Captive Queen: The Decrypted History of Mary, Queen of Scots

by Dr Jade Scott

A fascinating and revealing new biography of Mary Queen of Scots, drawing on dozens of newly decoded letters.

For almost two decades before her execution at Fotheringhay Castle in 1587, Mary Queen of Scots was a prisoner. From her chambers, she wrote countless letters, many encrypted using complex ciphers to prevent her communications from being intercepted. In this way, she used language to exert her will and her influence, even while incarcerated.

More than 400 years after her death, fifty-seven of these encoded letters were unearthed in a French archive and decoded, a discovery described by experts as a ‘literary and historical sensation’ and the most important new find on Mary for more than a century.

In Captive The Decrypted History of Mary, Queen of Scots , Jade Scott, a historian and expert on Mary’s correspondence, draws on these ground-breaking letters to paint a vivid portrait of one of history’s most compelling figures. She interrogates Mary’s complex relationships with friends and enemies throughout her imprisonment, illuminating her strategic expertise and bringing Mary’s captivity to life like never before, in her own words.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography, Audiobook, Tudor Period, Scotland, Historical

304 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 24, 2024

Reviews

[Orsolya · Rating 3 out of 5]

In 2021, Tudor and Stuart England historians were rocked by the discovery of never-before seen letters written by Mary, Queen of Scots in cipher and folded into secrecy using the method of ‘letter-locking’. These letters were extensively decrypted well into 2023 and revealed new information concerning the Thockmorton and Babington plots from the perspective of the captive queen, herself. The academic world was captivated by this new entryway into the psyche of Mary, Queen of Scots. Historian Jade Scott poured over these newly-discovered letters (and of hundreds of others) to piece together a new image of Mary’s time in captivity under Queen Elizabeth of England and highlights this potentially earth-shattering portrait in, “Captive Queen: The Decrypted History of Mary, Queen of Scots”.

The introduction to “Captive Queen” sets up a compelling invite to readers discussing these unearthed letters, ciphers and folding strategies; resulting in readers expecting a journalistic, sleuth-like approach to the text that would do nothing less than blow minds. Are minds blown? Short answer: no. “Captive Queen” quickly turns into a biography of Mary, Queen of Scots (a vague one, at that) with very little new information rather than an expose surrounding these letter-locked writings. I was more blown away by articles and blog posts at the time of discovery. The letters are barely mentioned and seem to play a back-burner role.

Each chapter of “Captive Queen” begins with a fictional narrative introduction that is written well with floral descriptions (Scott could pen an exceptional historical fiction novel on the time period); but this feels very out of place and unnecessary in an academic text. There is absolutely no reason for this and it could be omitted without being noticed as a loss. On the other hand, each section is broken by a cipher symbol marker which is a lovely and unique touch.

Scott’s debate regarding The Casket Letters is quite entrancing using a very thorough, fine-picked comb but this still doesn’t feature any new findings that expert readers would find surprising. Scott does include some interesting side tangents that generally receive less attention elsewhere such as Lady Anne Percy (Thomas Percy, Duke of Northumberland’s wife) who was secretly a mover-and-shaker behind rebellions set forth to free Mary. Lady Anne was a very formidable woman and certainly encourages readers to investigate her life, further.

“Captive Queen” seems to suffer from a disconnect from Mary which is quite detrimental to the overall text. None of Mary’s intrigue, psyche, personality or emotions jumps from the pages resulting in Scott’s “Captive Queen” to lack any solid memorable attributes. The text also suffers from inconsistencies in chronology and thematically: Scott will dive deep into showcasing the plots and rebellions set forth on Mary’s behalf but then will spend pages on logistics such as Mary’s clothing, daily schedule, meals consumed, etc. Although this is not without its own interest; the overall flow is still disjointed and without a steady, natural current.

As Scott eases into the Thockmorton and Babington plots; “Captive Queen” picks up some of its slack and gains momentum. Scott reveals some intricate threads and mentions “new letters” that bring an original macro and micro view to both the rebellions and to Mary’s captivity that aren’t as detailed in other history texts. “Captive Queen” rehabilitates Mary to the effect that it is understandable why she plotted against Queen Elizabeth and truly encourages an understanding of why Elizabeth was actually the “one in the wrong”. In this way, “Captive Queen” meets its aim of shattering the previously held notions and glass ceilings. Sadly, though, this is just a small section of “Captive Queen” and doesn’t entirely redeem Scott’s text.

“Captive Queen concludes somewhat uncharacteristically but does give a brief glimpse into her son, James, and his view of his mother and the course of events but this is hardly earth-shattering. Scott supplements “Captive Queen” with a section of photo plates and peppers the pages with images of Mary’s letters. A section of annotated notes, timeline and source list round out the piece.

“Captive Queen” is a reasonable attempt to bring to the forefront Mary’s letters but sadly, Scott is rather vague and there are better internet articles on the topic from recent years. Although “Captive Queen” is somewhat of a let-down; it is recommended for novice readers on the subject matter or fans of Mary, Queen of Scots looking for a refresher course.

[Nicola Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve always been interested in the Tudors and there’s always been a shroudy aspect of mystery when it comes to Mary and especially her twenty year stint in captivity.

With all the plots, the espionage, cryptic ciphers and hidden messages, you’d be forgiven for thinking this was a plot for an epic blockbuster. It’s such an intriguing era of history and I really enjoyed learning more during this time.

My previous knowledge was only slightly foundational so to build on the little I knew and flesh out my knowledge on the topic was great and it made for really interesting reading.

I also loved that at the start of each chapter, it expertly set the scene for what was outlined to come, as fiction before non fiction followed. It was a great way to begin each segment. It was really well written and in a compelling way and I got to be quite invested in everything that was going on.

A great read for any history buff. It was enlightening and brings the latest in some of her recently deciphered letters.

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

[Keely · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is focused on new letters that have been discovered from Mary, Queen of Scots. I had no idea another cache was discovered but I am happy that they were. The new letters are fascinating, answer a few questions and help us understand Mary even more. It's wonderful to get new research and answers. It has a main focus on the letters, rather than a breakdown of Mary's life as a whole, it fills in the narrative to go along with the letters but doesn't go deeper. Which is fine, as the new letters are the focus and not Mary's life in detail. If you're interested in the discovery of a cache of letters from Mary and what they say, then I reccomend this book. Utterly fascinating.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

This was really an exceptional book — find my full review here!

Thankyou to Pegasus Books for the finished copy.

[Audrey Ashbrook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Captive Queen: The Decrypted History of Mary, Queen of Scots by Jade Scott is a book that focused on Mary's years of imprisonment which followed her forced abdication in 1567 and ended in her execution in 1587. Using new and recently decrypted letters for the first time, Scott also explained in detail how letters, coded ciphers and secret mail trails were used by Mary and her followers whilst she was under surveillance and in captivity in England. 

Mary, Queen of Scots is one of my most favorite women to learn about in history; alive during such a fascinating period of history, crowned Queen of Scotland at six days old, later Queen of France, and by all means next in line for Queen of England, such a multifaceted woman, cousin to Queen Elizabeth I, betrayed by nearly every person in her life, brave until the very end… she is absolutely captivating. 

I loved how this book went into detail about her ciphers, how her letters moved about to Spain, France and Scotland, and her network of those devoted to her. It was also interesting to learn about Queen Elizabeth's Secretary of State, Walsingham, and his own network of spies, and how he uncovered the different plots that aimed to end Elizabeth's reign and put Mary back rightfully on the throne of both Scotland and England. And the marriage plots! How Mary was going to marry either the Duke of Norfolk (before his execution) and Don Juan of Austria before his untimely death. So interesting. 

I also enjoyed Scott's attention to detail about Mary's life in captivity and where all she stayed in England.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captive Queen: The Decrypted History of Mary, Queen of Scots by Jade Scott is an excellent nonfiction that I really enjoyed.

For some reason I have a true fascination specifically with Mary Queen of Scots…for many years now. I have read nonfiction and historical fiction and several books within that collection have been some of my true favorites. I will add this one to that list.

This book really honed in on her life and happenings, big and little, during her time of incarceration especially through many of the letters and correspondence that filtered to and from her.

The author presents a well-researched nonfiction that helps shed light on another facet of Queen Mary that helps better define who she was as a Queen and a woman.

5/5 stars

Thank you EW and Michael O'Mara Limited | Michael O'Mara for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 10/24/24.

[Rosie Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a new biography of Mary Queen Of Scots while she’s captivity at Fotheringhay Castle A fascinating book and totally engaging

[Clare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tudor England has always been a favourite subject of mine, and then on to the Elizabethan period as well. It’s always interested me how Elizabeth I treated her cousin, Mary Queen of Scots, especially after I visited Carlisle Castle and saw some of the displays that explained her captivity there. It may have only been a few weeks out of the 19 years that she was held captive, and I was curious about the rest of those years.

Captive Queen explains a lot of Mary’s life and also tells of how she got to the point of her imprisonment. So much information was gleaned from the encrypted letters that she sent to, and received from, her supporters. When they were decrypted, after their discovery in a French archive, they answered a lot of questions.

Jade Scott uses this information to paint a really interesting picture of Mary’s captivity, and just how involved she was in the various plots to release her and put her on the English throne. I mean, who can blame her?! She was imprisoned in some awful places - regardless of the fact that she was in castles or stately homes.

I rather enjoyed the little fictional chapter headers. They made it feel more personal, and ideal for people like me who don’t always enjoy dry, academic historical writing. This is absolutely not that - I whizzed through this book, thoroughly enjoying it.

So, if you enjoy history and want to find out more about Mary, Queen of Scots, you may well enjoy this too.

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do enjoy English history books and while I cannot always remember the dates and all the names I do find them interesting and engaging. Non-fiction history books have become more accessible in my opinion over recent years and this author has done a fabulous job of breathing life into the figure of Mary, Queen of Scots.

Mary Stuart, when she was only 6 days old, became known as Mary, Queen of Scots, or Queen Mary I after the death of her father James V. She was also claimed the Queen's Consort of France when she married Francis II of France when she was 15 years old. She went on to have another two husbands and gave birth to her only child James VI.

Mary was born in 1542 and was executed in 1587 by Elizabeth I. Both women had a just claim to the English Crown, Mary being the great-granddaughter of Henry II but Elizabeth was the daughter of Henry VIII. Mary was kept captive for 18 years.

During the book, the author charts the fall of Mary, the way she was betrayed, how she lived during the 18 years of captivity and how those around her either rallied to her aid or thwarted all attempts to release Mary.

Mary had been brought up as a Catholic. This is a period of history when Catholicism was not in favour after Henry VIII needed to divorce, the rise of Protestantism and also of Puritans. With politics, religion, power, crowns, affiliations, treaties, conspiracy and a whole load of spies, there is no wonder Mary became fraught.

The author does show the plight of Mary, but while she was kept imprisoned in conditions she would not have been used to, she was treated with respect afforded to her position and title. Her maids, Butlers, secretaries, grooms and other staff were vast, her apartments were plush with her furnishings. Over time this does change.

The author gives, I think quite a balanced view of Mary and her life. There are samples of the codes that were used in her correspondence, these have been translated over time and give a chance for us to see what plights and troubles Mary had to deal with.

This is a fascinating account of a Monarch, one who was beheaded by her cousin and spent a vast amount of her life as a captive. I did feel for Mary and the way she was treated, but I also think if I read an account of Elizabeth I would also feel for her as well.

If you are a fan of English history or want to delve a little deeper into Mary, Queen of Scots then this is a very accessible and manageable book to read. Not dry or dusty, but instead reads like a story or narrative rather than reeling out loads of facts, figures and names. Fabulous book about a remarkable figure and one I would definitely recommend.

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most people with an interest in history are familiar with the name Mary, Queen of Scots. The tragic tale of the Scottish Queen draws people in. How could it not? She is a highly controversial historical figure. One that people seem to loathe, or love - Mary is seen as either a terrible Queen who let her heart rule, or, she is viewed as a doomed Queen, a victim of the religious and political climate of sixteenth century Scotland. With an already abundant number of books on Mary, it would seem an impossible feat to take a fresh approach on the Queen. Impossible as it might seem, this is exactly what Dr. Jade Scott has achieved in her recent book Captive Queen: The Decrypted History of Mary, Queen of Scots.

In 1568, at the age of 25, Mary fled to England to seek support from her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I. This move however, resulted in Mary being kept captive for almost twenty years before her execution at Fotheringhay Castle in 1587. During her imprisonment, Mary's only means of communication with the outside world was through letter-writing. As Mary sought support from friends and foreign allies to secure her release she had to be innovative in how she would achieve such communication, even resorting to hiding her letters in barrels of wine. For added security, she would also write letters in cipher. For centuries, Mary's letters have been scrutinised to prove her innocence, or her guilt. But, as Mary herself warned "People may make things appear different from what they were" (Scott, 2024, p. 24).

Remarkably, in recent years, a team of scholars uncovered, and deciphered, a collection of fifty-seven letters written by Mary. Sitting in the archives in France, these letters have been waiting to be discovered; to add more pieces to the puzzle. According to Dr Scott, the letters date from 1578 until 1584, at which time Mary was being held captive in England. As such, by drawing on extant evidence, and these newly discovered letters, Scott eloquently tells the story of Mary's time in England. Captive Queen highlights the desperation of Mary's situation, and how she worked tirelessly to try and secure her release. In Captive Queen, readers are brought into Mary's personal world, rather than viewing it from afar. Captive Queen: The Decrypted History of Mary, Queen of Scots by Dr Jade Scott is an exceptionally brilliant biography of Mary's captive life in England and one that I highly recommend adding to your collection of history books.

[Matt McCormick · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been reading a lot of Elizabethan/Jacobean history mostly centered around Shakespeare and Marlowe so I was interested in learning more about the other figures of the period. I heard Jade Scott on a podcast created by the Folger Library and found her to be articulate, knowledgeable and passionate about her study of the Queen of the Scotts. Unfortunately, Captive Queen failed to impress.

I understand that the premise of Captive Queen is Mary’s captivity and her communications during that period. However, the book’s lack of historical grounding is not merely frustrating; it ultimately detracts from understanding Mary in her full political and personal complexity. Essential questions receive only cursory attention: why Mary was heir to the Scottish throne, how she became the wife of the French dauphin, and how she financed her long captivity. These matters are mentioned in passing—such as the brief reference to her French land income—but without sufficient depth to allow the reader to appreciate Mary in the broader dynastic and geopolitical context that I believe Scott intends to illuminate.

This absence of context also affects the portrayal of Mary’s character. In Scott’s podcast, Mary emerges as strong, intelligent, and resolute. In the book, by contrast, she often appears vacillating. Her innate sense of entitlement dominates the narrative, giving the impression that she was more concerned with the discomforts and indignities of imprisonment than with pursuing a practical (rather than dramatic) political resolution to her predicament. She comes across as strikingly naïve. Is it credible that she would remain so invested in the speculative ambition of ascending the English throne when she could not sustain her fragile authority in Scotland itself? As a judge of political realities and of character, this portrayal of Mary is unconvincing.

It may be that I began in the wrong place. Reading John Guy’s Queen of the Scots first might have provided a firmer foundation. Guy shares Jade Scott’s view of Mary as an independent woman, equal to Elizabeth in intelligence and strength. Without that broader historical framing, Captive Queen risks narrowing rather than deepening our understanding of one of early modern Europe’s most complex and contested monarchs.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

#English and British Monarchs Tudor - Windsor challenge hosted by @aejordan83 on StoryGraph

Luckily, my library had a hard copy of this book available to read.

I will say that I found the beginning of this book a little slow. It could have been my mood, the fact that the first few chapters reviewed parts of Mary's life are well detailed in other works, or a combination of the two. However, the last two-thirds of the book gripped my attention.

Scott does an excellent job of vividly detailing Mary's captivity in England. Although I read about this period quite a lot, I never really comprehended how boring and unpredictable Mary's life was in captivity. I own a copy of Embroidering Her Truth by Clare Hunter, but unfortunately, it is still on my to-be-read pile. However, I knew she spent most of her time embroidering because she was not allowed outside. The extent of the restrictions placed on just how little activity Mary partook in never really hit home before. The way that Mary was confined for nearly half of her life because of Anglo-Scottish politics is truly heartbreaking.

I also enjoyed how Scott integrated Mary's life with the details of the men who led various rebellions in her name. I had known that Norfolk was executed for consorting with Mary, but I did not realize that he was involved in two attempts to free her.

The discussions of the elaborate lengths Mary and her supporters had to go to to communicate were also truly wild. In some ways, I wonder how much the treatment of Katherine of Aragon was used as a template for dealing with Mary. There is a great deal of overlap in narrowing the number of people she was able to have around her to smaller and smaller amounts until her execution.

This is a great book for lovers of Mary, Queen of Scots and those interested in the politics of the Early Modern Period. Scott wove together a beautiful, interesting, and informative book focused on the final years of Mary's life.

Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Classism
Moderate: Infidelity, Miscarriage, Kidnapping, Pregnancy
Minor: Rape, Sexual violence

[Daphne Sharpe · Rating 5 out of 5]

That opening paragraph was enough for me, I would love to see an authentic letter signed Marie Stuart and the coded letters to friends and those she was asking for help from, oh yes, my kind of dreamscapes!
I read my first book about this tragic Queen when I was 11 years old, and fell in love with this determined and strong willed woman. I hoped this book would increase my knowledge, but I was so disappointed that the items I wanted to see, photographs of documents, examples of cyphers and personal letters to her son and friends both at home and abroad were so badly formatted and the incomplete photographs that spread over two or three pages, were rendered almost impossible to read. My copy had no dates included throughout, luckily, thanks to my growing collection of books about Marie Stuart, they were easy to find, and I am sure that all will be amended in the final copy, which I will have to buy.
I loved the descriptions of the many unusual ways to seal an envelope, especially the spiral lock, sounds like an early form of origami.
I always thought the Casket letters were suspect, otherwise they would have been produced at her trial.
She endured twenty years of imprisonment in England, and since the early 1990’s, I have attempted to visit every place in France, Scotland and England, that is associated with this enduring figure, it has become a passion of mine and a long standing joke within my long suffering family. Having lived close to Fotheringhay, Stamford and having family living near Chatsworth House, that part has been rather enjoyable.
I will still highly recommend this book for the explanations about the failed intrigues that were attempted over the years of captivity, her sense of worth and her defiance even to the end game. Depending upon the readers bias, there will be either acceptance of guilt or protestations of innocence, but that’s what such a book like this should be about.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers Michael O’ Mara Ltd, for my ARC, freely given in exchange for my honest review. I will leave reviews to Goodreads and Amazon UK upon publication. Five stars.

[Jaffareadstoo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve long held a fascination for the beleaguered Queen of Scots whose return to Scotland in 1561 heralded a new beginning only to have everything fall to pieces in just a few short years. Whilst the story of Mary Stuart’s fall from grace is widely documented this fresh look at the decrypted evidence from Mary’s letters, whilst imprisoned, certainly help to reshape her story. Covering the twenty years of Mary’s imprisonment, her constant struggle to gain support for her cause and her unjust incarceration, we begin to learn just how frantic were Mary’s efforts to gain her freedom.

Mary scribed thousands of letters, most were cleverly encrypted, with devious codes, in order to make their contents inaccessible to prying eyes. Comprehensively researched and imaginatively written, this showcases the author’s skill in bringing Mary’s troubled captivity to life, as well as documenting the surreptitious duplicity of Elizabeth I’s spymasters, this fascinating read gives a realistic insight into Mary state of mind whilst incarcerated in various strongholds in England. I especially enjoyed the small vignettes at the start of each chapter which give an intimate account of Mary’s thoughts and feelings which read like historical fiction. The detailed Dramatis Personae at the start of the book gives a who’s who of all the key players who played a role in Mary’s imprisonment, be they friends or enemies, and the colour illustrations help to place the biography within it’s specific timeframe.

The legacy of this troubled Queen of Scotland will never grow old as we continue to be fascinated with her life story and her relationship not just with, Elizabeth, her ‘sister quene’ but also with her supporters who wanted her restored to her throne and equally, those who were just as determined to keep Mary, Queen of Scots strictly under the control of her English gaolers.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Focused on the years of Mary's imprisonment in England, Captive Queen examines how connected Mary really was with the world outside castle walls. Scott examines Mary's remaining letters, included the ones that have recently been decoded. Following the letters' paths across countries and though mutiple hands, Scott shows how the web was woven to bring an end to the queen.

Mary, Queen of Scots has a reputation. Different representations of queenship converge in her person, despite efforts from all sides to flatten her into an easily digestible cypher. Raised in France to be a court decoration before being thrown back into the turbulance of Scotland, Mary's attempt at personal rule ended in failure. Escaping to England in the hopes of assistance, imprisoned for two decades, who wouldn't do anything to regain their freedom?

Scott doesn't pass judgement, but she does provide empathy. She lays out the cases for all sides, showing the complicated relationships between countries, religions, and monarchs - more intertwined than we generally give credit for today. Scotland, England, France, and Spain all had their own positions, helping and hindering through the years. The largest focus here is on the letters, on how they were written, for whom, how they were sealed and opened, how they were transported. Intended recipients versus who actually read them, and what they did or didn't add before sending them on.

The various plots Mary took part in centered on gaining her freedom from a council determined from the beginning to end the threat she posed. Reduced to house arrest, Mary had no choice but to rely on her letters to communicate with the outside world. Between her public communications and private cyphers, Mary kept herself abreast of world events and forced the rest of the world to continue acknowledging her existance.

[Lizzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of all the Tudors, Mary, Queen of Scots is one I am less familiar with. This particular book focuses on the encrypted letters sent during Mary’s captivity, including several that have only recently been discovered and decrypted.

I definitely felt like a Mary novice going into this book, which gave some context but did mostly focus on her years in captivity (as suggested in the title!) so I am looking forward to reading more about her to get a better idea of the big picture though. However, I did really enjoy delving into the various figures and schemes that dominated the final part of Mary’s life, particularly when the author was able to shed new light on familiar territory such as the Babington plot.

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The whole book was written in a really engaging way, and the author’s passion for the subject brought the whole thing to life. I also thought she struck the balance really well on defining Mary’s character. There were enough details that she didn’t feel removed from the here and now, without going into speculation or too much creativity.

I also really appreciated how much context she gave on the research itself, explaining the details of Tudor letter-writing practice, which really helped us understand the meaning of what Mary had written.

This is a welcome addition to any Tudor book collection, adding new information about one of the most famous political prisoners in British history.

I received a free copy for an honest review.

[Simon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Scott doesn't actually give you the complete decryptions, although there is more than enough to damn Mary as guilty of the charges brought against her. She supported the Babington Plot, part of which included the assassination of Elizabeth I in order to place the Queen of Scots on the English throne. There isn't anything really new here. Mary's defense, insofar as she mounted one, was that as an anointed Queen, she was not subject to English Parliamentary authority or even Elizabeth's. In her mind she felt justified in scheming for her release, in much the same way that Marie Antoinette didn't regard sending French military information to the Austrians as treasonous. We now know more than the Revolutionary tribunal that condemned her did: Marie certainly was sending secret letters to France's enemies. And Mary would have done anything to get out of her own incarceration.

This reads a bit like history lite, although that may not be entirely a fair criticism. After all, Mary had very little to do during the nearly two decades she spent as Elizabeth's captive except plot. She was denied a meaningful life of any kind, separated from her infant son and isolated from most men. Scott recognizes this. However, this also means Mary was primarily reactive to her situation. After the Norfolk execution, all she could do was write to her French relatives, and when they failed her, the Spanish. Any homegrown plots to free her had to first establish contact with Mary. Francis Walsingham's surveillance was so thorough that no plot went uncovered.

We need a new complete edition of Mary's letters.

[Vicuña · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a refreshingly different and insightful account of Mary Queen of Scots. Dr Jade Scott has decrypted numerous letters Mary wrote during her period of captivity as the basis for this book. I find the Tudor period fascinating. The machinations of the monarchy, part from Henry VIII onwards are unparalleled. At the heart of everything was fear of losing the crown and Henry’s successor, Elizabeth, spent her reign threatened by Mary’s rightful entitlement to the throne. At the behest of her numerous duplicitous advisors, she had her locked away and eventually signed her execution warrant.

It’s difficult to imagine what it must have been lime to spend most of one’s adult life incarcerated. Mary was articulate, intelligent and not without support and her letters give a unique insight into what her day to day life was like and the numerous attempts she made to escape her imprisonment and fate. It’s rich in period detail and adds a whole new dimension to both the political background, but more importantly to the person behind the name. I found parts of the narrative very moving and could sense her frustration and fear of her situation. There are many books about Mary; this is top of the list as one of the best.

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Newly discovered encrypted letters written by Mary, Queen of Scots are the basis for this new book. It gives new insights into the thoughts and daily routine of a woman who was imprisoned for 18 years.

During this time she was moved between properties and passed between jailers. Letters were her life line, but she knew they were always read by those imprisoning her. She and her supporters devised codes and alphabets.

Mary was born at Linlithgow Palace, to James V, King of Scots, and his French second wife, Marie de Guise. She was the only legitimate child of James to survive him. She was also the great-niece of Henry VIII of England, giving her a claim to the English throne, which was why Elizabeth I had her imprisoned.

Mary's life reads like a work of fiction. Her first husband was heir to the throne of France, Francis II. Their son James would become first ruler of both England and Scotland. Her second husband, Lord Darnley, was assassinated. Mired in controversy over a cover- up around his death, Mary made matters worse by marrying a man who had been implicated in Darnley's death, James Hepburn, Earl of Boswell.

This is a fascinating and very readable book, essential for those interested in Tudor and Scottish history.

[Penelope · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a riveting account of Mary, Queen of Scots, using letters she wrote that have recently been deciphered. The author uses these and other contemporary letters to write a story recounting the sad story of Mary's exploits and incarceration over the last 20 years of her life. Mary is portrayed as clever, determined, and wily - except in matters of the heart and marriage.
Well written and fascinating, this is an excellent addition to the many books about Mary, her relationships with Elizabeth her 'sister queen,' and the ways in which Mary and her scribes tried to evade interception by Elizabeth's network of spies. I was fascinated too by descriptions of how letters were sealed in different ways so that it could be spotted if they had been intercepted.
A recommended book for any who are also interested in the lives of these two Queens and the story of the hold one had over the other.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC to read.

[Peter Willoughby · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Tudor times is the time in British History which is the most remembered and liked by most English people.
Mary Queen of Scots is one of the most unfortunate monarchs of these times.
This book is enhanced by the knowledge discovered in several decrypted letters of Mary's found in a Paris vault.
As well as Mary's story, this book gives an excellent coverage of spying and covert operations between Mary and her followers and the English spymaster Walsingham.
This interface is what makes this book unmissable.
Thanks to the author for an enjoyable read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Rachel N · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic retelling of the story of Mary, Queen of Scots, using recently deciphered letters by and to her to fill out more details of her time in captivity. There is a huge amount of research by the author and it’s fleshed out with short introductions of fiction to each chapter imagining how life may have felt for her, which bring her to life more fully. It’s a fascinating read for anybody interested in her life and lays out clearly what can seem like a very complicated period of history. An excellent addition to the subject.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

[Mandie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always love the chance to delve into history either with historical fiction or with books like this one by Jade Scott. If I am honest, I knew very little about Mary, Queen of Scots before I read this book other than she was seen as a threat to Elizabeth 1 and after years of being held prisoner she was eventually beheaded so being able to gain a little insight into this time in history was too good to pass up.
Jade Scott has used recently decoded letters written by Mary to help show a slightly different perspective on what happened during the time that Mary was under arrest. These letters show her frustration and help give an insight into what she may or may not have been party to regarding attempts to free her and put her in place of Elizabeth as reigning monarch.
The start of the book gives a comprehensive list of all the people who came and went during this time and that was quite daunting to read but it also helped me to understand what their impact was in Mary’s life and role they played either in keeping her incarcerated or trying to free her. What is clear is that she was never sure who she could trust, and loyalty could turn quite quickly if your life was on the line. The lengths that both sides went to in order to hide and intercept communications were quite impressive. Elizabeth had some dedicated courtiers that would do absolutely anything to see her remain in power and by extension them, even if it meant falsifying information that would see innocent people put to death.
This is clearly a well-researched book, and Jade Scott has managed to present a clear picture of 16th Century England and done so in a way that is not prejudiced against any one side. There are pictures of some of the secret letters throughout the book and these add a little something extra. For anyone who loves history and wants to understand more about Mary, Queen of Scots then this may be a good place to start.

[Sarah Burton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mary Queen of Scots is most often mentioned in books as a side story to Elizabeth I so it is really interesting to read a book that has Mary as the central character. She had such a turbulent life and in hindsight made poor choices, but this is still the story of a young woman trying to stand her ground and fight for her rights in a period that was dominated by men.
Well researched and written, a m=good read for anyone inteterested in this period or history in general.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read Captive Queen.

[Jeff La · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I chose this book, I assumed that it would focus on the coded letters that were recently deciphered. There are parts of the book that refer to the coded letters, but most of the book is a history of Mary, Queen of Scots. I knew very little about her, so I learned a lot. If you are familiar with her history, you may be disappointed by the amount of new material. The book is well written and well researched. One of my favorite things about the book is that the author displays Mary’s coded symbols in each chapter as transitions between topics.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thoroughly well written and researched book that gives interesting and new insight into Mary Queen of Scots. This filled in a lot of gaps in my knowledge between the ‘big stories’ of Mary’s life. I found it quite engaging and relatively easy prose to read.

Thank you to the author, publisher & NetGalley for access to this arc, in return for an honest review.

[Rania Ioannou · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read plenty about the other players of that time, but never the story from Mary’s own perspective. Captive Queen offers a fascinating and illuminating look at her side of history. It’s refreshing to see such a well-known period through a different lens. A compelling and insightful read.

I was offered an ARC copy by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Captive Queen gives an informative view of the short life of Mary Queen of Scots.
We get to see how she spent her life and the letters she wrote. This book is very informative on a little known woman.

[Vivek Ramaswami · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyable. I didn't know anything about Mary Queen of Scots and the nearly 20 year imprisonment she endured during the reign of Queen Elizabeth. This was a fun, fairly quick read with plenty of intrigue, drama, and loyal characters.

[Paul Sarbaugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

One should consider this as the authoritative update for Antonia Fraser' biography of the subject. In its pages the reader is exposed to the latest research on Mary, Queen of Scots.I listened to this title on Hoopla Digital available through my local library. Highly recommended.