A killer with a flair for the theatrical tries to spoil Christmas for Elizabeth I. With the return of her beloved Robin Dudley from Scotland (where her rival Mary Stuart has rejected a marriage proposal), Queen Elizabeth looks forward to an idyllic Christmas. Her subtle plot against Mary is half-complete; come the New Year, she'll send foppish Lord Darnley to woo the Scottish queen. Meantime, she prepares menus and events for the Yuletide season. The former includes mummings, directed by her Master of Revels Ned Topside, a former actor. Ned has designs on the queen's closest confidante, Meg Mulligrew, and the attraction is mutual, though Meg is betrothed to stalwart, dull Stephen Jenks. A bizarre incident casts a pall over the revels. Hodge Thatcher, in charge of food preparation, is found dead and trussed like a bird, complete with feathers, hanging in the kitchen. The contents of a nearby note imply suicide, but Elizabeth isn't certain. Late at night, after she and her trusted advisor Robert Cecil have sneaked to the corpse's location to examine it, someone tries to burn up both them and the body-evidence enough that it was murder. More crimes follow, many with devilish accompanying notes. Eventually Elizabeth must think like the killer to trap him. Lively, abundant historical color makes Harper's latest regal caper (The Thorne Maze, 2002, etc.) another standout. A delectable bonus: Each chapter opens with a Yuletide recipe from the period.
Praise for Karen Harper and Her Queen Elizabeth I Series
The Queene's Christmas
—"Lively, abundant historical color makes Harper's latest regal caper another standout. A delectable bonus: Each chapter opens with a Yuletide recipe from the period." —Kirkus Reviews
—"Wonderful historical detail mixed with intrigue and authentic Elizabethan recipes enliven this story, which is a real treat for those who enjoy historical mysteries." —Booklist
The Thorne Maze
—"Tudor England's answer to V. I. Warshawski....[a] well-researched, intrigue-filled historical." —Publishers Weekly
—"Brisk, energetic writing and terrific historical color." —Kirkus Reviews
—"Another brilliantly plotted and authentically detailed entry in a series celebrated for its vigorous characterization of the Virgin Queen." —Booklist
—"Another fine historical." —Library Journal
—"Harper is to be commended for keeping true to what we know of Tudor history...and for making the factions of Elizabeth's court clearer than many history books have done." —Chicago Tribune
—"The plot of Harper's novel is a mere diversion from its true pleasure: 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." —Baltimore Sun
The Queene's Cure
—"Karen Harper weaves a thrilling blend of historical detail and intriguing mystery. Her Queen Elizabeth I . . . possesses the fine detective's instinct of Sherlock Holmes. The result is an intense reading experience guaranteed to surprise and delight." —Lisa Gardner, author of The Other Daughter
The Twylight Tower
—"Harper's exquisite mastery of the period, lively dialogue, energetic plot, devious characters, and excellent rendition of the willful queen make this a pleasure for fans of historical mysteries. Essential for all collections." —Library Journal
—"The sleuthing is fun, but what makes The Twylight Tower comparable to the fine works of Allison Weir is the strong writing of the author." —Midwest Book Review
The Tidale Poole
—"Harper delivers high drama and deadly intrigue.... [She] masterfully captures the Elizabethan tone in both language and setting and gives life to fascinating historical figures.... Elizabethan history has never been this appealing." —Newsday
The Poyson Garden
—"A walk side by side with one of history's most dynamic characters." —Anne Perry, author of Half Moon Street
