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Devil's Gambit:
London, 1540
King Henry VIII has been a widower for three years and agrees to strengthen ties with Protestant kingdoms by marrying a gentlewoman from the German court, Anne of Cleves. Not only does it begin unfavourably with Henry displeased with this new match, but the younger Maid of Honour Anne was allowed to bring with her from Germany has a secret, and soon it manifests itself into a murder that Will Somers, Henry's bawdy jester, must solve. But why the devil does the body keep disappearing and reappearing?
This is BOOK FOUR in the King's Fool Mysteries
King Henry VIII has been a widower for three years and agrees to strengthen ties with Protestant kingdoms by marrying a gentlewoman from the German court, Anne of Cleves. Not only does it begin unfavourably with Henry displeased with this new match, but the younger Maid of Honour Anne was allowed to bring with her from Germany has a secret, and soon it manifests itself into a murder that Will Somers, Henry's bawdy jester, must solve. But why the devil does the body keep disappearing and reappearing?
This is BOOK FOUR in the King's Fool Mysteries
- GenresHistorical Mystery
270 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 1, 2026
2 people are currently reading
11 people want to read
About the author
Jeri Westerson
51 books431 followersLos Angeles native JERI WESTERSON currently writes two new series: a Tudor mystery series, the King’s Fool Mysteries, with Henry VIII’s real court jester Will Somers as the sleuth and a Sherlockian pastiche series called An Irregular Detective Mystery, with one of Holmes’ former Baker Street Irregulars opening his own detective agency. She’s also written fifteen Crispin Guest Medieval Noir Mysteries, a series nominated for thirteen awards from the Agatha, to the Macavity, to the Shamus. She’s written several paranormal series (including a gaslamp-steampunk fantasy series), standalone historical novels, and had stories in several anthologies, the latest of which was included in SOUTH CENTRAL NOIR, an Akashic Noir anthology. She has served as president of the SoCal Chapter of Mystery Writers of America, president and vice president for two chapters of Sisters in Crime (Orange County and Los Angeles), and is also a founding member of the SoCal chapter of the Historical Novel Society. See JeriWesterson.com for discussion guides, book trailers, and more.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 2, 2026
Will treads a narrow path!
Once more King Henry VIII’s jester, Will Somers finds himself assisting a lady-in-waiting in a somewhat precarious situation.
Lady Margaret Loy has accompanied Anne of Cleeves from Germany to England hoping to marry one of Henry’s courtiers, Sir Francis Heron. His father, Lord Humphrey Heron won’t allow this unwelcome match. Margaret has no dowry to speak of, nothing to enhance the union. Margaret persuades Will to present the king with a document to sign stating Henry was in favor of the marriage. Henry refuses. Will goes to Lady Margaret’s rooms to give her the bad news, only to find matters have taken a turn for the worst. She’s found her courtier’s father in her rooms. He’s been strangled!
Margaret begs Will to help her hide the body. He reluctantly does.
Why didn’t Will leave well enough alone?!
Balancing his life between his King, Harry or rather Henry, depending on Henry’s mood, his wife Marion, his once lover Nick and a new lover, whilst keeping abreast of court politics should be enough to exhaust any mere mortal, but now add a murder investigation!
The story sinks into a quagmire of a disappearing body—twice! Will hunting for the real killer. all the while wondering where Henry was mysteriously disappearing to? Cromwell is slinking around in the background, nearly sunk, and an attractive guard makes an appearance.
The ear of the King and Queen are nothing new to Will. Queen Anne heeds Will’s advice in this mismatched marriage.
The Captain of the guard, Sir William agrees to Will continuing his investigations into the party who murdered Lord Heron, rather than torturing those he can.
Complex and enjoyable. The scene where Will’s love Nick asks for advice on how to woo his wife is both awkward and somewhat hilarious.
Another rousing Tudor tale from Westerson.
An Old London Press ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
Once more King Henry VIII’s jester, Will Somers finds himself assisting a lady-in-waiting in a somewhat precarious situation.
Lady Margaret Loy has accompanied Anne of Cleeves from Germany to England hoping to marry one of Henry’s courtiers, Sir Francis Heron. His father, Lord Humphrey Heron won’t allow this unwelcome match. Margaret has no dowry to speak of, nothing to enhance the union. Margaret persuades Will to present the king with a document to sign stating Henry was in favor of the marriage. Henry refuses. Will goes to Lady Margaret’s rooms to give her the bad news, only to find matters have taken a turn for the worst. She’s found her courtier’s father in her rooms. He’s been strangled!
Margaret begs Will to help her hide the body. He reluctantly does.
Why didn’t Will leave well enough alone?!
Balancing his life between his King, Harry or rather Henry, depending on Henry’s mood, his wife Marion, his once lover Nick and a new lover, whilst keeping abreast of court politics should be enough to exhaust any mere mortal, but now add a murder investigation!
The story sinks into a quagmire of a disappearing body—twice! Will hunting for the real killer. all the while wondering where Henry was mysteriously disappearing to? Cromwell is slinking around in the background, nearly sunk, and an attractive guard makes an appearance.
The ear of the King and Queen are nothing new to Will. Queen Anne heeds Will’s advice in this mismatched marriage.
The Captain of the guard, Sir William agrees to Will continuing his investigations into the party who murdered Lord Heron, rather than torturing those he can.
Complex and enjoyable. The scene where Will’s love Nick asks for advice on how to woo his wife is both awkward and somewhat hilarious.
Another rousing Tudor tale from Westerson.
An Old London Press ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
January 2, 2026
London, 1540 & Henry VIII is about to embark on his fourth marriage. He is to wed Anne of Cleves, but their initial meeting does not go well & Henry leaves in a sulk. Meanwhile, Henry's court jester, Will Somers, is experiencing some romantic upheavals of his own as he juggles a wife & his male lover who has also recently married.
On his part, Somers likes Anne of Cleves - more than Henry does certainly - & he is drawn into a secret involving one of her ladies that travelled with her from Germany. It's not long until this secret produces a dead body & Somers is once again asked to investigate.
This reminded me of the type of films that used to be called bedroom farces: absurd situations, sexual shenanigans, & almost slapstick style comedy. To be fair it mostly worked: the introduction of the cheeky monkey now that Nosewise the dog is old, the disappearing dead body, & Will Somers triangulating his love life between his wife, his lover, & a new prospect. I will say that for me, the focus was on the romantic/sexual side of things too much & the mystery suffered for it.
Summary:
Plot: Good but the romantic entanglements got in the way of the mystery.
Writing Style: Author writes well & character voices & setting feels authentic.
Enjoyment Level: Would have been higher if not for the aforementioned romantic aspects.
Overall Rating: 3.5 stars (rounded down)
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Old London Press, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
On his part, Somers likes Anne of Cleves - more than Henry does certainly - & he is drawn into a secret involving one of her ladies that travelled with her from Germany. It's not long until this secret produces a dead body & Somers is once again asked to investigate.
This reminded me of the type of films that used to be called bedroom farces: absurd situations, sexual shenanigans, & almost slapstick style comedy. To be fair it mostly worked: the introduction of the cheeky monkey now that Nosewise the dog is old, the disappearing dead body, & Will Somers triangulating his love life between his wife, his lover, & a new prospect. I will say that for me, the focus was on the romantic/sexual side of things too much & the mystery suffered for it.
Summary:
Plot: Good but the romantic entanglements got in the way of the mystery.
Writing Style: Author writes well & character voices & setting feels authentic.
Enjoyment Level: Would have been higher if not for the aforementioned romantic aspects.
Overall Rating: 3.5 stars (rounded down)
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Old London Press, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
December 8, 2025
This was the first book of this series that I read. I did not feel like I missed anything essential for this story. I was expecting a mystery/who-dunnit type of book, so I was surprised by the (light) romance and general cozyness of it. Somewhere around the middle this kind of distracted me from the mystery and made it a bit less interesting to continue, however the ending and the culprit did surprise me.
December 2, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this fourth installment of Jeri Westerson’s Kings Fool Mysteries series. Set at the court of Henry VIII and featuring Will Somers, the real King’s very real court jester, the story follows the mystery of who murdered one of the king’s courtiers, with subplot involving Henry’s fourth wife, Anne of Cleves.
I always enjoy historical novels that reimagine the lives of real historical figures. Will Somers offers fertile ground for the imagination, as little is known about the real man. As Westerson mentions in her author’s note, he appears in the background of a famous painting of Henry and his family, where Will has a monkey perched on his shoulder. This monkey, whom the author has named Goodefellow, plays a prominent role in the story.
Irreverent and sometimes bawdy humor contrasts with the darker themes of the murder mystery storyline. There are some truly dysfunctional family relationships here. It also depicts Will’s own complicated love life—his relationship with his adored wife Marion and also the one he enjoys with a male lover. Along with the usual intrigues of 15th century court life, the real danger of discovery a homosexual faced at the time is another thread running through the story. It is perhaps the only breach of accepted social behavior that he cannot get away with if discovered.
For Will does get away with a lot. He alone can address King Henry as “Harry” and “Uncle” without fear of being beheaded (the king’s favorite mode of punishment). He is also a clever choice for sleuth.
In an amateur mystery, there is always the problem of how the sleuth gets access to important clues. In historical mysteries, servants are sometimes a good choice, as they can slip under the radar of their employers yet have access to all kinds of household information. They can go places a police detective cannot.
No one can overlook Will, however. As the court’s entertainer, he is often the focus of attention. Everyone recognizes him. But they also don’t take him seriously, and he has the advantage of being favored by the king. As a detective and protagonist, Will Somers doesn’t disappoint. He’s clever, compassionate, has a winning and fun-loving personality, and is also self-deprecating. But he has his flaws: he’s often led by his libido and makes risky decisions, putting himself in dangerous situations.
Altogether, Devil’s Gambit is an entertaining and fun read, and I’ve learned a lot more about life at the time of King Henry VIII. This novel should appeal to historical mystery lovers in general as well as fans of the Wolf Hall miniseries.
I always enjoy historical novels that reimagine the lives of real historical figures. Will Somers offers fertile ground for the imagination, as little is known about the real man. As Westerson mentions in her author’s note, he appears in the background of a famous painting of Henry and his family, where Will has a monkey perched on his shoulder. This monkey, whom the author has named Goodefellow, plays a prominent role in the story.
Irreverent and sometimes bawdy humor contrasts with the darker themes of the murder mystery storyline. There are some truly dysfunctional family relationships here. It also depicts Will’s own complicated love life—his relationship with his adored wife Marion and also the one he enjoys with a male lover. Along with the usual intrigues of 15th century court life, the real danger of discovery a homosexual faced at the time is another thread running through the story. It is perhaps the only breach of accepted social behavior that he cannot get away with if discovered.
For Will does get away with a lot. He alone can address King Henry as “Harry” and “Uncle” without fear of being beheaded (the king’s favorite mode of punishment). He is also a clever choice for sleuth.
In an amateur mystery, there is always the problem of how the sleuth gets access to important clues. In historical mysteries, servants are sometimes a good choice, as they can slip under the radar of their employers yet have access to all kinds of household information. They can go places a police detective cannot.
No one can overlook Will, however. As the court’s entertainer, he is often the focus of attention. Everyone recognizes him. But they also don’t take him seriously, and he has the advantage of being favored by the king. As a detective and protagonist, Will Somers doesn’t disappoint. He’s clever, compassionate, has a winning and fun-loving personality, and is also self-deprecating. But he has his flaws: he’s often led by his libido and makes risky decisions, putting himself in dangerous situations.
Altogether, Devil’s Gambit is an entertaining and fun read, and I’ve learned a lot more about life at the time of King Henry VIII. This novel should appeal to historical mystery lovers in general as well as fans of the Wolf Hall miniseries.
January 6, 2026
The year is 1540, and King Henry VIII is looking for a wife. He has been a widower for over three years, and his councilor Thomas Cromwell believes that a foreign alliance will be the best path forward for England, so he arranges a marriage between Henry and Anne of Cleves. In theory, it should be a good match, but it falls apart quickly. To top it all off, one of Anne of Cleves’ Maid of Honour brought her own drama to court that ended with a murder. Can Will Somers, the King’s Fool, navigate the drama at court while dealing with his own love life, or will the mystery of the missing body prove too much for him to handle? This is the premise of the next book in the King’s Fool Mysteries series called “Devil’s Gambit.”
I would like to thank Old London Press and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this novel. I enjoyed the previous books in this series that I have read, so I wanted to see what would happen next for Will Somers.
We begin with the disastrous first meeting between Henry VIII and Anne of Cleves before their wedding. Since Anne did not understand English or English customs, she was confused. Henry wanted to send her away immediately, but Will convinced Henry to become friends with Anne. At the same time, Will is introduced to Anne’s Maid of Honour, Margaret Loy, a German woman who has fallen in love with an English gentleman. However, the gentleman’s father does not approve of the match.
Things take a drastic turn when Lord Humphrey, the gentleman’s father, is found dead in Margaret’s chamber. The only person for the case is, of course, Henry’s jester Will Somers, but as soon as he starts the case, the body goes missing. To top it all off, Will is dealing with his relationships with his wife Marion and his lover Sir Nicholas Pachett Lord Hammond. Sir Nicholas has recently gotten married and is now asking Will for help in his marriage. Talk about an awkward situation. Will must choose who he truly loves, while giving relationship advice to the King, helping Anne navigate the English court, and solving a murder mystery.
While I did think the relationship exploits of Will Somers did take up a bit too much of this book and took away from the mystery itself, I think it was a decent novel. If you are a fan of the previous novels in the King’s Fool Mysteries, you will enjoy “Devil’s Gambit” by Jeri Westerson.
I would like to thank Old London Press and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this novel. I enjoyed the previous books in this series that I have read, so I wanted to see what would happen next for Will Somers.
We begin with the disastrous first meeting between Henry VIII and Anne of Cleves before their wedding. Since Anne did not understand English or English customs, she was confused. Henry wanted to send her away immediately, but Will convinced Henry to become friends with Anne. At the same time, Will is introduced to Anne’s Maid of Honour, Margaret Loy, a German woman who has fallen in love with an English gentleman. However, the gentleman’s father does not approve of the match.
Things take a drastic turn when Lord Humphrey, the gentleman’s father, is found dead in Margaret’s chamber. The only person for the case is, of course, Henry’s jester Will Somers, but as soon as he starts the case, the body goes missing. To top it all off, Will is dealing with his relationships with his wife Marion and his lover Sir Nicholas Pachett Lord Hammond. Sir Nicholas has recently gotten married and is now asking Will for help in his marriage. Talk about an awkward situation. Will must choose who he truly loves, while giving relationship advice to the King, helping Anne navigate the English court, and solving a murder mystery.
While I did think the relationship exploits of Will Somers did take up a bit too much of this book and took away from the mystery itself, I think it was a decent novel. If you are a fan of the previous novels in the King’s Fool Mysteries, you will enjoy “Devil’s Gambit” by Jeri Westerson.
January 10, 2026
The fourth book for the fourth wife of Henry VIII…
You can call me a bit slow if you wish, but even having read two of the three previous titles in Jeri Westerson’s King’s Fool series, it still took me until this current one to realize that there is going to be one book in the series for each of Henry VIII’s wives. Which was confirmed in the excellent author’s note at the end, so now both you and I know, even without reading the blurb, that this fourth book, Devil’s Gambit, is about Harry’s fourth wife, Anne of Cleves. Who was one of the lucky ones who didn’t die from her marriage.
Just like Westerson’s “medieval noir” Crispin Guest series, the King’s Fool books have a bit of grit to them. The times were perhaps harsher than generally today, and Westerson doesn’t pull punches as much as some. But the King’s Fool series also has, as you might expect, a good bit of laughter, and in Devil’s Gambit at least, not a small amount of pure farce. I ended up snorting out loud both at the “travelling body”, and at Will’s efforts to explain the facts of life (err, facts of sex) to both his (perhaps) former lover and the former lover’s new wife. Although not, thankfully at the same time.
The mystery side of things was also crisp, although there was a bit of foreshadowing that made me pretty sure I knew whodunnit before the end. But I still kept turning pages, both to confirm my guess, and perhaps even more, to enjoy Will’s wit, intelligence, and humanity. And as mentioned above, I loved the author’s note at the end. One minor issue is that, in all three of the books I’ve read so far, I’m always a little bit nervous that Will’s “extracurricular” activities will get him in serious trouble. Personally, I’d rather not have to worry about this, since it’s a bit of an irritant that I can’t scratch, but I can see how the tension adds to the plots. And hopefully the fact that the “real” Will Somers lived well into Queen Elizabeth’s reign means he won’t get into trouble in the fictional series either.
All-in-all, Devil’s Gambit was a pleasure to read, and I recommend it for anyone who has a thing for historical mysteries. And my thanks go to Old London Press and NetGalley for my review copy.
You can call me a bit slow if you wish, but even having read two of the three previous titles in Jeri Westerson’s King’s Fool series, it still took me until this current one to realize that there is going to be one book in the series for each of Henry VIII’s wives. Which was confirmed in the excellent author’s note at the end, so now both you and I know, even without reading the blurb, that this fourth book, Devil’s Gambit, is about Harry’s fourth wife, Anne of Cleves. Who was one of the lucky ones who didn’t die from her marriage.
Just like Westerson’s “medieval noir” Crispin Guest series, the King’s Fool books have a bit of grit to them. The times were perhaps harsher than generally today, and Westerson doesn’t pull punches as much as some. But the King’s Fool series also has, as you might expect, a good bit of laughter, and in Devil’s Gambit at least, not a small amount of pure farce. I ended up snorting out loud both at the “travelling body”, and at Will’s efforts to explain the facts of life (err, facts of sex) to both his (perhaps) former lover and the former lover’s new wife. Although not, thankfully at the same time.
The mystery side of things was also crisp, although there was a bit of foreshadowing that made me pretty sure I knew whodunnit before the end. But I still kept turning pages, both to confirm my guess, and perhaps even more, to enjoy Will’s wit, intelligence, and humanity. And as mentioned above, I loved the author’s note at the end. One minor issue is that, in all three of the books I’ve read so far, I’m always a little bit nervous that Will’s “extracurricular” activities will get him in serious trouble. Personally, I’d rather not have to worry about this, since it’s a bit of an irritant that I can’t scratch, but I can see how the tension adds to the plots. And hopefully the fact that the “real” Will Somers lived well into Queen Elizabeth’s reign means he won’t get into trouble in the fictional series either.
All-in-all, Devil’s Gambit was a pleasure to read, and I recommend it for anyone who has a thing for historical mysteries. And my thanks go to Old London Press and NetGalley for my review copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Generally speaking, this series is shaping up quite nicely. Well-rounded characters, good plot pacing, and a main protagonist that is thoroughly likeable. Even his wife has depth, and does not merely present as a semi-transparent presence whenever the main character goes home.
However, this being said, there is an element of grasping for qualification where the plot premise is concerned, which is by no means uncommon when a mystery story involves lay detectives. Had Will not coerced his lover into assisting him to move the 'body', none of the following events would have occured but the moving of the body was a gratuitous peice of folly, which no-one in their right mind would have undertaken. Furthermore, not only does Will put his own and his lover's liberty and perhaps life at risk, he then proceeds to coerce his wife into the same precarious situation, for no percievable gain whatsoever - plain folly. At one point Sommers declares "...what have I done involving myself in it...". One might have though he ought to have though of that before; we, the readers, have all been thinking exactly the same thing!
The above beiing simply an observation regarding the solidity of the plot, one criticism of the author is her choice of slipping her main character iinto dialect every now and again. Will's diction is perfect 'received pronounciation' for the most part, but occasionally we hear him slip into cockney dialect, such as 'me' instead of 'my', and 'm'self' instead of 'myself'. As this is not Will's regular speech pattern, it seems an unnecessary affectation..
Still, a very enjoyable story, and Will Sommers is a thoroughly heartwarming and pleasant character, making for a very warm and fuzzy read at times. A very pleasant change from the hard-bitten, cynical and generally unlikeable characters that seem to populate most current literature.
However, this being said, there is an element of grasping for qualification where the plot premise is concerned, which is by no means uncommon when a mystery story involves lay detectives. Had Will not coerced his lover into assisting him to move the 'body', none of the following events would have occured but the moving of the body was a gratuitous peice of folly, which no-one in their right mind would have undertaken. Furthermore, not only does Will put his own and his lover's liberty and perhaps life at risk, he then proceeds to coerce his wife into the same precarious situation, for no percievable gain whatsoever - plain folly. At one point Sommers declares "...what have I done involving myself in it...". One might have though he ought to have though of that before; we, the readers, have all been thinking exactly the same thing!
The above beiing simply an observation regarding the solidity of the plot, one criticism of the author is her choice of slipping her main character iinto dialect every now and again. Will's diction is perfect 'received pronounciation' for the most part, but occasionally we hear him slip into cockney dialect, such as 'me' instead of 'my', and 'm'self' instead of 'myself'. As this is not Will's regular speech pattern, it seems an unnecessary affectation..
Still, a very enjoyable story, and Will Sommers is a thoroughly heartwarming and pleasant character, making for a very warm and fuzzy read at times. A very pleasant change from the hard-bitten, cynical and generally unlikeable characters that seem to populate most current literature.
November 23, 2025
This series of books usually takes place at Hampton Court Palace and follows the life and times of the current Queen of King Henry the Eighth, but this one, by necessity is different.
Anne of Cleves was only married for six months to the King, before the unsuccessful relationship was annulled. Wife number four was the lucky one, she kept her head, gained the title of “ Beloved Sister”, and was gifted land and houses in recompense for her divorce.
Will Somers plays a stranger role here, he gets to know Queen Anne and her ladies, he respects her willingness to please her disenchanted husband, and he tries to act as the Kings conscience, get to know the lady before she is put aside.
In order to use his detection skills, Will is charged to investigate a murder that may involve one of Queen Anne’s ladies- in - waiting. If only the dead body didn’t keep disappearing!!
Will Somers is portrayed as a complicated man, happily married to his wife, Marion, but has a male lover, who has recently married the Lady Cecily.
The real truth of Will Somers has not been proved, history rarely concerned servants, although Will is portrayed in a famous painting of the Tudor Court in 1547.
There are many moments of bawdy humour and wit that makes for a sharp contrast with the dark underbelly of court life and the dangerous and grasping people that inhabit these places. The historical detail is well researched and I like seeing the machinations and intrigue through the keen eyes of a trusted and faithful court jester.
Not such a strong story as the previous books, but hopefully, Queen Catherine will redress the balance in the next offering.
Anne of Cleves was only married for six months to the King, before the unsuccessful relationship was annulled. Wife number four was the lucky one, she kept her head, gained the title of “ Beloved Sister”, and was gifted land and houses in recompense for her divorce.
Will Somers plays a stranger role here, he gets to know Queen Anne and her ladies, he respects her willingness to please her disenchanted husband, and he tries to act as the Kings conscience, get to know the lady before she is put aside.
In order to use his detection skills, Will is charged to investigate a murder that may involve one of Queen Anne’s ladies- in - waiting. If only the dead body didn’t keep disappearing!!
Will Somers is portrayed as a complicated man, happily married to his wife, Marion, but has a male lover, who has recently married the Lady Cecily.
The real truth of Will Somers has not been proved, history rarely concerned servants, although Will is portrayed in a famous painting of the Tudor Court in 1547.
There are many moments of bawdy humour and wit that makes for a sharp contrast with the dark underbelly of court life and the dangerous and grasping people that inhabit these places. The historical detail is well researched and I like seeing the machinations and intrigue through the keen eyes of a trusted and faithful court jester.
Not such a strong story as the previous books, but hopefully, Queen Catherine will redress the balance in the next offering.
November 3, 2025
** ARC Review **
Jeri Westerson's Devil's Gambit, the fourth book in the King's Fool Mystery series, offers another entertaining whodunit with jester Will Somers at the center of the action. The Tudor setting is, as always, a delight, and Westerson's ability to seamlessly blend historical fact with fictional flair is commendable. Will's bawdy wit and sharp mind are on full display as he attempts to solve a murder surrounding the arrival of Anne of Cleves at court.
The story is at its best during the comedic moments and palace intrigue. The bizarre plot twist involving a disappearing and reappearing body provides some genuine laughs and keeps things moving at a good clip. However, the central mystery itself feels a bit muddled, and the motivations of some characters are not as compelling as they could be. Additionally, the side plot involving Will's complicated love life, while interesting, occasionally distracts from the murder investigation.
Fans of the series will likely enjoy returning to this period with Will, but newcomers might find the story less gripping than previous installments. While it's a solid, fun read, it doesn't quite live up to the high standard set by Westerson's earlier works.
Jeri Westerson's Devil's Gambit, the fourth book in the King's Fool Mystery series, offers another entertaining whodunit with jester Will Somers at the center of the action. The Tudor setting is, as always, a delight, and Westerson's ability to seamlessly blend historical fact with fictional flair is commendable. Will's bawdy wit and sharp mind are on full display as he attempts to solve a murder surrounding the arrival of Anne of Cleves at court.
The story is at its best during the comedic moments and palace intrigue. The bizarre plot twist involving a disappearing and reappearing body provides some genuine laughs and keeps things moving at a good clip. However, the central mystery itself feels a bit muddled, and the motivations of some characters are not as compelling as they could be. Additionally, the side plot involving Will's complicated love life, while interesting, occasionally distracts from the murder investigation.
Fans of the series will likely enjoy returning to this period with Will, but newcomers might find the story less gripping than previous installments. While it's a solid, fun read, it doesn't quite live up to the high standard set by Westerson's earlier works.
November 30, 2025
Having read two of the three previous books in the King's Fool series, I'm happy to say this fourth installment, "Devil's Gambit," is just as entertaining as the others. In fact, it's my favorite yet, partly because it features Anne of Cleves, to my mind the savviest of Henry VIII's queens, and also because Marion, the wife of narrator/protagonist Will Somers, plays a more prominent role. Will himself also seems a bit less self-aggrandizing than in the previous books—and given that I read this series primarily for his character and narration, that's important to me.
The descriptions of court life are vivid and, I assume, spot on (Jeri Westerson seems to have done the research), and the story seems to move faster than in the previous books, with less padding. Will's relationships with King Henry, Marion, and other characters are complex and well rounded. I was sad to read in the afterword, however, that the series will end with Catherine Parr; I was hoping Will would continue frolicking and fornicating through the reigns of Edward, Mary, and Elizabeth.
Thank you, Old London Press and NetGalley, for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
The descriptions of court life are vivid and, I assume, spot on (Jeri Westerson seems to have done the research), and the story seems to move faster than in the previous books, with less padding. Will's relationships with King Henry, Marion, and other characters are complex and well rounded. I was sad to read in the afterword, however, that the series will end with Catherine Parr; I was hoping Will would continue frolicking and fornicating through the reigns of Edward, Mary, and Elizabeth.
Thank you, Old London Press and NetGalley, for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I thank NetGalley and Old London Press for an advance reader copy of Devil’s Gambit. All opinions and comments are my own.
In this, the fourth in the “King’s Fool” mystery series by Jeri Westerson, it’s Anne of Cleves’ time to be featured. History buffs well know what that portends. For the fictional world of Will Somers, court jester, and “King’s Fool,” when you’re trying to keep your lord and master happy (and at the same time keeping your oh so private life hidden from all and sundry once again), it’s probably best to keep very quiet about what’s going on in Henry VIII’s court. There’s a problem, however; Will finds himself involved in marriage matters, and when an aggrieved father turns up murdered, he’s soon in the thick of things.
You will never be bored by reading a Will Somers story. Will triumphs, of course, in this thrilling (and randy) romp through the Tudor court, filled with the larger-than-life personalities of the time, from a very unhappy Henry down to scandalous court ladies and courtiers, all brought to life in the author’s capable hands. Filled with the “window on the world” style and flair that Jeri Westerson brings to her writing, entertaining from start to finish, The Devil’s Gambit is another first-rate entry in a delightful history mystery series. ‘Tis always a pleasure to read about the exploits of Master Somers.
In this, the fourth in the “King’s Fool” mystery series by Jeri Westerson, it’s Anne of Cleves’ time to be featured. History buffs well know what that portends. For the fictional world of Will Somers, court jester, and “King’s Fool,” when you’re trying to keep your lord and master happy (and at the same time keeping your oh so private life hidden from all and sundry once again), it’s probably best to keep very quiet about what’s going on in Henry VIII’s court. There’s a problem, however; Will finds himself involved in marriage matters, and when an aggrieved father turns up murdered, he’s soon in the thick of things.
You will never be bored by reading a Will Somers story. Will triumphs, of course, in this thrilling (and randy) romp through the Tudor court, filled with the larger-than-life personalities of the time, from a very unhappy Henry down to scandalous court ladies and courtiers, all brought to life in the author’s capable hands. Filled with the “window on the world” style and flair that Jeri Westerson brings to her writing, entertaining from start to finish, The Devil’s Gambit is another first-rate entry in a delightful history mystery series. ‘Tis always a pleasure to read about the exploits of Master Somers.
January 7, 2026
This is the fourth instalment in the King’s Fool series, and my introduction to it. The beauty of this book is you can read it without prior knowledge of the characters or the time!
This entertaining, dare I say cozy-esque historical mystery, happens in 1540, during Henry VIII’s disastrous marriage to Anne Of Cleves. His loyal court jester, Will Somers, (who was a real person!) has somehow survived the previous three marriages and is determined for this to be his king’s last.
Except a tempestuous royal, a puzzling romance, a new lover, and courtly intrigue threaten to derail even his best attempts at planning. And then there’s the whole murdered nobleman’s body keeps vanishing and reappearing around the palace thing. What’s a man to do? Investigate, of course.
His relationship with his clever wife is the book’s highlight. It’s also queer in every sense of the word, without falling trap to dressing modern sensibilities in historical language.
With plot twists, a thoughtful protagonist, and careful detail, reading this was sheer delight. Onto the previous books in the series!
I received a copy from the publisher via the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program. All opinions are mine alone.
This entertaining, dare I say cozy-esque historical mystery, happens in 1540, during Henry VIII’s disastrous marriage to Anne Of Cleves. His loyal court jester, Will Somers, (who was a real person!) has somehow survived the previous three marriages and is determined for this to be his king’s last.
Except a tempestuous royal, a puzzling romance, a new lover, and courtly intrigue threaten to derail even his best attempts at planning. And then there’s the whole murdered nobleman’s body keeps vanishing and reappearing around the palace thing. What’s a man to do? Investigate, of course.
His relationship with his clever wife is the book’s highlight. It’s also queer in every sense of the word, without falling trap to dressing modern sensibilities in historical language.
With plot twists, a thoughtful protagonist, and careful detail, reading this was sheer delight. Onto the previous books in the series!
I received a copy from the publisher via the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program. All opinions are mine alone.
January 17, 2026
Set in the reign of Anne of Cleves, Henry VII's fourth wife. The author carefully weaves the lives of real personalities in Henry's court, like his jester Will Somers, who is central to all these King's Fool mysteries, with fictional characters that Jeri Westerson introduces. Jeri has certainly done her research on both of the royal themes and social life in England in the 16th century. Whilst it is not a history book, if you are interested in the Tudor period, you are likely to enjoy this novel. Did it pass my 'plausibility test'? Pretty much, and as a consequence, I found the plot really engaging.
February 5, 2026
Will Somers is back, and this book was just as good as the rest. He is such an engaging character, and he's written so well that he just comes alive on the page. One of my favorite things about this author's writing is how she gets so many small details so that you can feel like you actually know her characters; they are complex and never static. In a series like this, with each book,I feel like I know them even more
These historical mysteries are fun, and have a lot of heart. I enjoy that each book has a different wife, so we get new characters, while learning more about returning characters.
These historical mysteries are fun, and have a lot of heart. I enjoy that each book has a different wife, so we get new characters, while learning more about returning characters.
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