Synopses & Reviews
Elizabethan London teems with life and deadly deeds as its queen struggles to solve a woman's murder by delving into a girl's memories. At stake are Elizabeth Tudor's right to rule---and her very life. In the eighth year of the young queen's reign, England is awash in fads. Tobacco is introduced from the New World and so is chocolate, which is secretly smuggled from Spain. Black garments become the rage and are beautifully set off by Elizabeth's style of flaunting pearls. Starch, introduced from the Netherlands, is worth its weigh in gold after Her Majesty promotes the wearing of huge ruffs. IN addition, Sir Thomas Gresham, the queen's wealthy financial advisor, begins to build the huge mercantile exchange that will become England's first shopping mall. Unfortunately for the queen and her court, adultery, revenge, and murder never go out of style. When the royal starcher is drowned and a young witness to the villainy is so shocked that she loses her memory, the queen and her coterie set out to solve the crime. If the truth does not prevail, Elizabeth might lose people dear to her who fall under suspicion. As a second woman is drowned, and then a third, the queen also fears she might lose her own life, for the deadly, dual nature of even those she trusts always remains the fatal fashion.
Review
"Harper's facility with historical figures is extraordinary."
--Los Angeles Times "Harper is Tudor England's answer to V.I. Warshawski."
--Publishers Weekly
"[A] thrilling blend of historical detail and intriguing mystery. [Harper's] Queen Elizabeth I possesses the fine detective's instinct of Sherlock Holmes."
--Lisa Gardner, author of The Other Daughter
"Historical-mystery lovers...should rejoice at [Harper's] latest installment."
--Booklist "Entertaining.... Harper skillfully interweaves fact and fiction, presenting a heroine who is as intelligent and gutsy a crime solve as she was a real-life monarch." --Publishers Weekly
"Harper brings the period vividly to life, develops characters from the earlier tales, and makes the Virgin Queen a sympathetic, ambitious, and patriotic woman.... [O]ne soon is swept up in the rush of events in a turbulent time skillfully described. Recommended for all collections."--Library Journal
Review
"Entertaining.... Harper skillfully interweaves fact and fiction, presenting a heroine who is as intelligent and gutsy a crime solver as she was a real-life monarch."-
Publishers Weekly "Historical-mystery lovers, and Harper's fans in particular, should rejoice at this latest installment."- Booklist
"Harper brings the period vividly to life, develops characters from the earlier tales, and makes the Virgin Queen a sympathetic, ambitious, and patriotic woman….one soon is swept up in the rush of events in a turbulent time skillfully described. Recommended for all collections."- Library Journal
"Cleverly written…. Readers receive a deep look at life in the court to include those who are employed by the Queen and her retinue."- Midwest Book Review
Synopsis
In the eighth installment of Harper's Elizabeth I mystery series, the lucrative invention of starch takes the English fashion world by storm--and triggers the murder of the royal starcher. When two more women are murdered, the queen fears she, too, might lose her life. Martin's Press.
Synopsis
Praise for Karen Harper's Elizabeth I Mysteries "A truly vibrant protagonist, thoroughly satisfying characterization, attention to detail, and credible plotting mark this as an outstanding historical."- Library Journal on The Fyre Mirror "A real treat for those who enjoy historical mysteries."- Booklist on The Queene's Christmas "Tudor England's answer to V.I. Warshawski."- Publishers Weekly on The Thorne Maze "The novel's true pleasure is the re-creation of Elizabeth I's court, the manners of the day, the fetes, the sumptuous clothes, all of which Harper brings wonderfully alive."- The Miami Herald on The Thorne Maze "Harper is to be commended for keeping true to what we know of Tudor history and for making the factions of Elizabeth's courts clearer than many history books have done."- Chicago Tribune on The Thorne Maze "Harper delivers high drama and deadly intrigue....Elizabethan history has never been this appealing."- Newsday on The Tidal Poole
Synopsis
Someone in the Queen's Court has a deadly sense of style. . . .
In 1566, Elizabeth Tudor faces tremendous opposition from Parliament for ruling England without the help of a husband. Instead, she turns to her Privy Plot Council for help, only to discover from her royal herbalist that a woman has drowned in a tub of starch. Soon another garment worker meets the same rigid fate. Elizabeth becomes unbending in her attempts to solve the murders, as well as iron out the problems of her kingdom. But with her list of suspects growing--and firm evidence pointing to those she trusts the most--Elizabeth must hang the murderer out to dry or risk losing her reign... or her life.
"Harper is Tudor England's answer to V.I. Warshawski."
--Publishers Weekly
"[A] thrilling blend of historical detail and intriguing mystery. [Harper's] Queen Elizabeth I possesses the fine detective's instinct of Sherlock Holmes."
--Lisa Gardner, author of The Other Daughter
"Historical-mystery lovers...should rejoice at [Harper's] latest installment."
--Booklist
Synopsis
In 1566, Elizabeth Tudor faces tremendous opposition from Parliament for ruling England without the help of a husband. Instead, she turns to her Privy Plot Council for help, only to discover from her royal herbalist that a woman has drowned in a tub of starch. Soon another garment worker meets the same rigid fate. Elizabeth becomes unbending in her attempts to solve the murders, as well as iron out the problems of her kingdom. But with her list of suspects growing--and firm evidence pointing to those she trusts the most--Elizabeth must hang the murderer out to dry or risk losing her reign... or her life.
About the Author
Karen Harper is the author of seven previous Elizabeth I mysteries: The Poyson Garden, The Tidal Poole, The Twylight Tower, The Queene's Cure, The Thorne Maze, The Queene's Christmas, and The Fyre Mirror. She also writes historial romance and contemporary suspense novels, including the bestselling The Falls. Karen Harper lives in Columbus, Ohio, and Naples, Florida.