The Queene's Cure

Elizabeth I #4

by Karen Harper

In late summer of 1562, with handsome Lord Robert Dudley by her side, Elizabeth Tudor leads her retinue to London’s Royal College of Physicians -- to demand its help in the raging battle against disease and pestilence. But the stalwart queen is shaken when a frighteningly lifelike effigy of herself ravaged by pox turns up in her royal coach.

Elizabeth’s fear that the counterfeit corpse is a harbinger of tragedy comes to fruition whenever more terrifying transgressions penetrate the very heart of her royal precincts. With the help of her Privy Plot Council , Elizabeth resolves to unmask a murderer who wears a false face and is beset by the vilest humours of the soul. But when she herself falls ill, an entire realm is caught in the grip of a treasonous conspiracy...as the indomitable young monarch fights for her life, her realm, and her rightful crown.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Fiction, Historical, Historical Mystery, British Literature, Tudor Period

368 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

A New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Karen Harper is a former college English instructor (The Ohio State University) and high school literature and writing teacher. A lifelong Ohioan, Karen and her husband Don divide their time between the midwest and the southeast, both locations she has used in her books. Besides her American settings, Karen loves the British Isles, where her Scottish and English roots run deep, and where she has set many of her historical Tudor-era mysteries and her historical novels about real and dynamic British women. Karen's books have been published in many foreign languages and she won the Mary Higgins Clark Award for 2005. Karen has given numerous talks to readers and writers across the county. Her most recent books include THE SOUTH SHORES TRILOGY (CHASING SHADOWS, DROWNING TIDES and FALLING DARKNESS.) Her latest historical is THE ROYAL NANNY. Please visit her website at www.KarenHarperAuthor and her fb page at www.facebook.com/KarenHarperAuthor

Reviews

[Ronny Stewart · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am struggling with book.

I very much enjoyed some of Harpers' other HF books, but this one - I am struggling to stay interested. But it goes against my grain to abandon a once started book, so I’ll continue to struggle along.

I usually read 2-5 books per week, but I’ve been reading this one for two weeks and I’m only half way through.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't finish it. A little too ew in details for me w/ bloody pox marks and a woman with broken arm from being forced to have leeches drain her blood...that's where I closed the book. Not exactly a read you want to sit down with a coffee and pastry.

[Francine Gory · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wouldn’t have usually chosen this but fulfilled a summer reading list item. Fairly easy to figure out “who done it”. Period language was bit hard for me to follow

[Susan]

I enjoyed the book. I like historial fiction and especially the Tutors and Elisabethan area. This is book is easy to read and enjoyable myster

[Guorju · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was definitely amazing

[Ape · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a silly book =). But it was quite good for a day of travelling back after holidays and hopping from train to train, as it didn't require a lot of thought and I could dibble in and out. As a crime mystery, it is screamingly obvious, but there is a moment towards the end when I was concerned for her majesty's safety - he he. With all the silly crime fiction out there, there couldn't not be Queen Elizabeth I detective... with her private privy council, her detective squad that she sends out on various fact finding missions.

There's a worry about the pox and Elizabeth's life might be threatened. She must investigate! Funny, I'm going through a Tudor period as I'm reading another Tudor mystery about an assassin hunting down Elizabeth - although in that one Elizabeth isn't doing the detecting. I had to put that one on pause though as it's a hefty hardback book, and doesn't make for a good travelling companion.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up on a whim - I mean, a murder mystery series with Elizabeth I as a main character?! I was so pleasantly surprised. The first few in this series were not available to me so I jumped in here and don't feel I suffered too much for it. There is a core cast of characters in place, mostly based on known people from Elizabeth's inner circle. The historic details and setting were very well done and did an excellent job of transporting the reader to Elizabethan England. The story was inspired by an actual event and the author did a commendable job telling an enjoyable tale that kept the reader interested with enough details to accurately set the scene yet not so much detail that only an ardent historian would remain engaged. A highly enjoyable read. I will be seeking out more in this series.

[Cera · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this less satisfying than the previous books because one of the plots in the book seemed to anticipate germ theory by a few hundred years. It is _entirely possible_ that there really was a proto-germ-theory going around in Elizabethan times that died out due to inability to prove it, or all the upset of the English Civil War, or any number of other reasons. But it flung me out of the book and left me going 'Hey, wait a minute...' which was unsatisfying.

Also, the level of physical peril that the main character was in seemed unnecessary for suspense; we know she lives, she's historical! So why bother setting up such an elaborate icky death trap? (okay, I can answer that -- it let another character do something cool -- but really, it could have been done better.)

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've just finished this book and I must say that this is the best (so far) of the author's Elizabeth I's books! It is 1562 and the Queen's surrogate "mother", Kat Ashley, is seriously ill. A German physician is called in as a last hope when the Queen's physicians can do no more. He manages to retrieve Kat from the jaws of death with his "new" techniques. And so we are introduced to the world of 16th century medicine at a time when a smallpox epidemic was considered the work of a wrathful God. Herbal apothecaries are harassed and arrested, a terrifying and lifelike effigy of the Queen appears in her coach, and blood relations continue to plot in shadowy corners. And the Queen is tormented as her own worst fears come true.

[Christie · Rating 3 out of 5]

First sentence: "She mustn't die."

Queen Elizabeth is having trouble with her Royal College of Physicians. Her subjects are at the mercy of disease and pestilence and England's physicians are lagging behind the continent in medical knowledge. Leaving the college, Elizabeth finds a pox-marked effigy of herself in the royal carriage. Taking it as a threat to herself, Elizabeth is determined to find who is responsible before the effigy's prophecy comes true.

I have to say this is probably my favorite so far in the series. I enjoyed the medical aspects of the story and the amount of red herrings. This was the first book in the series where I did not figure out who the bad guy was until it was revealed in the story. Very good mystery.

Alphabet Challenge: Q

[Moonmomie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm biased because I adore this particular genre and time period, and I thoroughly enjoyed this entire series of books by Karen Harper. They are written very similarly to Fiona Buckley's Ursla Blanchard Mysteries.... almost confusingly so. This series focuses on Queen Elizabeth I, herself, solving the murders of her subjects. Absolutely fictitious activities frequent the books (Elizabeth leaving the castle in disguise to chase down clues and criminals). But, this is why it is Historical "Fiction". Although not historically accurate, they did hold my interest with their depth of character, plot, and historical abundance.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't expect to like this so much. The history is good and the mystery keeps you guessing. Queen Elizabeth is searching for a way to keep her constituents healthy in a time when medical was all about leeches and lancets. Along the way, there are people who wish to see her off the throne and go to extreme lengths to make it happen. The cast of suspects are many - the doctors from the Royal Medical College, courtiers that have been dismissed from court, and members of her own family from the Stewart clan. This is a very interesting read, and the author does a great job of telling the story in just enough words.

[Anne Nerison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Karen Harper's The Queene's Cure, set in Queen Elizabeth I's court, is an engaging and entertaining read. The mystery begins when a mysterious effigy, made to look like the queen, shows up in her coach. If that weren't bad enough, it is made to look as if it is scarred by smallpox--Elizabeth's greatest fear. Meg Milligrew, the court's former apothecary, has been banished from the court for hiding her marriage, and much of the action revolves around her new life and her wish to be back in the queen's good graces. Harper's novel, though it jumps between the two narratives, is relatively easy to follow, and readers will be entranced until the end.

[Terri Lyons · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed the historical elements, particularly the notion of "medicine" in Elizabethan England but I had a hard time reconciling a 27 year old Elizabeth as an amateur detective. She certainly was brilliant enough, extremely well read, and very much a control freak - all of which would lead her to be very interested in any crimes/murders that would impact on her, her crown and England but, really, sneaking out in the middle of the night to detect??? When would she have had the time?

[Carmen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once again Queen Elizabeth is searching for the clues to a murder. She does not involve Meg, but she is in the picture as she has medecines which help them figure out what is going on. It is always interesting to find out the daily life of the times, the ideas, prejudices, etc. while reading a story.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this speculation of disease theory in Elizabethan time and appreciated that the author did research in doctor's books of the era. Not necessary to know if it is absolutely conceivable because this is Fictional, after all. Great Historical fiction!

[Lalla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an excellent read. The book is filled with many historical details while it follows Queen Elizabeth and her trusted circle of servants and courtiers as they try to solve a plot to end her reign on the throne.

[Jami · Rating 1 out of 5]

UGGH! Another book I won from the library- this one was awfullll....maybe i should have signed up for military history..

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the best in the series to date. I loved the medical information and cures suggested etc.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

lovely characters, beautiful writing, interesting plot. haven't finished yet, but am enjoying, esp historical lore.

[Jeni · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Elizabethan fiction...this was pretty good.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elizabeth 1 mystery #4---about the demented undertakings of a Dr from the Royal College of Physicians placing effigies and infecting the queen with the pox

[Bettie Lindley]

The series is a fascinating look at Elizabethan England using the scaffold of mystery. It also has interesting feminist outlooks.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Higly amusing story, not very believable due to the choice of characters and the way they behave which they wouldn't in that time, but still highly amusing.

[Viji · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of Elizabath I Mysteries. Nice reading.

[Hermien · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another delightful Elizabeth I investigation.

[Avary Doubleday · Rating 3 out of 5]

Between 2 and 3. It was hard to see Elizabeth I as a sleuth running after traitors!

[Kimberly Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable series, historical mystery featuring Elizabeth I