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Summary: An easy to read book that is captivating and entertaining.
Review: I found Fiona Buckleys novel extremely entertaining. Not only is the main character believable and realistic, but she is easy to identify with. THis novel sucked me in and I couldn't put it down until I was finished. It left me eagerly awaiting the next in the series.
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Summary: A great, fun read!
Review: I love historical fiction, and I've just discovered historically-based mysteries. This is the best that I've read lately. I look forward to Fiona Buckley's next book!
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Summary: A little slow, but good to historical mystery lovers!
Review: I love the Elizabethan time period, so of course I loved this book! At times my mind wandered, but over all, a good read!
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Summary: High intrique and slow speed chases mark this book as a winn
Review: I picked up this book as a quick read over a holiday and was happily surprised to find the author an accomplished novelist. Her simple explanations of the intriquisies of the Elizabethian court were purely amazing, bring the court life to life in a vivid and fun fashion. And the author is to be commended on her use of 'devices'. It is easy to write a modern mystery, complete with wire taps, phone scanners,and high speed chases in fancy cars. Fiona Buckly showcases her brilliant mind as she keeps the heroine firmly in the character of an Elizabethian lady who uses her powers of reason and the drama of stealth to overhear conversations.Instead of a fancy car the heroine has a flashy bay horse, and the slow speed chase on horseback lurking over hill and dale in the English countryside following a notable horse was absolutly facinating. I compleatly enjoyed TO SHIELD THE QUEEN, and will begin searching for other books by Fiona Buckly,hoping that she has continued the adventures of Ursula and her crew.
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Summary: What really happened at Kenilworth?
Review: I thought that this was a very ingenious solution to one of history's mysteries. I'm surprised I hadn't encountered it in all of my reading before. I also felt that it was very descriptive of everyday living during Tudor times.
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Summary: What really happened at Kenilworth?
Review: I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mysteries set in historical times. The author, Fiona Buckley captures the flavor of the time as well as provides an intricate plot that keeps you guessing until the last pages. Anyone interested in the life and times of Queen Elizabeth I will certainly love this novel.
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Summary: If you love mysteries...
Review: I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mysteries set in historical times. The author, Fiona Buckley captures the flavor of the time as well as provides an intricate plot that keeps you guessing until the last pages. Anyone interested in the life and times of Queen Elizabeth I will certainly love this novel.
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Summary: First in an Intriguing Elizabethan Mystery series
Review: The first in a series of mysteries by British author Fiona Buckley, set in the time of Queen Elizabeth I. If you loved the movie ELIZABETH, you'll love this series.
Ursula Blanchard, a recently widowed woman, must leave her young daughter in the care of a servant and make her own way in the world as a lady in waiting to young Queen Elizabeth I. At court she finds herself encountering intrigue at every turn and is soon offered an opportunity to serve the Queen and earn some extra funds which she can use to support her young daughter. Rumors abound that nobleman Robin Dudley is having an affair with the Queen, and that he is poisoning his wife to free him from his marriage. Ursula must go to his home to protect Dudley's name, and through him the Queen's. But once Ursula arrives, she begins to have doubts, especially after the warnings she receives. Is there something to the rumors? And if so, is Dudley the one behind them, or is there something even more dangerous and sinister afoot? If you know your Tudor history, you're going to love this series. It's full of people, places and customs of the period, very well researched. Even the central mystery of the plot is based on fact, like all of Fiona Buckley's books. There's a subtlety to the plot, and a great deal of political and religious intrigue mixed in. It's quite rich and pleasantly complex. What I most enjoyed was the detailed account of the daily life of a gentlewoman. There seem to be a lot of books about daily life of the working class and peasants, many more on the life of the nobles. What you don't often see are the middle class, which is what makes Ursula Blanchard such an interesting heroine. She is caught between the two classes, at the mercy of the nobles and trapped in their plots and games, yet high enough that she can be a player (or pawn) in those same games. This is a great start to a very intriguing series.
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Summary: If only there was more realism and fewer heaving bosoms
Review: The language patterns aren't terribly Elizabethan, and the history not terribly atmospheric, and I'm not quite sure it's more a romance than mystery, but the plot kept me plodding through
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Summary: Well balanced historical mystery
Review: TO SHIELD THE QUEEN is a delightful experience! It's full of interesting, accurate period detail which adds interest and color, but doesn't get in the way of the mystery. Plucky Ursula Blanchard is perhaps more pro-active than the typical Elizabethan woman, but she is engaging and worth spending your time with! I recommend it for fans of mystery and historical fiction alike.
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