A Dangerous Inheritance

Aug 27, 2012 Allie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Can't wait...such a huge fan of Alison weir...lady elizabeth, innocent traitor, and captive queen were SO GOOD!!!!!!!!!!

Oh my goodness just got it out of the library today it's such a beautiful book I cant wait!

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Aug 17, 2012 Andrea rated it 2 of 5 stars

I finished reading "A Dangerous Inheritance," but as a former member of the Richard III Society (dedicated to clearing his name and to proving he didn't kill the little princes) I'm pretty sorry I bought this book. It's a good read, but it makes my blood boil to read about Richard as villain and I hate to support such allegations with my book money. I suggest that people wanting to know more about the era and the issues read Josephine Tey's "The Daughter of Time."

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Sep 15, 2012 Lolly's rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: amazon-vine, historical-fiction

3.5 stars

From the blurb: England's Tower of London was the terrifying last stop for generations of English political prisoners. A Dangerous Inheritance weaves together the lives and fates of four of its youngest and most blameless: Lady Katherine Grey, Lady Jane's younger sister; Kate Plantagenet, an English princess who lived nearly a century before her; and Edward and Richard, the boy princes imprisoned by their ruthless uncle, Richard III, never to be heard from again. Across the years, these...more 3.5 stars

From the blurb: England's Tower of London was the terrifying last stop for generations of English political prisoners. A Dangerous Inheritance weaves together the lives and fates of four of its youngest and most blameless: Lady Katherine Grey, Lady Jane's younger sister; Kate Plantagenet, an English princess who lived nearly a century before her; and Edward and Richard, the boy princes imprisoned by their ruthless uncle, Richard III, never to be heard from again. Across the years, these four young royals shared the same small room in their dark prison, as all four shared the unfortunate role of being perceived as threats to the reigning monarch.

First off, I have to say, I'm a bit peeved at this book. According to the blurb, the impression that I got was that the stories were supposed to be told from the viewpoints of Katherine Grey and Katherine Plantagenet (which they were), and the two princes in the tower. Of course, I didn't know how those two princes, Edward and Richard, would be able to tell their story. Through hidden letters perhaps? A secret diary or journal? Who knew, but whatever the case, it would've been a most interesting tale. So, naturally, I was disappointed when I realized the book was only told from the viewpoints of the two women as they worked to solve the disappearance of the two princes.

Anyway, to these two women: The first is Katherine Grey, the prettier, more vivacious sister to Lady Jane Grey, the doomed and ill-used Nine Days Queen. Katherine's story is told in the first-person, in her voice, and while her life story is laid out according to historical sources, Weir slips in imagined instances where Katherine discovers information and artifacts linked to the princes in the tower, which creates a fascination in her to try and solve the mystery of their disappearance. The other Katherine in the book is Katherine Plantagenet, the illegitimate daughter of the Duke of Gloucester, future King Richard III. Her story is told in the third-person, and because the princes disappeared during her father's reign, her part in the novel has more urgency to it. In fact, she's quite frantic about solving the mystery because, ever the dutiful daughter, as Richard rises to power and as she's exposed to the stories of his behavior, Katherine refuses to believe that her father could've behaved in such dastardly ways and steadfastly tries to prove all his critics wrong.

Though the novel is touted as being one of historical suspense, revolving around the princes in the tower, it didn't feel that way to me. Yes, each Kate tries to solve the mystery in her own way, but that particular "mystery solving" plot device didn't seem to be driving the novel, at least not as much with the Katherine Grey storyline. And with the Katherine Plantagenet storyline, solving the mystery was less about, you know, solving it than it was about a slightly naive daughter trying to clear her father's name. Instead, it was each Kate's life propelling the plot, especially their romantic entanglements, with the only suspense coming when events finally catch up to the girls and they find themselves incarcerated in the Tower of London. Frankly, while I enjoyed the book, I'm not quite sure what the point of it was. After all, Weir has explored the mystery of the princes in the tower in her non-fiction book on the subject (The Princes in the Tower), and if she wanted to explore the lives of the two Kates, she could've written a non-fiction book or books about them as well.

I will say this: Weir did a good job of presenting a fair portrait of Richard III. She drew Katherine Plantagenet as basically a mouthpiece for for the Friends of King Richard Society, those dedicated people who believe that everything written about Richard was a lie and he was actually a very good, downright saintly man. As this mouthpiece, Katherine refuses to accept the evidence coming to her of Richard's actions, searching (in vain) to find alternate explanations and trying to reconcile what she knows about her father with what she's hearing about him. The resulting image is what I believe to be the fairest picture of Richard. It's the image of a man who was ruthless, who wanted power, who (yes) had his nephews murdered, but a man who was also devout, a family man, a man who truly grieved when his brother, Edward IV, died. Basically, a man who was no more evil than any other man (and woman) who came to power and did ruthless things on the way or while there, but who was painted as the blackest of villains because it was expedient to do. A man who was not Shakespeare's deformed hunchback, but a man with a slight deformity who became beaten down by his enemies and history. So while Richard's Friends might not like the resulting picture, I think it's one which will satisfy all but the most obdurate on the subject.

Speaking of representing an historical personage accurately, Weir portrayed Frances Grey, and to some extent Henry Grey, as the abusive parents they've long become accepted as, a view which has come under fire in the past few years. Some researchers and historians are now saying that that image has been overblown and colored by personal animosity, either on the part of Jane herself or her tutor, Roger Ascham. Weir addresses this issue in her (detailed) author's note; she explains that she questions the theory that there has been a deliberate attempt to blacken Frances' name down the centuries, and that new research suggests that the traditional view of the Suffolks in indeed correct, though "it is conceivable that a chastened Frances mellowed after Jane's execution, as portrayed in this novel, and that Katherine and Mary never suffered the rigor and expectations that their parents imposed on Jane." There has been some discussion over Weir's ability as an historian, with some seeing her as lax or sloppy, or pandering to public popularity, but I think this author's note shows her dedication to her research and to seeking out the best, most logical explanation for disputed issues.

In the end, A Dangerous Inheritance was entertaining reading (though the quick back-and-forth between the two Kates got a bit dizzying at times, especially since Kate Plantagenet's interludes were often rather short), but rather pointless, unless you've never heard of or read anything about the two princes in the tower. If that's the case, then you should read this book as it presents an interesting and logical solution to the centuries-old mystery within a fictional framework, making for an easy and well-written read.(less)

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Mar 20, 2013 Carole Lehr Johnson rated it 3 of 5 stars

This story is so filled with British history it will make a dyed-in-the-wool Anglophile's head spin! Although I did find this novel to be slow in building momentum, it did start to redeem itself about two-thirds of the way through. I love British history but felt it a bit tedious at times. It was nice when I finally became engrossed with the story(ies).

Katherine and Jane Grey are puppets of their parents, Henry Grey and Lady Frances Brandon. They plot and scheme until Jane is placed on the thron...more This story is so filled with British history it will make a dyed-in-the-wool Anglophile's head spin! Although I did find this novel to be slow in building momentum, it did start to redeem itself about two-thirds of the way through. I love British history but felt it a bit tedious at times. It was nice when I finally became engrossed with the story(ies).

Katherine and Jane Grey are puppets of their parents, Henry Grey and Lady Frances Brandon. They plot and scheme until Jane is placed on the throne, only to be imprisoned for unlawfully accepting the English crown for nine days (hence the term The Nine Days' Queen). Katherine's life story in the sixteenth century is then told and entwined with Kate (Katherine) Plantagenet's life in the fifteenth century. When Katherine Grey finds a portrait of Kate Plantagenet and old letters in a chest, dating back more than seven decades, she becomes intrigued with the writer's quest to find out what happened to the Princes. Her interest follows her for the rest of her life.

Katherine Grey ends up in the Tower because of her closeness to the throne. Queen Elizabeth I sees her as a threat and places her in the Tower along with her husband (which the Queen refuses to acknowledge as legitimate) and children. Although she holds them in different areas of the Tower, they manage to see one another by bribing the guards and because of the kindheartedness of one of their jailers.

Much of the story tells of both women questioning the disappearance of the Princes in the Tower in the fifteenth century. They each seek to find the truth. One, to clear her father's name in the involvement of the Princes and the other as a mystery to be solved and as a diversion for all she has to endure.

During many centuries of British history, people who were even remotely close to the throne lived life on the edge. The King--or Queen--in power had the say over who could marry. These two women dared to live for the love of their lives, even to the point of imprisonment or death.

With Kate Plantagenet being the illegitimate daughter of King Richard III, one would think there would be much more historical evidence to aid Ms. Weir in telling her story--even the portions of the book that delve into the disappearance of the royal Princes held in the Tower. She admits there is not sufficient evidence to do justice in telling Kate's story, yet she does a marvelous job of inventing a believable character for the era.

Her telling of Katherine Grey's life is followed so closely to documented facts--and expertly told--that I felt like I was there in the Tower of London with her. Overall, I would recommend this book if you are into historical fiction. These two young women endured sad, oppressed existences, yet they stood their ground and were brave right up until the end of their short lives. They may have been rich in wealth by the standards of their day, yet they had no freedom.

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Feb 27, 2013 Geri rated it 4 of 5 stars

A Dangerous Inheritance interweaves the stories of two lesser-known historical figures who lived 100 years or so apart: Katherine Grey, little sister of the famous Nine Days’ Queen Jane Grey; and Kate Plantagenet, illegitimate daughter of Richard III. One woman stands to inherit the English throne; the other finds that throne casts a long shadow on her happiness.

We have all heard of Lady Jane Grey, England’s Nine-Day Queen executed by Queen Mary Tudor, but rarely told is the heartbreaking story...more A Dangerous Inheritance interweaves the stories of two lesser-known historical figures who lived 100 years or so apart: Katherine Grey, little sister of the famous Nine Days’ Queen Jane Grey; and Kate Plantagenet, illegitimate daughter of Richard III. One woman stands to inherit the English throne; the other finds that throne casts a long shadow on her happiness.

We have all heard of Lady Jane Grey, England’s Nine-Day Queen executed by Queen Mary Tudor, but rarely told is the heartbreaking story of her sister, Katherine. Upon her sister Jane’s death in 1554 Katherine became second in line to throne of England after Elizabeth Tudor. But of course, there was plenty of controversy about Elizabeth’s right to that throne because she became illegitimate when her mother, Anne Boleyn, was executed. Many thought Katherine had a more legitimate claim (as the eldest surviving grandchild of Henry VIII’s sister Mary), which made her a serious threat to Elizabeth’s right to inherit it. Elizabeth had good reasons not to like Katherine. When she became Queen her animosity took on a vicious slant.

Weir portrays Katherine as a pretty, impulsive young thing, who secretly (sometimes not so secretly) covets the throne. She marries for love without Elizabeth’s knowledge and consent, which is treason. When Elizabeth discovers Katherine is pregnant (with a Tudor heir, possibly a male heir) she locks up Katherine and her husband Edward Seymour, Earl of Hertford in the Tower, separated from each other and the world at large. A sympathetic jailer allows them to visit, with the result that Katherine bore two children in the Tower (infuriating Elizabeth). Katherine lived out most of her married life in captivity. Elizabeth I is almost never portrayed as an antagonist, and too many novelists gloss over her spiteful, jealous side. Not Weir. I’m not sure I’ve read another novel in which Elizabeth I is portrayed as such a petty tyrant. I liked it, it felt true.

The other dangerous inheritance is to be the daughter of a usurper, which was the fate of Kate Plantagenet, the bastard daughter of Richard III. In 1483, Kate travels to London for her cousin’s coronation only to see her father crowned King instead. She learns her cousins—the Prince of Wales and his younger brother the Duke of York—have disappeared from the Tower of London. Kate tries to discover their fate. It is an uneasy time for Kate, who sees her father become harder, more ruthless and more political. To broaden his power base Richard marries her to William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke, leaving her broken-hearted at the loss of her true love, John de la Pole, Earl of Lincoln. When Richard III is killed at the Battle of Bosworth, Pembroke pledges his loyalty to Henry Tudor and Katherine goes from political asset to liability. Moreover, Henry Tudor, now Henry VII, believes she may know the fate of the Princes in the Tower. In the new Tudor-era, Kate risks her reputation and freedom to support the remaining Yorkists who would overthrow Henry VII.

The glue that holds the stories of these two characters together is the fate of the Princes in the Tower, which Kate tries to uncover during her father’s reign. Katherine Grey, sixty years later, finds Kate’s notes on the disappearance and takes up the thread of the mystery. I enjoyed the unique way in which Weir wove the stories of Katherine and Kate, drawing on the similarities in their stories. Both are torn from their true loves; both are persecuted for their proximity to the throne, both die…well, I’ll not spoil the story further.

I’ve never read anything by Alison Weir I didn’t like, and A Dangerous Inheritance is no exception. (less)

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Dec 03, 2012 Arthistorychick rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult, historical-fiction

A Dangerous Inheritance by Alison Weir
4/5 stars
Source: Netgalley

I don’t care for an unsolved mystery; never have, never will. I generally find the answer to the mystery far more interesting than the allure of not ever knowing. (yep, you guessed it, I don’t like surprises either) With this being said, Alison Weir’s A Dangerous Inheritance is so entertaining I was able to forget my great dislike for unsolved mysteries.

A Dangerous Inheritance is a sweeping historical fiction novel dealing with the...more A Dangerous Inheritance by Alison Weir
4/5 stars
Source: Netgalley

I don’t care for an unsolved mystery; never have, never will. I generally find the answer to the mystery far more interesting than the allure of not ever knowing. (yep, you guessed it, I don’t like surprises either) With this being said, Alison Weir’s A Dangerous Inheritance is so entertaining I was able to forget my great dislike for unsolved mysteries.

A Dangerous Inheritance is a sweeping historical fiction novel dealing with the still-unsolved mystery of the fate of the two young princes in the tower of London. Rather than simply telling the princes story from their perspective (which would have been difficult since they were only children when they disappeared) Weir connects two generations of royal women who tell the story of the boys as it related to their own lives. Here’s the skinny:

Kate Plantagenet is the bastard daughter of King Richard III, England’s last Plantagenet king and the man in power when the young princes went missing. Though a bastard by birth, Kate is favored by her father and when he takes the throne, Kate’s status throughout the kingdom is decidedly elevated. For the entirety of her life, Kate has adored her father, a man who is gentle, kind and caring to both his legitimate and illegitimate children. Once in power the man Kate has known her whole life becomes someone very different and it is hard for Kate to reconcile the two disparate natures of her own father. Furthermore, Kate finds it hard to imagine he is anything like the rumors she is hearing about him: did he really take the throne by force thus becoming known as the Usurper? Is he really capable of all the betrayal and double-dealing that is constantly talked about? Could he really have killed the two young princes in order to remove any threat to his claim to the throne? For Kate the fate of the princes is tied to the image of her father and she becomes near-obsessed with finding out what really happened to them.

Just a few generations following Kate Plantagenet’s death there is Katherine Grey, sister to Lady Jane Grey (the ultimately beheaded nine day Queen) and a young woman who is, by virtue of her birth, eligible to inherit the English throne much to the great displeasure of Elizabeth I. Katherine’s life is a constant series of questions: will she or won’t she be officially recognized as the heir to the throne? Should she remain Protestant as she was raised? Would it be better (read: safer) to convert to Catholicism? Will any of her constantly surveyed actions lead her straight to the Tower of London where she will meet the same fate as her sister? Like the two young princes generations before her, Katherine’s life is in constant turmoil because of her claim to the throne; that is, her very existence is a threat to the ruling monarch. When Katherine stumbles upon a portrait of Kate Plantagenet and a bundle of the girls’ letters and notes she, like her predecessor becomes obsessed with the fate of the young boys.

The novel alternates from chapter to chapter between Kate and Katherine with Kate living through the making of the mystery and Katherine living a few generations later and finding parallels in her own life to that of both Kate Plantagenet and the young princes. Both women are products of their time and place and are often used as pawns in the games being played by the men in their lives. Like the princes before them, both young women were destined to live short and disturbingly sad lives because of their nearness to the throne.

The bottom line: Although there are some very dry moments in this novel it is, overall a very interesting read and will certainly appeal to enthusiasts of the mystery of the princes and England’s Tudor age. Since both of the primary characters have (basically) the same name the shorter chapters can be a bit frustrating to remember which Kate and which age you are reading about. On the flip side, the longer chapters will draw you in and Weir’s writing style will allow you to become completely absorbed in both the time and the place. The last third of the novel moves very swiftly as each young woman’s story (and the prince’s story) reaches its inevitable end. While I can’t say I was rooting for either of the Kates I can certainly say was taken in by both women and consumed with wanting to know their respective fates. While this novel is certainly appropriate for a young adult reader I think, given the overall length and subject matter, it is more appropriate for an older crowd. (less)

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Dec 02, 2012 Quinby6696 Frank rated it 4 of 5 stars

Another chance for me to wallow in my beloved historical fiction and this one is about one of my favorite time periods. The book alternates between two Katherines - one is the illegitimate daughter of Richard III (Kate Plantagenet) and the other is Katherine Grey, the younger sister of Lady Jane Grey, who was beheaded after she became the Nine Days Queen on the death of Edward VI. Katherine Grey discovers some papers left by her distant relative, Kate Plantagenet from 100 years previously. Kate...more

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Oct 17, 2012 Cristal rated it 3 of 5 stars

In 1553, Katherine at age 12 and Jane, age 16 were married in a double ceremony. Katherine married Henry Herbert and Jane married Guildford Dudley; men that their parents Lady Frances Brandon and Henry Grey chose hoping that the marriages would prove to be advantageous for the whole family. It was not. A plot developed for Jane to take over the throne and become Queen, and she was…for nine short days until Mary takes over the throne and Jane was imprisoned. Both Katherine and Jane become unwilli...more

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Aug 28, 2012 Susan Johnson rated it 4 of 5 stars

This story is about the two young princes locked in the Tower and thought to have been murdered by the evil King Richard. I say thought to have been murdered as no one has been ever conclusively able to prove it. It's this mystery that draws the interest of two different Kates living eighty years apart. One is Katherine Grey, sister of Jane Grey, and one is Katherine Plantagenet, the illegitmate daughter of King Richard. It's the story of these two women looking for answers.

It is a dangerous inh...more This story is about the two young princes locked in the Tower and thought to have been murdered by the evil King Richard. I say thought to have been murdered as no one has been ever conclusively able to prove it. It's this mystery that draws the interest of two different Kates living eighty years apart. One is Katherine Grey, sister of Jane Grey, and one is Katherine Plantagenet, the illegitmate daughter of King Richard. It's the story of these two women looking for answers.

It is a dangerous inheritance to be in line with the throne. The two young princes were imprisoned in the Tower and never seen again because they were the legitmate heirs to the throne. Katherine Grey is in line for the throne and she is imprisoned for having the audacity to marry and have children. How dare she! It didn't seem like any bargain to be that close to the throne.

What Alison Weir does brilliantly is to capture the giddiness of those two Kates. It's hard to remember that they were just kids. Katherine Grey was married at 13. Katherine Plantagenet was dead at 17. They were just two young teen-agers and not yet skilled in their treacherous world. Katherine Grey wanted to be Queen. Of course she did. She envisioned a world of pretty gowns and marrying who she wanted. I doubt seriously she wanted to hurt Queen Elizabeth. It's hard to remember that these were just kids and Weir does a great job reminding us of that.

I found the story a little cumbersome. I thought the two women each deserved their own book. They were so close to the seat of power. Katherine Grey, in fact, was Queen Elizabeth's heir even if the Queen stubbornly refused to name her. Katherine Plantagent was King Richard's daughter and thought the world of him. As his rule continued and facts emerged of his cruelty, Katherine desperately tried to keep her belief in her father. It wasn't until the death of her stepmother that she started to lose her faith in him.

I found it hard to keep relationships straight and had to consult the family tree of the Lancaster/Yorks often trying to keep people straight. Everybody was Edward, Richard and Henry or Katherine, Elizabeth and Anne. I was familiar enough with the Tudors to not have this problem. There just seemed to be too many characters to keep straight. That's the main reason I thought there should have been separate books.

The book really comes together the last 100 pages. It becomes very compelling as the story ties up the loose ends. By then I was comfortable with all the characters and the story just flowed. It was an interesting read and overall I enjoyed it. (less)

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Aug 27, 2012 Joan Adamak rated it 5 of 5 stars

Historical Real Life Drama

The core of this story around which Ms. Weir winds her plots is the mystery of what happened to the two young sons of Edward of Gloucester, who became King Edward IV, and then became sick and died. His first very young son became Edward V and was taken under the wing of Edward IV’s brother, Richard of Gloucester as Lord Protector. Eventually Richard managed to get the second little boy away from this mother and under his protection. Both little boys were held in the Tow...more Historical Real Life Drama

The core of this story around which Ms. Weir winds her plots is the mystery of what happened to the two young sons of Edward of Gloucester, who became King Edward IV, and then became sick and died. His first very young son became Edward V and was taken under the wing of Edward IV’s brother, Richard of Gloucester as Lord Protector. Eventually Richard managed to get the second little boy away from this mother and under his protection. Both little boys were held in the Tower in London and never seen again after two years.

Throughout the book, the chapters alternate from either being about Kate in 1483 or Katherine in 1553, which made the story a little confusing for the reader since both young women were named Katherine, although Kate is actually Katherine Plataganet.

Kate was the illegitimate daughter of Richard of Gloucester, who then married Anne and they had a son Edward who was sickly. Richard also sired a bastard son, John, whom he raised. Anne was deeply in love with Richard and was a good step-mother to Kate and John. Through murder, power and illegal processes, Richard finally managed to usurp the throne and became King Richard III, but his family came from the north and the citizenry there respected him. London and the south hated him and believed that he had no right to be king. That it should be young Edward V and after two years and no one had seen the faces of the children, the citizenry became extremely hostile towards him and his family. Up to her death, Kate could never believe that her father had the princes murdered, and defended her father when other terrible things came to light about him. King Richard knew that Kate was in love with a young man and they wanted to marry. But in order to keep the good will of the Welch, King Richard married Kate off to an ugly, overly possessive, hateful husband, William Hebert who took her to his home in Wales. From then on, life was most difficult for her until she died at about age seventeen.

Katherine Grey lived during the reign of Mary, daughter of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, who kept the Catholic faith after Henry gave it up to marry Anne Bolyne. Katherine was a lady in waiting to Queen Mary, became a Catholic under her as Mary told her that if she never married or had an heir, she would have Katherine appointed Queen because she was next in line. Previous to this Katherine’s father had managed to have her sister Jane Grey declared Queen for nine days, but Mary with thirty thousand soldiers entered London and the people followed her as the direct heir of Henry VIII. Eventually Mary had Jane Grey and her husband beheaded. Mary died young from a broken heart and Henry VIII’s daughter Elizabeth, daughter of Anne Bolyne took the throne, knowing that holding it would be very tenuous for her. Elizabeth was very afraid of Katherine because Katherine was next in line for it and made life miserable for the young woman until Katherine died at about age seventeen.

As with all of Weir’s historical fiction and non-fiction, the story is fraught with intrigue, action and so many characters that if it wasn’t for her Tables of the different royal houses in the beginning of the book, it would be impossible to keep it all straight. This story was a page turner for me. I truly enjoyed it and recommend to all who are interested in history or even romance, for there is much of that included also.

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Jan 04, 2013 Virginia rated it 4 of 5 stars

As an historian-in-training, I admit I approached this book somewhat warily, having been burned by historical fiction in the past. However, I must say I was pleasantly surprised by Ms. Weir's blending of fiction with historical fact.

This book focuses on two women: Katherine Plantagenet (second wife of William Herbert, 2nd Earl of Pembroke) and Katherine Grey (Countess of Hertford and younger sister of the infamous Lady Jane Grey). Katherine Plantagenet is referred to as "Kate" throughout the boo...more As an historian-in-training, I admit I approached this book somewhat warily, having been burned by historical fiction in the past. However, I must say I was pleasantly surprised by Ms. Weir's blending of fiction with historical fact.

This book focuses on two women: Katherine Plantagenet (second wife of William Herbert, 2nd Earl of Pembroke) and Katherine Grey (Countess of Hertford and younger sister of the infamous Lady Jane Grey). Katherine Plantagenet is referred to as "Kate" throughout the book, and Katherine Grey is referred to as "Katherine." The author alternates chapters in the telling of these women's amazing stories, making it easy to see the parallels between their two lives.

Kate was the illegitimate daughter of Richard III, and very little is known about her historically. Assuming Kate was a devoted daughter, it seems reasonable that she would attempt to clear Richard III's name in the mystery of the Princes in the Tower. Much of her love story, both with her "true" forbidden love and her husband - the Earl of Lincoln and William Herbert, respectively - is tied to the search for her father's actual role in the young Princes' apparent demise.

History knows more about Katherine Grey since, after her sister's execution, she was next in line to the throne after Elizabeth I. After Katherine finds documents written by Kate, Katherine also becomes fascinated with the mystery of the Princes. Much of her story is dedicated to this quest, and she eventually finds the truth (or, at least, the truth as conveyed by this book). She also has a love story to tell - marrying the man she loves in secret and subsequently invoking the wrath of Elizabeth.

As someone who has admittedly focused more on the Tudors and less on the Plantagenets and Greys, I found this book fascinating and entertaining; however, I do not feel qualified to judge it on its historical accuracy. Ms. Weir provides a comprehensive author's note at the end of the book that details what events she took from fact and what was conjecture. In my opinion, the author's note was sufficient to put history buffs' mind at ease about the dramatic license Ms. Weir felt compelled to take.

**Please note that I did receive a free copy of this book via Netgalley.**(less)

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Dec 04, 2012 Arlena rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 4-stars, a-good-book, adult-read, ebooks, historical, my-reviews, relationships, romance

Author: Alison Weir
Published By: Hutchinson
Age Recommended: Adult
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Blog For: GMTA
Rating: 4

Review:

"A Dangerous Inheritance" by Alison Weir was a good historical fiction novel during the York/Tudor period. You will find two narrators in this novel: Kate Plantagenet, this story was told in third person and Lady Katherine Grey, who was the sister of Jane Grey and also cousin to Queen Elizabeth. This was told in first person. This maybe a little bit confusing if you don't keep u...more

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Aug 21, 2012 Ann Sloan rated it 4 of 5 stars

It is has always difficult, even dangerous, to be a woman. You had no rights. You were at the disposal of men, first your father, then your husband, and then, possibly your son. Childbirth was dangerous. This was the case until recently in the western world. Even today many of women’s health and well-being issues depend on the beneficence of men.
It was particularly precarious to be of royal blood. Such a woman was a pawn to be betrothed and married for political reasons, all before you were ten...more It is has always difficult, even dangerous, to be a woman. You had no rights. You were at the disposal of men, first your father, then your husband, and then, possibly your son. Childbirth was dangerous. This was the case until recently in the western world. Even today many of women’s health and well-being issues depend on the beneficence of men.
It was particularly precarious to be of royal blood. Such a woman was a pawn to be betrothed and married for political reasons, all before you were ten years old. And those politics could change in the blink of an eye.
A Dangerous Inheritance is an historical novel that concerns two such girls, separated by eighty years, related by blood, who find themselves in somewhat similar situations. These two girls, Lady Katherine Plantagenet, the illegitimate daughter of Richard III, and Lady Catherine Grey, the younger sister of Lady Jane Grey, known as the Nine Days' Queen. Neither played major roles in the history of the time, yet their lives are fascinating, tragic, and illustrative of the lives to be had by women of their time and status.
One thing that had have been helpful on the Kindle edition, which NetGalley kindly provided me, was a family tree. Everyone back then had the same name, and they were all related. Without a family tree, I resorted to Wikipedia. Wikipedia may not be always accurate, but I found myself referring back many times to the family trees on the websites. I was also there (at Wikipedia) a lot, reading the biographies of the characters, reminding myself of what I had read in the past of these times.
One issue that both girls are concerned about is the fate of the famous princes, the sons of Edward IV, who were supposed to have been murdered by their uncle, Richard III. The villainy of Richard III was immortalized in Shakespeare’s play, Richard III. (Remember that Shakespeare was writing during the reign of Elizabeth I, who was the granddaughter of Henry VII who overthrew Richard III. Remember: history is written by the victor.) A classic murder mystery, by Josephine Tey, Daughter of Time, is about a detective, Inspector Alan Grant of Scotland Yard, recuperating from a broken leg, becomes fascinated with Richard III and sets out to solve the murder of the princes (from his hospital bed). He proves, to his satisfaction at least, that Richard III was innocent of the crime; Henry VII did it. Henry VII certainly had as good a motive as Richard III to remove these princes from this earth.
This was an excellent read. Even though I knew, thanks to Wikipedia, what happened to these young women, I kept reading to see how Alison Weir would handle their stories. Actually, it is not certain what happened to Lady Katherine Herbert, née Plantagenet. The best guess is that she may have been dead by 25 November 1487, the date of the coronation of Elizabeth of York (wife of Henry VII). http://www.richardiii.net/r3_detail_c... This lack of information is not surprising; in history, the fate of women is often obscure. Men wrote the histories, and they were the victors.
Now I have to go back and read all my Weir and Fraser biographies. So many books, so little time.
Alison Weir is a British writer of history books and historical novels, mostly in the form of biographies about British royalty. Her works on the Tudor period have made her a best-selling author. She finds that she considers the Tudor period "the most dramatic period in our history, with vivid, strong personalities... The Tudor period is the first one for which we have a rich visual record, with the growth of portraiture, and detailed sources on the private lives of kings and queens. This was an age that witnessed a growth in diplomacy and the spread of the printed word."
Weir's writings have been describing as being in the genre of popular history, which seeks to inform and entertain a large general audience. Weir believes that popular history, despite academic attitudes, "history is not the sole preserve of academics, although I have the utmost respect for those historians who undertake new research and contribute something new to our knowledge. History belongs to us all, and it can be accessed by us all. And if writing it in a way that is accessible and entertaining, as well as conscientiously researched, can be described as popular, then, yes, I am a popular historian, and am proud and happy to be one." Lucinda Byatt said of Weir's popular historian label, "To describe her as a popular historian would be to state a literal truth – her chunky explorations of Britain’s early modern past sell in the kind of multiples that others can only dream of.” Weir's best-selling works have focused on strong women, and she has been compared to female historians such as Antonia Fraser. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alison_Weir
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Dec 16, 2012 Sophie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, historical-fiction, read-in-2012

Apparently having royal blood really sucks.

Anything with the words "Princes in the Tower" somewhere in the description gets my attention, and I was interested right away in these intertwining stories of two women, one Richard III's illegitimate daughter and one a possible heir to the throne in Tudor England. The parallels between them are striking, and Weir deftly weaves their lives together. Both were branded traitors after their families fell out of royal favor, both were forbidden to marry th...more Apparently having royal blood really sucks.

Anything with the words "Princes in the Tower" somewhere in the description gets my attention, and I was interested right away in these intertwining stories of two women, one Richard III's illegitimate daughter and one a possible heir to the throne in Tudor England. The parallels between them are striking, and Weir deftly weaves their lives together. Both were branded traitors after their families fell out of royal favor, both were forbidden to marry those they loved, and both suffered innumerable sorrows simply because of their royal blood.

Keeping the two stories straight in my head was difficult at first--perhaps they were a bit too similar. But Weir wisely tells one story in first person and one in third, and it becomes easier after a short while to differentiate between the two. Both of the girls--for they are girls at first, barely out of childhood--start off somewhat naive, and go through the tragedy of seeing their hopes dashed and their heroes brought low.

Katherine "Kate" Plantagenet's view of her father, Richard III, is more sympathetic than many accounts, and the impression is that of a loving father and husband who slowly gets caught up in his own paranoia and starts seeing threats to himself everywhere. Kate, after hearing the rumors that he killed the Princes in the Tower, vows to find out the truth and clear his name. She writes down some of her theories, and these are discovered decades later by Katherine Grey, the other protagonist of the book, who eventually becomes obsessed with learning the answer to the mystery of the princes as well. Grey feels something of a mystical connection to this other Katherine, as though in death her ghost is determined to discover the truth she could not find in life.

By the end of the book I got the impression that being a royal woman during these times was more of a curse than a blessing. You were used as a pawn by those seeking to gain power, forced to marry (or NOT marry) against your will, and you were basically powerless to change your fate. Sometimes your efforts got you locked in the Tower of London, and sometimes, through no fault of your own, your head got cut off.

This book was enjoyable and compelling, and made me want to read more about the time periods described in the book. It's the first book of Weir's I've read, and I will definitely be picking up more of her work.(less)

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Jan 03, 2013 Wealhtheow rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical

Historical fiction about two royal Katherines: Richard III's baseborn daughter Katherine Plantagenet, and Henry VIII's grand-niece Katherine Grey. They lived several generations apart, yet there are similarities between them. Weir creates even more, inventing a love affair for Katherine Plantagenet to match Katherine Grey's idiotic passion for Edward Seymour and giving each of them an interest in the princes in the tower.

Katherine Grey has always been one of my least favorites: she doesn't seem...more Historical fiction about two royal Katherines: Richard III's baseborn daughter Katherine Plantagenet, and Henry VIII's grand-niece Katherine Grey. They lived several generations apart, yet there are similarities between them. Weir creates even more, inventing a love affair for Katherine Plantagenet to match Katherine Grey's idiotic passion for Edward Seymour and giving each of them an interest in the princes in the tower.

Katherine Grey has always been one of my least favorites: she doesn't seem to have been brilliant like her older sister Jane or her cousin(ish) Queen Elizabeth, and she was astoundingly awful at understanding court politics. At least Mary queen of Scots had moments of audacity--Katherine Grey seems to have continually stumbled from one poorly-understood ploy to the next. Like, check this: (view spoiler) Her numbskullery is difficult to read in history books--when we're embedded in her thought process in a fictional story that strives to make her a sympethetic character, it's even more annoying.

Katherine Plantagenet is a bit more controlled. She seems blind in regards to her father, but given her youth and their relationship in this book it was understandable (if a bit frustrating). Very little is actually known about Katherine, however: not her birthdate, not her mother's identity, not whether she had children or when she died. Guesses to her birthdate can be made, in that it has to be somewhere between her father's birthdate and her own marriage, and her mother might have been one of several women her father gave grants to. All that we really know about Katherine is that she (view spoiler) Weir makes up everything else about Katherine, and although she comes across as pretty well-rounded, it's annoying to know that it's all just guess-work, especially since Katherine Grey's section is well-founded in fact. Even some of Katherine Grey's words are exactly as she wrote them!

Also annoying is the connection Weir invents between the Katherines: she has Katherine Grey repeatedly visited by ghosts, or glimpsing or feeling Katherine's presence. It added a layer of falsity to an already strained story. When Weir is working with historical fact, her storytelling style is on much firmer ground. I wish she would go back to writing histories instead of historical fiction, but at least it's better than Phillipa Gregory's work.(less)

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Apr 22, 2013 Kayse rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

A Dangerous Inheritance is a fictionalized account of the lives to Katherine Grey (the younger sister of Jane Grey, the ill-fated Nine Days’ Queen) and Kate Plantagenet (the bastard daughter of the usurper, Richard III). Separated by nearly a century, both women, for their individual reasons, make it their personal quest to solve the mystery of the Princes in the Tower, who, according to rumor and posterity, were murdered by their uncle, King Richard.

Alison Weir took a very scholarly approach to...more

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Jan 05, 2013 Jodi rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: historical fiction fans

Shelves: books-about-england, historical-fiction

I do enjoy reading about the British Monarchy of yesteryear and this book did not disappoint! I am most familiar with the reign of Henry the VIII, Queen Mary, and Queen Elizabeth so this period of time in the book with Katherine Grey was intriguing. I did not realize that Lady Jane Grey's sister has her eyes on the crown even after her sister was beheaded. Wow!! So scary to try to have ambition and succeed a king or queen in that time!! Then her rash to marry for love and to conceal two pregnanc...more

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Nov 25, 2012 Kathy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

The description of the story sounded interesting, focusing mainly on Lady Katherine Grey (sister of the ill-fated Lady Jane Grey), and a secondary story line dealing with Katherine Plantagenet, the illegitimate daughter of King Richard III.

Overall, I liked this book. I knew nothing about Lady Katherine Grey, even though I've known about her sister, Lady Jane Grey, for a long time, and have read numerous books about Elizabeth I, her life and times, over the years. So thank you, Ms. Weir, for fil...more The description of the story sounded interesting, focusing mainly on Lady Katherine Grey (sister of the ill-fated Lady Jane Grey), and a secondary story line dealing with Katherine Plantagenet, the illegitimate daughter of King Richard III.

Overall, I liked this book. I knew nothing about Lady Katherine Grey, even though I've known about her sister, Lady Jane Grey, for a long time, and have read numerous books about Elizabeth I, her life and times, over the years. So thank you, Ms. Weir, for filling in some gaps for me in an entertaining novel.

I also liked how Ms. Weir wove together the parallel stories of two women separated by 80 years -- Lady Katherine Grey and Lady Katherine Plantagenet -- and how being too close to the throne was often a danger in and of itself, without the person even doing anything.

What I didn't care for was that about halfway through, I found myself getting annoyed with Katherine Grey's constant whining about her situation, and how she repeatedly engaged in foolish and dangerous behavior. The same with Lady Katherine Plantagent, about whom almost nothing is known, making her story completely fictional (other than that she lived, and that she married William Herbert).

Both of these women grew up in an era when marriages, especially marriages of high born women, were planned by parents and were made for reasons of policy, or the management and acquiring of wealth. This is something both would have been raised to know, to understand, and the expect, yet too often the author has both of them acting like love-sick puppies to the point that each repeatedly makes foolish decisions that literally put their lives in jeopardy

One thing I was looking forward to was how the author would present the "mystery" of what happened to the "princes in the Tower." Turned out that there was never any real mystery here. Ms. Weir merely trotted out the old Sir Thomas More version of what happened, dressing it up by having Lady Katherine Grey discovering these things while she herself is incarcerated in the Tower.

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Apr 02, 2013 Rachel rated it 4 of 5 stars

Reviewed for www.compassbookratings.com

Overall Review:
A Dangerous Inheritance is a story fraught with power struggles, family drama and forbidden love. Alison Weir explores the lives of two royal Katherines, both who find themselves in terrible predicaments that they have little to no control over. Readers will find both girls' stories equally interesting, as Weir sprinkles language of the time into the fast-moving dialogue and descriptive settings.

The novel also addresses the infamous story of...more

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Jul 23, 2012 Alison rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebook, fiction, netgalley

This is my favorite era for historical fiction, mostly because there was so much going on in the English court that there's an excellent backdrop of real drama. Weir certainly doesn't disappoint here, and I thought she did a fabulous job of this, including a brief section of notes at the end that describes what's based in history and where she took liberties (she's a scholar of the period). I did have trouble keeping the two Kates straight some times, and this was compounded by a typical ebook p...more

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Sep 13, 2012 Jenifer rated it 4 of 5 stars

I have long been a fan of Alison Weir's non-fiction books on English history. So, when I saw that she was coming out with a novel set during the 15th and 16th centuries, I jumped on it! (Somehow, I'd missed that she has written other novels). I couldn't wait to start this novel was very happy to receive it as an ARC. Having been a fan of her non-fiction work, it took me a few chapters to adjust to her "fiction" writing style. It is much simpler than her non-fiction (my guess it to reach a wider...more I have long been a fan of Alison Weir's non-fiction books on English history. So, when I saw that she was coming out with a novel set during the 15th and 16th centuries, I jumped on it! (Somehow, I'd missed that she has written other novels). I couldn't wait to start this novel was very happy to receive it as an ARC. Having been a fan of her non-fiction work, it took me a few chapters to adjust to her "fiction" writing style. It is much simpler than her non-fiction (my guess it to reach a wider audience).

I liked the beginning of A Dangerous Inheritance (once I adapted to her new writing style)...I abhorred the middle (too long and drawn out)...and I LOVED the end. It is actually the last one pages or so that lifted my rating of this novel from 3 stars to 4 stars. Alison did an amazing job at tying everything together in the last few chapters. So many authors don't seem to know how to end their novels and everything just gets thrown into a big pot of words...but the ending of this novel made it all worth it. In addition to the novel, there is an extra "chapter" that goes into the research and real life stories of the characters in Dangerous Inheritance. I found this very interesting.

I think if there is one thing (well, maybe two) negatives that I found for this particular novel it is that it was very confusing at times with the chapter switching between the two main protagonists. Yes, they went by different names (Katherine vs Kate) and yes, they lived in different time periods, but....they lived in the same area and although each protagonist had her own set of supporting characters, it was very frustrating since many of the names were the same, ie. Earl of Lincoln, Duke of Buckinghame, five billion different Elizabeths (well maybe that's a tiny exaggeration). Oh, and that second negative...it just seemed too long for what I was wanting and expecting...

All that being said, I definitely recommend A Dangerous Inheritance for any lovers of historical fiction.(less)

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Sep 02, 2012 Jennifer rated it 5 of 5 stars

In this novel Alison Weir draws from the research she did for her non-fiction book "The Princes in the Tower", and the same theory of their fate is put forward in both books. However, as this is a work of fiction, Ms Weir uses her dramatic licence to weave an intriguing and very entertaining tale of two women, living over half a century apart, both trying to determine the fate of the Princes.
The first protagonist, Kate Plantagenet, is the illegitimate daughter of Richard III, and considering onl...more In this novel Alison Weir draws from the research she did for her non-fiction book "The Princes in the Tower", and the same theory of their fate is put forward in both books. However, as this is a work of fiction, Ms Weir uses her dramatic licence to weave an intriguing and very entertaining tale of two women, living over half a century apart, both trying to determine the fate of the Princes.
The first protagonist, Kate Plantagenet, is the illegitimate daughter of Richard III, and considering only a few facts are known of her Ms Weir is able to give her a very interesting story. Kate's tale gives the reader an insight into the ascension of Richard III to the throne, and the two and a half years of his reign that ends with the Battle of Bosworth. She fiercely wishes the horrible rumors about the Princes to be false, as she knows her father to be a kind man. She writes down what she knows of the matter and conceals the parchment in a chest.
Over sixty years later the parchment is found by Katherine Grey. The second protagonist of the novel is the sister to Lady Jane Grey, the so-called 'Nine Day Queen'. Katherine's interest in piqued by her discovery of Kate's parchment, however it is a few years later that she really begins to invesigate the mystery of the Princes in the Tower. In the meantime Katherine's story is being told. Historically a lot more is known about Katherine Grey, and Ms Weir does an excellent job of re-telling her heart-breaking story. For Katherine the Tower of London is a horrid place where her sister loses her life after being promised lenient treatment, and her opinion of the Tower only worsens as her story unwinds. I loved reading Katherine's story, especially as it was peppered with events concerning Elizabeth I and her struggle with her councillors to name an heir to her throne.
Truly I was amazed by how well-written this novel was considering the expanse of the subject matter. Yet Ms Weir manages to bring it together in a way that is completely coherent, which is especially impressive for a novel that flicks back and forth between time periods. Many novels that do this can end up being confusing and disjointed, but not this one. The only thing that may be confusing is the wealth of historical names that are contained within this novel. I wouldn't recommend this novel to someone who doesn't have a good grasp of the time period of Richard III or Elizabeth I, as it may get very frustrating trying to figure out who is related to who all of the time.
Ultimately, this is a great novel that will set your mind to work and at the same time tug on your heart-strings. For if you put aside the historical intrigue for a moment there is the under-lying story of two women whose only desire is to be with the man they love, and that is something that transends all time periods.
(Reviewed foremost for Amazon Vine).(less)

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Apr 20, 2013 Sallee rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical

I love historical fiction and nonfiction. This was fiction but the author based her story on all available facts of the life and times of Katherine Grey and Kate Plantagenet. The book was written in the first person of each of these women. The only thing that I found a little confusing was that was Katherine Grey's story then she would go back to Kate Plantagent's story. Kate P. was the daughter of Richard III and is the King accused of putting the "princes in the tower" to death. Katherine Grey...more

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Mar 05, 2013 Kim rated it 4 of 5 stars

I must admit I know only the most basic of my medieval English monarchy history. This book delves into the histories of two very unique and brave women in a time when it was almost better to not even be seen let alone heard if you were a woman. The book starts in 1568 with the story of Lady Katherine Grey from the Tudor line whose young life was about to go from great privileged to unknown horrors all because of her royal blood. Forced to wed at the age of 12, then to watch her beloved older sis...more

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Sep 02, 2012 Marcia rated it 3 of 5 stars

“Outward appearances are not always what they seem, especially among great folk”

In this riveting tale that parallels the lives of Lady Katherine Grey, the younger sister of Lady Jane Grey, the Queen who ruled for nine days before being assassinated and Kate Plantagenet, the illegitimate daughter of Richard III, Weir provides an intriguing and insightful look into the lives and loves of the ever scandalous British Monarchy.

Though the two woman are set apart in time, Weir has managed to bridge the...more

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Dec 26, 2012 Cathy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Another novel to feed my curiousity about the Tudors and the related intrigue among families. This novel ties together the stories of Katherine Grey (sister of Lady Jane Grey...another young woman beheaded, but not by Henry VIII, this time) and Kate Plantagenet, illegitimate daughter of Richard III (you know, the king suspected of murdering his nephews in The Tower). Perfect ingredients for a good read. The chapters alternate between Kate and Katherine's stories .. Katherine's is set in the mid-...more

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Oct 06, 2012 Dawn rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: history, fiction-historical, ebook

Once again, Alison Weir dips her toes into the realm of historical fiction and comes out smelling like a rose. A Tudor rose that is.

In this highly readable historical novel, Ms Weir returns to a subject that appears to be near and dear to heart (if her bibliography is anything to judge by), the mystery of "the Princes in the Tower". The young sons of Edward IV were deposed by Richard III, and it is widely assumed that Edward V and his brother Richard, Duke of York were put to death in order to...more Once again, Alison Weir dips her toes into the realm of historical fiction and comes out smelling like a rose. A Tudor rose that is.

In this highly readable historical novel, Ms Weir returns to a subject that appears to be near and dear to heart (if her bibliography is anything to judge by), the mystery of "the Princes in the Tower". The young sons of Edward IV were deposed by Richard III, and it is widely assumed that Edward V and his brother Richard, Duke of York were put to death in order to help secure Richard's crown.

Lady Katherine Grey, (Lady Jane's younger sister) happens upon a jewel and some papers that seem to have belonged to Kate Plantagenet, bastard daughter and eldest child of Richard III. Lady Katherine becomes intrigued by the mystery that has captured many imaginations through the centuries by reading Kate's notes as she too struggles with the mystery, unbelieving that her father could have committed murder. Weir shuttles us back and forth between the two, drawing some outstanding parallels between the lives of these Ladies, so near the throne, and yet so powerless in their own rights.

Weir does not buck the trend in coming to the conclusion that Richard's hands were bloody, and indeed even the common folk of London believed it was so. But she also hammers it home that no proof has ever been found, as their corpses were never located. Several sets of bones have been found over the ensuing centuries, but there has been no conclusive evidence to mark them as the missing Plantagenet Princes*.

Overall it's a good read, if a bit confusing, which is in part I think due to the closeness of the names and the large number of parallels Weir draws here. It's heavier than Philippa Gregory's work, but then the subject here isn't as steamy as Henry VIII's court. Overall I think it's a great presentation of the material, and a good choice for anyone with an interest in English history who doesn't care for the drier, more scholarly works.

*Queen Elizabeth II has historically been reluctant to disturb the tombs of her predecessors, so modern DNA testing has not been conducted.(less)

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Aug 16, 2012 Michele rated it 3 of 5 stars

Weir gets her history straight and as a history buff, I certainly do admire that in a historical fiction writer. What didn't work for me was the execution of this novel. The chapters alternate between Catherine Grey, the sister of Jane Grey (the infamous Nine Days Queen of England) and Katherine Plantagenet, the illegitimate daughter of Richard III. (For those of you doing the math, there were about 70 years or so between these two ladies). Truthfully, I'm still scratching my head trying to figu...more Weir gets her history straight and as a history buff, I certainly do admire that in a historical fiction writer. What didn't work for me was the execution of this novel. The chapters alternate between Catherine Grey, the sister of Jane Grey (the infamous Nine Days Queen of England) and Katherine Plantagenet, the illegitimate daughter of Richard III. (For those of you doing the math, there were about 70 years or so between these two ladies). Truthfully, I'm still scratching my head trying to figure out the connection between these two women that Weir clearly wanted the reader to make. I never did 'get it.'

Aside from that execution snafu, Weir writes decent historical fiction. I enjoy the dialog, the set up, etc....she never puts her characters in situations that are silly or unrealistic. She gives just enough attention to details like food, dress, etc to keep me interested.

The reason for my three stars is this: I didn't care for or understand the flipping POVs between chapters. I simply did not see the relevance and it's only effect was to turn Catherine Grey into a Tudor-era 'detective' who wants to solve the mystery of who killed the Princes in the Tower. It is this vehicle that Weir uses to advocate her thoughts on history's greatest 'whodunit'. I won't give away who she thinks guilty of the crime, but if you've read any of her non-fiction work, suffice it to say that she hasn't changed views over the years. ;)

In order to justify her views on who is guilty, Weir incorporates just about every historical source we have available to us today (which really isn't anything all that reliable, at least not from a historian's point of view). While I enjoyed this tactic, other readers who are unfamiliar with the nitty gritty details of Richard III's reign might not appreciate it being woven into the storyline. Then again, maybe they will...who am I to judge, right?

If you end up enjoying the fictional approach to the real-life mystery of what happened to the Princes in the Tower, be sure to get your hands on a copy of Josephine Tey's novel, Daughter of Time. It features a modern-day (relatively speaking, of course, as the novel was written years and years ago) laid up in a hospital bed with nothing to do and decides to tackle the mystery of what happened to the princes and who did it....it is absolutely phenomenal and a far better attempt to 'solve' the mystery than A Dangerous Inheritance. Weir's novel I would recommend as a library check-out.(less)

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Apr 22, 2013 Cris rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: british, historical-fiction, tudors, did-not-finish

Ugh. I'll never pick up a novel by Weir again. This novel failed me in every appeal category.

Weir knows the two time-periods she picked for this novel, but she didn't flesh either time out very well with period details. Instead the time periods were more like wallpaper than integral parts of the story. So I don't think A Dangerous Inheritance would make a good read for historical fiction fans.

The language used by the characters was fairly representative of the language you find in letters and do...more

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Oct 31, 2012 Mary Beth rated it 3 of 5 stars

Once again, I want to like Weir's fiction, but it just doesn't work as well for me as her non-fiction. This book wasn't terrible, by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, it's immensely better than the typical historical fiction that's out there.

So, if you have an interest in Tudor England (both before and during Queen Elizabeth's time), you might like this, especially if you are intrigued by the Princes in the Tower. (Were they murdered by Richard or not? This is a driving theme in the book...more

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