The Hooded Hawke

Karen Harper's Elizabeth I Mysteries are delightful. The characters are well-drawn, well-written and believable. She has done a ton of research and uses actual historical incidents as jumping-off points for her mysteries. I read many historical mysteries and this series is one of the absolute best. I became addicted after one book and have read every one in the series. Harper knows how to keep the pages turning! I've lent them to everyone in my family and we all adore them, men and women alike. We wish Ms. Harper would write some more!

Queen Elizabeth (the first, not Helen Mirren), unwilling to let her enemies catch her unawares, enlists her servants and staff to help her pursue whoever is behind the barely-missed attacks on her person. Determined, clever, and quick-witted, Harper's Elizabeth is a master at managing court and international intrigue while solving yet another murder. Let's hope we have more from this talented author! Eleanor Sullivan, author of Assumed Dead.

The Hooded Hawke Karen Harper Dunne, Feb 2007, $23.95 ISBN: 0312338872 In 1569 Queen Elizabeth I continues her effort to strengthen her control of throne while her prime rival Mary, Queen of Scots, and several northern lords brew rebellion. Though concerned over her safety, Elizabeth refuses to be a prisoner as she was when her late stepsister was queen. Accompanied by Francis Drake, she goes out on an outing, but someone tries to assassinate her; killing her falconer instead. A second attack comes close to her while she consulted with her herbalist. Not one to sit around as a target, Elizabeth begins an investigation as to who is behind the attempts on her life as she suspects it is not the obvious suspects like Mary. She enlist her loyal servants and Francis to help her unravel the truth as she begins to suspect she is not the objective, but that someone else close to the crown is and the assailant also has to be in the inner royals circle. If her theory is wrong, a dead Elizabeth would be the proof. As always with this delightful sixteenth century mystery series, readers must accept Queen Elizabeth I as a private investigator extraordinaire. If one can accept that basic axiom, the exciting story line is fascinating as the audience obtains a deep look at Elizabethan England inside a cleverly devised whodunit with suspects galore. Harriet Klausner