The Hooded Hawke (Elizabeth I Mysteries, Book 9)

This summer, Queen Elizabeth I is in no mood for games. She and her court were expecting to spend the warmer months lounging in great manor houses, feasting in the fields, tempting forbidden romance, and perhaps engaging in sport. But someone in the Queen's entourage isn't playing by the rulesand soon Elizabeth is dodging crossbows, longbows, and--worst of all--the threats of her greatest rival, Mary Queen of Scots. As bodies and clues pile up, the mystery and dangers deepen like the surrounding forests. Now Elizabeth must fearlessly confront her foes before she loses her crown--or her life. From Publishers Weekly Harper's fast-paced, suspenseful ninth historical (after 2005's The Fatal Fashione ) finds Elizabeth I beset by Spanish antagonism at sea and by political rivals in England, especially the scheming Mary, Queen of Scots, and the rebellious northern lords. While on a summer outing in 1569 with her new ally, Francis Drake, an arrow barely misses Elizabeth, claiming the life of her falconer instead. After another arrow whizzes dangerously between the queen and her herbalist, her royal suspicions of a larger conspiracy solidify. She'll need all her wits and the assistance of her loyal servants to piece out who is the true target of the attacks. While the conceit of Elizabeth herself as an active sleuth requires some suspension of disbelief, readers who buy in will likely find themselves spellbound by the characters, plotting and plausible period detail. Harper is also the author of Inferno (Mass Market, p. 39). (Feb.) Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From Booklist Elizabeth Tudor, queen of England, is making a summer "progress" through the counties of Surrey and Hampshire to expose herself to the common folk, to take a respite from her problems of state and personal security (after all, Catholics and Protestants in her land and everywhere else aren't getting along), and to test the loyalty of certain of her noble subjects. She will stay for lengths of time at stately homes, one after another all summer long. The problem is that this summer, right off the bat, two people are murdered within feet of her. Was Her Majesty the intended target? Was the malefactor someone in her own entourage? Perhaps her own cousin, the Catholic duke of Norfolk? As in Harper's previous entries in her Elizabeth I series, in this latest installment the queen takes sleuthing into her own royal hands to determine who is causing this piece of unpeacefulness. Historical sophistication blends well with all the necessary elements of good mystery storytelling. Brad Hooper Copyright American Library Association. All rights reserved

praise For Karen Harper's Elizabeth I Mysteries

a Walk Side By Side With One Of History's Most Dynamic Characters.

- Anne Perry, Author Of dark Assassin

deftly Integrates Its Appealing Historical Detail With A Neatly Turned Mystery.

- kirkus Reviews On the Hooded Hawke

harper Brings The Period Vividly To Life. . . . One Soon Is Swept Up In The Rush Of Events In A Turbulent Time Skillfully Described. Recommended For All Collections.

- library Journal On the Fatal Fashione

fabulous . . . A Thrilling Reading Experience . . . Fans Of The Ursula Blanches Series By Fiona Buckley Will Definitely Love This Glimpse Into A Bygone Era.

- Midwest Book Review On the Fyre Mirror

a Real Treat For Those Who Enjoy Historical Mysteries.

- Booklist On the Queene's Christmas

tudor England's Answer To V. I. Warshawski.

- Publishers Weekly on The Thorne Maze

harper Delivers High Drama And Deadly Intrigue. . . . Elizabethan History Has Never Been This Appealing.

- Newsday On the Tidal Poole

publishers Weekly

harper's Fast-paced, Suspenseful Ninth Historical (after 2005's The Fatal Fashione) Finds Elizabeth I Beset By Spanish Antagonism At Sea And By Political Rivals In England, Especially The Scheming Mary, Queen Of Scots, And The Rebellious Northern Lords. While On A Summer Outing In 1569 With Her New Ally, Francis Drake, An Arrow Barely Misses Elizabeth, Claiming The Life Of Her Falconer Instead. After Another Arrow Whizzes Dangerously Between The Queen And Her Herbalist, Her Royal Suspicions Of A Larger Conspiracy Solidify. She'll Need All Her Wits And The Assistance Of Her Loyal Servants To Piece Out Who Is The True Target Of The Attacks. While The Conceit Of Elizabeth Herself As An Active Sleuth Requires Some Suspension Of Disbelief, Readers Who Buy In Will Likely Find Themselves Spellbound By The Characters, Plotting And Plausible Period Detail. Harper Is Also The Author Of Inferno (mass Market, P. 39). (feb.) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

The popular sports and games of the queen's realm, unfortunately, include treachery, treason, and murder. Elizabeth and her court depart London for a summer progress replete with great manor houses, rural receptions, outdoor repasts, forbidden romance, and games and sport. By royal command, the young Francis Drake joins the entourage. A ship's captain in his pre-glory days, he is desperate for Her Majesty's approval, and she is disconcerted to discover that she desires his admiration as well. However, someone's idea of games and sport includes shooting crossbows and longbows at the queen and her captain. As bodies and clues pile up, the mystery and dangers deepen like the surrounding forests. Both Drake and the queen have cousins they cannot trust who may want them dead. Elizabeth struggles to keep up a bold front for the cheering crowds and her watchful courtiers, but what terrifies her most is that her rival, Mary Queen of Scots, does not play by the rules. With Elizabeth's coterie of friends, Elizabeth must fearlessly confront her foes before she loses both her crown and her head. This summer, Queen Elizabeth I is in no mood for games. She and her court were expecting to spend the warmer months lounging in great manor houses, feasting in the fields, tempting forbidden romance, and perhaps engaging in sport. But someone in the Queen's entourage isn't playing by the rules ... and soon Elizabeth is dodging crossbows, longbows, and --worst of all--the threats of her greatest rival, Mary, Queen of Scots. As bodies and clues pile up, the mystery and dangers deepen like the surrounding forests. Now Elizabeth must fearlessly confront her foes before she loses her crown--or her life Leaving London for a journey around the country, Queen Elizabeth I and her court, accompanied by a young Francis Drake, are confronted by someone shooting arrows at the queen and the captain, both of whom have cousins who may want them dead