be up.
It starts out with the execution of Lady Jane Grey, and then deeper into the intrigue of court politics, sinister dealings and heated whispers.
Amanda has woven a tale transporting the reader into the rich history of early Tudor times. I have visited Hatfield House (well worth a visit) and she has described the atmosphere to perfection.
A fabulous read, and am thoroughly enjoying the sequel. For someone (me) who isn't really keen on murder mystery stories, I am now a convert thanks to Amanda. If I had three thumbs, they would all be up.
September 30, 2016
Very enjoyable ! Liked the character of Kate, the musician who is close to Princess Elizabeth. The murderer turns out to be 'close' to Kate, but as I do not want to give away the plot, I will not mention the person's name. As you may know, the Princess Elizabeth has many enemies through no fault of hers - at least not in the beginning while she is still Princess Elizabeth which is when she is living at Hatfield House. It is at Hatfield House that she is informed that she has become Queen of England. This series has great promise and as an Anglophile and a fan of the Tudors (Well, maybe not all of them, but definitely of Elizabeth), I am looking forward to the rest of the series !
February 29, 2020
This is an excellent historical mystery, set in England during the time of Queen Mary and Elizabeth I. Elizabeth has been banished to a country estate, the target of attacks by Queen Mary's Catholic nobles, but when one of the king's men is murdered right outside the gates, Elizabeth's chief musician Kate Haywood realizes that there are deeper, more sinister plots going on. Kate must try to find the murderer, even as the Queen's men are harassing the household and trying to find proof of treason so they can execute Elizabeth. The plot threads are intricately woven, the characters are excellently portrayed, and the novel is a delight to read (even as some of the happenings are not so delightful!).
August 1, 2017
I read this because I let myself forget how tiresome I find the Tudors and everything associated with them. Please don't let my rating put you off reading this. It's not badly written at all, and if you enjoy the time period, especially Elizabethan times, then you will more than likely enjoy this. I'm sorry to say that even the decent writing did not help me enjoy the setting. Once again I will let a couple of years go by before I read about the Tudors again.
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February 17, 2021Fun little Tudor murder mystery. I need this to be a tv series mostly for the costumes.
September 18, 2019
I primarily enjoyed this for the historical content regarding Queen Mary and Princess Elizabeth (at that time). This was a good refresher course for that period. Historical fiction is my favorite genre and I am especially interested in anything regarding the history of England and the British Isles. As far as the mystery goes, it could have been better but all in all, it was enjoyable.
September 23, 2013
"Murder at Hatfield House" is a historical mystery set in the autumn of 1558 in England. Purely as a historical novel, I enjoyed the story. The historical details brought the time period vividly alive in my imagination. The main characters reacted realistically to events and gained my sympathy. I felt suspense about the physical danger to Kate and Princess Elizabeth even though I knew how it had to turn out; yes, they'd survive, but at what cost?
However, there were some serious flaws with the mystery. I could quickly guess who was intended to be whodunit by the hints given throughout the story, yet logically that person couldn't be whodunit. The murderer would have had to know something no one else knew and be at two places at once during at least two murders. I expected the author to explain these problems away, but they never were explained.
[VAGUE SPOILER] Whodunit would have had to know when the target, Braceton, would be coming to Hatfield House. However, no one at Hatfield House expected him. He was running late by his own schedule. Even if someone knew when he was coming, they'd have to wait for him for some time and hope their absence wasn't noticed. Whodunit was then closely pursued into the house after the murder. When you know who the murderer is, though, this seems impossible for whodunit to pull off, or at least with no one noticing anything.[END SPOILER]
There was no sex. There was one use of "modern" bad language and a minor amount of swearing using God's body parts (teeth, toe, wounds, blood). Overall, I'd recommend this as a historical novel to Queen Elizabeth fans, but not as a mystery.
I received this book as a review copy from the publisher.
However, there were some serious flaws with the mystery. I could quickly guess who was intended to be whodunit by the hints given throughout the story, yet logically that person couldn't be whodunit. The murderer would have had to know something no one else knew and be at two places at once during at least two murders. I expected the author to explain these problems away, but they never were explained.
[VAGUE SPOILER] Whodunit would have had to know when the target, Braceton, would be coming to Hatfield House. However, no one at Hatfield House expected him. He was running late by his own schedule. Even if someone knew when he was coming, they'd have to wait for him for some time and hope their absence wasn't noticed. Whodunit was then closely pursued into the house after the murder. When you know who the murderer is, though, this seems impossible for whodunit to pull off, or at least with no one noticing anything.[END SPOILER]
There was no sex. There was one use of "modern" bad language and a minor amount of swearing using God's body parts (teeth, toe, wounds, blood). Overall, I'd recommend this as a historical novel to Queen Elizabeth fans, but not as a mystery.
I received this book as a review copy from the publisher.
October 23, 2013
Set in the time period of 1558 and relating to Princess Elizabeth and her loyal followers albeit more of a murder mystery than factual piece.
Their were a great many flaws within the mystery but as I found the read enjoyable within itself I preferred to ignore the obvious faux pas. I enjoyed reading a story that heaven's behold had no intense sexual interludes but then this is the future "virgin Queen" we are reading about.
The pressure and constant fear of death from the forces of Queen Mary were very real and translated well into the tale as was the importance of the trust between Elizabeth and her staff.
The mystery itself- although pretty easy to solve if one read between the lines, was left to be solved by the princess' musician Kate who was employed to seek out gossip and answers before blame is placed upon the princess possibly costing her life.
Like most murder mysteries the bodies pile up amd Kate's interaction with all (especially Elizabeth) is seamless and interesting. All in all quite an easy read with sadly a great deal of predictability but for a mystery that is easy on the brain this book does well.
**I received this book as a review copy from the publisher
Their were a great many flaws within the mystery but as I found the read enjoyable within itself I preferred to ignore the obvious faux pas. I enjoyed reading a story that heaven's behold had no intense sexual interludes but then this is the future "virgin Queen" we are reading about.
The pressure and constant fear of death from the forces of Queen Mary were very real and translated well into the tale as was the importance of the trust between Elizabeth and her staff.
The mystery itself- although pretty easy to solve if one read between the lines, was left to be solved by the princess' musician Kate who was employed to seek out gossip and answers before blame is placed upon the princess possibly costing her life.
Like most murder mysteries the bodies pile up amd Kate's interaction with all (especially Elizabeth) is seamless and interesting. All in all quite an easy read with sadly a great deal of predictability but for a mystery that is easy on the brain this book does well.
**I received this book as a review copy from the publisher
June 14, 2015
This is a new mystery series that takes place during the Tudor reign. Kate Haywood loves music, as does her father, who once played for Catherine Parr, one of Henry' wives. Elizabeth is at Hatfield being watched over by the Popes. Mary is on the throne, and protestants, are being persecuted. Their lands stolen, and their church's burned. Elizabeth is surrounded by murder, and mystery. Strange events are happening all around her, so she turns to Kate for help. She has some friends that also help her. This promises to be a very good series. I enjoyed it, and plan to read more by this author.
October 18, 2015
Good debut for a series set just before Elizabeth I ascends to the throne. The novel is steeped in the religious intrigues as Britain went from Protestant to Catholic and back again. Kate Haywood is a good series heroine, daughter of the head musician to Princess's Elizabeth, loyal to the princess and to seeking the truth. She is attracted to both a young lawyer and a young actor, but puts romance in the background to help solve several murders that seem related back to the execution of Lady Jane Grey.
November 17, 2021
I'm not going to go super in-depth because it was a school book. It started out good and I think I would have liked it more had I not been forced to read it. All I have to say is stan Elizabeth and she and Kate were lowkey a little fruity for each other. #ishipit
January 31, 2016
Entertaining, but I feel that the murderer could have been linked slightly more throughout!
October 22, 2017
This particular book is set at the end of Queen Mary's reign, before the ascension of her sister, Elizabeth, to the throne, but the plot actually begins - and ends - with the beheading of Lady Jane Grey. Lady Jane's death is masterfully woven into the fabric of the story, as is Mary's rampant Catholicism. The trepidation and wariness of living in such desperate times shines through.
Kate is an interesting heroine. She is all of 18, but is not precocious. She does impulsive things, but to an end; if she hadn't risked her head a couple of times, she never would've gotten close to solving the mystery. The queen's man is merely the last in a series of gruesome deaths, each one starker and more crazed than the first. Granted, the queen's man deserved to die because he was seriously vile, but still. I'd actually forgotten that he was supposed to die until he actually did.
The mystery is a good one - I had absolutely no idea whodunit until it was revealed, and even then my jaw dropped. There are lots of red herrings that you only see after the fact because each event is used to develop the various characters, historical and fictional alike. There is the faint gleaming of a romantic triangle which ends rather abruptly at the end of the book, but which I sense will return later in the series.
The writing is very engaging; this turned into one of those books that I could not put down during my lunch hours this week, and I finally gave in and finished it this evening. The story flows easily even in the midst of its twists and turns, and several times I found myself caught off guard by a sudden action that threw a wrench into things. If anything, my only complaint is that the loose ends of the mystery lingered too long without explanation, but that could very well be my own bias in not being able to follow the clues :P
The author is just as much of a research nerd as I am, and the historical aspect was very well done. At various times I wanted to run back to my English history books and re-read about this time period, such was how I was drawn into her world.
I really enjoyed this book, and have checked out the next two in the series from the library.
Kate is an interesting heroine. She is all of 18, but is not precocious. She does impulsive things, but to an end; if she hadn't risked her head a couple of times, she never would've gotten close to solving the mystery. The queen's man is merely the last in a series of gruesome deaths, each one starker and more crazed than the first. Granted, the queen's man deserved to die because he was seriously vile, but still. I'd actually forgotten that he was supposed to die until he actually did.
The mystery is a good one - I had absolutely no idea whodunit until it was revealed, and even then my jaw dropped. There are lots of red herrings that you only see after the fact because each event is used to develop the various characters, historical and fictional alike. There is the faint gleaming of a romantic triangle which ends rather abruptly at the end of the book, but which I sense will return later in the series.
The writing is very engaging; this turned into one of those books that I could not put down during my lunch hours this week, and I finally gave in and finished it this evening. The story flows easily even in the midst of its twists and turns, and several times I found myself caught off guard by a sudden action that threw a wrench into things. If anything, my only complaint is that the loose ends of the mystery lingered too long without explanation, but that could very well be my own bias in not being able to follow the clues :P
The author is just as much of a research nerd as I am, and the historical aspect was very well done. At various times I wanted to run back to my English history books and re-read about this time period, such was how I was drawn into her world.
I really enjoyed this book, and have checked out the next two in the series from the library.
March 29, 2019
First in the Series:
Prologue is the beheading of Queen Jane Grey, which is a clue as to what is going on.
As Queen Mary is dying, one of her Examiners, Lord Braceton, has come to Hatfield House in the late of night seeking proof of heresy & treason by Princess Elizabeth. While approaching Hatfield in the nearby woods, Braceton's servant, Wat, has been fatally shot w/ an arrow.
Elizabeth assigns her Lute player, Kate to investigate the murder and intent of Braceton, who comes across the body of the young mute that lived at Hatfield with his throat slashed on the altar steps of the local church.
Braceton, an angry spiteful man, who hates Elizabeth, upends the hose, but is unable to find any signs of treason.
Braceton had also been to two other houses seeking the same; for whatever evidence might have been found would have turned over ownership of those estates to Braceton rather than Queen Mary.
When Kate takes an arrow to her shoulder while wearing Elizabeth's red cloak & Braceton is also found dead of an arrow things look quite out of control, until Kate puts all the pieces of the puzzle together pointing to someone within Elizabeth's household.
I liked the characters & the story, it held my interest and was a fast read.
Prologue is the beheading of Queen Jane Grey, which is a clue as to what is going on.
As Queen Mary is dying, one of her Examiners, Lord Braceton, has come to Hatfield House in the late of night seeking proof of heresy & treason by Princess Elizabeth. While approaching Hatfield in the nearby woods, Braceton's servant, Wat, has been fatally shot w/ an arrow.
Elizabeth assigns her Lute player, Kate to investigate the murder and intent of Braceton, who comes across the body of the young mute that lived at Hatfield with his throat slashed on the altar steps of the local church.
Braceton, an angry spiteful man, who hates Elizabeth, upends the hose, but is unable to find any signs of treason.
Braceton had also been to two other houses seeking the same; for whatever evidence might have been found would have turned over ownership of those estates to Braceton rather than Queen Mary.
When Kate takes an arrow to her shoulder while wearing Elizabeth's red cloak & Braceton is also found dead of an arrow things look quite out of control, until Kate puts all the pieces of the puzzle together pointing to someone within Elizabeth's household.
I liked the characters & the story, it held my interest and was a fast read.
February 20, 2024
A cozy that kept me guessing (or second guessing my guesses!) pretty much until the end! This borrows a number of historical figures, such as the future Elizabeth I, Queen Mary, Lady Jane Grey and others, but all are interwoven with the writer's own characters and this allows a plot (in more ways than one) to form.
Kate Haywood and her father Matthew are musicians for the Princess Elizabeth, currently under light house arrest at Hatfield House as her half sister is on the throne, the lives of all at the House are thrown into disarray when an envoy from the Queen arrives, and he arrives VERY unhappy as his servant was killed not far from the house, he promptly turns the house upside down to try and find something, anything, that will prove the household are not loyal Catholics, everyone is disconcerted but knows there is nothing to find. But then there is another death, and this one sets Lord Braceton on edge even more. We then add in a troupe of players, a lawyer's assistant, the arrest for heresy of Kate's father, and we discover that she will do anything to help her Princess and her ill father.
Well worth a read and I will continue the series!
Kate Haywood and her father Matthew are musicians for the Princess Elizabeth, currently under light house arrest at Hatfield House as her half sister is on the throne, the lives of all at the House are thrown into disarray when an envoy from the Queen arrives, and he arrives VERY unhappy as his servant was killed not far from the house, he promptly turns the house upside down to try and find something, anything, that will prove the household are not loyal Catholics, everyone is disconcerted but knows there is nothing to find. But then there is another death, and this one sets Lord Braceton on edge even more. We then add in a troupe of players, a lawyer's assistant, the arrest for heresy of Kate's father, and we discover that she will do anything to help her Princess and her ill father.
Well worth a read and I will continue the series!
May 11, 2017
I enjoyed this book. It was a good story, with well-crafted characters and interesting events.
I liked the character of Kate. I thought she made for a good mystery-solver. She was smart and resourceful, and for the most part didn't do dumb stuff [which always annoys me in mysteries]. She seemed a bit naive, but I think, given the time, that is probably to be expected.
The story itself, while fairly depressing, is based on facts, and was conceived and delivered in an engaging way. It drew me in and kept me reading to find out who the killer was.
This is a series, and although I can't say this first book blew me away, I did enjoy it. If I didn't have something else ready to read and one of the books in this series was available from the library, I would pick it up. A good, solid read.
I liked the character of Kate. I thought she made for a good mystery-solver. She was smart and resourceful, and for the most part didn't do dumb stuff [which always annoys me in mysteries]. She seemed a bit naive, but I think, given the time, that is probably to be expected.
The story itself, while fairly depressing, is based on facts, and was conceived and delivered in an engaging way. It drew me in and kept me reading to find out who the killer was.
This is a series, and although I can't say this first book blew me away, I did enjoy it. If I didn't have something else ready to read and one of the books in this series was available from the library, I would pick it up. A good, solid read.
February 28, 2018
Pleasant light historical mystery. Sure there's some suspension of disbelief in accepting Kate as a detective, but hey, that's pretty par for the course in 'civilian sleuth' fare. The mystery isn't very tightly plotted or engrossing, but it's entertaining and Kate is a fun character.
More of a 3.5*, but I'm rounding it to 4 because I did really like Kate and Princess Elizabeth. I have the rest of the series checked out from the library, and am looking forward to seeing how Kate's life changes now that Elizabeth is Queen. I'm afraid there's going to be a love triangle, which I dread, but on the other hand Kate will be much less constrained in her sleuthing now that Elizabeth's household isn't under house arrest, which will be great.
More of a 3.5*, but I'm rounding it to 4 because I did really like Kate and Princess Elizabeth. I have the rest of the series checked out from the library, and am looking forward to seeing how Kate's life changes now that Elizabeth is Queen. I'm afraid there's going to be a love triangle, which I dread, but on the other hand Kate will be much less constrained in her sleuthing now that Elizabeth's household isn't under house arrest, which will be great.
December 31, 2024
This book was a slow start--some of the language felt a little too old to interest me. Apparently, my love of English countryside murders only stretches back through the modern era. There were too many characters and manor house names for me to keep track of, and I felt at a loss sometimes because I don't know much about the history of of England during the reign of Mary I. Despite all the negatives, the story grew on me and I enjoyed the ending. I would try one more book in the series to see if I like it better now that I'm familiar with the main characters.
July 28, 2020
This is a really good historical mystery. I have recently immersed myself in the world of the Tudors and decided that a murder mystery based in the period would be a welcome diversion from the actual events and characters of the time. It proved to be such a welcome diversion that I hardly put the book down. Although the plot isn't the most complicated that I have ever read, it was certainly a thoroughly entertaining read.
March 11, 2024
I enjoyed this historical mystery and the fact that a female musician was the main character. Kate is much more than a simple musician. She is caring and clever and loyal. I really enjoyed the relationship she has with Princess Elizabeth. The story started a bit slow for me, but I was intrigued and kept reading. I’m sure glad that I pushed through the start because it kept getting better and better. I will definitely be continuing this series.
September 1, 2018
Great Period Needed Editing
This is a great setting and loved the concept of a murder mystery in Elizabeth I’s exile home. But it should have been much more tightly edited. There were redundant phrases that made the book easy to put down. I almost gave up on it more than once. I’m glad I kept reading but I hope if she writes another her editor sharpens her quill!
This is a great setting and loved the concept of a murder mystery in Elizabeth I’s exile home. But it should have been much more tightly edited. There were redundant phrases that made the book easy to put down. I almost gave up on it more than once. I’m glad I kept reading but I hope if she writes another her editor sharpens her quill!
May 14, 2017
This was a cute read. Loved the main character and the glimpse into the past. Not knowing much about Tudor history, there were a few points that I found confusing, but to me it wasn't enough to stop me from enjoying the story.
July 11, 2018
While the writing is sufficient and the mystery interesting enough, the period details felt unfinished, and I didn't find myself engaging with the heroine. This novel is an entertaining read, but it didn't give me enough to want to look into the rest of the series.
June 19, 2019
Entertaining cozy mystery set in the Elizabethan Tudor times. Having read several other historical novels about Queen Elizabeth I thought the author’s attention to the setting was well done. The mystery itself was lacking a bit. It’s a good start to a series.
October 4, 2021
I liked the concept of this novel better than the storytelling, hard going in some places and several paragraphs could have been omitted to streamline the story, but if I picked it up would probably read again
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