FABULOUS! Possibly four and a half stars!!"Mystery at Queen Elizabeth I's Court" drew me in like a moth to a light. Historical mystery?! LOVE it! Buckley weaves a tapestry of characters together in a wonderfully gossipy way. It's like your best friend, whom you haven't seen in forever, has sat down to tell you all that's happened to her since seeing her last; only better because of the intrigue and mystery!When I first purchased this book, I did not realize that it is the 8th or 9th in a series called the "Ursula Blanchard mysteries". And, other than I want to read all the others now, it didn't make much difference. Buckley gives the history you need to know in the first few pages. It is very possible to read this book on its own, but I suspect much better to start at the beginning to see all the characters grow. I will definitely be looking for the predecessors to this one and reading them!The characters, by the way, are wonderfully developed. Compared to most "elizabethan" fiction in which the characters are often heavy, Buckley's are like a breath of fresh air. Her heroine, Ursula Blanchard Stannard, is surrounded by people who genuinely like her and care for her as she does them. As the mystery unfolds, she doesn't keep absolutely everything a secret; carrying the burden by herself. She shares it with others which is fresh, warm and (to me) slightly more realistic than these spies that can't and don't tell anyone they love anything about what they do.The mystery of this book evolves around the Ridolfi plot to restore Mary of Scotland to the Scottish throne (and then some), but the mystery is more than discovering the plot. There are murders to solve and romances to resolve throughout. The Ridolfi plot, by the way, is real. I looked it up! How Buckley brings it together, especially with the number of people involved (and from all different backgrounds and social classes) is amazing. When reading a mystery, I'm always on the lookout for things that seem to be nothing, but later are something. There were plenty in this book! What's fabulous about Buckley is the twists she has when bringing some of these things back. I can safely say I didn't even come close to guessing how some little thing would twist the story as it did and I thoroughly loved the twist and she brought everything together! It was a joy to see all the layers of this great story woven together. As I said, it made a beautiful tapestry; an easy to read, easy to enjoy mystery!
An Ursula Blanchard Mystery at Queen Elizabeth I's Court. Ursula is a thrice married mother in her mid 30’s who also happens to be the Queen’s unknown half-sister. She is an able spy and has experience helping the court. This book is about the real life Ridolfi plot that tried to put Mary, Queen of Scots, back on the throne. Adding to the intrigue is the romance between Ursula’s daughter Meg and Edmund Dean. This is the first in the series that I have read. I think there were 7 before. It was an interesting look of Queen Elizabeth I's time. I enjoyed all the characters in the book. It is an easy, enjoyable read.
What do You think about The Siren Queen (2006)?
This may not be great literature, but it is an entertaining historical mystery. I was trapped at an airport for 8 hours and this was the perfect diversion: enough content to keep me occupied, but light enough that I didn't have to struggle.The conflict between Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots presents countless story lines and this book makes good use of court intrigue and politics as the center of a domestic mystery puzzle. I would have enjoyed a bit more local colour. Ms. Buckley is well aware of what it takes to make a readable novel, but for my taste she was a bit light on the historical details that add zest to a period story and provide effortlessly gained knowledge to the reader.
—Nancy
This book continues the series that this author has created featuring Ursula Blanchard, a half sister to Queen Elizabeth,who is often called to court to help put an end to plots and people who would remove the Queen from her throne. The main theme in this book is a plot to restore Mary,Queen of Scots to power. There are sub plots that add to the pace of the story as well. Ursula's daughter is more involved in this novel as well as an old woman that Ursula has befriended in the past. I really enjoy this series and since I like history and historical fiction, I find that well written mysteries that use historical events as a plot are interesting and absorbing.
—Lalla
