Poison, Your Grace

August 29, 2011
Simon Maldon, an apothecary’s apprentice, earned the trust of the future Elizabeth I in Herring’s first mystery, Her Highness’ First Murder (2010), set in 1546. Six years later, Simon’s and Elizabeth’s paths cross again in this engaging sequel after a murderer strikes in London’s Whitehall palace. It’s a particularly sensitive time, as England’s young ruler, Edward VI, is in failing health, and several would-be successors are vying for the throne. Many fear that the person who fatally poisoned Lord Amberson, a trusted adviser of the king’s, may have been trying to frame Elizabeth for the crime. When the king summons Simon’s master, Carthburt, to Whitehall to try to identify the agent of death, Simon goes along and gets involved in the inquiry. Herring does a nice job of making Elizabeth a plausible partner in detection and the life-and-death intrigues of the period fresh and compelling.

October 1, 2011

Apothecary apprentice Simon Maldon returns in this dynamic sequel to Her Highness' First Murder when a nobleman is poisoned within London's Whitehall Palace. Elizabeth Tudor contacts Simon because she's afraid her brother, the ill King Edward, might have been the target. Soon, Hannah, Simon's fiancee, is working undercover in the palace, and she and the princess devise how to coordinate their sleuthing with Simon while he works with other trusted officials to ferret out the truth. Further poisonings and "accidents" increase the urgency as Elizabeth realizes she is being set up to take the fall. Can these three figure out who stands to gain the most in this closed-room drama? VERDICT Herring weaves a nifty tale of cunning and danger. Think of this series as a must-read prequel to other excellent mysteries featuring Queen Elizabeth I, such as those by Karen Harper. Featuring detailed settings, ample wit, and a fast pace, this historical shines. [See Prepub Alert, 8/2/11.]

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