eyes.2c Reviews

The Ruffler's Child  (Thomas the Falconer  Mysteries #1) by John Pilkington           ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is the first in The Falconer mystery series set in turbulent Elizabethan times. A body in the forest, and a bear set the scene.  Thomas and his falcons a highlight. Sent to London to buy some special gyrfalcons along with Lady Margaret who is attending her dead brother’s affairs, Thomas uncovers threats against his mistress. He nearly loses his life as he tries to solve Margaret’s problems. The two grow closer for one night, but they are mistress and servant. That is all they can be. I loved the explanation of the various stratas of society. The masterless folks—the Vagrom, the Abahrams, the people at the market, the beggars, those at court—all very colorful and enlivening. Sexual tensions undergirding the relationship between Lady Margaret and Thomas add an extra oomph to the storyline. I’m so ready to read others in this series. A Boldwood Book...

Treachery (Giordano Bruno #4) by S. J. Parris.                Caught up with intrigue, the Spanish question, the French and English monarchs, and his own troubles Italian "defrocked monk, excommunicated for heresy," and now spy, Giordano Bruno accompanies his friend Sir Philip Sidney, a favorite of Queen Elizabeth's to Plymouth where Sir Francis Drake's fleet is readying  to set sail for the Spanish Main. It's 1585 and Drake is on the eve of departure. Ostensibly Sir Philip is to escort Dom Antonio, the pretender to the Portuguese throne, back to Elizabeth's court. In reality Sir Philip has decided to go against the Queen's wishes and join Drake on his great adventure. That great voyage though has been brought to a halt. A man, "Master Robert Dunne, a gentleman of Devon," has apparently suicided on Drake's galleon. On closer inspection it appears that the suicide is actually a murder. A lose-lose situation for Drake. Sailors being a su...

A Fall of Shadows (A Bess Ellyott Mystery #2) by Nancy Herriman    Once again murder stalks the Elizabethan village of Wiltshire. This time it seems to be accompanied by a whiff of witchcraft and dark magic. The fearful villagers close ranks. A man is found foully murdered near the Druids mound--a dark place to be avoided. A woman covered in blood collapses at healer Bess Ellyott's door. Life in the village is disrupted. Constable Kit Harwoode has his hands full with the murdered man, an old harmless vagrant being accused of murder, a dead servant girl, and the mysterious blood covered woman given refuge by Bess. Meanwhile the villagers are claiming it's all the work of those aligned with the black arts. Suspicious happenings keep piling up. These play into the villagers' fears finding its outlet through mob harassment and worse as those targeted as black magic practicers are besieged. All is a puzzle! At one time Kit exclaims to his cousin Gibb Hardwoode, "m...

Reluctant Assassin, The: An Elizabethan mystery (Ursula Blanchard Mystery #16)  by Fiona Buckley  Ursula Blanchard's young son is kidnapped. The ransom is not money something more deadly. An act of regicide. A problem that only her half-sister, Queen Elizabeth, can help her with. It's 1581 and some in the kingdom are affronted by the possibility of Elizabeth marrying the Duke of Alençon, a French Catholic. The return of the harsh days of Queen Mary are still remembered. Ursula finds herself in an impossible and ever increasing dangerous situation. How to save her son, whilst balancing calling off the search for him without arousing general suspicion. How to do the kidnapper's bidding as the Queen herself leans towards the kidnappers demands, solving other political problems? The faithful members of her household once again rally around, with the additional support of a surprising new member. The hints of Elizabeth torn between wanting love and rule is beautifully u...

Searcher of the Dead  (A Bess Ellyott Mystery #1)   by Nancy Herriman    Set in Elizabethan England, the customs of the times dictate that a suicide leaves those behind not only emotionally bereft, but they are stripped of all their worldly goods. Widowed herbalist   Bess Ellyott's  sister's husband is found hanging from a tree and is deemed a suicide by the authorities. Bess is determined to prove his death is murder. Her search opens herself and others up to close scrutiny by the small village community. In these times of unrest and papist plots, such close observation is not welcome.  Hints of a troubled past for Bess Ellyott, her having to flee London, and the fear of being found keeps being alluded to but we are given very few clues as to what that is about. I am sure all will be revealed as the series progresses. I found the constable  Christopher Harwoode (Kit)  an interesting character, as Bess appears to also. The p...

A Deadly Betrothal: An Elizabethan mystery (Ursula Blanchard #15)   by  Fiona Buckley Ursula Blanchard's  life continues to be a maelstrom of activity. Garnering the occasional involvement in state secrets, heinous crimes of murder, advice to her sister Queen Elizabeth, all offset around the normal pace of life and country living. Ursula is always moving between the Queen's court, her Surrey home at Hawkswood, her second Withysham, which was in Sussex and visiting other places when called to by Lord Cecil, the Queen's treasurer or Francis Walsingham, the Queen's Secretary of State. Accompanied always by her devoted serving woman Dale and Brockley her loyal manservant and Dale's husband.  A letter from Cecil takes Ursula back to court and to her sister's side.  Elizabeth is contemplating marriage with French royalty, Francis, the  Duke of Alençon,   a man twenty years her junior. A stormy contemplation. Elizabeth is fearful and worried, b...

Murder in a Cornish Alehouse: An Elizabethan Spy Thriller (A Mistress Jaffrey Mystery)   by Kathy Lynn Emerson                                Mistress Rosamund Jaffrey is such a strong character, sometimes perhaps too strong. Husband Rob balances her nicely. It's June 1584 and Rosamunds stepfather Sir Walter Pendenni is dead, possibly murdered.  His links to Sir Francis Walsingham, Elizabeth's spymaster, and Rosamund's concern about the wardship of her half-brother send Rosamund back into Cornwall, to Priory House, to act as an agent for Walsingham and to act on her brother's behalf. Her mother is part of Rosamund's fears. The old hurts and conflict between the two are ever present and vitriolic. Alongside these worries is the more personal one. Rosamund is always wondering if Rob will sail off in search of adventure, leaving her behind. Cornish pirates, smugglers and tr...

Rebellion's Message (A Jack Blackjack Mystery #1)   by   Michael Jecks Once again Jecks comes up with a winner. This first in a new series has it all--intrigue, deadly court politics, a roguish, likeable anti hero,  and murder-- all centered in the firm historical detail of the Elizabethan period during the rebellion of 1554 lead by Jane Grey supporters against Queen Mary. This engaging mystery tale is told by a bumbling young scapegoat, Jack Blackjack who has the perfectly respectable occupation as a cut purse, living off his wits, along with his fellow gang members, all lead by the nasty piece of work, Bill Tanner. Not your band of merry men, rather a group of people living in squalor thriving and more to make a living. Jack is besotted by the lovely Moll, Bill's girlfriend. Jack and Moll live in the same space. Theirs is a curious relationship never quite realized but Jack always adoringly hopeful. Bill Tanner always threateningly jealous. Jack becomes ...