Queen Elizabeth I, daughter of “off-with-their-heads” King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn (later beheaded), was pretty much guaranteed to have an interesting life. So when author Karen Harper imagines the young Elizabeth (1533-1603) in the days leading up to her reign, when her half-sister Mary was still on England’s throne, readers know there’s drama a-comin.’ Elizabeth is supposed to be under house arrest in the country, far away from court where her claims to rule cannot be heard. But Elizabeth—just twenty-five years old, ambitious, and intelligent—is not one to play by the rules. When a perplexing note summons her to the bedside of a relative she thought was already long dead, the young royal is quickly plunged into all manner of intrigues and deceptions. There’s a murderer afoot, armed with a deadly arsenal of poisons and targeting anyone and everyone connected to the Boleyn family. But Elizabeth is a curious, spirited young queen-to-be with loyal servants, stoic relations, a look-alike herbalist, and a band of plucky actors on her side—unless, of course, one of them is the killer. Don’t expect historical accuracy from this series, but do be prepared for lively, atmospheric mysteries featuring a likable and rousing heroine.

posted Dec 7, 2010 at 12:46PM

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