Midnight Queen: A Tudor Intrigue

Tudor Crimes #2

by Anne Stevens

Midnight Queen is the second volume in Anne Stevens' epic Tudor Crimes saga. Stretching from the downfall of Cardinal Wolsey, through the turbulent years of the matter of King Henry's divorce, it sketches out the very real world of Tudor middle England. The story is told at breathtaking speed. Behind the great events of Tudor times, there is a dark underworld of corrupt politicians, foreign intrigeurs and dangerous men, looking to advance themselves, at any cost. The author shows you the hidden events, through the eyes of the ordinary people who serve the great powers at court. Will Draper, now married to Miriam, is called on, once more, to help destroy a plot against the influential Pole family. They are descendants of the last Plantagenet king, and someone is killing them off. Thomas Cromwell, Eustace Chapuys, King Henry VIII, Stephen Gardiner, and Sir Thomas More all play their part, and the known historical facts are woven into a tale of intrigue and murder, which may well bring down a dynasty. Anne Stevens is a welcome addition to the genre, and has a real feel foe the commoner in Tudor times. She has her characters behaving in the right manner for the age, and does not impose modern values on Tudor thinking. If you do not have wealth, then the harsh truth is there to see. We are treated to scenes in ramshakle villages, great houses, taverns, and bawdy houses, where a night's pleasure can set a man back six pennies. Equality is not a factor, and a fortune can only be won by treachery, great service, or at the point of a sharp sword. Will Draper serves Cromwell, often violently, and his sword is always ready. Murderous jugglers, traitorous lords, spoiled young men, social climbers, princesses, great ladies, and cheap whores sprinkle the action, bringing the flavour of Tudor reality to this sprawling epic of historical fiction.

Genres: Historical

312 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 14, 2015

About the author

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Reviews

[Bernard Borman · Rating 1 out of 5]

Words, words, and more words

Full of boring fantasies. It is highly unlikely that More and Cromwell used Henry as the proverbial chess piece. It is also unlikely that Henry would have allowed the murder of Katharine on his watch. It is mostly fanciful drivel with a weak plot and historical inaccuracies. Suggest she should concentrate on a new version of Postman Pat. Also, very poor grammar and punctuation. A child could do better.

[Boffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Consistently good reads. This series is history and fiction blended to perfection.

[Avid Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will read more by this author. It's not great but it's good.