This is the first in a series. I found the series with the second book (which I also enjoyed), so I then bought this one. The setting is Elizabethan England (1558) and the stories center on young Queen Elizabeth and Kate Haywood, a musician in the Queen's court who solves murder mysteries under the direction of the queen. The characters are likeable and the stories are great. The writer gives you a good feel for Elizabethan England, through other supporting characters, dialogue and settings. I've visited a couple of the places cited in the books and it brings it all to life. Amanda Carmack is a great writer who can transport you through time. Highly recommended for mystery lovers, Tudor period fans!
BOOK SUMMARY: 1558. Kate Haywood, a simple musician in the employ of a princess, will find herself involved in games of crowns as she sets out to solve the murder of the queen’s envoy....
England is in tumult under the rule of Queen Mary and her Spanish husband. Confined to house arrest at Hatfield House, young Princess Elizabeth is the country’s greatest hope. Far from court intrigues, Elizabeth finds solace in simple things: the quiet countryside and peaceful recreation, including the melodies of her chief musician and his daughter, Kate Haywood.
But Kate will prove herself most valuable when an envoy of the queen—sent to flush out heretics in the princess’s household—is found dead on the grounds of Hatfield. Acting as Elizabeth’s eyes and ears, Kate is sent out on the trail of a killer whose mission could destroy her family, friends—and the future of England.
