A Murder for Her Majesty

by Beth Hilgartner

book data

134 ratings, 4.27 average rating, 29 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		41%
4		43%
3		14%
2		0%
1		0%

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published

January 20th 1992 by Houghton Mifflin

binding

Paperback, 252 pages

isbn

0395616190 (isbn13: 9780395616192)

description

Horrified at having witnessed her father's murder and fearing that the killers are agents of Queen Elizabeth I, eleven-year-old Alice Tuckfield hides ...more

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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 174)

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03/06/09

Chris rated it:

Read in March, 2009

A Murder for Her Majesty doesn't waste time getting started. Right in the first chapter, Alice is running away from home, and gets brought in by a group of choirboys, who decide to hide her in their house and even come up with a plan to disguise her as one of them. It's through flashback and background information that we find out how she got there.

Alice had witnessed her father being murdered by two men, who claimed to be working for the Queen of England. Scared for her life, she he...more A Murder for Her Majesty doesn't waste time getting started. Right in the first chapter, Alice is running away from home, and gets brought in by a group of choirboys, who decide to hide her in their house and even come up with a plan to disguise her as one of them. It's through flashback and background information that we find out how she got there.

Alice had witnessed her father being murdered by two men, who claimed to be working for the Queen of England. Scared for her life, she heads off to London and arrives at a cathedral, only to learn to her horror that the criminals have arrived there as well; in fact, they work there.

Now she's in even more danger, as she's a member of the very choir of that cathedral, with murderers at high positions of power. Luckily for her, not all of them know what she looks like, even when they see her looking them right in the face. But complications arise, bringing with them many close calls, before things really do get bad for Alice.

The story moved faster than I was expecting for a 240-page book. Something that advances the plot and especially the suspense occurs in just about every chapter. In fact, I went from reading about 25 or 50 pages a day, to finishing off the last 140 pages in my last day of reading the book. The suspense and pacing had just ramped up to the point where I just had to keep going. Definitely the sign of a good read!

The characters come alive pretty well, too. Each of the choirboys Alice stays with has their own personality. Most are mischievous, though one really doesn't like the whole situation and tries to out Alice several times (before the boys discover the kind of danger she's really in). Alice herself at first felt like a tabula rasa, but over time, she showed more personality and especially defiance and anger, which tended to get her into trouble. Character flaws work well to heighten the suspense, making the characters not only entertaining individuals, but important plot-drivers as well.

In all, it was a fun book. I've read comments that the time period is a bit anachronistic, but not being well-versed in 16th century (or any century) England, I wouldn't know what was out of place. If you're able to overlook - or not notice - that, what you've got here is a fun, fast-moving suspense story.(less)

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04/30/09

Linnae rated it:

bookshelves: historical, juvenile, mystery-suspense

Read in April, 2009

Alice Tuckfield witnesses her father's murder, and even knows the two men who did it. When she realizes she may be next in line, she takes off for the house of the a family friend. Along the way she gets lost, and is taken in by a group of impudent choir boys. Luckily, she can sing! She is just beginning to feel comfortable in this life, when she uncovers a third person involved in her father's murder. To her dismay, he seems to recognize her as well. She will need all the help her new fri...more

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09/09/08

The other John rated it:

bookshelves: crime, historical-fiction, mystery, schoolbook

Read in December, 2006

This tale is a combination of two clichés: the endangered child who is forced to fend for his or herself, and the child who pretends to be a kid of the opposite gender. In this case, the child is Alice Tuckfield, an upper class eleven-year-old in 16th Century England. Her mother had died some years before and as the story starts she has just witnessed the murder of her father. She makes her way to Yorkshire, in an attempt to contact a friend of her father's. Tired, hungry and cold, she encounte...more

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02/28/08

Kellyn rated it:

bookshelves: england--historical-fiction, gepl, historical-fiction-juvenile, middle-ages

Alice Tuckfield, age 11, hidden in a tree on her father’s estate, watches in horror as a guest kills her father while accompanied by another guest. Alice listens as these men say that Queen Elizabeth will be pleased with this murder. Alice hides until she is certain that the murderers have left. Gradually she makes her way to the Cathedral at York where she hopes to find food and temporary shelter. As she turns a corner a young boy, Geoffrey, runs into her and knocks her out. Geoffrey hel...more

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05/05/09

Stephanie rated it:

Read in May, 2009

recommends it for: anglophiles, middle schoolers

I ADORED this book when I was in 4th or 5th grade and read it monthly or so for a few months. I forgot about it but recently bought it for some friends of the family, and decided that I better read it again - sort of like testing cookies that you've baked before giving them away. It's still good! Definitely buying a copy for myself, which is a rare thing indeed.

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12/24/08

Kim rated it:

This is a great young-adult work of fiction. For those who loved stories with vivid setting descriptions, murder, mystery, and intrigue...look no farther.

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02/22/09

Joanna rated it:

Read in January, 2008

Wow, this is a good book!!! It's fun to imagine along with this book.

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12/02/08

Alyssa marked it as to-read

bookshelves: to-read

i think this might be a good book

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04/11/09

Cindy rated it:

good YA read

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03/18/08

Emeraldz rated it:

bookshelves: childrens, historical-fiction, young-adult

Read in April, 2008

recommended to Emeraldz by: Goodreads YA Book Club

I found A Murder for Her Majesty easy to read and very enjoyable.

Alice Tuckfield runs away and needs a place to hide after she witnesses the murder of her father. She finds this with a group of choirboys in York but soon discovers that she isn't as safe as she believed.

The characters, although simple, are nicely written and very engaging. The friendships Alice finds and the obligatory happy ending make this a great story for young readers or those looking for a quick, l...more

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09/11/07

Kanya rated it:

This children's book means the world to me. My best friend in the fourth grade gave it to me and I still have it. This book has been everywhere with me! It's one of those rare books that I pick up to reread. It helped shape my childhood in ways I never realized and was one of the books that started this love affair I have with England. I've actually been to Yorkminster Abbey in Yorkshire, where this story is set. I think it is one of the most magical places in the world...

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11/15/08

sadester rated it:

Read in January, 2007

recommended to sadester by: A list in the Library
recommends it for: People who like mysteries

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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02/27/08

Shinedown Fan! (Ariel) rated it:

Read in April, 2006

When I first read the book, it was for my Sunlight ciriculum. and I thought it would be really boring. But I found out it wasn't. I liked how they dressed her up like a boy.
Ariel

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07/16/08

Pinky rated it:

I looooove this book! We read it in class and did fun projects afterwords. This book is about a girl who's father and mother died and is living with boys in a chorus group. AMAZINGLY GREAT BOOK!

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11/15/08

fbuser23916490 rated it:

Read in January, 1994

recommends it for: under age 13

One of my favorites from elementary school. I don't remember what it was about, but I saw it at Half Price books and remembered how much I enjoyed the book.

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