Great Book: Murder at Hatfield House: An Elizabethan Mystery

Tom and I both read " Murder at Hatfield House: An Elizabethan Mystery" by Amanda Carmack and both thoroughly enjoyed it.  

  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.

Great Tudor Era Mystery! "Murder at Westminster Abbey"

A must-read! 

It's infrequent that Tom and I read the same books but one book in a new murder mystery series became a must-read for both of us because it combined the history of the Tudor period (Queen Elizabeth) and a murder mystery.
   "Murder at Westminster Abbey" by Amanda Carmack was a GREAT book!
   I don't want to give anything away, so I'll just share the book summary. But if you know anything about the Tudor period of England, or if you just enjoy a good mystery this is a must-read. There are a lot of characters, but the court was a busy place. Regardless, the author really makes the characters all come to life and we really get to know and root for Kate, the lead character.

Queen Elizabeth plays a big part! 

  BOOK SUMMARY: 1559. Elizabeth is about to be crowned queen of England and wants her personal musician Kate Haywood to prepare music for the festivities. New to London, Kate must learn the ways of city life…and once again school herself as a sleuth.
 
Life at the center of the new royal court is abuzz with ambition and gossip—very different from the quiet countryside, where Kate served Elizabeth during her exile. Making her way among the courtiers who vie for the new queen’s favor, Kate befriends Lady Mary Everley. Mary is very close to Elizabeth. With their red hair and pale skin, they even resemble each other—which makes Mary’s murder all the more chilling.
 
The celebrations go on despite the pall cast over them. But when another redhead is murdered, Kate uncovers a deadly web of motives lurking just beneath the polite court banter, and follows the trail of a killer whose grievance can only be answered with royal blood.
Get it on Amazon here:  Murder-Westminster-Abbey