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Ursula Blanchard #14
The Heretic's Creed
Ursula Blanchard must acquire a mysterious medieval manuscript in the latest enthralling historical adventure.
February, 1577. Sir William Cecil has a dangerous new mission for Ursula Blanchard. He has asked her to visit Stonemoor House on the bleak Yorkshire moors, the home of a group of recusant women led by Abbess Philippa Gould. In their possession is an ancient book, and the Queen's advisor, Dr John Dee, is eager to get hold of it.
However, while the Abbess is anxious to sell the book, others such as her half-sister Bella believe it to be heretical and demand that it be burned. It is not Sir William's first attempt to secure the book. His two previous emissaries vanished without trace. What happened to them - and will Ursula suffer the same fate?
February, 1577. Sir William Cecil has a dangerous new mission for Ursula Blanchard. He has asked her to visit Stonemoor House on the bleak Yorkshire moors, the home of a group of recusant women led by Abbess Philippa Gould. In their possession is an ancient book, and the Queen's advisor, Dr John Dee, is eager to get hold of it.
However, while the Abbess is anxious to sell the book, others such as her half-sister Bella believe it to be heretical and demand that it be burned. It is not Sir William's first attempt to secure the book. His two previous emissaries vanished without trace. What happened to them - and will Ursula suffer the same fate?
224 pages, Hardcover
First published December 20, 2016
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221 people want to read
About the author
Fiona Buckley
48 books188 followersValerie Anand is a British author of historical fiction. Under the pen name Fiona Buckley she writes the series of historical mysteries, set in the reign of Elizabeth I of England, featuring "Ursula Blanchard" (whose full name is Ursula Faldene Blanchard de la Roche Stannard). Under her own name she writes historical fiction based on the royalty of England and the Bridges over Time series which follows a family from the eleventh century through the nineteenth century.
Series:
* Ursula Blanchard
Series:
* Ursula Blanchard
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
December 23, 2016
Ursula Blanchard, spy extraordinaire wears many hats. Ursula is a former lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth, her half sister. She has been asked by Lord Burghley, the Queen's Lord Treasurer to embark upon a simple errand requested by Elizabeth. First job, deliver a confidential letter to Edinburgh concerning a plot to usurp Elizabeth's power and place Mary, Queen of Scots on the throne. Second job, purchase "Observations of the Heavens" by John of Eversham from the ladies living in an unofficial convent called Stonemoor House.
Ursula takes an entourage of travelers with her to deliver a communiqué to the Earl of Morton. Any and all plots to return Mary Stuart to the Throne of England must be thwarted. Two messengers, Hardwicke and Spelton sent separately to deliver this correspondence have disappeared. If asked, Ursula's group are accompanying Sybil Jester to Edinburgh to visit her new granddaughter.
Equally important, Ursula had funds to purchase a 12th century manuscript written in gold leaf by monks as the scribes. The white leather bound book discusses Copernicus's theory that the Earth circles the Sun. Abbess Philippa Gould and her natural sister Bella Yates are two of the original founders of the Stonemoor household. Philippa wants to sell the manuscript but Bella considers the tome to be blasphemous. Battle lines are clearly drawn.
Upon arriving at Stonemoor, Ursula's efforts to purchase the book are complicated by strange happenings. Have emissaries Hardwicke or Spelton been there to make this purchase? Why is the book locked in Abbess Gould's library? A heavy snowstorm intrudes upon Ursula's journey of discovery.
Ursula Blanchard is a very engaging spy and heroine. In 1577 Tudor England, one would not expect such womanly strength and determination. Ursula and company continue to dig deep within themselves and show resolve in investigating the disappearance of the emissaries and the conflicts involving a rare book. "The Heretic's Creed" by Fiona Buckley is a very enjoyable read.
Thank you Severn House and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review "The Heretic's Creed".
Ursula takes an entourage of travelers with her to deliver a communiqué to the Earl of Morton. Any and all plots to return Mary Stuart to the Throne of England must be thwarted. Two messengers, Hardwicke and Spelton sent separately to deliver this correspondence have disappeared. If asked, Ursula's group are accompanying Sybil Jester to Edinburgh to visit her new granddaughter.
Equally important, Ursula had funds to purchase a 12th century manuscript written in gold leaf by monks as the scribes. The white leather bound book discusses Copernicus's theory that the Earth circles the Sun. Abbess Philippa Gould and her natural sister Bella Yates are two of the original founders of the Stonemoor household. Philippa wants to sell the manuscript but Bella considers the tome to be blasphemous. Battle lines are clearly drawn.
Upon arriving at Stonemoor, Ursula's efforts to purchase the book are complicated by strange happenings. Have emissaries Hardwicke or Spelton been there to make this purchase? Why is the book locked in Abbess Gould's library? A heavy snowstorm intrudes upon Ursula's journey of discovery.
Ursula Blanchard is a very engaging spy and heroine. In 1577 Tudor England, one would not expect such womanly strength and determination. Ursula and company continue to dig deep within themselves and show resolve in investigating the disappearance of the emissaries and the conflicts involving a rare book. "The Heretic's Creed" by Fiona Buckley is a very enjoyable read.
Thank you Severn House and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review "The Heretic's Creed".
June 29, 2017
I enjoyed this book. It seemed to humanize this time in British history by using a mystery directly linked to events of Elizabeth's reign, particularly her concerns regarding what Mary Queen of Scots might do to unite Britain and Scotland with the Roman Church as their "one true" Church. The primary characters are well drawn, with only a few secondary seeming one dimensional.
Ursula Blanchard, half sister to the Queen and protagonist of this series is tasked by Sir William Cecil with a mission from the crown. She is to travel to the Yorkshire moors and visit Stonemoor House, the home of several Roman Catholic women who live there in a semi-protected status. The Crown knows they are there and tolerates their presence as long as they do not participate in any treasonous acts. They do however have a book for sale, a book that the Queen's advisor, Dr John Dee badly wants. Ursula accepts this task in spite of the possible risks. Others have gone before her and not been heard from since.
This is a very interesting story if, like me, you are interested in British history. It ties in with that period of vulnerability when Mary was plotting in Scotland and Elizabeth counter-plotting in England. I haven't read other books in this series but that didn't interfere with my enjoyment of this episode at all. There was enough background on major characters given to understand everything.
I do recommend this to readers of historical fiction and mysteries.
4*
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Ursula Blanchard, half sister to the Queen and protagonist of this series is tasked by Sir William Cecil with a mission from the crown. She is to travel to the Yorkshire moors and visit Stonemoor House, the home of several Roman Catholic women who live there in a semi-protected status. The Crown knows they are there and tolerates their presence as long as they do not participate in any treasonous acts. They do however have a book for sale, a book that the Queen's advisor, Dr John Dee badly wants. Ursula accepts this task in spite of the possible risks. Others have gone before her and not been heard from since.
This is a very interesting story if, like me, you are interested in British history. It ties in with that period of vulnerability when Mary was plotting in Scotland and Elizabeth counter-plotting in England. I haven't read other books in this series but that didn't interfere with my enjoyment of this episode at all. There was enough background on major characters given to understand everything.
I do recommend this to readers of historical fiction and mysteries.
4*
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
January 7, 2017
A curse, an heretical manuscript and mysterious disappearances!
An eerily haunting opening had me wondering for a while if I was venturing into a medieval horror novel. I wasn't! The prelude fittingly sets the scene for what is to come.
It's February, 1577. As winter still encloses Northern England and Scotland, Ursula Blanchard is sent on another mission by Sir William Cecil for the Crown. Her quest is two fold--to deliver missives to James Douglas, Earl of Morton, at Holyrood in Edinburgh concerning Queen Mary and conspiracies surrounding her; and to purchase an illuminated book, heretical in nature for Queen Elizabeth's magician, Doctor Dee. The relic is at Stonemoor House, an unofficial convent in the wilds of Yorkshire. Ursula is also tasked to delve into the disappearance of two men who went missing when undertaking the same requests. One of the men is her beloved friend Christopher Spelton.
Accompanying Ursula is her manservant Roger Brockley, his wife Dale, Ursula's tirewoman, and Gladys Morgan, a Welshwoman and herbalist.
The story takes us to the wintery slopes of Yorkshire and the moors, into a lonely manor house serving as an Abbey, inhabited by a group of Catholic women who practice their papist beliefs during Elizabeth's reign. As Cecil explains to Ursula, 'It isn’t illegal to be Catholic ... as long as there is no attempt at making converts.' Sir Francis Walsingham, who is fanatically anti-catholic has hitherto left the ladies alone, but he is aware of their practices and sees them as a means to rooting out Spanish papists come to England to cause dissent and disruption to the political landscape and to threaten the throne itself.
Ursula and her party find themselves stranded at Stonemoor House as the weather sets in surrounded by a group of pious women where trouble brews just below the surface. Abbess Philippa Gould appears to be an intelligent open minded woman, however her sister Bella is disturbed by the book she categories as 'evil'. She is very forth right about wanting it destroyed.
This journey has Ursula confronting some truths about herself and her needs that she has hitherto ignored.
A NetGalley ARC
An eerily haunting opening had me wondering for a while if I was venturing into a medieval horror novel. I wasn't! The prelude fittingly sets the scene for what is to come.
It's February, 1577. As winter still encloses Northern England and Scotland, Ursula Blanchard is sent on another mission by Sir William Cecil for the Crown. Her quest is two fold--to deliver missives to James Douglas, Earl of Morton, at Holyrood in Edinburgh concerning Queen Mary and conspiracies surrounding her; and to purchase an illuminated book, heretical in nature for Queen Elizabeth's magician, Doctor Dee. The relic is at Stonemoor House, an unofficial convent in the wilds of Yorkshire. Ursula is also tasked to delve into the disappearance of two men who went missing when undertaking the same requests. One of the men is her beloved friend Christopher Spelton.
Accompanying Ursula is her manservant Roger Brockley, his wife Dale, Ursula's tirewoman, and Gladys Morgan, a Welshwoman and herbalist.
The story takes us to the wintery slopes of Yorkshire and the moors, into a lonely manor house serving as an Abbey, inhabited by a group of Catholic women who practice their papist beliefs during Elizabeth's reign. As Cecil explains to Ursula, 'It isn’t illegal to be Catholic ... as long as there is no attempt at making converts.' Sir Francis Walsingham, who is fanatically anti-catholic has hitherto left the ladies alone, but he is aware of their practices and sees them as a means to rooting out Spanish papists come to England to cause dissent and disruption to the political landscape and to threaten the throne itself.
Ursula and her party find themselves stranded at Stonemoor House as the weather sets in surrounded by a group of pious women where trouble brews just below the surface. Abbess Philippa Gould appears to be an intelligent open minded woman, however her sister Bella is disturbed by the book she categories as 'evil'. She is very forth right about wanting it destroyed.
This journey has Ursula confronting some truths about herself and her needs that she has hitherto ignored.
A NetGalley ARC
January 16, 2017
I enjoyed this historical mystery involving Mistress Ursula Blanchard, a relative of Queen Elizabeth I and called upon to undertake some delicate missions, whether she wants to or no. In this instance the lady travels with a few friends and servants to a house of devout women in Yorkshire. A previous messenger vanished, and a supposedly heretical book is missing. As always the ordinary people and horses are very much characters while we see a lot of the landscape. The storytelling always impresses me.
I downloaded an ARC from Net Galley. This is an unbiased review.
I downloaded an ARC from Net Galley. This is an unbiased review.
February 8, 2017
I enjoyed the setting (16th century England), but the writing was so-so (clunky). Also, the whole premise was a bit shaky [spoiler alert]: If someone is willing to murder because of a book they consider heretical, why wouldn't they destroy the book when it is finally in their possession? Either throw it in the river, as they did with the body, or burn it. Makes no sense!
March 7, 2017
Just wasn't for me, bored after 2 chapters.
May 14, 2021
I have enjoyed this period mystery series but this was not my favorite entry. The premise is the middle aged gentlewoman, Ursula, is in reality half-sister to Queen Elizabeth through King Henry VIII. The Queen has asked Ursula to undertake important and confidential tasks for her over the years. At time they have put her in danger but they were always an interesting puzzle to solve. Now Ursula feels she is too old for such wanderings and danger. She is more interested in raising her young son and building a future for him to inherit one day.
At the wedding her her ward Cecil asks for Ursula's help in delivering an important letter to Scotland. There have been two previous attempts to deliver the letter with both messengers going missing. Ursula has a personal connection to one of the missing men and feels compelled to help. This is suppose to be a relatively safe assignment so she takes several members of her household with her.
I found the mystery to be interesting and relevant to the political climate of the time. I found the traveling back and forth to put characters in a specific place at a certain time to feel a bit forced. I don't like when characters who escaped something then must go back in order to solve the greater mystery. I like the series but this one didn't engage me as much as others. There was also a personal aspect for Ursula that ended in disappointment and took away from my overall enjoyment of the story.
At the wedding her her ward Cecil asks for Ursula's help in delivering an important letter to Scotland. There have been two previous attempts to deliver the letter with both messengers going missing. Ursula has a personal connection to one of the missing men and feels compelled to help. This is suppose to be a relatively safe assignment so she takes several members of her household with her.
I found the mystery to be interesting and relevant to the political climate of the time. I found the traveling back and forth to put characters in a specific place at a certain time to feel a bit forced. I don't like when characters who escaped something then must go back in order to solve the greater mystery. I like the series but this one didn't engage me as much as others. There was also a personal aspect for Ursula that ended in disappointment and took away from my overall enjoyment of the story.
April 11, 2019
From Goodreads:
"February, 1577. Sir William Cecil has a dangerous new mission for Ursula Blanchard. He has asked her to visit Stonemoor House on the bleak Yorkshire moors, the home of a group of recusant women led by Abbess Philippa Gould. In their possession is an ancient book, and the Queen's advisor, Dr John Dee, is eager to get hold of it.
However, while the Abbess is anxious to sell the book, others such as her half-sister Bella believe it to be heretical and demand that it be burned.
It is not Sir William's first attempt to secure the book. His two previous emissaries vanished without trace. What happened to them and will Ursula suffer the same fate?"
This was a very interesting book, and story....
"February, 1577. Sir William Cecil has a dangerous new mission for Ursula Blanchard. He has asked her to visit Stonemoor House on the bleak Yorkshire moors, the home of a group of recusant women led by Abbess Philippa Gould. In their possession is an ancient book, and the Queen's advisor, Dr John Dee, is eager to get hold of it.
However, while the Abbess is anxious to sell the book, others such as her half-sister Bella believe it to be heretical and demand that it be burned.
It is not Sir William's first attempt to secure the book. His two previous emissaries vanished without trace. What happened to them and will Ursula suffer the same fate?"
This was a very interesting book, and story....
May 25, 2022
This entry into Ursula's life and the conflicts during Queen Elizabeth I's reign helps explain the difficulties faced protecting England , while allowing people to quietly work at their craft and worship as they desired. I appreciate Fiona Buckley sharing the hardships of travel to Scotland and during winter, travel we take for granted now.
This tale kind of bogged down in the middle, but the pace quickened when the group left to return home and discoveries were made at the river, in the small town and back at the house of sisters.
This tale kind of bogged down in the middle, but the pace quickened when the group left to return home and discoveries were made at the river, in the small town and back at the house of sisters.
December 28, 2017
I was very excited to recieve a copy of this book to review. This time period is one of my favorites to read about. I felt like it started off interestingly, with a good draw in, but then it lagged for me. I found myself thinking....lets just get on with it in some parts. Overall, it was enjoyable and after reading the other reviews, I do think I will try other books by this author. I recieved this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.
May 9, 2023
I found this a slow read compared to other Ursula Blanchard mysteries. The first two thirds of the book crawled along, with quite a lot of repetition. I also found the plot to be a little on the thin side. I felt that the murderer's behaviour was too inconsistent - presumably because consistent behaviour would rip the plot wide open, but that's not really a good enough reason to make someone act in a way that seems out of character.
May 28, 2021
Another excellent mystery from this author. It really does not advance Ursula's story along that much but the author has sort of written her into a happy corner. I mean she is way older than most women lived to be back then!
sidenote: I thought the use of the word hysteria/hysterical was invented in the 19th century.
sidenote: I thought the use of the word hysteria/hysterical was invented in the 19th century.
June 15, 2017
I thoroughly enjoy this series! Fiona Buckley knows what to do to set the reader right in the midst f Elizabethan England. Ursula is a great main character, strong, with faults. This was another great read.
October 17, 2017
Another good entry in this Elizabethan mystery-adventure series. Quick read, familiar cast of characters, another unexpected adventure in Lady Ursula's never-a-dull-moment life as a part time spy for Queen Elizabeth. Enjoy reading this type of light mystery in between other things.
November 7, 2017
This is a 3.5 stars for me. The story is decent, but not quite enough for a full 4 stars. I'll try one of the earlier ones to see if maybe the earlier books will get me more excited. If you like this type of story, I would also recommend Ariana Franklin.
July 10, 2018
Interesting book, but needs editing.
I enjoyed the book for the most part. The ending was a little boring. I noticed in at least three places that a character was called by the wrong name. For instance, Sybil was called Sylvia in two different places.
I enjoyed the book for the most part. The ending was a little boring. I noticed in at least three places that a character was called by the wrong name. For instance, Sybil was called Sylvia in two different places.
December 4, 2020
I love this series with Ursula Blanchard. She is sent by Walshingham to a convent of ladies who have a book they want to sell and Doctor Dee wants to buy. Ursula finds herself in another mystery when the two previous men who were sent to buy the book end of missing.
June 13, 2017
boring, compared to the others - really had to plow through it
September 7, 2022
I received this as an ARC from Netgalley.com.
I love the Ursula Blanchard books. They are fun and quick little mysteries set in Elizabethan England. Usually they involve little pieces of history and characters from the history including Elizabeth I, Mary Queen of Scots, Robert Dudley and William Cecil. Even though the mysteries are usually fairly easy to figure out they are just plain fun to read.
I love the Ursula Blanchard books. They are fun and quick little mysteries set in Elizabethan England. Usually they involve little pieces of history and characters from the history including Elizabeth I, Mary Queen of Scots, Robert Dudley and William Cecil. Even though the mysteries are usually fairly easy to figure out they are just plain fun to read.
March 3, 2025
PLEASE SEE MY REVIEW OF THIS BOOK END OF MARCH on my you tube channel deluise book series
March 13, 2017
I usually really enjoy the books in this series, but after an intriguingly sinister beginning, one gets pretty much the usual - Ursula has regrets, Dale's scared, Brockley's brave... I don't think this fourteenth book terribly progressed the series , and the absence of Elizabeth I, or any genuine danger (in my opinion) , meant I wasn't really engaged.
March 11, 2017
Taking place in 1577, in the first half of Queen Elizabeth's reign, Ursula, the Queen's half sister, is called on to deliver a letter about a possible attempt by Mary, Queen of Scots, to mount a revolt, as well as purchase and old book for the Queen's advisor, Dr. Dee. Needless to say, despite assurances by Sir William Cecil, all does not go well. A weird mystery where the sleuth doesn't actually solve the mystery, as the answers somewhat fall in her lap.
March 6, 2017
In the Elizabethan era, Ursula is now a widow living on her own land. The Queen asks a favor of her, to deliver a letter to Scotland and at the same time stop by a nunnery and purchase a book about the universe. The nunnery turns out to be a mysterious, spooky place where two previous messengers have disappeared. Ursula investigates, suspensefully. Well written.
February 19, 2017
Boring. I kept waiting for things to pick up, but they never did.
November 1, 2016
Oh, to be back in Tudor/Elizabethan times, when women were often the more dangerous of the sexes! This novel reintroduces us to Ursula Blanchard, gentlewomen, spy and half sister to Elizabeth the first. Asked to perform secret tasks on behalf of Sir William Cecil, Lord Burghley and Sir Francis Walsingham, we are again in the murky world of foreign spies working on behalf of Mary, Queen of Scots in her attempt to usurp the throne of England. This time we are searching for a heretical book based on the works of Nicholaus Copernicus, that is upsetting the Catholic believers by asserting that the Earth circles the Sun and Dr Dee, magician and advisor to Queen Elizabeth wants this in his possession. A religious community has the book and is willing to sell it, but there are fears that any monies raised will be used to fund and hide Jesuit priests in England who are loyal to the Scottish Queen.
This book is full of the religious tensions that were stalking the land. The fear that Elizabeth would be assassinated, led to a huge clampdown on religious freedom, prophecy and superstition were rife and Walsingham and his network of spies were kept busy. Gentlewomen of that age did have more freedom and were employed as spies especially as agent provocateurs , sexual freedoms and pillow talk considered essential to find out who could be trusted in these trying times.
I have read several of this series of books and find they are well researched and written. It is lovely to see a woman who is not confined to the kitchen, who is intelligent and well respected by her household and within the innermost court circle. I found that although it works as a stand alone book, you do miss previous references and perhaps to read them in order will be best!
I heartily recommend this book.
This book is full of the religious tensions that were stalking the land. The fear that Elizabeth would be assassinated, led to a huge clampdown on religious freedom, prophecy and superstition were rife and Walsingham and his network of spies were kept busy. Gentlewomen of that age did have more freedom and were employed as spies especially as agent provocateurs , sexual freedoms and pillow talk considered essential to find out who could be trusted in these trying times.
I have read several of this series of books and find they are well researched and written. It is lovely to see a woman who is not confined to the kitchen, who is intelligent and well respected by her household and within the innermost court circle. I found that although it works as a stand alone book, you do miss previous references and perhaps to read them in order will be best!
I heartily recommend this book.
Read
October 29, 2016Ursula Blanchard is once again asked to perform a task for her sister, Queen Elizabeth. This time it is to deliver a message to Scotland and to retrieve a book that Dr. Dee wishes to own. There have been 2 others sent on this mission, but both seem to have vanished into thin air. Can Ursula and her companions complete this task and possibly discover what has happened to the others who were sent on the same mission?
I absolutely love this series of books. The characters are all very well developed and each book is a new adventure, but each one builds into the complete story of Ursula Blanchard's life. I eagerly await the next one in this series.
I absolutely love this series of books. The characters are all very well developed and each book is a new adventure, but each one builds into the complete story of Ursula Blanchard's life. I eagerly await the next one in this series.
January 10, 2017
Another great read, and true to form, by the mid-portion of this book I was hooked and couldn't put it down until I was finished. I should know better as the author stealthily draws you in until it's 3AM and you have to finish. Before you know it, the author has very nicely pulled together all the plot points into a delightful atmospheric mystery and you can't wait for the ending. I really thought there would be more romance in Ursula's future, but according to the clues left, maybe in her next adventure she will find that happiness again. One can only hope and look forward to the next book in the series.
December 10, 2016
A little shorter than most Ursula Blanchard novels but it delivered the goods. Sir William Cecil sets her off on a "simple" assignment to Scotland and Yorkshire in winter with no danger involved. Well, we all know that there is danger and Catholic plots. Missing Queen's messengers and horses, spies and snow, and a weird, isolated house on the moors. And, a charming portrait of Sir Francis Walsingham at work in the palace with kittens in his cabinet.
January 4, 2017
It is 1577 and Ursula Blanchard is being sent to Edinburgh by Sir William Cecil to deliver a letter and to visit Stonemoor House to purchase a book for Dr. John Dee. Of course this will develop into something more than just a simple trip. Ursula takes everyone with her and the delivery of the letter goes smoothly. The problems begin with the visit to Stonemoor and the women who live there. The book was a quick easy read.
January 23, 2017
I have read and enjoyed Fiona Buckley's books many many years ago. When I saw this one available as an ARC, I couldn't resist. Unfortunately, either my taste has changed or the character Ursula Blanchard has lost its luster after the years. It was easy enough to read and if you like historical mysteries it's worth a try. For more romance reviews, check out my website: https://katherinasbooks.wordpress.com
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews