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5th out of 46 books
—
40 voters
Assassin (Lady Grace Mysteries #1)
WHEN MARGARET CAVENDISH, one of Elizabeth I’s Gentlewomen of the Bedchamber, lost her life in a bungled attempt to kill the Queen, her daughter, Lady Grace, became a protégée to the monarch, who takes Grace under her wing. Now Grace, a spunky girl who romps through the gardens with the laundry maids and court tumblers and rolls her eyes at her fellow
ladies, chronicles the...more
ladies, chronicles the...more
Hardcover, 208 pages
Published
September 28th 2004
by Delacorte Books for Young Readers
(first published May 1st 2004)
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Valerie Watson
Finney, P. (2004). Assassin. New York, NY: Delacorte Press.
Genre:
Mystery
Award:
None
Format:
Print
Selection Process:
Reviewed on www.Booklistonline.com
Review:
In 1569, Lady Grace Cavendish is thirteen and a lady-in-waiting at the court of Queen Elizabeth I. As she prepares to choose a husband from her trio of suitors, Lady Grace discovers that one of them has been found murdered in his bed. Ever inquisitive, Lady Grace becomes determined to find out the truth of the murder, who is respon...more
Finney, P. (2004). Assassin. New York, NY: Delacorte Press.
Genre:
Mystery
Award:
None
Format:
Selection Process:
Reviewed on www.Booklistonline.com
Review:
In 1569, Lady Grace Cavendish is thirteen and a lady-in-waiting at the court of Queen Elizabeth I. As she prepares to choose a husband from her trio of suitors, Lady Grace discovers that one of them has been found murdered in his bed. Ever inquisitive, Lady Grace becomes determined to find out the truth of the murder, who is respon...more
Assassin, the first in the Lady Grace Mysteries, is an exciting tale of murder, lies, and mysteries. I couldn't figure out who did the crime until just before they announced who the murderer was! There were just so many suspects!
(view spoiler)...more
(view spoiler)...more
Reason for Reading: This is another book from the Random Bookshelf that I am reading from this year. This book interested me because of its similarity to the Dear Canada/Royal Diaries books with the added bonus of being a mystery.
Lady Grace Cavendish is 13 years old and one of Queen Elizabeth I's Maids of Honour (a step below a Lady-in-Waiting). She writes in her daybooke as if it were a diary about her day to day adventures which become quite exciting. Since the Queen is her godmother and promi...more
Lady Grace Cavendish is 13 years old and one of Queen Elizabeth I's Maids of Honour (a step below a Lady-in-Waiting). She writes in her daybooke as if it were a diary about her day to day adventures which become quite exciting. Since the Queen is her godmother and promi...more
If you need a historical novel that teaches about the court and times of Queen Elizabeth I, this series will provide you with delightful reading, purportedly from the “daybook” of Lady Grace Cavendish, 13-year-old (at the beginning of the series) maid of honor to the queen. This plucky modern-seeming heiress, orphaned and raised in the court, along with her friends, a young court acrobat/juggler and one of the laundry girls, investigate mysteries to aid their monarch, reveal the villains, and ai...more
Jun 25, 2010
Lady Knight
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Shelves:
childrens,
historical-fiction,
mystery,
royalty,
tudor-elizabethan,
16th-c,
public-library,
england-uk
What a great novel! This is a fantastic book to introduce those under ten to the world of mysteries and historical fiction. The story is intriguing while keeping the dialogue fairly simple. There is a handy glossary in the back for any words that are out of the ordinary. Lady Grace is spunky and likable and her deductions seem completely age appropriate and logical. Definitely one I'd recommend.
At the age of thirteen Lady Grace Cavendish is a maid of honour to Elizabeth I of England. She also h...more
At the age of thirteen Lady Grace Cavendish is a maid of honour to Elizabeth I of England. She also h...more
A good, light book that's a good start to a light series. It's staged in Elizabethan England, in the palace of Queen Elizabeth. Thirteen-year-old Lady Grace, one of Queen Elizabeth's maid-of-honors, and apparently her favorite, is supposed to choose a suitor for herself at a ball. One of her suitors ends up dead, and Lady Grace takes it upon herself to find out who did it. The author did a good job of capturing a thirteen-year-old girl of back then, who was not yet grown but no longer a child. H...more
A young lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth investigates the mysterious and violent death of one of her suitors. Grace Cavendish is a young heiress, and at age 13, she is preparing to be engaged. Her fortune makes her attractive, and the queen selects three suitors for her. But no sooner has Grace made her choice when one ends up dead and the another finds himself imprisoned for the crime.
I would have loved reading this as a kid. As an adult, I found it a bit slight and the mystery too transparen...more
I would have loved reading this as a kid. As an adult, I found it a bit slight and the mystery too transparen...more
This series of books is very cleverly constructed. The titles progress by the letters of the alphabet as well as by theme. Another feature i found fantastic and have noted in a few other books is the glossary at the end of each book. I think this is a great way for a book to be educational and entertaining. I cannot recall how many times I question what a word means and then never get around to looking it up. Whereas, these books are classified as children's literature, I found them to be very e...more
I really wish I could figure these books out. They're such an odd mixture, with many, many real details of life in the Elizabethan court, sitting right beside things so ridiculously unlikely that they must be done intentionally. Mustn't they? Patricia Finney knows her history, from all I can gather about her writing. And some of the wildly unlikely happenings fit right in with the conventions of children's mysteries, which are never meant to be taken as actually realistic - but that isn't the co...more
Good story. Very quick read about Lady Grace Cavendish, 13 yrs. old, a Maid of Honour in Queen Elizabeth I's court. Lady Grace is about to be betrothed when one of her three suitors ends up dead with a dagger in his back! The suitor she chose has been arrested for the murder, so she takes it upon herself to find out what really happended.
Nicely written, moves very fast, lots of adventure, the setting is described very well (including a glossary of terms) that teaches what life was like in Elizab...more
Nicely written, moves very fast, lots of adventure, the setting is described very well (including a glossary of terms) that teaches what life was like in Elizab...more
This is the first book in the Lady Grace Mysteries series, about Lady Grace Cavendish, a thirteen-year-old Maid of Honour at the court of Queen Elizabeth I.
Lady Grace Cavendish grew up at the court of Queen Elizabeth I. When her mother died after accidentally drinking poison meant for the queen, Elizabeth took the responsibility of securing Grace's future upon herself. Now thirteen years old in the spring of 1569, Grace is a Maid of Honor to the queen, and the time has come for her betrothal. E...more
Lady Grace Cavendish grew up at the court of Queen Elizabeth I. When her mother died after accidentally drinking poison meant for the queen, Elizabeth took the responsibility of securing Grace's future upon herself. Now thirteen years old in the spring of 1569, Grace is a Maid of Honor to the queen, and the time has come for her betrothal. E...more
This is the first in a series of historical fiction books, written in the style of journals. I enjoyed the character of Grace Cavendish and her antics in the court of Queen Elizabeth. The historical details are not overly-emphasized, so they do not detract from the storyline. And there is a glossary of terms from the Elizabethan era for those unfamiliar with pattens, bumrolls, and farthingales. I have some students in mind that I think would enjoy this series of mysteries in Elizabeth's court.
I liked it because it reminded me of a Philippa Gregory-type historical fiction. I didn't guess the twist, but after the first twist, it seemed to get far-fetched with another. By the end, I felt like it was a Scooby Doo episode because the villan practically said, "And I would've gotten away with it too if it wasn't for that pesky kid." I highly doubt I will continue with the series, because it just got too cheesy for me by the end.
I love reading YA lit, and this was no exception. Grace's mother died in service to queen Elizabeth I. Now, Grace is under the care of the Queen, and is to choose a suitor at the St. Valentines day ball. After she chooses, one of her rejected suitors is murdered. Queen Elizabeth gives Grace permission to investigate and hillarity and touching moments ensue. I really loved this book and can't wait to continue the series.
The first book in the Lady Grace Mysteries follows Lady Grace Cavendish, Maid of Honour to Queen Elizabeth I, living in court. The Queen is her Godmother who cares for her after the death of her mother in the Queen's service. The Queen takes it as her duty to find a suitable husband to betroth her.
However disaster strikes when one of the three suitors competing for her hand is murdered and Grace has to put the clues together quickly.
This is a fast paced, short story about mystery in ELizabethan...more
However disaster strikes when one of the three suitors competing for her hand is murdered and Grace has to put the clues together quickly.
This is a fast paced, short story about mystery in ELizabethan...more
Nov 22, 2011
Donita
added it
I didn't really know what to expect in this series, so I can hardly blame my disappointment on any high expectations. The book reminds me of the flavia de luce series by Alan Bradley yet where Flavia is charming, Grace is well, not-so-graceful. I don't see myself reading another of the series. Best part of the book, it was only 106 pages long so I didn't have to suffer long.
Oct 01, 2011
Ubalstecha
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
2011-reads,
junior-mysteries
A good book about a handmaid to Elizabeth I who finds one of her suitors murdered and another accused of the deed. With the blessing of the Queen, our young heroine endeavours to discover who was responsible.
A good book, but not a great book. It does require a large suspension of disbelief. For the junior mystery buff in your life.
A good book, but not a great book. It does require a large suspension of disbelief. For the junior mystery buff in your life.
I wasn't certain what to expect from this book. I found it very enjoyable. The only thing is that I had to come to terms with the fact that this is a work of fiction and that the Queen of England in this book does not match up with the Queen of England that I watch a bio of on PBS. Fiction, it's ok, it's fiction.
*flinch* The Tutor Court? Uh, I suppose Elizabeth was a Tutor but I'm not used to hearing her reign thrown in like with the rest of the Tutors. If I do end up reading this, I'll have to tip toe carefully. I tend to avoid historical fiction like this becaues of how irritated I get with historical inacuracy
This is a great series of historical fiction mysteries for readers ages 8 to 12 or even 8 to 14. Each book incorporates a handful of actual historical characters, a detail that gives a little added depth to the stories. Readalike to Nancy Springer's Enola Holmses series (Case of the Missing Marquess is #1).
Oh, man, I devoured this book! Absolutely fantastic!
The only part of it I dislike is that it's an alphabet series. Which means that if I buy one book, I'll feel obligated to buy the other twenty-three or so. Can't imagine Patricia finding any titles with 'x' or 'z' in them.
The only part of it I dislike is that it's an alphabet series. Which means that if I buy one book, I'll feel obligated to buy the other twenty-three or so. Can't imagine Patricia finding any titles with 'x' or 'z' in them.
it is a wonderful series and i must say that i am spellbound by the lady grace mysterious for that i love it to bits. the serise takes place around 1569-1570, during queen elizabth 's region. i almost squealed and jump up and down whenever i find one in the library!
Assassin is the first book in this wonderful series. I read this book a few years back but I remember enjoying it a lot indeed. It is about a murder and Lady Grace helps to solve it. This book is just really good and I was not bored once whilst reading it.
Lady Grace Cavendish is the Kinsey Milhone of Renaissance tweens, inasmuch as the titles of her mystery-solving exploits all start with letters of the alphabet. Besides that, her first book (written as a diary) is funny, smart, and (probably) more historically accurate than a lot of stuff out there. I particularly liked that Grace is not the standard historical fiction heroine who doesn't want an arranged marriage, wants to go to school, likes wearing pants better than skirts, hates sewing, etc....more
Yes this is actually the first book of 2013 that I have read. No I do not feel bad because now I have a title that I can recommend to the kiddies when they come into the library looking for a mystery that takes place in Elizabethan England.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I loved this book because it has lovely main character serving her country and protecting her queen. It is a short book but it was very enjoyable. I like the plot of the story and I was left debating who committed the crime!
A great book about the Elizebethian times. Grace, the main character solves great mysteries at court as lady of honor and the first lady pursuvent to the queen. Please read this and other four books in this series.
I started this book with my 9 year old daughter who picked it up in the childrens section at our library. We both decided that it wasn't the right book for her to be reading. Having to explain what the guard was doing in the book when it mentioned "Dugs" is not somthing I want to have to worry about if things of such come up more often further along in the book. I suppose we will let her have another try at this series when she is a bit older.
Interest Level Grades 6 - 8
Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery and Suspense
Themes: Character and Values, European, Friends and Friendship
Uses: Casual reading; good for students who like Nancy Drew series.
Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery and Suspense
Themes: Character and Values, European, Friends and Friendship
Uses: Casual reading; good for students who like Nancy Drew series.
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| Readers Digest: Assasin Lady Grace mysteries book 1 | 2 | 3 | Mar 08, 2012 06:17am |
Grace Cavendish is a pseudonym for three female authors; Patricia Finney, Sara Vogler, and Jan Burchett.
LADY GRACE CAVENDISH was a Maid of Honour at the court of Queen Elizabeth. She became a ward of the court after both her parents were tragically killed in the service of the Queen.
More about Grace Cavendish...
LADY GRACE CAVENDISH was a Maid of Honour at the court of Queen Elizabeth. She became a ward of the court after both her parents were tragically killed in the service of the Queen.
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I never read any...more
Mar 02, 2011 01:17pm