Elizabeth Tudor is being crowned Queen of England. An historical event that covers some diabolical dealings: murder, espionage, intrigue and double dealing that run rampant through the royal court.

Elizabeth has her public persona to maintain, but she also has a private side with her Privy Council, which is made up of people she knows she can trust. Her companion, Kathrine Ashley, Lord Robert Dudley – Master of the Horses, Mrs. Margaret Milligrew – who could pass as the Queens twin, Ned Topside – the Queens’s Fool, who is smarter than is thought, William Cecil – Principal Secretary, and Baron Henry Carey. They have been with her for a while and have proved themselves. Members of the court and royal family are another story. Lady Frances - Dowager Duchess, mother of Lady Jane Gray is a scheming, pushy woman with plans of her own, as does a few others in regards the throne.

When Lady Maldon is found murdered, wheels start turning. With a reputation of being a major flirt, there are plenty of lines of thought on who and why the Lady was murdered.

Elizabeth is requested to find the killer, by an old and trusted friend. She can’t turn the request down, but it also can’t become known she is investigating such a situation. With her Privy Council, she is able to access the tight net and gossip lines that are woven into life at the court and life in the lower ranks of London.

Set in Elizabethan England, with language and descriptions, it adds to the enjoyment of the read. This is the first book in the series. ( )

While this was fairly interesting, I find it hard to believe that the queen would at all act like she did. I mean, consorting with very common people to solve a murder mystery? At least on of them was an actual character; her former governess, Cat. It turned out that the girl was killed because she stumbled on a guy trying to shoot the queen (good luck with a pre-flintlock rifle!)

Title: The Tidal Poole
Author: Karen Harper
Genre: Historical fiction
# of pages: 290
Start date: 6/2
End date: 6/12
Borrowed/bought: borrowed from library
My rating of the book, F- [worst] to A [best]: B

Description of the book: With Elizabeth triumphant procession to the throne after her sister's death, a high profile murder destroys the happiness of her first day as Queen.

Review: This was about the same as the first book. Again, same problem. Also, there were a lot of characters in this book and I had to stop a lot and make sure I wasn't mixing up characters. I think I liked this book better though, as there was a little bit of romance. ( )

#2 in the Elizabeth I historical mystery series, this one set during the days immediately after Elizabeth’s coronation as Queen of England. A young woman acquainted with some of Elizabeth’s friends is found murdered, with the deed apparently occurring during Her Majesty’s coronation parade. When beseeched to protect her foster son, who is being accused of the crime by Elizabeth’s cousin the Duchess of Suffolk, the queen gathers together her “privy council” and sets out to investigate the crime. While I thoroughly enjoyed the story, I admit that the idea of the Queen of England dressed in male servant’s clothes and sneaking around, breaking and entering with her cohorts in the dead of night is a bit silly. The author certainly has a vivid imagination—and as it’s fiction, I reckon she’s allowed. ( )

I just love all of this series which features Queen Elizabeth I as a detective solving all sorts of murders. These are just great fun fast books to read and historical true. ( )