I decided to pick up this book because I thought it would be a lightweight reading. And it was light... too light and in a very bad way. I love mysteries, at least I love the mysteries by Agatha Christie, with interesting characters and even peculiar ones, as Poirot, with storylines that tie us from the first page to last due to all the suspense created around a particular event or character or because the twists are ingeniously introduced here and there. None of this happens in this book. To begin with, I was unable to feel that I was in the sixteenth century. Second, the characters are one-dimensional, including the protagonist, the (still) Princess Elizabeth who, exiled in Hatfield at the command of her half-sister Queen Mary (Bloody Mary), receives a letter from a next of kin she thought to be long-lost finding in this way that she and her family, those of the Boleyn's branch, are in the sights of a killer who uses powerful poisons as a weapon. Fortunately, Elizabeth has the help of her faithful servants and two other characters who she comes to know: Ned Topside, an actor who saves one of Elizabeth's cousins, and Meg, a young woman with a blurry past and the knowledge of master herbalists. These two characters, along with the killer, were the most interesting ones but still poorly developed. There is no depth, not even motivations to these characters but the main character is even worse. Honestly, I just didn't care about her and I have to say that, even knowing little of English history, it was a turn-off to start following this princess who supposedly has a killer after her and know that somehow she would survive because, after all, she became queen... :/ Several times I felt like quitting the book but decided to continue the series (I have 5 more books at home) because it pains me to "get rid" of books, especially books I won on a lucky giveaway, without having read them. I also hope that the following are better, that they can make me feel right in the Renaissance period and in the middle of the court games and intrigues.
I was a bit wary of an historical mystery featuring Queen Elizabeth I as an amateur sleuth. I have no trouble with fictional detectives but believing in real people is a bit different as I discovered when I tried to read a book featuring Jane Austen as a detective. Sadly that was also a problem here.Princess Elizabeth, living is Hatfield at her sister’s command, receives a letter of her aunt Mary, long thought dead, who asks her to come and visit because there's something she must tell her. The message is that there is someone plotting against all Boleyns, and especially against Elizabeth, and planning their deaths.First of all the action supposedly takes place in 1558 when Elizabeth is about 25 years old but from the descriptions I would say she sounded more like a teenager to me, someone young, a bit adventurous... definitely not a 25 year old. It might be that my idea of Elizabeth is more of a majestic figure, aware of her possible power but difficult position while her sister is alive. So this part might definitely be my problem with imagining real people as sleuths (at least so far I haven't found one that I liked.Then the mystery plot, the fact is that we are told that there is some mysterious figure making attempts on the Boleyn's lives but I thought the whole lot of secondary characters was more interesting than the villain. I was never all that curious to find out what was really going on and that was a good thing because when the whole truth is revealed I felt the motive was a bit weak. The whole book is plot driven so we don't really get to know the characters all that well, they are too busy running around detecting - I suppose we may know more in future books - and we don't have a real sense of the period for the same reason.I think I would probably have enjoyed it more if it was just a light mystery with some fictional character as the main detective. As it was I was constantly thinking whether Elizabeth I would actually behave that way or not...Grade: 3.5/5
What do You think about The Poyson Garden (2000)?
In this intriguing historical mystery, Harper has taken the future Queen Elizabeth and puts her smack dab in the middle of a plot to poison the entire Boleyn clan. During the time of Queen Mary’s reign, Elizabeth has had to deal with always looking over her shoulder. Now with this new threat inching closer, Elizabeth must find out whom is behind it and she is hoping that her sister is not the one pulling the strings. After receiving a letter from her Aunt Mary who she thought was dead; Elizabeth begins her journey under close scrutiny of her guardian, Sir Thomas. Lucky for Elizabeth, her Aunt Mary conveniently had a medicine woman who bears a striking resemblance to Elizabeth and can be used as a decoy.I loved the easy flow of the plot line in The Poyson Garden. Harper keeps you guessing till the end on who is behind the evil scheme. Even though this is HEAVY on fiction I loved that Harper retained Elizabeth’s proud and temperamental characteristics and many familiar faces of Elizabeth’s inner circle are included. The friends she gathers during her sleuthing are interesting and an intricate part to the mystery. Fun and witty, this mystery is an easy read for a nice relaxing afternoon.
—Kelsey
Since I just read The Queen's Governess for a review for Library Journal and liked it so much, I thought I would pick up one of Karen Harper's Tudor mysteries. I started with the first, The Poyson Garden. What I liked about Harper's writing in her historical novel, was just as clear in her mystery: good historical detail, a well-written story, and even better, there was a fine mystery too. I was impressed that she could take known historical events and insert a mystery in the middle. Very talented. I am looking forward to reading the next one, The Tidal Poole, and I am also going to read the Christmas mystery now as well.
—Anna
I think the Popes in this story were very bad keepers of Princess Elizabeth if she was able to slip out of house arrest/rural exile so easily and so often and for so long. And once they've seen Meg and Elizabeth together, how could Elizabeth possibly think the Popes would confuse one for the other? This book is filled with so much that is good (characterization, period flavor, etc.), it's a pity the dramatic logic has to strain my suspension of disbelief. I think Harper would probably be able to
—Marfita
