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The Marquess House Saga #3
The Arbella Stuart Conspiracy
The final instalment in the timeshift conspiracy series that you don’t want to miss! Perfect for fans of Dan Brown, Philippa Gregory, Kate Mosse and Tom Harper.
Get ready to challenge everything you thought you knew about British royal history…
Derbyshire, England, 1603
Elizabeth I is dead and the Tudor reign is over. As the men in power decide to pass the throne to the Scottish King James, one woman debates changing the course of history.
Two Tudor heirs have been covered up for decades and with a foreign king threatening the stability of England it could be time to bring the truth to the fore.
But there are reasons the Tudor children were put into hiding and exposing them would put not only their lives in danger, but the lives of many others as well…
Marquess House, Pembrokeshire, 2019
Dr Perdita Rivers and her sister Piper have returned to their ancestral home. But the ancient walls still contain riddles which the twins need to solve.
Perdita and Piper have already discovered earth-shattering secrets which will change the course of English history forever. But they are missing one vital piece of the puzzle.
Two Tudor rings have led them to cover-ups at the Tudor court, but now they must track down a missing silver locket to slot the final parts of the mystery together.
And just when it seems they could be ready to expose the centuries-old conspiracy, old enemies resurface to put their very lives at risk…
THE ARBELLA STUART CONSPIRACY is the final book in the Marquess House trilogy, a dual timeline conspiracy thriller with an ingenious twist on a well-known period of Tudor and Stuart history.
THE MARQUESS HOUSE TRILOGY SERIES
BOOK ONE: The Catherine Howard Conspiracy
BOOK TWO: The Elizabeth Tudor Conspiracy
BOOK THREE: The Arbella Stuart Conspiracy
Get ready to challenge everything you thought you knew about British royal history…
Derbyshire, England, 1603
Elizabeth I is dead and the Tudor reign is over. As the men in power decide to pass the throne to the Scottish King James, one woman debates changing the course of history.
Two Tudor heirs have been covered up for decades and with a foreign king threatening the stability of England it could be time to bring the truth to the fore.
But there are reasons the Tudor children were put into hiding and exposing them would put not only their lives in danger, but the lives of many others as well…
Marquess House, Pembrokeshire, 2019
Dr Perdita Rivers and her sister Piper have returned to their ancestral home. But the ancient walls still contain riddles which the twins need to solve.
Perdita and Piper have already discovered earth-shattering secrets which will change the course of English history forever. But they are missing one vital piece of the puzzle.
Two Tudor rings have led them to cover-ups at the Tudor court, but now they must track down a missing silver locket to slot the final parts of the mystery together.
And just when it seems they could be ready to expose the centuries-old conspiracy, old enemies resurface to put their very lives at risk…
THE ARBELLA STUART CONSPIRACY is the final book in the Marquess House trilogy, a dual timeline conspiracy thriller with an ingenious twist on a well-known period of Tudor and Stuart history.
THE MARQUESS HOUSE TRILOGY SERIES
BOOK ONE: The Catherine Howard Conspiracy
BOOK TWO: The Elizabeth Tudor Conspiracy
BOOK THREE: The Arbella Stuart Conspiracy
443 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 25, 2020
404 people are currently reading
343 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
January 28, 2025
Before reading the (actual) final novel in this series, I re-read this book for context. Here’s the original review:
A longtime fan of all things Tudor, I turned to this [at the time] final book in Alexandra Walsh’s trilogy that seeks to explore new and exciting historical twists in this dynastic time.
Dr. Perdita Rvers is now working full-time within the manor house left to her by her grandmother. Full of research and unpublished manuscripts about the Tudors, Perdita seeks to unravel what seems to have been a long forgotten or altered version of events from the 16th and 17th centuries. She has been targeted by MI1 Elite, a part of the British Government that seeks not to have truths or alternate theories about the country’s history reach the light of day, but appears to be safe for the time being.
While her past revelations have been eye opening, Perdita is seeking to find the final piece of an even larger puzzle that might shed some light onto the transition from Tudor to Stuart control of the English Throne. As she digs into a new trove of research, Perdita learns more about Arbella Stuart, who finds herself on the Tudor family tree amongst some of the gnarled branches. However, Arbella’s historical claim was that she felt her heir had claim to the throne that was eventually taken by James I.
As the story alternates between 2019 and the time of Arbella’s pleas, the reader learns that there was much squabbling going on as Elizabeth I was in her final moments on the throne and would have to name a successor. With powerful forces seeking to smooth the accession to the English Throne, some believe that there might have been a rewrite of the history we know today.
Perdita uncovers a piece of jewelry that might prove yet another misstep that history saw nullified to create a new and false storyline about how the Stuarts took hold of England and began their reign. With Arbella imprisoned for her speaking out and Perdita learning a revelation that could change how the Tudor Dynasty came to an end, the reader must wonder how much is Alexandra Walsh’s imagination and what might be worth reexamining with supporting documents.
A fascinating read, especially for those who love all things Tudor, this final piece of a fictional Tudor trilogy will keep many a reader wondering. Recommended to those who enjoy looking at history from all sides, as well as the reader who loved the previous two books in this series.
I will not purport to knowing all the answers when it comes to the Tudors or even how to decipher their more than complex family tree. Still, Alexandra Walsh brings it all together and does her best (as any Tudor writer might) to keep things straight for the lay reader. Dr. Perdita Rivers resumes her role as protagonist in this piece, pushing forward to learn a little more about the Tudors, though the research and unearthed documents her grandmother left her.
The series reader will have seen much progress in Perdita’s character, from her discover of the truth related to her family through to the massive amount of information left for her in an odd bequest. Much has been accomplished with those around her, both researchers and love interests, as Walsh ties things up effectively. While there is little time for much depth in a trilogy, Walsh does well to keep her central character exciting and on point. Other characters, both returning and those new to this book, help to push the story along and keep the reader eager to discover how they fit into the larger narrative. Walsh has mixed historical characters with those who are likely fabricated by her own imagination.
The story worked well to tie up many of the loose ends left dangling from the past two novels, while also leaving much for the reader to ponder. Walsh has done well in her writing, as I compare her to a few other Tudor writers (both those of historical fiction and fact-based tomes). The narrative moved forward well and the plot seemed to fit nicely in the two time periods used to shape the overall story. Walsh moves between the two with little issue, dividing the book into nine parts as she shifts back and forth with well-developed chapters. Walsh has done extremely well with this series and I would hope that anyone seeking some Tudor background that delves into some alternate history possibilities would grab them up. Easy reads packed with information and entertainment!
Kudos, Madam Walsh, for another great book. Now that this series is done, I will have to keep my eyes open for whatever else you have coming out.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A longtime fan of all things Tudor, I turned to this [at the time] final book in Alexandra Walsh’s trilogy that seeks to explore new and exciting historical twists in this dynastic time.
Dr. Perdita Rvers is now working full-time within the manor house left to her by her grandmother. Full of research and unpublished manuscripts about the Tudors, Perdita seeks to unravel what seems to have been a long forgotten or altered version of events from the 16th and 17th centuries. She has been targeted by MI1 Elite, a part of the British Government that seeks not to have truths or alternate theories about the country’s history reach the light of day, but appears to be safe for the time being.
While her past revelations have been eye opening, Perdita is seeking to find the final piece of an even larger puzzle that might shed some light onto the transition from Tudor to Stuart control of the English Throne. As she digs into a new trove of research, Perdita learns more about Arbella Stuart, who finds herself on the Tudor family tree amongst some of the gnarled branches. However, Arbella’s historical claim was that she felt her heir had claim to the throne that was eventually taken by James I.
As the story alternates between 2019 and the time of Arbella’s pleas, the reader learns that there was much squabbling going on as Elizabeth I was in her final moments on the throne and would have to name a successor. With powerful forces seeking to smooth the accession to the English Throne, some believe that there might have been a rewrite of the history we know today.
Perdita uncovers a piece of jewelry that might prove yet another misstep that history saw nullified to create a new and false storyline about how the Stuarts took hold of England and began their reign. With Arbella imprisoned for her speaking out and Perdita learning a revelation that could change how the Tudor Dynasty came to an end, the reader must wonder how much is Alexandra Walsh’s imagination and what might be worth reexamining with supporting documents.
A fascinating read, especially for those who love all things Tudor, this final piece of a fictional Tudor trilogy will keep many a reader wondering. Recommended to those who enjoy looking at history from all sides, as well as the reader who loved the previous two books in this series.
I will not purport to knowing all the answers when it comes to the Tudors or even how to decipher their more than complex family tree. Still, Alexandra Walsh brings it all together and does her best (as any Tudor writer might) to keep things straight for the lay reader. Dr. Perdita Rivers resumes her role as protagonist in this piece, pushing forward to learn a little more about the Tudors, though the research and unearthed documents her grandmother left her.
The series reader will have seen much progress in Perdita’s character, from her discover of the truth related to her family through to the massive amount of information left for her in an odd bequest. Much has been accomplished with those around her, both researchers and love interests, as Walsh ties things up effectively. While there is little time for much depth in a trilogy, Walsh does well to keep her central character exciting and on point. Other characters, both returning and those new to this book, help to push the story along and keep the reader eager to discover how they fit into the larger narrative. Walsh has mixed historical characters with those who are likely fabricated by her own imagination.
The story worked well to tie up many of the loose ends left dangling from the past two novels, while also leaving much for the reader to ponder. Walsh has done well in her writing, as I compare her to a few other Tudor writers (both those of historical fiction and fact-based tomes). The narrative moved forward well and the plot seemed to fit nicely in the two time periods used to shape the overall story. Walsh moves between the two with little issue, dividing the book into nine parts as she shifts back and forth with well-developed chapters. Walsh has done extremely well with this series and I would hope that anyone seeking some Tudor background that delves into some alternate history possibilities would grab them up. Easy reads packed with information and entertainment!
Kudos, Madam Walsh, for another great book. Now that this series is done, I will have to keep my eyes open for whatever else you have coming out.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
June 22, 2020
I love how well Walsh researches her stories. They make such fascinating fiction and this third and final book of the series was no exception. I have studied the Stuarts in History and have an interest in this period; therefore it’s of no surprise that I had to conclude this historical conspiracy series.
Admittedly, I did find this story tricky to follow. The number of characters are so, so vast. It would have been significantly helpful if the writer had included a family tree or character list; it would have helped me track all the different connections. Consequently, I did find myself re-reading sections because I was a little lost in the narrative.
Undoubtedly, this is a trilogy that you essentially have to read from the beginning and in sequence. Not only are the historical events in chronological order, but you see the development between present day characters. It would be far too confusing to start this series in the middle! That being said, Walsh neatly concludes the story at the end; there is no hint of another book in the series, making this selection of books even “neater”, in my opinion.
I enjoyed both the present day and seventeenth century narratives. Yes, the political plots in the past were confusing but Walsh has created such a detailed narrative that it was easy to be immersed in this story. I was distracted by the quality of writing that the complexity of the characters did not lessen my enjoyment. I loved the references to Shakespeare in the story and it just added to the realism of all that was being portrayed.
All the central present day characters return and I could not help but be suspicious of Alistair throughout the narrative! I loved the great house, especially the secrets that are uncovered by Perdita and Piper. I could completely imagine a house so vast with beautiful grounds and an excellent research centre. In fact, it made me want to go on a sabbatical to study with the sisters and uncover some more historical conspiracies!
I really enjoyed this series. It was a satisfying read but the complexity did have an impact on how I consumed the story. I think the first book in the series was my most favourite but this does not stop me recommending this trilogy to all historical fiction fans out there.
With thanks to Sapere books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Admittedly, I did find this story tricky to follow. The number of characters are so, so vast. It would have been significantly helpful if the writer had included a family tree or character list; it would have helped me track all the different connections. Consequently, I did find myself re-reading sections because I was a little lost in the narrative.
Undoubtedly, this is a trilogy that you essentially have to read from the beginning and in sequence. Not only are the historical events in chronological order, but you see the development between present day characters. It would be far too confusing to start this series in the middle! That being said, Walsh neatly concludes the story at the end; there is no hint of another book in the series, making this selection of books even “neater”, in my opinion.
I enjoyed both the present day and seventeenth century narratives. Yes, the political plots in the past were confusing but Walsh has created such a detailed narrative that it was easy to be immersed in this story. I was distracted by the quality of writing that the complexity of the characters did not lessen my enjoyment. I loved the references to Shakespeare in the story and it just added to the realism of all that was being portrayed.
All the central present day characters return and I could not help but be suspicious of Alistair throughout the narrative! I loved the great house, especially the secrets that are uncovered by Perdita and Piper. I could completely imagine a house so vast with beautiful grounds and an excellent research centre. In fact, it made me want to go on a sabbatical to study with the sisters and uncover some more historical conspiracies!
I really enjoyed this series. It was a satisfying read but the complexity did have an impact on how I consumed the story. I think the first book in the series was my most favourite but this does not stop me recommending this trilogy to all historical fiction fans out there.
With thanks to Sapere books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 30, 2020
Is it possible to be absorbed in a book where you don't complete understand what's going on? For me, apparently it is. There are so many characters mentioned here - this one is the wife of that one, who's the third cousin of the other one...eek! But even without untangling those knots and keeping most of the characters straight, I was still wrapped up in this mystery, just as I was with the first Marquess House book.
September 13, 2020
I didn’t enjoy this one as much as the others maybe as I was getting bored with the story, I’ve read many books of this type so maybe I’ve overdone it for awhile.
May 30, 2020
A well written conclusion to this series. There were a lot of characters and at times I had to reread parts to keep things straight in my head. So much intrigue and secrets, hard to know who you could trust.
I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the main characters, would love to revisit them in another story.
Thanks to Sapere for the opportunity to read this early copy
I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the main characters, would love to revisit them in another story.
Thanks to Sapere for the opportunity to read this early copy
May 31, 2020
This is the third book of a trilogy, set in Tudor times and the present day. Sisters Perdita and Piper have inherited a mansion and historical research facility, leading them to unsettling – and possibly dangerous – discoveries about alternative narratives to the generally accepted one of the Royal lineage in Tudor and Stuart times.
The book starts with a general “catch up” both to remind the reader of where we had got to in previous books and to make it possible for the book to be read as a stand-alone (something I think is important in any book series). However because of the complexity of the historical details, the background section takes up almost 10% of the book, and while this is necessary for completeness, it made me wonder whether it might have made for a better reading flow if all three books had been rolled together into one huge Hilary mantel style tome. Maybe a large book is offputting to some people but I think I would have preferred it.
I would also like to see a chart or family tree of all the relationships linked to the story to save skimming backwards and forwards reminding myself who was married to whom, which child was whose and where, in some cases, they were concealed, and which of the ladies belonged to the Ladies of the Melusine. With a larger book, this could come in the form of a fold-out chart, that the reader could flip out and refer to regularly. I’d have loved an illustration of the Lennox Jewel too – wondering whether it was fact or fiction, I found an image of it and was fascinated by the way the story linked to it. I think an image of it in the book would have enriched my reading experience.
Right, having got all the negatives out of the way, let me move on to the fact that I absolutely LOVED the book. In fact I thought it was the best of a great trilogy. The modern part of the story is fast paced and gripping with great characters and personalities. The historical part of the story is a fascinating and entirely plausible alternative to our accepted historical narrative of the period. The two parts link together and flow beautifully, weaving in and out between each other throughout not just the book but the whole trilogy.
The book starts with a general “catch up” both to remind the reader of where we had got to in previous books and to make it possible for the book to be read as a stand-alone (something I think is important in any book series). However because of the complexity of the historical details, the background section takes up almost 10% of the book, and while this is necessary for completeness, it made me wonder whether it might have made for a better reading flow if all three books had been rolled together into one huge Hilary mantel style tome. Maybe a large book is offputting to some people but I think I would have preferred it.
I would also like to see a chart or family tree of all the relationships linked to the story to save skimming backwards and forwards reminding myself who was married to whom, which child was whose and where, in some cases, they were concealed, and which of the ladies belonged to the Ladies of the Melusine. With a larger book, this could come in the form of a fold-out chart, that the reader could flip out and refer to regularly. I’d have loved an illustration of the Lennox Jewel too – wondering whether it was fact or fiction, I found an image of it and was fascinated by the way the story linked to it. I think an image of it in the book would have enriched my reading experience.
Right, having got all the negatives out of the way, let me move on to the fact that I absolutely LOVED the book. In fact I thought it was the best of a great trilogy. The modern part of the story is fast paced and gripping with great characters and personalities. The historical part of the story is a fascinating and entirely plausible alternative to our accepted historical narrative of the period. The two parts link together and flow beautifully, weaving in and out between each other throughout not just the book but the whole trilogy.
June 14, 2020
Thanks to Sapere books for the ARC.
I had read the other two books in the trilogy and was happy to receive the final book. It did not disappoint. The way the stories are made to be so believable and an alternate version of the British monarchy makes me feel like it is actually true and I need to start researching it myself.
My only criticism is that in the scenes that take place in the past (Tudor times), it is very confusing to keep track of all the names of the characters...I could have done with a glossary or a chart because I didn't know who was who at times.
Otherwise, this is a fun trilogy for fan of the Tudor era. It is a completely different view point from other stories and is very entertaining.
I had read the other two books in the trilogy and was happy to receive the final book. It did not disappoint. The way the stories are made to be so believable and an alternate version of the British monarchy makes me feel like it is actually true and I need to start researching it myself.
My only criticism is that in the scenes that take place in the past (Tudor times), it is very confusing to keep track of all the names of the characters...I could have done with a glossary or a chart because I didn't know who was who at times.
Otherwise, this is a fun trilogy for fan of the Tudor era. It is a completely different view point from other stories and is very entertaining.
October 1, 2020
3.5*
I read and thoroughly enjoyed the first two books in this series. If you love English history, particularly the Tudor/Stuart era, then this is most definitely the series for you. It is essential that you read all the books and in sequence for both the historical events and present day character development to make sense. Both narratives - past and present - in all three books are good.
As with Alexandra’s previous two books, this instalment 'The Arbella Stuart Conspiracy' is a massively researched undertaking that is structured and planned to perfection. The historical premise of an alternate narrative to this Tudor period is so well written that it appears entirely plausible. This is linked wonderfully well with the present day and the theory that there are movements to suppress these undiscovered truths. As in dual time narratives it requires a solid link between the two stories to work and I believe Alexandra weaves the two well together once more. If you love a good conspiracy theory then this series has them by the dozen.
Unfortunately, I was not as enraptured with this final instalment as the previous two. Burnout? Maybe. They are long reads and the amount of information in this one became overwhelming at times. It definitely needed a glossary/chart/family tree (or three!) as the number of names and family connections just got lost in the vast amounts of information (if you are not diligent enough to go and research the connections). Whilst I loved reading about Catherine Howard (book 1) and Elizabeth Tudor (book 2) I really did not warm to Arbella Stuart. She was always angry and ‘snapping’ at people! The current day's tale still held a good mystery, but the information dumps by the lead characters were too much.
Overall, I really enjoyed this series. It proved fascinating reading but be warned it is an intriguing yet complex read. I feel that it slid downhill from book one but still maintained a high level of attraction particularly for those who love a good conspiracy theory related to the Tudors.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
I read and thoroughly enjoyed the first two books in this series. If you love English history, particularly the Tudor/Stuart era, then this is most definitely the series for you. It is essential that you read all the books and in sequence for both the historical events and present day character development to make sense. Both narratives - past and present - in all three books are good.
As with Alexandra’s previous two books, this instalment 'The Arbella Stuart Conspiracy' is a massively researched undertaking that is structured and planned to perfection. The historical premise of an alternate narrative to this Tudor period is so well written that it appears entirely plausible. This is linked wonderfully well with the present day and the theory that there are movements to suppress these undiscovered truths. As in dual time narratives it requires a solid link between the two stories to work and I believe Alexandra weaves the two well together once more. If you love a good conspiracy theory then this series has them by the dozen.
Unfortunately, I was not as enraptured with this final instalment as the previous two. Burnout? Maybe. They are long reads and the amount of information in this one became overwhelming at times. It definitely needed a glossary/chart/family tree (or three!) as the number of names and family connections just got lost in the vast amounts of information (if you are not diligent enough to go and research the connections). Whilst I loved reading about Catherine Howard (book 1) and Elizabeth Tudor (book 2) I really did not warm to Arbella Stuart. She was always angry and ‘snapping’ at people! The current day's tale still held a good mystery, but the information dumps by the lead characters were too much.
Overall, I really enjoyed this series. It proved fascinating reading but be warned it is an intriguing yet complex read. I feel that it slid downhill from book one but still maintained a high level of attraction particularly for those who love a good conspiracy theory related to the Tudors.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
January 21, 2025
Storygraph let me rate this .25 stars, you know. I just want y'all to keep that in mind.
Still not as bad as Tiger's Curse but my god. It was close.
More to come maybe but mostly the issues are, terrible portrayal of historians, deep misunderstanding of how history works, deep misunderstanding of how people work, borderline delusional opinions about history books and tudor recordkeeping, terrible dialogue, nonsense plot, nothing motivations, racist caricature villain in the last 9% of the book, and characters I could only pick out of a lineup because all the other characters would have. Well. Character.
Still not as bad as Tiger's Curse but my god. It was close.
More to come maybe but mostly the issues are, terrible portrayal of historians, deep misunderstanding of how history works, deep misunderstanding of how people work, borderline delusional opinions about history books and tudor recordkeeping, terrible dialogue, nonsense plot, nothing motivations, racist caricature villain in the last 9% of the book, and characters I could only pick out of a lineup because all the other characters would have. Well. Character.
March 6, 2025
I had to get to the end of this trilogy once I’d started, even though it continued to grate on me all the way through. I found it slightly less trite than the previous two books, though still with the infuriating confusion that came from us, the reader, being party to the historical timeline, while the contemporary characters only knew some of it. Once again, the conspiracy theory itself is absolutely excellent, playing with the idea of alternative explanations for what was really happening during the Tudor period, but the 21st century characters drove me crazy. (Edit: I’ve seen that another book has been added to this series, but nope, I’ve decided I’m done with it and won’t be drawn back in!)
July 28, 2022
Very enjoyable. Now starting to read The Jane Seymour Conspiracy.
September 30, 2020
Brilliant trilogy
I read the complete set over two days, couldn't put it down, absolutely enthralling from start to finish and a wonderful weaving of fact and fiction
I read the complete set over two days, couldn't put it down, absolutely enthralling from start to finish and a wonderful weaving of fact and fiction
July 24, 2020
I enjoyed The Arbella Stuart Conspiracy a bit less than the rest of this series. It's not that it wasn't well written but, for most of the book I wasn't particularly sympathetic to Arbella.
In The Catherine Howard Conspiracy, I found Catherine's story fascinating and incredibly sad. And in The Elizabeth Tudor Conspiracy, Elizabeth was much warmer than I expected and I loved the story of friendship.
For most of The Arbella Stuart Conspiracy I found Arbella quite mercenary and ambitious (not that there is anything wrong with ambition). It wasn't until toward the end when her focus changed from personal ambition to the good of the realm that I started to like her and started to really enjoy her story. There also seemed to be less to keep me interested in Perdita and Piper's story in this book.
The Arbella Stuart Conspiracy was still an enjoyable read, I just didn't like it quite as much as the rest of the series.
In The Catherine Howard Conspiracy, I found Catherine's story fascinating and incredibly sad. And in The Elizabeth Tudor Conspiracy, Elizabeth was much warmer than I expected and I loved the story of friendship.
For most of The Arbella Stuart Conspiracy I found Arbella quite mercenary and ambitious (not that there is anything wrong with ambition). It wasn't until toward the end when her focus changed from personal ambition to the good of the realm that I started to like her and started to really enjoy her story. There also seemed to be less to keep me interested in Perdita and Piper's story in this book.
The Arbella Stuart Conspiracy was still an enjoyable read, I just didn't like it quite as much as the rest of the series.
December 27, 2020
I really need to flip to the end, because I want to know if
For now, I'm only a few chapters in and I already see a mistake. As Perdita is admiring the stained glass windows, she says the third window is Atalanta, the Greek Goddess of the hunt.
Erm...that's Artemis, which you should know, because you just assigned her name to as a codename in the last book! Atalanta was classified as a Hero, who had Artemis as a patroness.
=====
Two Days Later: the plot is getting more and more convoluted. If I didn't know my headache was due to sinuses, I'd blame it on this book.
The latest mistake? Richard II was defeated at Bosworth.
Except the Battle of Bosworth Field was in 1485, and Richard II was dead eighty-five years by that point. 🤦🏼♀️
I think I may have some sort of digital ARC, though, as there was a footnote at one point that seemed to ask Mistress Walsh to differentiate between the King's Men as a theatre troupe and as an early version of MI1.
Nice red herring, though, using Cobweb to greet Arbella at a performance of...Cymbeline. (Cobweb is a faery-in-waiting from Midsummer's, along with Peaseblossom, Mustardseed and Mote.)
=====
Nearly finished
Interesting glitch this time: Mistress Walsh refers to Penelope [FitzAlan] Seymour as the Countess of Somerset by her marriage to William Seymour.
While there was a Countess Somerset in James I's era, she was Frances Howard, the wife of Robert Carr.
If we imagine that Penelope existed, she would've been the second Duchess of Somerset since my 13x great grandmother, Anne [Stanhope] Seymour, not a countess.
For now, I'm only a few chapters in and I already see a mistake. As Perdita is admiring the stained glass windows, she says the third window is Atalanta, the Greek Goddess of the hunt.
Erm...that's Artemis, which you should know, because you just assigned her name to as a codename in the last book! Atalanta was classified as a Hero, who had Artemis as a patroness.
=====
Two Days Later: the plot is getting more and more convoluted. If I didn't know my headache was due to sinuses, I'd blame it on this book.
The latest mistake? Richard II was defeated at Bosworth.
Except the Battle of Bosworth Field was in 1485, and Richard II was dead eighty-five years by that point. 🤦🏼♀️
I think I may have some sort of digital ARC, though, as there was a footnote at one point that seemed to ask Mistress Walsh to differentiate between the King's Men as a theatre troupe and as an early version of MI1.
Nice red herring, though, using Cobweb to greet Arbella at a performance of...Cymbeline. (Cobweb is a faery-in-waiting from Midsummer's, along with Peaseblossom, Mustardseed and Mote.)
=====
Nearly finished
Interesting glitch this time: Mistress Walsh refers to Penelope [FitzAlan] Seymour as the Countess of Somerset by her marriage to William Seymour.
While there was a Countess Somerset in James I's era, she was Frances Howard, the wife of Robert Carr.
If we imagine that Penelope existed, she would've been the second Duchess of Somerset since my 13x great grandmother, Anne [Stanhope] Seymour, not a countess.
August 27, 2021
So I waited for a year for this book to be released and it was more than worth it! Holy plot twist! Alexandra Walsh, my dear, what a way to finish the trilogy! These books were so entertaining and interesting and makes me want to learn more about the historical subjects in them. I read them so quickly because I juts couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next. I can't say enough about how much I loved this set of books. Worth every minute of reading them and I may actually jump back into them in the not so distant future. These are the first books I have read from this author, but they will not be my last.
May 26, 2020
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Worlds Unlike Our Own
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4.5 stars
Thank you to the publisher, Sapere Books, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Now safely back at Marquess House with the two Tudor rings, all that remains for this age old conspiracy to unfold is the missing silver locket. With the discovery of a previously sealed off grotto under the mansion, several chests of old journals and documents along with a few portraits are found, which may just hold the key to discovering what was hidden away at Marquess House all those centuries ago. As the sisters begin to unravel the last piece of this mystery, the story in the past timeline now sets its focus on Arbella Stuart towards the end of Elizabeth’s reign. As a potential successor to the throne, Arbella has always played a precarious game at court, but she was also deeply involved in the elaborate plot concocted by the Ladies of Melusine to protect the Tudor twins. Marquess House holds secrets yet to be found, and the answer is within reach, yet the sisters are in more danger than ever before as their enemies seem to be drawing ever closer.
I was quite curious as to which historical figure in the Tudor era this book would be based on and was surprised when it turned out to be Arbella, whom I have only come across in passing in the many historical fiction novels of this era that I’ve read. It turns out, she’s a far more interesting character than I thought at first glance. I was very impressed at the amount of research that no doubt went into this book, clearly evident from the attention to detail throughout. It has been implied for a while that there was some sort of cover up that changed the version of events in the Tudor era, but it is only in this book that it is revealed just how massive that cover up was, and to what extent things were rewritten, quite literally, to present events and people in a more favourable light. Book two did leave a lot of questions to be answered, and I for one, was quite satisfied with how this series concluded, all loose ends tied up. The epilogue was a nice touch, and I felt, a very fitting way to end this story.
As with the second book, I felt that this book, too, spent a little too much time narrating the previous events. What would have really been useful is a recap of the events from The Elizabeth Tudor Conspiracy instead, since I had forgotten a lot of the details, especially those regarding what transpired at the siege of Fotheringhay Castle and it took me a while to piece things together again.
I mentioned in a recent historical fiction review that narrating a historical story with dual timelines can be quite hard to get right, since I’ve found as a reader that one timeline always ends up grabbing the majority of the attention. However, this series is one for which this style of narration really works! It was quite something to see the conspiracy in the 1600s as it was being laid and also to watch Perdita and Piper piece it together by deciphering the clues laid down centuries ago. The story in both timelines was compelling enough that I was always wondering what would happen next, no matter which timeline I was reading. Best of all, each timeline maintains the tense air perfectly throughout and the transitions between sections were very smooth and there was rarely any repeated information.
While the final reveal in the present timeline was something I had already guessed at, it was a lot of fun to see the pieces fit together at last. Arbella’s ultimate fate in this version of events was quite shocking and unexpected, but an interesting place to conclude the past timeline at. I’m usually a bit wary when novels take liberty with historical events to this extent, but Walsh has presented through this trilogy an incredibly intriguing alternate story so realistic that it might have actually happened. I enjoyed it thoroughly and am looking forward to reading any of her works in the future. I would highly recommend this series that is a fantastic combination of history and mystery for all historical fiction fans, and particularly Tudor era fans.
4.5 stars
Thank you to the publisher, Sapere Books, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Now safely back at Marquess House with the two Tudor rings, all that remains for this age old conspiracy to unfold is the missing silver locket. With the discovery of a previously sealed off grotto under the mansion, several chests of old journals and documents along with a few portraits are found, which may just hold the key to discovering what was hidden away at Marquess House all those centuries ago. As the sisters begin to unravel the last piece of this mystery, the story in the past timeline now sets its focus on Arbella Stuart towards the end of Elizabeth’s reign. As a potential successor to the throne, Arbella has always played a precarious game at court, but she was also deeply involved in the elaborate plot concocted by the Ladies of Melusine to protect the Tudor twins. Marquess House holds secrets yet to be found, and the answer is within reach, yet the sisters are in more danger than ever before as their enemies seem to be drawing ever closer.
I was quite curious as to which historical figure in the Tudor era this book would be based on and was surprised when it turned out to be Arbella, whom I have only come across in passing in the many historical fiction novels of this era that I’ve read. It turns out, she’s a far more interesting character than I thought at first glance. I was very impressed at the amount of research that no doubt went into this book, clearly evident from the attention to detail throughout. It has been implied for a while that there was some sort of cover up that changed the version of events in the Tudor era, but it is only in this book that it is revealed just how massive that cover up was, and to what extent things were rewritten, quite literally, to present events and people in a more favourable light. Book two did leave a lot of questions to be answered, and I for one, was quite satisfied with how this series concluded, all loose ends tied up. The epilogue was a nice touch, and I felt, a very fitting way to end this story.
As with the second book, I felt that this book, too, spent a little too much time narrating the previous events. What would have really been useful is a recap of the events from The Elizabeth Tudor Conspiracy instead, since I had forgotten a lot of the details, especially those regarding what transpired at the siege of Fotheringhay Castle and it took me a while to piece things together again.
I mentioned in a recent historical fiction review that narrating a historical story with dual timelines can be quite hard to get right, since I’ve found as a reader that one timeline always ends up grabbing the majority of the attention. However, this series is one for which this style of narration really works! It was quite something to see the conspiracy in the 1600s as it was being laid and also to watch Perdita and Piper piece it together by deciphering the clues laid down centuries ago. The story in both timelines was compelling enough that I was always wondering what would happen next, no matter which timeline I was reading. Best of all, each timeline maintains the tense air perfectly throughout and the transitions between sections were very smooth and there was rarely any repeated information.
While the final reveal in the present timeline was something I had already guessed at, it was a lot of fun to see the pieces fit together at last. Arbella’s ultimate fate in this version of events was quite shocking and unexpected, but an interesting place to conclude the past timeline at. I’m usually a bit wary when novels take liberty with historical events to this extent, but Walsh has presented through this trilogy an incredibly intriguing alternate story so realistic that it might have actually happened. I enjoyed it thoroughly and am looking forward to reading any of her works in the future. I would highly recommend this series that is a fantastic combination of history and mystery for all historical fiction fans, and particularly Tudor era fans.
June 14, 2020
In 'The Arbella Stuart Conspiracy', Alexandra Walsh tells us a double story. On the one hand, the story of Lady Arbella Stuart, her female supporters, and her offspring, in her claim to queendom after the death of Queen Elizabeth I, in favour of James I; on the other, the story of Dr Perdita Rivers, her twin sister Piper, and their whole historian team as they unravel the mystery of the Stuart claim. Added to a surprising conclusion to the events, Perdita’s team also deal with love, betrayal, and a dastardly enemy intent on their destruction alongside the suppression of the truth they uncover.
To spin her tale, Walsh creates a secret sisterhood of noblewomen in Tudor England, the Ladies of Melusine, working in the shadows to (unsuccessfully, in the end) stop and overthrow the patriarchal powers. Their codes and items are what lead Perdita, Piper, and the others to confirm that Lady Arbella, and her children, were the true preferable heirs to the throne. For that, they are all targeted by MI1 Elite, and archenemy Randolph Connors, who despite all their power cannot gain access to Marquess House, family home of the twins, and secret keeper for the Ladies of Melusine over the centuries.
Who would enjoy this
First of all, 'The Arbella Stuart Conspiracy' is the third volume of a series, and very clearly the closing chapter for the whole saga. Thus, it will make sense for readers of the previous volumes to follow up and get their ending.
Secondly, I would recommend it to people who enjoy slow burns, British history, and learning without studying. The tome is well researched and full of detail.
Finally, I would offer it to people who love conspiracy theories, particularly those with a feminist twist. Whether to bemoan the harm done to Lady Arbella and the Ladies of Melusine, or to cheer the winning brilliance of Dr Rivers, they will find their interests met.
Who should give this a pass
'The Arbella Stuart Conspiracy' is not for those who want a fast-paced story. You are either a patient reader, or you give this a wide berth.
Similarly, this is not the right book for a reader with a love for credible storylines and characters. Despite the heavy reliance on historical research, Lady Arbella comes through as rather vacuous and insignificant to the large tapestry of history; the baddies are super-bad; and everyone is beautiful, brilliant, rich, and powerful.
Conclusions and suggestions
'The Arbella Stuart Conspiracy' is, as mentioned, vastly researched, as well as carefully planned and structured. It is also well written, and will be attractive to many a reader. Sadly, as far as engaging the more demanding readership, it has several issues.
There is a British expression which sums up my feelings about the story of Lady Arbella Stuart after reading this book: not fussed. Despite having picked up the tome for its content matter (I love history, conspiracies, and learning about relevant female figures), I was left with an image of a petulant child-woman who was enamoured with her own claim, and the adulation of those around her. Someone so removed from reality, she would risk civil war for a crown, yet express incredulity when those near her would risk themselves to help her escape The Tower. I felt the fantasy diminished the woman I had learned about.
With regards to the ‘contemporary’ events in the story, I could not relate to any of the other characters. Most particularly, I could not take seriously the whole ‘hunted down by an elite body specialised in preventing the truth from rendering asunder the whole fabric of our modern government’ vibe of the MI1 Elite force. It made me burst out laughing a few times, roll my eyes at least. I will not tell you what I think of mega-rich, mega-crazy, megalomaniac Raymond Connors’ character. I could just as well imagine the Avengers, or Nicolas Cage as Benjamin Franklin Gates, rampaging through the pages.
To spin her tale, Walsh creates a secret sisterhood of noblewomen in Tudor England, the Ladies of Melusine, working in the shadows to (unsuccessfully, in the end) stop and overthrow the patriarchal powers. Their codes and items are what lead Perdita, Piper, and the others to confirm that Lady Arbella, and her children, were the true preferable heirs to the throne. For that, they are all targeted by MI1 Elite, and archenemy Randolph Connors, who despite all their power cannot gain access to Marquess House, family home of the twins, and secret keeper for the Ladies of Melusine over the centuries.
Who would enjoy this
First of all, 'The Arbella Stuart Conspiracy' is the third volume of a series, and very clearly the closing chapter for the whole saga. Thus, it will make sense for readers of the previous volumes to follow up and get their ending.
Secondly, I would recommend it to people who enjoy slow burns, British history, and learning without studying. The tome is well researched and full of detail.
Finally, I would offer it to people who love conspiracy theories, particularly those with a feminist twist. Whether to bemoan the harm done to Lady Arbella and the Ladies of Melusine, or to cheer the winning brilliance of Dr Rivers, they will find their interests met.
Who should give this a pass
'The Arbella Stuart Conspiracy' is not for those who want a fast-paced story. You are either a patient reader, or you give this a wide berth.
Similarly, this is not the right book for a reader with a love for credible storylines and characters. Despite the heavy reliance on historical research, Lady Arbella comes through as rather vacuous and insignificant to the large tapestry of history; the baddies are super-bad; and everyone is beautiful, brilliant, rich, and powerful.
Conclusions and suggestions
'The Arbella Stuart Conspiracy' is, as mentioned, vastly researched, as well as carefully planned and structured. It is also well written, and will be attractive to many a reader. Sadly, as far as engaging the more demanding readership, it has several issues.
There is a British expression which sums up my feelings about the story of Lady Arbella Stuart after reading this book: not fussed. Despite having picked up the tome for its content matter (I love history, conspiracies, and learning about relevant female figures), I was left with an image of a petulant child-woman who was enamoured with her own claim, and the adulation of those around her. Someone so removed from reality, she would risk civil war for a crown, yet express incredulity when those near her would risk themselves to help her escape The Tower. I felt the fantasy diminished the woman I had learned about.
With regards to the ‘contemporary’ events in the story, I could not relate to any of the other characters. Most particularly, I could not take seriously the whole ‘hunted down by an elite body specialised in preventing the truth from rendering asunder the whole fabric of our modern government’ vibe of the MI1 Elite force. It made me burst out laughing a few times, roll my eyes at least. I will not tell you what I think of mega-rich, mega-crazy, megalomaniac Raymond Connors’ character. I could just as well imagine the Avengers, or Nicolas Cage as Benjamin Franklin Gates, rampaging through the pages.
September 21, 2020
While I try to read almost any historical fiction involving the Tudors, my book choices usually never ventured past the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, so I knew very little about Arbella Stuart, an English noblewoman who was considered a possible successor to Elizabeth. This book really gave me a good look at this fascinating character and definitely made me interested in finding out more about her.
There is a lot to wrap your head around in this book. Both timelines are incredibly detailed and move along at a good, solid pace, but there is often a lot of information to absorb. There is almost never a dull moment, especially in the modern timeline.
As with the previous two books, Walsh takes the generally-acknowledged Tudor history and gives it a sharp twist. To be honest, since I didn’t know Arbella’s story, I just went along for the ride. This was a different experience than the previous two books (The Catherine Howard Conspiracy and The Elizabeth Tudor Conspiracy). Since I’m quite familiar with both Catherine and Elizabeth’s stories (well, the usually accepted stories anyway) the twists in Walsh’s books took my breath away. This time, I was less startled and so could sit back and enjoy the narrative.
By the end of the second book, I had already developed a guess at what the trilogy’s final ending would be in terms of how Perdita and Piper were related to the historical figures and I was really satisfied to see I had guessed correctly (no spoilers!). It was also satisfying how most of the loose ends were tied up, especially in terms of the various relationships that had been taking place throughout the run of the three books. Obviously, I can’t say too much more without giving the ending away but let’s just say that I was VERY satisfied with how everything turned out. I loved the ending and it made the whole trilogy worthwhile. This may seem like a small matter, but believe, me, there have been times when I enjoyed the first two books of a trilogy and then the third book just ruined the whole thing. This wasn’t one of those times (thank goodness!)
I think the thing I will miss most now that I have to put these books on the shelf and checked them off as “Read”, is the characters. Walsh has created some lovely people in these stories – from the twins, Perdita and Piper, to the Mackensie family (especially Kit – insert heart-eyes emoji here) to all the various friends and allies – these are people I would love to meet and hang around with. They are realistic characters who have distinct personalities and interesting lives.
Of course, there’s also the myriad of historical figures that Walsh includes in the trilogy as well. From Catherine Howard to Elizabeth Tudor to Arbella Stuart, the past comes alive in full details and a large cast of characters. And I do mean large – I needed to detailed notes to keep track of everyone! Again, the detail and personalities of the characters makes both timelines come to life. This book (and trilogy) is filled with very smart, strong and inspiring women in both timelines.
I will definitely miss the anticipation of another visit to Marquess House, but Walsh has already announced her next project so I’m looking forward to seeing where her writing will take me next.
You can read my full, spoiler-free review on my blog: https://www.bookfrolic.com/book-revie...
*** Thank you to the publisher, Sapere Books, for providing me with an advanced e-copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
There is a lot to wrap your head around in this book. Both timelines are incredibly detailed and move along at a good, solid pace, but there is often a lot of information to absorb. There is almost never a dull moment, especially in the modern timeline.
As with the previous two books, Walsh takes the generally-acknowledged Tudor history and gives it a sharp twist. To be honest, since I didn’t know Arbella’s story, I just went along for the ride. This was a different experience than the previous two books (The Catherine Howard Conspiracy and The Elizabeth Tudor Conspiracy). Since I’m quite familiar with both Catherine and Elizabeth’s stories (well, the usually accepted stories anyway) the twists in Walsh’s books took my breath away. This time, I was less startled and so could sit back and enjoy the narrative.
By the end of the second book, I had already developed a guess at what the trilogy’s final ending would be in terms of how Perdita and Piper were related to the historical figures and I was really satisfied to see I had guessed correctly (no spoilers!). It was also satisfying how most of the loose ends were tied up, especially in terms of the various relationships that had been taking place throughout the run of the three books. Obviously, I can’t say too much more without giving the ending away but let’s just say that I was VERY satisfied with how everything turned out. I loved the ending and it made the whole trilogy worthwhile. This may seem like a small matter, but believe, me, there have been times when I enjoyed the first two books of a trilogy and then the third book just ruined the whole thing. This wasn’t one of those times (thank goodness!)
I think the thing I will miss most now that I have to put these books on the shelf and checked them off as “Read”, is the characters. Walsh has created some lovely people in these stories – from the twins, Perdita and Piper, to the Mackensie family (especially Kit – insert heart-eyes emoji here) to all the various friends and allies – these are people I would love to meet and hang around with. They are realistic characters who have distinct personalities and interesting lives.
Of course, there’s also the myriad of historical figures that Walsh includes in the trilogy as well. From Catherine Howard to Elizabeth Tudor to Arbella Stuart, the past comes alive in full details and a large cast of characters. And I do mean large – I needed to detailed notes to keep track of everyone! Again, the detail and personalities of the characters makes both timelines come to life. This book (and trilogy) is filled with very smart, strong and inspiring women in both timelines.
I will definitely miss the anticipation of another visit to Marquess House, but Walsh has already announced her next project so I’m looking forward to seeing where her writing will take me next.
You can read my full, spoiler-free review on my blog: https://www.bookfrolic.com/book-revie...
*** Thank you to the publisher, Sapere Books, for providing me with an advanced e-copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
May 25, 2020
My thanks to Sapere Books for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Arabella Stuart Conspiracy’ by Alexandra Walsh in exchange for an honest review.
This is the third and final volume in Walsh’s Marquess House Trilogy. In the opening section Walsh does provide some background, though this served mainly as a memory refresh. I would urge any readers new to the trilogy to read the first two books, ‘The Catherine Howard Conspiracy’ and ‘The Elizabeth Tudor Conspiracy’ in order to understand both the present day situation that twins, Perdita and Piper, find themselves in as well as the various historical conspiracies set during the Tudor and early Stuart periods.
The narrative is divided into nine parts alternating between the present day and 1603-04 as James I takes the throne following the death of Elizabeth I. Here the focus is upon Arabella Stuart, cousin to James, who had been considered a potential successor to Elizabeth.
Two historical conspiracies, the Bye and Main Plots, both of which preceded the better known Gunpowder Plot also form part of the narrative. Previous to this I was only vaguely aware of details of Arabella Stuart’s life, most of it gained during a tour of Hardwick Hall. Her place in history has only been reconsidered in the past thirty years and Walsh points out that outside of historical circles she is still relatively unknown.
Being the final book in the trilogy I was trusting that the various plot threads would be tied up. As I reached the final pages I considered that they had been.
Again, I will note that there are a great number of characters appearing in the historical sections. In order to keep them and their relationships straight in my head, I kept a notepad to hand. A bit like the chart that Perdita creates in the story.
As Perdita observes: “These families were like a vine, criss-crossing over one another, marrying within the branches, twisting and turning their endless plots and, at their heart, was Arbella Stuart.” This could be said of all three of the Marquess House novels.
Overall, I can only praise Walsh for creating this intriguing trilogy of historical mysteries/conspiracy thrillers. While posing a number of ‘what ifs’, it is clear that Walsh has incorporated a great deal of research into the Tudor and early Stuart periods. Her closing ‘Note to the Reader’ proved very enlightening in terms of how she blended historical fact and fiction.
I certainly shall look forward to reading her future projects.
A highly recommended novel and trilogy.
This is the third and final volume in Walsh’s Marquess House Trilogy. In the opening section Walsh does provide some background, though this served mainly as a memory refresh. I would urge any readers new to the trilogy to read the first two books, ‘The Catherine Howard Conspiracy’ and ‘The Elizabeth Tudor Conspiracy’ in order to understand both the present day situation that twins, Perdita and Piper, find themselves in as well as the various historical conspiracies set during the Tudor and early Stuart periods.
The narrative is divided into nine parts alternating between the present day and 1603-04 as James I takes the throne following the death of Elizabeth I. Here the focus is upon Arabella Stuart, cousin to James, who had been considered a potential successor to Elizabeth.
Two historical conspiracies, the Bye and Main Plots, both of which preceded the better known Gunpowder Plot also form part of the narrative. Previous to this I was only vaguely aware of details of Arabella Stuart’s life, most of it gained during a tour of Hardwick Hall. Her place in history has only been reconsidered in the past thirty years and Walsh points out that outside of historical circles she is still relatively unknown.
Being the final book in the trilogy I was trusting that the various plot threads would be tied up. As I reached the final pages I considered that they had been.
Again, I will note that there are a great number of characters appearing in the historical sections. In order to keep them and their relationships straight in my head, I kept a notepad to hand. A bit like the chart that Perdita creates in the story.
As Perdita observes: “These families were like a vine, criss-crossing over one another, marrying within the branches, twisting and turning their endless plots and, at their heart, was Arbella Stuart.” This could be said of all three of the Marquess House novels.
Overall, I can only praise Walsh for creating this intriguing trilogy of historical mysteries/conspiracy thrillers. While posing a number of ‘what ifs’, it is clear that Walsh has incorporated a great deal of research into the Tudor and early Stuart periods. Her closing ‘Note to the Reader’ proved very enlightening in terms of how she blended historical fact and fiction.
I certainly shall look forward to reading her future projects.
A highly recommended novel and trilogy.
June 1, 2020
This is a trilogy that, although it has some minor flaws, I recommend to any reader who's ever had a fascination with Tudor and Stuart history. I know I have, and I've lost count of the books, both fiction and non-fiction, that I've read about this period. It seemed as though any man with any sort of high status was out to grab all the wealth and power that he could-- and he didn't care who he had to knock down to get it. There is a sort of glamor to this period, and it's also an extremely brutal era. This period was also graced with some formidable women, Elizabeth I and Bess of Hardwick, to name just two. How women of their power and intelligence had the fortitude to deal with the men of the day escapes me. I think I'd lose all patience and keep the royal executioners busy.
The Marquess House trilogy is just the sort of dual timeline story that I love. In this third book, Arbella Stuart takes the spotlight as she tries to outlast all those who are after her-- which includes her cousin James who makes his leisurely way down to London to be crowned King James I of England. Alexandra Walsh has shown a brilliant capability for finding little-known trails in history that lead to locked doors. Nothing is known about what happened behind those doors, so she weaves a story to fill in the blanks. Most of her work at her fictional loom has made me smile, but in this third book, the fate of one of the male characters was a bit of a stretch that my imagination really didn't want to make.
For large periods of time, nothing is mentioned about the groups of people who are out to get Perdita and Piper in the modern timeline. We're just told how superior the security is at Marquess House. It's almost as if Walsh were having so much fun with her histories that she forgot all about the modern-day bad guys. When she did remember them, the only thing she could do was to create some incredibly bone-headed lapses in that superior security. Ah well. A minor quibble.
One of the most powerful themes throughout this trilogy has always been women fighting for the right to their own voice, to their own power, and the author had me mentally cheering in solidarity more than once. If you think you may want to read Walsh's work, please read The Catherine Howard Conspiracy and The Elizabeth Tudor Conspiracy first or you may become confused. This trilogy is fun, and it's so good to see an author with a good knowledge of history go to work on it with her imagination to create something that might just have happened.
The Marquess House trilogy is just the sort of dual timeline story that I love. In this third book, Arbella Stuart takes the spotlight as she tries to outlast all those who are after her-- which includes her cousin James who makes his leisurely way down to London to be crowned King James I of England. Alexandra Walsh has shown a brilliant capability for finding little-known trails in history that lead to locked doors. Nothing is known about what happened behind those doors, so she weaves a story to fill in the blanks. Most of her work at her fictional loom has made me smile, but in this third book, the fate of one of the male characters was a bit of a stretch that my imagination really didn't want to make.
For large periods of time, nothing is mentioned about the groups of people who are out to get Perdita and Piper in the modern timeline. We're just told how superior the security is at Marquess House. It's almost as if Walsh were having so much fun with her histories that she forgot all about the modern-day bad guys. When she did remember them, the only thing she could do was to create some incredibly bone-headed lapses in that superior security. Ah well. A minor quibble.
One of the most powerful themes throughout this trilogy has always been women fighting for the right to their own voice, to their own power, and the author had me mentally cheering in solidarity more than once. If you think you may want to read Walsh's work, please read The Catherine Howard Conspiracy and The Elizabeth Tudor Conspiracy first or you may become confused. This trilogy is fun, and it's so good to see an author with a good knowledge of history go to work on it with her imagination to create something that might just have happened.
May 31, 2020
‘What have you done to her?’
England, 1603. Elizabeth I is dead. The end of the Tudor line, it seems. A decision is made to pass the throne to James VI of Scotland, he will become the first Stuart monarch of England. But there’s a secret, and there are concealed Tudor heirs. What will happen next?
Marquess House, Pembrokeshire, 2019. Perdita Rivers and her sister Piper have returned to their ancestral home. They have uncovered secrets: conspiracies and cover-ups during the Tudor period, but there is still one part of the puzzle to be found, and some old enemies will reappear.
There are nine parts to this story, alternating between 1603-1604 (after James VI and I becomes the English monarch) and the present day endeavours of Perdita and Piper. The 17th century focus is on Arbella Stuart, cousin of James, who might have been considered a potential successor to Elizabeth I.
This is the third book in the Marquess House Trilogy, marketed as ‘a dual timeline conspiracy thriller with an ingenious twist on a well-known period of Tudor and Stuart history.’ I’ve not read the first two books, but the opening section provided me with enough information to follow this story.
I confess, while I was curious about this novel, historical conspiracy thrillers are not amongst my favourite works of fiction. I like my historical fiction to remain within an historical fact framework: fictional characters can do fictional things, but not real people. However, Ms Walsh’s writing kept me turning the pages and her note to the reader at the end gave me the explanation I needed to cautiously accept the fiction.
It's an ingenious story. It’s well written and it will certainly appeal to those who like conspiracy theories with an historical flavour. The three books in the series are:
THE MARQUESS HOUSE TRILOGY SERIES
BOOK ONE: The Catherine Howard Conspiracy
BOOK TWO: The Elizabeth Tudor Conspiracy
BOOK THREE: The Arbella Stuart Conspiracy
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Sapere Books for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
England, 1603. Elizabeth I is dead. The end of the Tudor line, it seems. A decision is made to pass the throne to James VI of Scotland, he will become the first Stuart monarch of England. But there’s a secret, and there are concealed Tudor heirs. What will happen next?
Marquess House, Pembrokeshire, 2019. Perdita Rivers and her sister Piper have returned to their ancestral home. They have uncovered secrets: conspiracies and cover-ups during the Tudor period, but there is still one part of the puzzle to be found, and some old enemies will reappear.
There are nine parts to this story, alternating between 1603-1604 (after James VI and I becomes the English monarch) and the present day endeavours of Perdita and Piper. The 17th century focus is on Arbella Stuart, cousin of James, who might have been considered a potential successor to Elizabeth I.
This is the third book in the Marquess House Trilogy, marketed as ‘a dual timeline conspiracy thriller with an ingenious twist on a well-known period of Tudor and Stuart history.’ I’ve not read the first two books, but the opening section provided me with enough information to follow this story.
I confess, while I was curious about this novel, historical conspiracy thrillers are not amongst my favourite works of fiction. I like my historical fiction to remain within an historical fact framework: fictional characters can do fictional things, but not real people. However, Ms Walsh’s writing kept me turning the pages and her note to the reader at the end gave me the explanation I needed to cautiously accept the fiction.
It's an ingenious story. It’s well written and it will certainly appeal to those who like conspiracy theories with an historical flavour. The three books in the series are:
THE MARQUESS HOUSE TRILOGY SERIES
BOOK ONE: The Catherine Howard Conspiracy
BOOK TWO: The Elizabeth Tudor Conspiracy
BOOK THREE: The Arbella Stuart Conspiracy
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Sapere Books for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
June 2, 2020
Well sadly the trilogy is over. I have enjoyed these books over the last year and eagerly awaited the third book and at the same time dreaded it ending. I was not disappointed. The books are such a original idea, taking all we thought about Tudor and Stuart history and setting it on it’s head.
The book follows sisters Perdita and Piper as they return to Marquess House, still hunted by powerful people who want to keep the Tudor and Stuart history under the status quo. This book picks up with the death of Elizabeth I and the rise of the Stuarts via James VI, but wait there is another claimant to the throne, Arbella Stuart, what of her claim? Well she is a woman and that is not always a great thing in 17th century England. Like the previous two books there are mysteries to solve and clues to find to solve the mystery of the missing Tudor heirs .I did love that this book covered the life of Arbella Stuart, she has sadly been mostly erased from history and I only knew about her because of history I have read on her grandmother Bess of Hardwick. The fact that she had a strong claim to the English throne, stronger than James VI per Henry the VIII’s will, has mainly been ignored and written out of history, she also had a fairly tragic life. It was nice to read a book that took a different view of Arbella and her importance to Tudor and Stuart history.
In modern times we have the story of Perdita and Piper trying to solve the mystery and stay alive long enough to enjoy their lives and fortunes. While I do enjoy the modern story line, I will say that the historical portion was more fascinating to me.
I highly recommend this trilogy for anyone who has a fascination with history and likes a nice mystery/thriller thrown in. I do advise reading the 1st two books in the triolgy first as it is easy to get lost with all the characters and storylines otherwise. I assure you it is not a trial to read the 1st two books as they are quite fascinating as well.
Thank you to Netgalley, Sapere books and Alexandra Walsh for the opportunity to read and review this book.
The book follows sisters Perdita and Piper as they return to Marquess House, still hunted by powerful people who want to keep the Tudor and Stuart history under the status quo. This book picks up with the death of Elizabeth I and the rise of the Stuarts via James VI, but wait there is another claimant to the throne, Arbella Stuart, what of her claim? Well she is a woman and that is not always a great thing in 17th century England. Like the previous two books there are mysteries to solve and clues to find to solve the mystery of the missing Tudor heirs .I did love that this book covered the life of Arbella Stuart, she has sadly been mostly erased from history and I only knew about her because of history I have read on her grandmother Bess of Hardwick. The fact that she had a strong claim to the English throne, stronger than James VI per Henry the VIII’s will, has mainly been ignored and written out of history, she also had a fairly tragic life. It was nice to read a book that took a different view of Arbella and her importance to Tudor and Stuart history.
In modern times we have the story of Perdita and Piper trying to solve the mystery and stay alive long enough to enjoy their lives and fortunes. While I do enjoy the modern story line, I will say that the historical portion was more fascinating to me.
I highly recommend this trilogy for anyone who has a fascination with history and likes a nice mystery/thriller thrown in. I do advise reading the 1st two books in the triolgy first as it is easy to get lost with all the characters and storylines otherwise. I assure you it is not a trial to read the 1st two books as they are quite fascinating as well.
Thank you to Netgalley, Sapere books and Alexandra Walsh for the opportunity to read and review this book.
May 25, 2020
I received a copy of this title from the publisher for an honest review. The Arbella Stuart Conspiracy is the third title in the Marquess House Trilogy. Each title in the series builds on the previous so this title doesn't work well as a stand-alone title. The good news is that the all three books are amazing, so you should one-click the first two titles immediately and once read, return to devour this title.
As with the first two titles, The Arbella Stuart Conspiracy features two timelines - modern day with Perdita and Piper, and a historical timeline beginning at the very end of Elizabeth's reign/beginning of the Stuart era. I can't go into too much detail about the events of the historical storyline without risking ruining the twists, turns, and surprises that make this book such a delight to read. Ms. Walsh has clearly done her research into the era and the real life figures that feature in the story to allow her to create her alternate version of events in such away that I never doubted that the events depicted in this book could have really happened in lieu of written history. It is very thought provoking in a way that makes you wonder what we take as established history may not be accurate as history is written by the victors.
The modern day storyline picks up several months after the events of the second book, with Perdita working to unravel the real history following the shocking reveal about Elizabeth I and her life. Threads of the secrets Marquess House is holding and how to uncover them are within her reach, but can she and her sister survive a shocking betrayal and the danger that is drawing increasingly closer to them and those they hold dear? I had a prediction I made early while reading book 1 that was proven to be correct, but there were many twists and turns that made the reveal to be delightful. I hope that the author continues to write more books in the vein of this series while tackling new historical eras.
As with the first two titles, The Arbella Stuart Conspiracy features two timelines - modern day with Perdita and Piper, and a historical timeline beginning at the very end of Elizabeth's reign/beginning of the Stuart era. I can't go into too much detail about the events of the historical storyline without risking ruining the twists, turns, and surprises that make this book such a delight to read. Ms. Walsh has clearly done her research into the era and the real life figures that feature in the story to allow her to create her alternate version of events in such away that I never doubted that the events depicted in this book could have really happened in lieu of written history. It is very thought provoking in a way that makes you wonder what we take as established history may not be accurate as history is written by the victors.
The modern day storyline picks up several months after the events of the second book, with Perdita working to unravel the real history following the shocking reveal about Elizabeth I and her life. Threads of the secrets Marquess House is holding and how to uncover them are within her reach, but can she and her sister survive a shocking betrayal and the danger that is drawing increasingly closer to them and those they hold dear? I had a prediction I made early while reading book 1 that was proven to be correct, but there were many twists and turns that made the reveal to be delightful. I hope that the author continues to write more books in the vein of this series while tackling new historical eras.
May 26, 2020
Welcome to the new Queen of historical fiction. Alexandra Walsh certainly writes books that hit with a punch and leave you breathless. I’ve been waiting what feels like an eternity for the final book in this trilogy. The only trouble was once I got the book I struggled to start reading. Not for the reasons you may think. It’s because I knew once I’d finished it that it would be the end of the journey we’ve been on.
Perdita and Piper are at their ancestral home Marquess House in Pembrokeshire. They have already uncovered many secrets from Tudor times. One piece of jewellery is needed to help solve the mystery. A silver locket. Their discovery could change everything we know about the Royal family.
The story has flash backs to Tudor life and the story of Arbella Stuart. This is one woman I’ve never really come across in history. Set in the time of the end of Elizabeth I rule and king James VI
I found I needed to take breaks from the book. Just so I could absorb the details that the author had included. Although you could read this as a stand-alone book. DON’T. To understand just how good Alexandra walsh is you need to read the trilogy. Also, what I should have done is re read the other two books before starting this one. There were parts I’d forgotten about.
For those of you new to this series. You lucky lot. Set aside a good weekend and dive in. Starting with The Catherine Howard conspiracy then the Elizabeth Tudor Conspiracy. I can assure you that you won’t be disappointed.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the arc in return for an honest review.
#TheArbellaStuart #alexandraWalsh #netgalley #purplemermaid25
Perdita and Piper are at their ancestral home Marquess House in Pembrokeshire. They have already uncovered many secrets from Tudor times. One piece of jewellery is needed to help solve the mystery. A silver locket. Their discovery could change everything we know about the Royal family.
The story has flash backs to Tudor life and the story of Arbella Stuart. This is one woman I’ve never really come across in history. Set in the time of the end of Elizabeth I rule and king James VI
I found I needed to take breaks from the book. Just so I could absorb the details that the author had included. Although you could read this as a stand-alone book. DON’T. To understand just how good Alexandra walsh is you need to read the trilogy. Also, what I should have done is re read the other two books before starting this one. There were parts I’d forgotten about.
For those of you new to this series. You lucky lot. Set aside a good weekend and dive in. Starting with The Catherine Howard conspiracy then the Elizabeth Tudor Conspiracy. I can assure you that you won’t be disappointed.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the arc in return for an honest review.
#TheArbellaStuart #alexandraWalsh #netgalley #purplemermaid25
June 13, 2020
Princess Fuzzypants here: I am of two minds with this book. There were things I liked very much about it and there were things that frustrated me greatly. What I liked was the two time-lines, revealing information gradually.. I did like the concept of unknown heirs to the Throne who have been hidden for centuries and the conflict between the people who want to reveal the truth and those who wish to keep it hidden. The James Bondian world where there are rich human heroes and stinking rich supervillains is fun to read. It does require a suspension of disbelief. That is not where I take exception.
I have two fundamental problems with the premise. First, knowing what we know from history, Henry VIII would never deny a healthy male heir. Ask his wives. Then there is Catherine Howard as the matriarch.. I just have a hard time seeing her as anything but a Royal lightweight. I can go along with the other bending of history but that one just never sits right.
My biggest complaint is I always felt like I had missed something. There were so many characters and so much back story that I felt I had missed the 101 course and gone right into my PHD. I would get to a point and breathe a sigh of relief thinking I had caught up and then I would discover myself in another muddle. It detracted from what was a good story so for that reason I am giving it four purrs but only one paw up.
I have two fundamental problems with the premise. First, knowing what we know from history, Henry VIII would never deny a healthy male heir. Ask his wives. Then there is Catherine Howard as the matriarch.. I just have a hard time seeing her as anything but a Royal lightweight. I can go along with the other bending of history but that one just never sits right.
My biggest complaint is I always felt like I had missed something. There were so many characters and so much back story that I felt I had missed the 101 course and gone right into my PHD. I would get to a point and breathe a sigh of relief thinking I had caught up and then I would discover myself in another muddle. It detracted from what was a good story so for that reason I am giving it four purrs but only one paw up.
May 27, 2020
This was the third and final instalment of the Marquees House trilogy, combining dual time storylines in the present and at the tumultuous period at the end of Elizabeth's reign , when the topic of succession was in dispute.
James VI of Scotland is not a popular choice , his cousin Arbella Stuart also has a claim to the throne, she is the more popular claimant among the people and several.plots and conspiracies are rife, with the aim of crowning her queen instead .
In the present, Perdita and piper are still trying to unravel the secrets that lie within Marquess House and the mystery of the lost Prince.
The meticulous planning and research that went into the book was apparent in the fine detail . All of the loose ends in both timelines are neatly tied up by the end of the book .
The alternate history must have been painstakingly undertaken to ensure the dates , figures and family history all aligned with a believable twist .
This was a fast paced and atmospheric read, you never quite knew where it was taking you next with all the twists and turns in the plot.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book , it was read in one sitting, I literally didn't put it down until I'd reached the end . I would totally recommend it !
I received a copy of the book from #Netgalley and voluntarily leave this review. All thoughts are my own and unbiased.
James VI of Scotland is not a popular choice , his cousin Arbella Stuart also has a claim to the throne, she is the more popular claimant among the people and several.plots and conspiracies are rife, with the aim of crowning her queen instead .
In the present, Perdita and piper are still trying to unravel the secrets that lie within Marquess House and the mystery of the lost Prince.
The meticulous planning and research that went into the book was apparent in the fine detail . All of the loose ends in both timelines are neatly tied up by the end of the book .
The alternate history must have been painstakingly undertaken to ensure the dates , figures and family history all aligned with a believable twist .
This was a fast paced and atmospheric read, you never quite knew where it was taking you next with all the twists and turns in the plot.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book , it was read in one sitting, I literally didn't put it down until I'd reached the end . I would totally recommend it !
I received a copy of the book from #Netgalley and voluntarily leave this review. All thoughts are my own and unbiased.
September 26, 2020
This is the third installment of a series, and let me start by saying I haven’t read the first 2 but the back story was delivered in the first few pages of this novel, so I didn’t feel like I missed anything, BUT, now I want to go back and read the first 2 books! Lol.
The premise behind this trilogy is that there is a secret arm of British intelligence that is trying to hide and cover up “mistakes” or hide facts of British history, in this case specifically surrounding the dependents of Henry VIII and the Tudors, because to admit now that there were in fact other surviving children of Henry VIII who had descendants alive today, would throw the entire monarchy of the Stuarts into question and the rule of the Windsors into chaos.
It’s an intriguing idea, I’ll admit. Children hidden away for safety is not unheard of. The other part of this story is this secret society of women descended from the wives of Henry who own this castle and have kept the secrets and the treasure, and their modern day dependents are millionaires with all this money to go around the world searching for clues. I suppose that’s the twist to this trilogy. That part wasn’t as entertaining, I just wanted to get back to the Tudor story, not the modern day story.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers, and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
The premise behind this trilogy is that there is a secret arm of British intelligence that is trying to hide and cover up “mistakes” or hide facts of British history, in this case specifically surrounding the dependents of Henry VIII and the Tudors, because to admit now that there were in fact other surviving children of Henry VIII who had descendants alive today, would throw the entire monarchy of the Stuarts into question and the rule of the Windsors into chaos.
It’s an intriguing idea, I’ll admit. Children hidden away for safety is not unheard of. The other part of this story is this secret society of women descended from the wives of Henry who own this castle and have kept the secrets and the treasure, and their modern day dependents are millionaires with all this money to go around the world searching for clues. I suppose that’s the twist to this trilogy. That part wasn’t as entertaining, I just wanted to get back to the Tudor story, not the modern day story.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers, and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
May 27, 2020
Incredibly thrilling finale to the trilogy
You must read in order!! It's worth rereading the first two before reading this one.. and you won't be disappointed.. well only disappointed that it's ended!! Can't wait to see what she writes next..
This long and eagerly awaited finale certainly lives up to it's standards of its predecessors; The Catherine Howard Conspiracy and The Elizabeth Tudor Conspiracy.
I don't want to spoil it so I will not give anything away! Alexandra Walsh has deftly fitted her tale within the accepted history of the Tudor and Stuart courts.
Weaving her overlapping tales of the modern day and historical "facts" with exquisite detail.. the two stories fit together perfectly. We all know that truth is based on the victor in any skirmish, that history can be "adjusted"; the story of Anne Boleyn's life and death as has to be considered as proof as it's based entirely on biased reports many written years later, many by Catholic sympathisers.. documents turn up more frequently than anyone realises misfiled, hidden, released from time sensitive government holds.. there are plenty of anomalies too.. giving this series an almost magical realism.. what if?
You must read in order!! It's worth rereading the first two before reading this one.. and you won't be disappointed.. well only disappointed that it's ended!! Can't wait to see what she writes next..
This long and eagerly awaited finale certainly lives up to it's standards of its predecessors; The Catherine Howard Conspiracy and The Elizabeth Tudor Conspiracy.
I don't want to spoil it so I will not give anything away! Alexandra Walsh has deftly fitted her tale within the accepted history of the Tudor and Stuart courts.
Weaving her overlapping tales of the modern day and historical "facts" with exquisite detail.. the two stories fit together perfectly. We all know that truth is based on the victor in any skirmish, that history can be "adjusted"; the story of Anne Boleyn's life and death as has to be considered as proof as it's based entirely on biased reports many written years later, many by Catholic sympathisers.. documents turn up more frequently than anyone realises misfiled, hidden, released from time sensitive government holds.. there are plenty of anomalies too.. giving this series an almost magical realism.. what if?
June 20, 2020
The year is 1603 and the reign of the Tudors has come to an end. The Scottish king James, now James I of England, has taken the throne, much to the anger of those who believe that there is another rightful monarch residing in the country. Back in the present day, Dr Perdita Rivers and her sister Piper are still taken aback at the changes that have happened in the past year, but know that even more is ahead. If they can find the one thing that has been eluding them, could they have the evidence that could alter the course of British history forever? With old enemies set to resurface, how much more blood will be shed to prevent secrets from emerging?
The Arbella Stuart Conspiracy is the final book of the Marquess House trilogy and I would advise that you read the previous two (The Catherine Howard Conspiracy and The Elizabeth Tudor Conspiracy) before starting this one in order to develop a full understanding of the plot. Briefly, and without spoilers, in the previous books we discover that the sisters have inherited their family home, Marquess House, an impressive building containing a wealth of history. They soon discover that the house is hiding numerous secrets that could potentially change everything we thought we knew about Tudor history, and that there are people who would happily kill to keep us all in the dark.
As someone interested in this era of British history, I've loved the journey that Alexandra Walsh has taken me on, merging fact with fiction to the point where it is impossible to see the joins! I enjoy books that challenge my thinking and, as I read this, I found myself researching characters and aspects of the plot in order to get a better understanding of this turbulent time in Britain's past. By referencing real events such as the Main and Gunpowder Plots, there is an air of authenticity about the book, and the amount of research undertaken by the author is apparent. I admit to not knowing a great deal about Arbella Stuart, but after reading this, I will definitely be finding out more about her.
In the present day part of the story, there are plenty of loose ends left from previous books that I hoped would be tied up by the end and I was pleased to see that they were. I must say that I am very envious of Perdita's life: living in such a historic building with access to all of that research material sounds like my idea of heaven!
While I have thoroughly enjoyed the Marquess House trilogy, I am sad that it has come to an end. I hope that Alexandra Walsh has a similar idea in the pipeline as I'd love to read her take on another aspect of history - I'm sure there is plenty of scope for a few more conspiracy theories!
The Arbella Stuart Conspiracy is the final book of the Marquess House trilogy and I would advise that you read the previous two (The Catherine Howard Conspiracy and The Elizabeth Tudor Conspiracy) before starting this one in order to develop a full understanding of the plot. Briefly, and without spoilers, in the previous books we discover that the sisters have inherited their family home, Marquess House, an impressive building containing a wealth of history. They soon discover that the house is hiding numerous secrets that could potentially change everything we thought we knew about Tudor history, and that there are people who would happily kill to keep us all in the dark.
As someone interested in this era of British history, I've loved the journey that Alexandra Walsh has taken me on, merging fact with fiction to the point where it is impossible to see the joins! I enjoy books that challenge my thinking and, as I read this, I found myself researching characters and aspects of the plot in order to get a better understanding of this turbulent time in Britain's past. By referencing real events such as the Main and Gunpowder Plots, there is an air of authenticity about the book, and the amount of research undertaken by the author is apparent. I admit to not knowing a great deal about Arbella Stuart, but after reading this, I will definitely be finding out more about her.
In the present day part of the story, there are plenty of loose ends left from previous books that I hoped would be tied up by the end and I was pleased to see that they were. I must say that I am very envious of Perdita's life: living in such a historic building with access to all of that research material sounds like my idea of heaven!
While I have thoroughly enjoyed the Marquess House trilogy, I am sad that it has come to an end. I hope that Alexandra Walsh has a similar idea in the pipeline as I'd love to read her take on another aspect of history - I'm sure there is plenty of scope for a few more conspiracy theories!
July 27, 2020
The Arbela Stuart Conspiracy is a fascinating premise and Alexandra Walsh's novel is chock full of historical detail and period intrigue. As an avid fan of historical fiction, I was anxious to read Walsh's book but I am afraid I was continuously lost in the maze of characters she introduces: dozens and dozens of them. I never emerged from the maze in this story . . . .
A dedicated reader would benefit from easy access pages of Tudor and Stuart genealogy, and perhaps a crib sheet of the plots and conspiracies of the period. I use historical novels as a means to enrich my understanding of a period, but unfortunately this trip to Tudor England did not offer me any enlightenment, just confusion.
Ms. Walsh is clearly well versed on the people, places, and intrigues of the dynasty and I was disappointed that I didn't have the historical background to fully enjoy this book. I think readers would benefit from reading her trilogy in order---starting with Book 3 probably added to my befuddlement.
I am grateful to NetGalley for providing me the opportunity read this book in exchange for a candid review.
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