The Queene's Cure

Other historical mysteries have been set during the long reign of Queen Elizabeth I. In Harper's series, the queen herself becomes the "detective." In this episode, Elizabeth finds an eerie looking pockmarked effigy of herself in her waiting coach. Well aware of the dangers of small pox, when dead bodies of women seemingly scarred by the pox mysteriously appear, the queen is determined to undercover the perpetrator of these grizzly pranks. Harper gives us a pro-active, young queen well aware of her tenuous hold on the crown. The center piece of the story is the historic impact on Elizabeth when she indeed did almost die from the disease. Elizabeth's fascination with Lord Robert Dudley (Robin) features heavily in the plot as does her trusted, and not so trusted, advisers, including the faithful William Cecil. There are back references to the execution of Sir Thomas More, which served to galvanize his Catholic supporters and thus threaten Elizabeth. The state of Elizabethan medicine is revealed here and is discussed at length in the informative Author's Note. The depiction of Elizabeth's personality and the credible period speech patterns give the reader a taste of the queen's England. A nice map of London, circa 1550, is included along with a much needed list of past events and dates, and a genealogy of the "Tudor Family, Friends and Foes." The "queen's cure" was the annual event of touching scrofula victims, performed by the reigning monarch to supposedly "cure" them.

Great as usual. I just love these stories about Elizabeth I. I'm a fan of hers and will real everything I can get about her

This is the fourth book written by Karen Harper that features Queen Elizabeth the First as the main character. So it is a little far-fetched to think that Queen Bess might be a crime-solving sleuth, but who is to say she wasn't? She was a brilliant ruler, with many interests, so it isn't so far-out that she would want to help solve perplexing mysteries of her day,especially when the mystery involves herself or one of her close subjects.I find these novels fascinating. They are well-researched,and presented in a lively, intriguing manner.I look foward to the next installment of this series.Sharon Galligar Chance, TIMES RECORD NEWS

This book is one the best mystery books I have ever read... Karen Harper has managed extremely successfully to blend the historical setting of the Elizabethean era with a well thought and written plot. The imagination combined with her obviously well founded knowledge of the history results in a breathtaking story... Those not familiar with the imminent profiles of the period may find the book difficult to grasp, however, for those who are interested in this spesific era, this is definitely not a book to miss....Congradulations to Karen Harper...

Elizabeth had a long hard road to travel before she ascended the throne as England's Queen. As a child growing up, she knew any day could be her last and when she was imprisoned in the tower, she thought she would never get out. Though she has full control of the government, she remains alert that her enemies both Catholic and Protestant are waiting for the chance to topple her from the throne. Following a visit to the Royal College of Physicians Elizabeth finds an eerie looking pockmarked effigy of herself in the waiting coach. Although she tries to pass it off as a prank, Elizabeth knows that this could be the opening gambit in a plot to assassinate her. When she discovers the leech laden body of a naked woman on her private grounds, she is sure of it. She and her Privy Plot council investigate her closest enemies but it's only when she recovers from a case of the pox do the people loyal to Elizabeth knows in what direction does her enemy lie. This is the fourth installment in this historical mystery series and THE QUEEN'S CURE is as superb as the first three. The role of doctors and medicine in Elizabethan society plays an important part in the solving of this intricately woven mystery. However, it is the characters, especially the vulnerable Queen and her loyal followers who make this historical novel a winner.Harriet Klausner