Face Down Upon an Herbal

Lady Appleton, still married to the prigg of the local century, keeps herself busy collecting and writing her own herbal book and, oh yeah, solving a murder. The series is the perfect book for all you historical murder mystery buffs. It is sure to please.

This is a wonderful series of historical mysteries. The characters are strong and grow in the course of the series, and the stories are fun--although not terribly hard to figure out, in this case at least. This did not deter me from enjoying this book at all. The pleasure of Elizabethan England is the greater joy here--all the more so because the historical details are correct!

Every time I read an Elizabethan mystery by Kathy Lynn Emerson, I feel like I've been transported back in time. I hear the sounds of carriages passing by, smell the smells of the herbs in their kitchen, & feel I've met the most authentic characters I've ever encountered in a historical novel. This is a 'feel like you've been there' read - Susanna deals with her falling from grace husband in a way that makes me long for the next installment in the series. An incredible read!

Even better than the first of the "Face Down" series, Face Down Upon an Herbal an outstanding example of the historical mystery genre. Susanna, Lady Appleton, is an intelligent and engaging sleuth. The plot never hurries yet has definite direction, always leading toward the eagerly anticipated denouement. And the secondary characters are well-drawn and equally engaging. I can't wait for future entries in this series and hope there will be many more.

A perfect book for a rainy day. Ms. Emerson embellishes an intriguing mystery with fascinating historical details about Elizabethan England. I have read both books in the series, and look forward to her next!