What do you think?
Rate this book
A Question of Guilt: A Novel of Mary, Queen of Scots, and the Death of Henry Darnley
A rich, compelling novel that asks the question: Was Mary Stuart guilty of murder?
It is three days after the execution of Mary Stuart and the streets of London are buzzing with the news. But not everyone is convinced that the scandalized Queen of Scots was guilty of plotting against her cousin, Elizabeth I, or that she was involved in the murder of her husband, Henry Darnley.
Scottish-born Lady Janet de Ros, wife of a wealthy English merchant, thinks the ravishingly beautiful Mary was merely an innocent bystander, betrayed by the machinations of a disloyal court. Determined to uncover the truth, Janet travels from Fotheringhay Castle to Edinburgh, to pursue an investigation that, she will come to realize, could endanger her life, and bring disgrace to her very own family.
It is three days after the execution of Mary Stuart and the streets of London are buzzing with the news. But not everyone is convinced that the scandalized Queen of Scots was guilty of plotting against her cousin, Elizabeth I, or that she was involved in the murder of her husband, Henry Darnley.
Scottish-born Lady Janet de Ros, wife of a wealthy English merchant, thinks the ravishingly beautiful Mary was merely an innocent bystander, betrayed by the machinations of a disloyal court. Determined to uncover the truth, Janet travels from Fotheringhay Castle to Edinburgh, to pursue an investigation that, she will come to realize, could endanger her life, and bring disgrace to her very own family.
320 pages, Paperback
First published October 7, 2008
8 people are currently reading
490 people want to read
About the author
Julianne Lee
12 books40 followersIn the words of Bill Cosby, "I started out as a child." I was born in California, at the age of about zero, on the United States Naval Base at Point Mugu. Dad was a pilot and Mom a former WAVE. For about a year I was an only child, but then my brother was born, and over the years I collected siblings like they were beanie babies. A brother, two sisters, later on a half sister, and we'll not get into the scads of stepbrothers and former stepbrothers.
At twelve I began to write for fun, which I think is the only real reason to write fiction. I figured it beat reality any old day, and I liked sitting at the desk in my room, pretending to be doing something worthwhile. Daydreaming with a purpose, and gradually I realized I could gain approval for the very thing teachers used to criticize me for in class. I wanted to be an actor, and by the age of sixteen my dream - pipe dream - was to attend the American Academy of Dramatic Arts . But I knew it would never happen. The Academy was in New York, and that was too far away to even contemplate seriously. So I started college as an art major. I was a terrible artist. I did a good job of fooling myself and everyone around me, but eventually I gave up the charade and left home for Los Angeles at twenty.
What, ho! When I got there I found the American Academy had recently opened
up a campus in Pasadena. By the kindness of some people I met in L.A., I was recommended to the school and accepted. The following two years was a turning point, that changed my life in ways that are still unfolding. Though an education in theatre bestows skills that are not terribly marketable in ordinary life, the things I learned at that school have benefited me every day since. Stage fright has not since held the terror it once did. At the school, I discovered I could be funny, a fact that might have saved me a lot of grief had I known it in grammar school. I could have been a fabulous class clown. In addition to this self-discovery, while I was at the Academy I wrote my first novel. In longhand. I still had no idea I wanted to be a writer; all I knew was that there could be peace in living inside a story about someone else.
Almost immediately after graduating from the Academy, I met and married Dale Lee. We left Los Angeles, but I was kicking and screaming the whole way. Twenty-odd years later, I still miss the place. We had two kids right away, so I now had three children, one of each: a boy, a girl, and a husband. There were a couple of acting jobs, most notably two days on "At Close Range," a feature film starring Christopher Walken and Sean Penn, and a TV movie starring Ann-Margaret. But in trying to be an actor in Nashville, I realized most of the other actors in town were looking forward to their big chance to leave for Los Angeles, and I knew that would never be a possibility for me. At thirty I decided I was getting old faster than I was getting famous, so I looked for something to do besides acting and changing diapers. Throughout this time I'd kept writing, though sporadically, and about then I began a second novel. Gradually an inkling came there might be a possibility of becoming published. I sure wasn't any good at anything else I might have done locally. On January 27, 1987 I bought my first copy of Writers Digest. Another turning point in my life. For the next several years I wrote manuscripts, sent the work out, joined writers groups, and workshopped my novels with the Green River Writers in Louisville, KY. After seven years I sold my first short story, Culture Control, to the now defunct Cosmic Unicorn. Immediately afterward I was hired by the local newspaper. From there I went to writing actor interviews for Starlog Magazine , a job for which I was singularly qualified.
I also wrote some video sleeve copy for Fox Home Video. That stands as the most highly paid time per hour I've ever spent, and I loved it even if it did attract sympathy from misguided folks who thought it less
At twelve I began to write for fun, which I think is the only real reason to write fiction. I figured it beat reality any old day, and I liked sitting at the desk in my room, pretending to be doing something worthwhile. Daydreaming with a purpose, and gradually I realized I could gain approval for the very thing teachers used to criticize me for in class. I wanted to be an actor, and by the age of sixteen my dream - pipe dream - was to attend the American Academy of Dramatic Arts . But I knew it would never happen. The Academy was in New York, and that was too far away to even contemplate seriously. So I started college as an art major. I was a terrible artist. I did a good job of fooling myself and everyone around me, but eventually I gave up the charade and left home for Los Angeles at twenty.
What, ho! When I got there I found the American Academy had recently opened
up a campus in Pasadena. By the kindness of some people I met in L.A., I was recommended to the school and accepted. The following two years was a turning point, that changed my life in ways that are still unfolding. Though an education in theatre bestows skills that are not terribly marketable in ordinary life, the things I learned at that school have benefited me every day since. Stage fright has not since held the terror it once did. At the school, I discovered I could be funny, a fact that might have saved me a lot of grief had I known it in grammar school. I could have been a fabulous class clown. In addition to this self-discovery, while I was at the Academy I wrote my first novel. In longhand. I still had no idea I wanted to be a writer; all I knew was that there could be peace in living inside a story about someone else.
Almost immediately after graduating from the Academy, I met and married Dale Lee. We left Los Angeles, but I was kicking and screaming the whole way. Twenty-odd years later, I still miss the place. We had two kids right away, so I now had three children, one of each: a boy, a girl, and a husband. There were a couple of acting jobs, most notably two days on "At Close Range," a feature film starring Christopher Walken and Sean Penn, and a TV movie starring Ann-Margaret. But in trying to be an actor in Nashville, I realized most of the other actors in town were looking forward to their big chance to leave for Los Angeles, and I knew that would never be a possibility for me. At thirty I decided I was getting old faster than I was getting famous, so I looked for something to do besides acting and changing diapers. Throughout this time I'd kept writing, though sporadically, and about then I began a second novel. Gradually an inkling came there might be a possibility of becoming published. I sure wasn't any good at anything else I might have done locally. On January 27, 1987 I bought my first copy of Writers Digest. Another turning point in my life. For the next several years I wrote manuscripts, sent the work out, joined writers groups, and workshopped my novels with the Green River Writers in Louisville, KY. After seven years I sold my first short story, Culture Control, to the now defunct Cosmic Unicorn. Immediately afterward I was hired by the local newspaper. From there I went to writing actor interviews for Starlog Magazine , a job for which I was singularly qualified.
I also wrote some video sleeve copy for Fox Home Video. That stands as the most highly paid time per hour I've ever spent, and I loved it even if it did attract sympathy from misguided folks who thought it less
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
October 13, 2012
DNF
The scenario used by the author as a framing device for the story she wanted to tell seemed so highly implausible to me that I couldn't suspend my disbelief (or my eye rolling) long enough to get into the story. It was an epic fail in capturing this readers interest.
June 29, 2010
It took me about 20 pages to really get into this one, because I didn't particularly care for Janet at first. She was annoying and nosy, but that's how the story gets told: by Janet sticking her nose where it doesn't belong. After I got used to her character, I really started to like the book. It's historical; it's mystery; it's real. Janet is a very realistic woman. Her queen, as a Scottish woman, has died, and she doesn't truly believe it was for the reason everyone else is talking about. So she sets out to solve it by herself, three days after the queen's beheading.
The story unravels the mystery in a way I really enjoyed, by having Janet talking to people who knew the queen or were around her at a crucial moment and then shifting into their memory, allowing the reader to see the queen through that person's eyes.
But the book isn't just about what Janet thinks happened to the queen, it's also about her family life and her growth as a person. Her digging for answers creates problems for herself and her husband and changes their entire relationship, and, in the process, changes Janet as well into a more likable woman with real problems.
There are a few more graphic scenes in the book: rape, a beheading or three, and a couple of other things of that nature that Lee captured beautifully. The emotions were all there, and by the end of the book, no matter how you feel about the Queen of Scots, she will have your sympathy.
This is the first historical I've ever read, and while it was a little difficult to get into in the beginning, it was time well spent. If you enjoy history or historicals at all, I recommend this one. Lee has written a wonderfully, intriguing story about a queen no one fully understands.
The story unravels the mystery in a way I really enjoyed, by having Janet talking to people who knew the queen or were around her at a crucial moment and then shifting into their memory, allowing the reader to see the queen through that person's eyes.
But the book isn't just about what Janet thinks happened to the queen, it's also about her family life and her growth as a person. Her digging for answers creates problems for herself and her husband and changes their entire relationship, and, in the process, changes Janet as well into a more likable woman with real problems.
There are a few more graphic scenes in the book: rape, a beheading or three, and a couple of other things of that nature that Lee captured beautifully. The emotions were all there, and by the end of the book, no matter how you feel about the Queen of Scots, she will have your sympathy.
This is the first historical I've ever read, and while it was a little difficult to get into in the beginning, it was time well spent. If you enjoy history or historicals at all, I recommend this one. Lee has written a wonderfully, intriguing story about a queen no one fully understands.
August 14, 2009
Ah, back to a period that I enjoy most - 1500's or there about.
A Question of Guilt is about the rein of Mary, Queen of Scots, a striking beauty, who ruled a country many men thought better ruled by a man. Unfortunately, Mary needed to marry in order to be taken more seriously and to ward off unwanted attention by men hoping to gain her hand in marriage lest start rumors that would compromise her virtue.
After the murder of Mary's second husband, Henry Darnley, and a quick marriage to James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell, Mary was imprisoned on speculation of plotting the murder against her husband,the King. Imprisoned with no clear evidence, she later escaped and fled to England to pursuade Elizabeth, Queen of England, of her innocence and to restore her kingdom and crown to her. Threatened, Queen Elizabeth imprisoned Mary for two decades afterwhich sentencing her to death for treason.
I found this book to be well written. The story bounce between current (1587) and 20 years prior, but I found it manageable and clear with great imagery.
A Question of Guilt is about the rein of Mary, Queen of Scots, a striking beauty, who ruled a country many men thought better ruled by a man. Unfortunately, Mary needed to marry in order to be taken more seriously and to ward off unwanted attention by men hoping to gain her hand in marriage lest start rumors that would compromise her virtue.
After the murder of Mary's second husband, Henry Darnley, and a quick marriage to James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell, Mary was imprisoned on speculation of plotting the murder against her husband,the King. Imprisoned with no clear evidence, she later escaped and fled to England to pursuade Elizabeth, Queen of England, of her innocence and to restore her kingdom and crown to her. Threatened, Queen Elizabeth imprisoned Mary for two decades afterwhich sentencing her to death for treason.
I found this book to be well written. The story bounce between current (1587) and 20 years prior, but I found it manageable and clear with great imagery.
September 14, 2009
What I liked about this book was that it transported me back to Edinburgh-and I was able to remember places and images of streets, that I hold near and dear to my heart.
The story of Mary Queen of Scots and her demise is one that I had heard before, but not at this level and certainly not about the death of her husband, Darnley. The mixture of fact and fiction was very engaging. And it does leave the reader with questions about this poor woman's fate.
Another unexpected treat was how well Lee combined the marriage and societal culture of the day in to the story-which clearly contributed to many of the troubles Mary (and other women of that time) had to endure.
It was a bit slow to get started, but once I got in I was hooked.
The story of Mary Queen of Scots and her demise is one that I had heard before, but not at this level and certainly not about the death of her husband, Darnley. The mixture of fact and fiction was very engaging. And it does leave the reader with questions about this poor woman's fate.
Another unexpected treat was how well Lee combined the marriage and societal culture of the day in to the story-which clearly contributed to many of the troubles Mary (and other women of that time) had to endure.
It was a bit slow to get started, but once I got in I was hooked.
May 21, 2014
While it was interesting to hear the accounts of all of Mary's servants and maids, I could not make myself interested in the main character, Janet de Ros. I was trying to figure out why she would risk herself for a mystery the rest of the country seemed satisfied with. She wasn't even related to anyone involved. Her extreme interest just seemed rather implausible.
October 10, 2009
This book was very interesting. I liked how it built on the various views of how events occured but the different people that janet (the main character) encountered. I thought it was very well done and will be looking for more books by this author to try out in the future.
October 22, 2009
I absolutely loved it. I felt like I was involved in all the gossip that had to have been going on during this time. The author was also really close to actual history.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys history or anything British.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys history or anything British.
June 24, 2010
(given to me by mama on 3/6/09)
Want to read
March 14, 2009I bought it because it was cheap and I like history. I wonder if it is any good...
August 19, 2009
It was an interesting take on Mary, Queen of Scots. As always, I find that time period fascinating.
January 19, 2010
Interesting perspective on the guilt of Mary Stewart -
March 31, 2020
This book was a disappointment 😔
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 5, 2020
Couldn't finish it. I really tried but just couldn't.
June 16, 2024
Very interesting! It was a quick read and I really enjoyed it
June 22, 2025
A good read but a bit heavy for me.
November 22, 2016
Definitely a historical novel not to miss.
Mary Stuart, cousin of Elizabeth I, wife of several heartless and childish men, beautiful and tall, and Queen of Scotland, was a naive and gracious queen. The last years of her life ended for a questionable reason. The story retells Queen Mary’s turbulence in the1560’s.
Her sincerity and kindness to all, even the traitorous, held her in a constant position to be attacked by her enemies. She loved the men she married and some were her enemy.
Too bad these men didn’t have better ideals for their queen and wife. The last two husbands were her downfall.
While married to Henry Darnley, he was killed. Mary could not believe her next husband, Bothwell, may have set her up as the murderer.
Back to present day 1587 where Janet de Ros, wife of a wealthy merchant, cannot hold back her interest in Queen Mary’s true story.
Janet doesn’t believe Queen Mary killed her husband, Darnley, nor is she certain that Queen Mary plotted against England’s queen, Elizabeth I.
Against her husband’s wishes, Janet continually meets with restricted people who may have a clue to the truth about Queen Mary. Janet’s inquiries leave her and her husband in danger of resurrecting the past and possible family connection to the treachery, which could lead to problems of their own.
Julianne Lee chose a spectacular route to study all the stories and rumors about the end of Queen Mary’s life and who’s to blame. Love can lead to a dangerous path, and sometimes history should be left alone.
Mary Stuart, cousin of Elizabeth I, wife of several heartless and childish men, beautiful and tall, and Queen of Scotland, was a naive and gracious queen. The last years of her life ended for a questionable reason. The story retells Queen Mary’s turbulence in the1560’s.
Her sincerity and kindness to all, even the traitorous, held her in a constant position to be attacked by her enemies. She loved the men she married and some were her enemy.
Too bad these men didn’t have better ideals for their queen and wife. The last two husbands were her downfall.
While married to Henry Darnley, he was killed. Mary could not believe her next husband, Bothwell, may have set her up as the murderer.
Back to present day 1587 where Janet de Ros, wife of a wealthy merchant, cannot hold back her interest in Queen Mary’s true story.
Janet doesn’t believe Queen Mary killed her husband, Darnley, nor is she certain that Queen Mary plotted against England’s queen, Elizabeth I.
Against her husband’s wishes, Janet continually meets with restricted people who may have a clue to the truth about Queen Mary. Janet’s inquiries leave her and her husband in danger of resurrecting the past and possible family connection to the treachery, which could lead to problems of their own.
Julianne Lee chose a spectacular route to study all the stories and rumors about the end of Queen Mary’s life and who’s to blame. Love can lead to a dangerous path, and sometimes history should be left alone.
June 17, 2016
Inquisitive Janet De Ros finds herself drawn to the tale of ill-fated Scottish Queen Mary. Although Mary has recently been beheaded for treason against Elizabeth I, most people blame her for her supposed part in the murder of her drunken bully husband, Lord Darnley. But is this really the case? Janet, a compelling heroine in her own right, decides to find out the truth for herself. The novel’s main strength, its examination of women’s proper place in the male-dominated society of medieval Britain, is neatly paralleled in both Mary’s past and Janet’s present: Mary Stuart is victimized by her power-hungry suitors, while Janet is forced to examine the delicate partnership she maintains with her husband. Although an enjoyable read for the most part, it’s not the most stellar of mysteries, and proves to be more a work of historical fiction than anything else. That said, there are certainly better treatments of the Queen of Scots’ story (Margaret George’s epic Mary, Queen of Scotland and the Isles comes immediately to mind). Nonetheless, the book is entertaining and may appeal to readers, if only those who are history buffs and/or Scotophiles (those obsessed with everything Scottish).
November 12, 2016
This book begins a few days after the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots. A Scottish woman, Janet, married to an English man has questions about the guilt of Mary, and begins asking questions to learn more. This book takes the reader back and forth as told from stories Janet gets from other people who were around Mary during the time of her husband, Henry Darnley's, death. Unfortunately, this book could not hold my interest. The back and forth could be confusing. The main character, Janet, was annoying. As Janet asks more questions, she is threatened to leave the matter alone. When this book begins, Janet's marriage is described as happy and respectful. In a matter of days, that completely changes. It's hard to believe that a 20 year marriage could be so dramatically changed over her investigation. It didn't make the characters believable. If the reader wants a book about Mary, I'd suggest going elsewhere.
March 15, 2011
I can't tell you what about this book bugged me, but something rubbed me the wrong way and I couldn't continue. You'd think it'd be right up my alley, in the vein of The Other Boleyn Girl and the like, but I wasn't a fan of the writing, the characters, any of it. I told myself I'd give it to the end of the day, but when I found myself skipping paragraphs, I decided it was time to move on to something else.
May 3, 2012
Average overview of the story of Mary, Queen of Scots and opinion about whether she was involved in the murder of her second husband. Cleverly done from the historical fiction viewpoint by using the device of different characters each presenting their piece of the puzzle.
I'm a rabid history and Tudor family history fan, but know next to nothing about the details of this Tudor cousin's life. It was a good, basic place to start.
I'm a rabid history and Tudor family history fan, but know next to nothing about the details of this Tudor cousin's life. It was a good, basic place to start.
July 31, 2012
Multiple narrators, flashback / progressive storyline in a time of history clouded by treason. It was hard to determine who was good and who was evil. Was Mary, Queen of Scott guilty of killing her second husband? Was she guilty of treason? or was she treated so harshly because she was only a women? In intriguing story which -which would have been better told from the perspective of one narrator.
January 7, 2010
Trying to answer the question if Mary Stuart was aware of the plot to murder her husband Lord Darnely. Told from many different view points from those who claimed to be with her throughout her twenty years of imprisonment.
I enjoyed the story, but I tend to love most things dealing with European royalty.
I enjoyed the story, but I tend to love most things dealing with European royalty.
September 19, 2010
A very complicated story that was made even more confusing by the many narrators, although I did enjoy the challenge of having the story told by many people, I just wish Janet (the main narrator, a fiesty and inquisivitive Scottish woman!) could have, in a way, put it together. Also, I felt Queen Mary was too absent from the book.
August 8, 2011
Very intriguing book about the life of Mary Queen of Scot and if she was guilty of murdering her husband Henry Darnley or not. It leaves it up to your imagination. Also very good story about a woman who is asking questions after the Queens execution that she really shouldn't be and how it affects her family.
March 17, 2013
This book was an interesting take on an true historical mystery. Julianne Lee uses many characters to describe the events that began when Mary Stewart married Henry Darnley and ended with her execution at Fotheringhay. There isn't much new to the story, but the style in which it is written, made this a welcome addition to my shelves of historical fiction.
December 14, 2012
Not my favorite historical fiction novel. It took me quite a while to even get interested in the plot. For the full review: http://erraticprojectjunkie.blogspot....
June 1, 2009
So uninteresting I didn't even finish it. I got to the point where I just didn't care if she did it or not. How bad is that? The book just didn't hold my interest!
May 6, 2011
This was a fun take on the Mary Queen of Scots story, as told by a lady who witnesses the events as they unfold.
April 14, 2013
The beginning of the book was kind of drab. When it came the actual story of Mary herself, it developed into a very interesting plot.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews