The Fugitive Queen

Ursula Blanchard #7

by Fiona Buckley

It is 1568, three years since Ursula Blanchard exchanged her work as a spy in the service of her half sister, Queen Elizabeth, for the relative calm of married life. But when Elizabeth summons her, loyal Ursula senses there is more to her seemingly benign request than meets the eye. She is to pluck Penelope Mason, her inappropriately flirtatious protégé, from court and find the disgraced girl a husband, and she is also to deliver a secret warning to Elizabeth's arch rival, Mary, Queen of Scots. Gradually, Ursula comes to understand the true delicacy and danger of this mission. Exiled after the suspicious death of her husband, Mary is now a fugitive queen and a "guest" in northern England's daunting Bolton Castle. Ursula, with her blade-sharp acuity, can outsmart Mary's notorious charm and sidestep treasonous traps while extracting the truth. But can she protect those who look to her -- including young Penelope -- from a deadly game where, to those who hunger for power at all costs, murder is a small price to pay?

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Historical Mystery, British Literature, Medieval

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Valerie Anand is a British author of historical fiction. Under the pen name Fiona Buckley she writes the series of historical mysteries, set in the reign of Elizabeth I of England, featuring "Ursula Blanchard" (whose full name is Ursula Faldene Blanchard de la Roche Stannard). Under her own name she writes historical fiction based on the royalty of England and the Bridges over Time series which follows a family from the eleventh century through the nineteenth century.

Series:
* Ursula Blanchard

Reviews

[Kathie H · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my all-time favorite historical fiction series.

[J. Kirsch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is yet another terrific installment in the Ursula Blanchard mystery series set in the late 1500's during the reign of Queen Elizabeth.

Similar to the previous book, A Pawn for a Queen, this book is filled with even more danger than usual for our curious covert operative and noblewoman heroine. Ursula takes charge of a young woman to help her find an ideal marriageable match, but to do so she must travel to a dangerously isolated region in the north of England. It soon becomes clear that the supposed 'gift' of land and estate that her charge has been given is in the hands of some less than honorable folks (with some less than honorable neighbors!).

Kidnapping and murder ensues... not to mention escape conspiracies with Mary Stuart right at the center of things. Needless to say, this is a who-done-it mixed with high adventure in a well-wrought historical setting. This is definitely one of Ursula's more thrilling missions and has her showcasing both new skills and levels of courage. There's also a notable pair of dogs in the story, Gambol and Grumble, who play a surprisingly instrumental role at one critical moment as the story reaches a climax.

[Avid Series Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Fugitive Queen by Fiona Buckley is the 7th book of the Ursula Blanchard mystery series set in 1568 England. Ursula is once again coerced into taking on a mission for Queen Elizabeth. It starts with a request from a friend, for Ursula to use her influence to place her daughter Penelope at court, where she can find a suitable husband. Soon the Queen summons Ursula: the girl's behavior is unacceptable, she must leave, she may have land far north as a dowry, and Ursula should take her there. Oh and by the way: visit Mary, Queen of Scots, now imprisoned in a nearby castle. Ursula is sick of Elizabeth's' intrigues; they always put Ursula in harm's way. She wants to live a well-deserved quiet life with her third husband (Hugh) in the countryside.

But duty to her friend (re: Penelope) and her Queen (her half-sister) compels her to go. Of course, disaster strikes (one dead, one kidnapped), even before they reach the dowry property (which is in poor condition). The neighbors are hostile and devious, the countryside is harsh and unappealing. Then Ursula must go visit Mary and deliver the personal message from Elizabeth. As she did before when first meeting Mary in Scotland, Ursula is charmed/enchanted by her.

After much treachery, Ursula is finally free of her enchantment. She plots to snare treasonous agents in the act. Of course, plans go awry. Loyal Brockley comes to the rescue!

[Sarah Hearn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second Ursula Blanchard book I've read - or maybe the 3rd - and I enjoyed this one very much. Ursula, married again, and now called Stannard, takes her ward north to her dower land in Yorkshire, not far from Bolton Castle where Mary Queen of Scots is being held captive. The race begins to prevent hMary's escape while finding a suitable bridegroom for Ursula's ward, Penelope. Will she be forced into an unwelcome marriage, will she continue to fall in love with highly unsuitable men, will she remain forever single?

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am really enjoying this series. Yay! This book was especially good, as it mixed some especially elements from history with well-written fiction.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Volare · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another exciting Ursula Blanshard adventure! I love this series!

[Cheri Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one may be the best one.....so far.

[Kristina Deluise · Rating 4 out of 5]

PLEASE SEE MY DELUISE BOOK SERIES CHANNEL ON YOUTUBE FOR THE REVIEW

[Kara Babcock · Rating 4 out of 5]

What originally began as a three-star book quickly became a four-star book as Fiona Buckley plunged me into a wonderful, immersive mystery set in Elizabethan England. This is my first Ursula Blanchard mystery, but I definitely want to read more. It has everything one could demand from a mystery: high stakes, complex antagonists, potential for tragedy, and a daring last-minute attempt to set things aright. Likewise, it satisfies my desire for a good piece of historical fiction into which I can sink my teeth. Elizabethan England is one of my favourite milieux, and Buckley captures the religious, political, and social turmoil from the perspective of an educated woman.

My first impression of the protagonist was that she complained far too much and could be a touch dramatic. But I enjoyed her frank evaluations of other people and her ability to plot and reason. Buckley handles the first person perspective well; Ursula provides tantalizing foreshadowing that made me turn page after page. Thanks to her narration, I empathized with her feelings regarding the plight of her ward and the plot to free Mary Stuart.

As for the mystery, it was very entertaining. Buckley manages to mix in just the right ratio of predictability to twists to keep me reading. Mysteries that are entirely too predictable are no fun. However, it's always nice to be able to see one or two things coming, heightening one's anticipation for the final confrontation.

And I certainly was not disappointed! The climax of this book was one of the most satisfying I've read in awhile. The protagonist pulls the "ol' switcheroo" while her ward is in danger, showing a commendable determination and strength of character. A couple of predictable developments and a few twists later, the story resolves and the mystery has been explained. I feel neither cheated nor patronized; in fact, it was an excellent ride.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.5 stars) The seventh book in the Ursula Blanchard series starts with Ursula being asked by Ann Mason to chaperone her eldest daughter Penelope at court and help her to find a husband. Unfortunately, Penelope seems prone to inappropriate attractions, and Ursula is summoned to court to remove her. The queen proposes a solution by having a dowry provided by Dudley, a piece of land in the north, and intends to send Ursula with Penelope to inspect the property and survey the local prospects for a husband for her. Queen Elizabeth has an ulterior motive and also wants Ursula to give a message to the exiled, former Scottish queen, Mary, who is a fugitive after the murder of her husband and is an unwelcome guest of England, staying at Bolton Castle under close surveillance. Some disturbing events occur on their way, including a kidnapping and a murder, with a disappearing body. They arrive to the estate and find it more run down than expected, and the steward seems to be rather well dressed. So in addition to all of her other tasks, Ursula must also find out if he has been skimming from the property. The disparate mysteries come together in a dangerous plot that leaves many lives at risk and has Ursula matching wits with Mary, an intelligent and charming adversary.

[Gretchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was hands down the best book in the Ursula Blanchard series (so far). I didn't have to waste time reading pages and pages of Ursula whining about a man. At this point in her life, Ursula has finally found herself a level headed husband who doesn't spend his spare time plotting against Elizabeth I. Ursula can focus on the task in front of her instead of wasting time whining about how she's missing the loving arms (and other body parts) of a husband who constantly puts her life in danger. Of course men are still problematic for Ursula but it's her ward who has the issues with men. Ursula is just responsible for keeping everyone's heads level and attached.

Mary, Queen of Scots, made an appearance in Ursula's previous adventure and she appears again in this one. This Mary was quite different from the Mary we last met. This Mary was an interesting one. With this Mary we saw flashes of potential. With this Mary we saw a woman who if given the opportunity would have given Elizabeth I a run for her money.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like fiction based on English history--particularly the Elizabethan period--the Ursula Blanchard series fills the bill. Ursula is a lady in Elizabeth I's court, and, as it turns out, her half sister as well. Occasionally the queen asks Ursula to act as a spy to help her keep tabs on those who would do her harm, particularly Mary Queen of Scots. In this book, Ursula goes north with her ward, Pen Mason, to claim Pen's dowry and to find her a suitable husband. In addition, she is to meet with Queen Mary, who is in exile at Bolton Castle, to try to determine if she ordered the murder of her husband, Lord Darnley. When she arrives, Ursula and her party become pawns in a dangerous plot to free Mary Stuart and help her escape to France. Ursula must use all of her cunning to free herself and Pen and thwart the plot to release the Queen. This is a very interesting series, whose characters grow and mature with each volume.

[Richard Stueber · Rating 3 out of 5]

The fugitive queen of the title is Mary Queen of Scots. The year is 1568 and she is being held captive in Bolton Castle in northern England by Sir Francis Knollys. Queen Elizabeth I sends her half-sister Ursula Blanchard, an illegitimate child of Henry VIII, up to check out the situation at Bolton.
Ursula is now on her third husband Hugh Stannard. She leaves Hugh behind, and with her daughter Meg and a number of servants heads north.
In the north there are all kinds of plots going on mostly involving Mary and some of her followers. Some of them involve 19 year old Penelope Mason who goes along having been given a small estate by Elizabeth who found having her around the court very tiresome. Penelope gets into a lot more trouble up north. Meanwhile a plot is underway to smuggle Mary out of the country and over to France. Ursula and her gang all all threatened, some with a fate worse than death.
Do cooler heads eventually prevail despite the bloodshed that follows?

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

NOTE: a NEW Ursula Blanchard book is coming!
Queen Without A Crown (Jan 2012)

Mary, Queen of Scotland, is the permanent "guest" of her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I of England. Why? Well, it's complicated (as this book will show you). And Ursula Blanchard is given another mission from her queen--to find out if Mary is guilty of ordering the recent death of her husband, Lord Darnley. The house he was sleeping in exploded (a basement full of gunpowder would do that!) and when he miraculously escaped (with the help of a loyal servant) they were both strangled by persons unknown in the garden. On top of the mission, Ursula must escort a friend's daughter to a recently endowed estate (the young woman's dowry) AND find a respectable husband for the girl. A woman's work is never done...oh, and solve a murder and find who attempted to abduct Ursula's daughter!

[Maria · Rating 1 out of 5]

This one didn't deserve much of my time beyond the first chapter. The author is so intent on telling you everything that it reads like a 5th grader's homework -- and by that, I mean hey, this kid has just transitioned into a chapter book. I'm sure the historical details are there. I'm sure there is probably some suspense somewhere in this book. But life is short, and reading this book would be like watching a tv show full of still photos with a voice over telling you everything the characters are doing. Definitely not for me.

[Lalla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the seventh book in this series. Once more, Ursula is called upon to undertake an undercover endeavor to keep the throne of Elizabeth I safe and the country free of turmoil. She is sent to the northern borders of England to stop a plot that would free Mary,Queen of Scots from Bolton Castle where she is residing courtesy of her cousin,the Queen. There is a sub-plot involving the guardianship of a young girl that Ursula is charged with finding a husband for. The author writes an exciting story that uses historical fact so the reader understands the passion and strife of this era.

[Moonmomie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy Elizabethan Historical Fiction, which is what brought me to this series. I had never been interested in any kind of mysteries up until reading these books. They were a complete surprise to me. The plots in all of the Ursula Blanchard Mysteries are rich and fun, the characters are interesting and complex. I really loved this entire series of books.

[Charlotte Osborn-bensaada · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great series set in Queen Elizabeth's court. Buckley takes several real historical mysteries and asks what if... Worth reading for a strong interesting heroine that while sometimes needing rescue is rather good at figuring out her own options given the limited options available to women of the time.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm almost to the end of this series and it has served me very well in the past few months. I care enough, but not so much that they have the power to hurt me. And damn, these people needed cell phones!

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I stayed up WAY too late starting and finishing this book, that somehow slipped through the cracks and I missed it when reading the others in the series. As good as I remember. It's too bad there haven't been any new ones in years. I'll miss them.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit light, but fun. Apparently there are a number of books with the same main character in this series. Interestingly set in the time of Queen Elizabeth and her sister Mary. I think Phillipa Gregorie's books are a lot more intriguing. And informative.

[Mary Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ah, the intrique...the deceptions...the smell of horse dung in your kitchen. Very interesting read to capture the undercurrents of politics when rivals were beheaded. Better to read about it that live it. Buckley does a good job keeping the reader interested and showcasing life in the 16th century.

[Wynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ursula is irritated at being summoned again to do the bidding of Cecil and QEI. The writer also does a fine job of showing again the charm of Mary, Queen of Scots and the danger she posed to Elizabeth. Ms. Buckley (Valerie Anand) does a great job of using fiction to make historical points.

[Jill]

Great medieval mystery series.

[Margo · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first I wasn't impressed,but then got into the style of writing and I was rather impressed with it!:)

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read - I enjoyed the story and like historical fiction.

[William · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this one better than most of the previous books in this series. At least the author made it through the entire book without referring to Ursula as "salt spoon".

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent plot in this book in the Ursula Blanchard mystery series. New characters introduced, along with the old favourites. Enjoyed it.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series...historical mysteries