I really enjoyed this mystery, which is set in 1569 England. In this story, Mistress Ursula Stannard, who is the illegitimate half-sister of Queen Elizabeth, gets involved in political intrigue again as she investigates two murders that occur at the home of a nobleman that she and her husband are visiting. The twisted plot includes some ciphered letters and an obscure plot involving an Italian banker, Roberto Ridolfi. The plot rapidly develops to include a scheme to get Mary Queen of Scots on the English throne.

Eighth book in the series, although it is the first one that I've read.

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I normally don't read historical mysteries, but this one caught my eye. I'm glad I read it. It's interesting enough to hold your interest, and the plot is good and well-paced, but not so intricate that it's confusing. There are some red herrings that will make you think the murderer is someone other than who he/she is. There are some surprising twists. This held my interest and I'm not one who particularly likes mysteries at all.

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