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The Sixteenth Century -- Queen Elizabeth
The Lady Grace Mysteries
A series of mysteries involving one of Queen Elizabeth's Maids of Honour.
This is the first in a series of historical
mysteries set at the time of Queen Elizabeth.
Young Lady Grace Cavendish is a Maid of Honour -- and secret investigator
-- to Queen Elizabeth. Grace has a special position in the Queen's
heart. This is because her mother died after drinking poison which
was meant for Elizabeth -- and thus saved the Queen's life.
At a ball Grace is asked to choose between three suitors. Then
she will be handfasted and married properly when she is sixteen.
Grace reluctantly chooses one of the suitors. The next morning
another of the suitors is found murdered and Grace's betrothed
is accused of the crime. Grace at once decides to find out the
truth of the matter -- a decision which leads to much unravelling
of threads, trouble for Grace, and a daring plot to rescue a kidnap
victim.
The story is told in the first person in the form of a diary kept
by Grace. But her diary concentrates on the important parts and
does not stop the story from just racing along. The book also
introduces painlessly many interesting facts about Tudor times.
Grace has two secret friends -- Ellie a laundry maid and Masou
an acrobat -- and these two characters provide a way of informing
the reader about the lives of the lower classes at the time.
This book is obviously meant to be a subtle way of teaching history.
But it is rather too subtle. There is much detail about clothes
as Grace describes how she is prepared for the ball. But Grace
just refers to her kirtle, farthingale etc. True there is a glossary
-- if children are prepared to go to it and look things up. But
more is needed. A brief explanation of the various garments is
not enough. Illustrations are badly needed -- and they would not
have given the book a text book feel. Think of the way in which
Cynthia Harnett's illustrations enhanced her books.
Comes with a glossary and a historical note. The latter points
out that while we are all familiar with Walsingham's spies, Elizabeth
was so well informed that she may well have had her own investigators
among her own ladies. So Lady Grace may well have had factual
basis. I like to think so.
Exciting. Amusing. Authentic. A real fun read. But at the same
time this is a book which is just crying out for illustrations.
10-14
The is the second book in the Tudor mystery series about Lady Grace Cavendish, Maid of Honour and private investigator – or Lady Pursuivant – to Queen Elizabeth. Told in the form of Grace’s diary or daybooke.
Queen Elizabeth pays a visit to the naval docks at Tilbury and of course her whole entourage has to accompany her. At Tilbury Lady Sarah, another Maid of Honour, is clearly attracted to Captain Drake and she sees more of him when the Captain accompanies the Queen back to Greenwich.
Then Sarah disappears and Grace learns that she has been seen getting into a boat. Grace thinks that she has run away with Captain Drake. Grace is determined to find her and bring her back and so save her from disgrace.
Grace lets it be known that she is ill and that Sarah is too. They are attended by her drunken doctor uncle and another Maid of Honour, Mary Shelton. No one else comes to their room because of fear of infection. So Grace herself is free to disappear for a while.
With her secret friend Masou the acrobat, she goes to Tilbury and stows away aboard Drake’s ship the Judith. When discovered they are set to work but this does not prevent them from searching the ship which is described in detail along with shipboard conditions and food. Grace and Masou even take part in a sea battle. From the fighting top high up in the rigging Grace has to fire burning arrows into another ship.
Grace and Masou eventually find that Sarah has not run away with Drake but has been abducted by another captain. But all is resolved in the end.
This second book in the series gives a great deal of information about Tudor ships and sailing and there is a glossary and historical notes. But this information occurs quite naturally and does not stop thestory from rattling along at a good pace.
11+
This is the third book of the fictional diaries of Lady Grace Cavendish, Maid of Honour and private investigator – or Lady Pursuivant – to Queen Elizabeth.
The Queen is on progress. This was the name given to her summer travels. Every summer she leaves the royal palace in London for two reasons – so that it can be cleaned and so that she can avoid the Plague. She travels around staying at the big country houses of her noblemen. With her would go most of her Court and the baggage train often consisting of about 300 carts.
Grace describes how the progress reaches the castle of Kenilworth, the seat of the Earl of Leicester. She enjoys the elaborate masques and entertainments in which her secret friend Masou the acrobat plays an important part.
Then things start to go wrong. There is a series of accidents in which the Queen narrowly escapes injury. When out hunting her saddle slips. And then part of a statue nearly falls on her. Finally she just avoids being struck by a stray firework.
Are all these really accidents? Grace discovers that the stitches on the straps of the Queen’s saddle had been cut through. So it had been no accident. Here is another case for Grace to solve.
Another fast paced story told by the lively and resourceful Grace. Like the other books in the series it comes with a glossary and historical notes.
11+
This is the fourth book of the fictional diaries of Lady Grace Cavendish, Maid of Honour and private investigator – or Lady Pursuivant – to Queen Elizabeth. This book has different authors from the first three in the series but the format and style are still the same.
There is a frost fair on the Thames and Grace excited. But an enjoyable visit to it is marred by the discovery, in a boat on the ice, of a body with counterfeit coins on the eyes. But with her friends Ellie the laundry maid and Masou the tumbler, Grace eventually unmasks the villain.
This book throws light on yet another aspect of Elizabethan life. The coinage had been debased by Henry VIII and Elizabeth was determined to stabilise it again. The reader even learns about how the coinage was minted in those times because Grace manages to wangle an invitation to see over the Royal Mint in the Tower of London
There is much information about the age just trickled into the story quite naturally. The difference between the life of luxury of the wealthy Grace and that of the downtrodden and bullied Ellie is clearly brought out –– along with the fact that Ellie has the spirit to rise above the hardships forced upon her.
The book is also highly atmospheric. We really enjoy Grace’s first visit to the Frost Fair. This is winter at it best. But later on we shiver with her when she dresses as a poor spit boy in his thin clothes which are quite inadequate for the winter.
Even with this detailed background the story is exciting and really holds the interest. It is even lightened by some touches of humour in the constant bickering between Lady Jane and Lady Sarah who delights in Jane’s pitiful attempts to skate.
Grace is a resourceful and resilient heroine who writes her diaries in a cheerful, racy style.
Comes with a glossary and historical notes.
Informative, Enjoyable and above all exciting.Very highly recommended.
11+
This is the fifth in the Tudor mystery series about Lady Grace Cavendish, maid of honour to Queen Elizabeth and her secret Lady Pursuivant. And it focusses on yet another facet of Elizabethan life -- this time the importance and significance of jewels.
The Queen has given refuge to the Banoo Yasmin from a country near the Holy Land. The throne of her country is now in the hands of a usurper who has killed the rest of her family. The Banoo has a priceless jewel -- a ruby -- which she offers to the Queen as surety for a loan.
Then the ruby is stolen -- and found in the basket of Ellie the laundry maid and Grace's secret friend. Ellie is arrested and imprisoned. Grace is convinced she is innocent but, unless she can prove it, Ellie might have her hand cut off.
Grace is determined that this will not happen and so, with the help of Masou the tumbler, she sets out to find the real culprit.
This book follows the same pattern as earlier books in the series. Again it is told in the form of entries from Grace's personal journal in her irrepressible style. The mystery comes first but there is still plenty of detail about the palace with its various gardens, court life with its feasts and dancing and the entertainments given by Masou and the other tumblers. We also share Grace's amazement at the strange clothes of the Banoo and the fact that she wore trousers. There is even a pet panther to delight animal lovers.
Comes with a glossary and the same historical note on Tudor times which accompanies the other books in the series. And an extra note the rich and symbolic jewels of the period.
11+
Carmina, one of the Maids of Honour, is ill and no one, including the doctors, knows what is wrong with her. Then Lady Grace accidentally finds out the cause of her mystery illness.
At the top of the Palace is a workroom where painters are constantly at work on a number of portraits of the Queen. This is because these portraits are in constant demand as every town hall in the country wants a painting. But Elizabeth insists that only portraits personally approved by her are to be made available and hence the workroom at the top of the Palace.
Lady Sarah has to dress in the Queen’s robes and stand in for her. This is boring and so Lady Grace has to read to her. Grace is fascinated by the workroom and often irritates Lady Sarah by stopping to gaze around her. Once Grace is even allowed to try her hand at painting herself. When she is finished, being Grace, her hands are covered with paint. She reaches for a sweetmeat left by Lady Sarah but Mistress Teerline, who is in charge of the workroom, stops her in time and impresses on her that paints are very poisonous.
And Grace suddenly realises that someone is trying to poison Carmina. But who would want to? With the help of Ellie and Masou she determines to find out. After many dead ends she finally solves the mystery which has its roots in an ancient family feud –– hence the title.
Every book in this series manages to throw light on a different facet of Elizabethan life. And this one mainly illuminates the court limners and stainers, the way paints were made and painting techniques at the time. But there is also much information about the making of sweetmeats and Tudor medical practice and beliefs.
Comes with the usual note on the Tudor period, a glossary, and additional notes on the miniaturist Nicholas Hilliard and Levina Teerline who, unusual for a woman, was in charge of the court workroom.
Just as enjoyable and informative as the others in this series.
11+
One of the Maids of Honour is getting married –– in Windsor Castle. But the wedding preparations are marred because a consignment of gold and jewels for the Queen has been stolen. It was on its way to the Castle and under guard when it was stolen one night. It is assumed that the gold was stolen by forest bandits but Grace is present when the guards give their account to the Queen. The sharp Grace at once latches onto two points. One of the thieves was very well spoken. Moreover he had an expensive gun with an ivory handle. This does not sound like forest bandits. Grace wonders if the thief –– or thieves were from the gentlemen in the Castle.
Grace voices her suspicions secretly to the Queen who gives her permission to investigate discreetly at Court but she is not to go into the forest.
It is a hard case for Grace as there are many newcomers at Court who have arrived for the wedding –– or to try and catch the Queen’s eye and win her approval. But with the help of Ellie and Masou Grace ferrets out the truth. And, as is to be expected, she does not obey the Queen’s command to keep out of the forest.
This book contains a great deal of information about Tudor wedding celebrations and superstitions. (Mrs Champerknowne the Mistress of the Maids knows them all). There is also much information about court life with hunting during the day and cards at night. This information is both trickled into the story and also given more fully in notes at the end.
There is a new development in this book. For the first time Grace finds herself attracted to one of the young gentlemen at the Court. Can Grace be growing up a little? And shall we see more of this in future books in the series?
11+
It is July and Queen Elizabeth and her court are on progress. They are staying at Medenham Manor in Wiltshire. The owner is having it rebuilt but there is a danger that the remaining east wing will never be finished. This is because the ghost of the first Earl has been seen recently on a ledge above an oriel window on the east wing. These appearances have so frightened the builders that they are refusing to do any more work on that part of the manor.
The ghost appears again and terrifies the Maids of Honour and the Ladies in Waiting. But Lady Grace is not scared. Her sharp eyes have noticed that the ghost is wearing a ruff -- which was not the fashion at the time he was alive. So the astute Grace deduces that the ghost is actually an imposter.
But what are the reasons for these appearances? And who is responsible? Grace determines to unmask the culprit and prove his guilt to the whole court. And with the help of her loyal friends Ellie and Masou she proceeds to do just that.
An eerie and atmospheric story set against the background of Elizabethan court life. Comes with a glossary, a historical note on Tudor times and another note on Elizabethan ghosts.
11+
Queen Elizabeth is in a hurry to see a new play so she and her attendants go to see it at an inn instead of waiting for the actors to come to court. During the performance an actor is shot dead on the stage. A crime committed in front of the Queen is far more serious than the same crime would be if committed elsewhere. But the culprit is soon discovered and apprehended.
Except that Grace is convinced that the man who has been caught is innocent and with the help of Ellie and Masou she is determined to find the real murderer.
This is the first book since Ellie was given her new position as tiring woman to Lady Grace and this makes things much easier for Grace as she can now draw on the services of a chaperon at any time. Moreover Ellie proves to be an excellent lady’s maid and she grows in confidence as the book developes.
As like all the other books in this series, a detailed picture of various facets of Elizabethan life is given. Here, as is to be expected, there is much about the theatre. But there are many other interesting facts. For example we see the traders' stalls in St Paul’s Cathedral and the traders actually conducting their business during a service. Then for a time Grace finds herself locked up in the notorious Clink prison.
But this book is particularly notable for its description of London Bridge. First there is the grisly entrance under the severed heads of executed traitors. Then there are the many shops actually on the bridge. Finally from the houses there is a view of the river from where one can see the boats appear that have chanced it and shot through the arches of the Bridge.
There are the usual historical notes and glossary.
Well up to the standard of the rest of the series. Intrigue is well titled as the story is indeed intriguing.
10+