This is an interesting premise for a mystery. Historical settings for mysteries are fairly common now but, in most cases, the detective is male. Think Cadfael, think Marcus Didius Falco and numerous others. In this series the detective is Ursula Blanchard, a one-time lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth I. This is the 6th book in the series and Ursula is now a widow from her second husband, Matthew de la Roche. She has been trying to live a quiet life in a former monastery that was given to her by the Queen for services rendered. However, her uncle and aunt want her to intercept her cousin Edward who is on his way to Edinburgh to the court of Mary, Queen of Scots. Her uncle, aunt and cousin are Catholic and supporters of Mary as the true Queen of England and Edward is delivering a list of all supporters in England. His parents have become concerned that he is going to be caught by Queen Elizabeth's men and tried for treason. They believe Ursula, as a family member, may be able to persuade him to return before reaching Scotland. Ursula, although she harbours no love for her aunt and uncle, agrees to go which means riding a horse most of the length of England in January. With her travel her faithful companions, Roger Brockley and Fran Dale, because a young woman certainly cannot travel alone.

I got a real sense of the times, how people lived, died (especially died as life in those days was apt to be snuffed out in many different ways), worshipped, and loved. The quote from the New York Times Book Review says the Ursula Blanchard mysteries are "A richly researched historical series" although I don't know if this is true. I'm going to pass this book on to BellBelle who does know a thing or two (or multitudes of things) about the history of this time and see what she thinks. I thought it was interesting enough that I'm going to be looking for more of this series. ( )

In 1565, Ursula Blanchard mourns the death of her husband Matthew de la Roche at her English estate Withyshem given to her by Queen Elizabeth I for her services to the crown. Ursula is ready to retire from her life as a secret agent. However, her relatives the Faldenes ask her to find their son, her cousin Edward, who is travelling to Scotland to give a list of English sympathizers to Mary, Queen of Scots.
Even though she has little love for the Faldenes, Ursula doesn't want to see her cousin hang for treason; nor does she want the list to fall into Mary's hands. After all, she is Queen Elizabeth's and Secretary of State William Cecil's spy so, together with her loyal tirewoman, Fran Dale, and her manservant, Roger Brockley, Ursula travels into Scotland only to find. On arriving, she finds Edward dead, the victim of an assassin's blade, and the list gone. Since part of her trip requires her to see Mary Stuart, she gets an invite to Holyrood where se is almost caught up and Mary's wiles, but manages to stay alert to her reason for being there.
A very interesting part of the story concerns a Scottish Lord who falls for Ursula, kidnapping her. He tells her he will tell her who killed her cousin - and who has the list, if she will marry him. She makes a counter-offer: I won't marry you, but I will sleep with you for the information. I almost felt sorry for the burly Lord!
The heroine of this tale acts like a modern day woman with her independence, decisiveness and willingness to go after what she wants. Her sense of loyalty to family and her queen is admirable, even though by going to Scotland without royal permission she knows she could be accused of treason.
Fiona Buckley is a gifted storyteller who recreates with accuracy an era long gone but quite vivid in the minds of readers. ( )

Ok so I caved, I read another one of these. I know they are fluff, it's a guilty pleasure. ( )

Another easy to read murder mystery in the Ursula Blanchard series. I feel I know the characters really well now and greet them like old friends with each new novel in the series. ( )