Will treads a narrow path!

Devil's Gambit (King Fool’s Mystery #4) by Jeri Westerson  

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Once more King Henry VIII’s jester, Will Somers finds himself assisting a lady-in-waiting in a somewhat precarious situation.

Lady Margaret Loy has accompanied Anne of Cleeves from Germany to England hoping to marry one of Henry’s courtiers, Sir Francis Heron. His father, Lord Humphrey Heron won’t allow this unwelcome match. Margaret has no dowry to speak of, nothing to enhance the union. Margaret persuades Will to present the king with a document to sign stating Henry was in favor of the marriage. Henry refuses. Will goes to Lady Margaret’s rooms to give her the bad news, only to find matters have taken a turn for the worst. She’s found her courtier’s father in her rooms. He’s been strangled!

Margaret begs Will to help her hide the body. He reluctantly does.

Why didn’t Will leave well enough alone?!

Balancing his life between his King, Harry or rather Henry, depending on Henry’s mood, his wife Marion, his once lover Nick and a new lover, whilst keeping abreast of court politics should be enough to exhaust any mere mortal, but now add a murder investigation!

The story sinks into a quagmire of a disappearing body—twice! Will hunting for the real killer. all the while wondering where Henry was mysteriously disappearing to? Cromwell is slinking around in the background, nearly sunk, and an attractive guard makes an appearance.

The ear of the King and Queen are nothing new to Will. Queen Anne heeds Will’s advice in this mismatched marriage.

The Captain of the guard, Sir William agrees to Will continuing his investigations into  the party who murdered Lord Heron, rather than torturing those he can.

Complex and enjoyable. The scene where Will’s love Nick asks for advice on how to woo his wife is both awkward and somewhat hilarious.

Another rousing Tudor tale from Westerson.

An Old London Press ARC via NetGalley.                                              

Many thanks to the author and publisher.