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139th out of 419 books
—
404 voters
The Poyson Garden (Elizabeth I Mysteries #1)
by
Karen Harper (Goodreads Author)
The letter came in secret, with a pearl eardrop from an aunt long thought dead, resurrecting the forbidden past. Banished by her spiteful half sister, Queen Mary, to Hatfield House in the English countryside, twenty-five-year-old Princess Elizabeth cannot refuse the summons. The Boleyns are in grave danger. And Elizabeth, daughter of Anne Boleyn, is marked for death by a m...more
Paperback, 320 pages
Published
January 11th 2000
by Dell
(first published 1999)
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It took me a second try to actually make it all the way through Karen Harper's The Poyson Garden. This was not, I think, because the book was inherently bad--but rather, it struck me the first time I tried it as too much 'nobody in this cast of characters is interesting besides Elizabeth'. And let's face it, if you're telling a story about Queen Elizabeth I, whether or not she's actually queen yet, it's hard to come up with a cast of characters that can hold a candle to her. I was particularly r...more
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Elizabeth is living in the country under the constant observation of Queen Mary's loyal retainers, the Popes. Elizabeth has her own few personnel who are loyal but she must be very careful to keep far from any more plots so she is not returned to the Tower.
In this setting she learns that her Aunt Mary Boleyn has not died many years before but has been in quiet seclusion and is now on her death bed. Elizabeth escapes to meet the last of her mother's kin. Once there Elizabeth is told of the poison...more
In this setting she learns that her Aunt Mary Boleyn has not died many years before but has been in quiet seclusion and is now on her death bed. Elizabeth escapes to meet the last of her mother's kin. Once there Elizabeth is told of the poison...more
In this intriguing historical mystery, Harper has taken the future Queen Elizabeth and puts her smack dab in the middle of a plot to poison the entire Boleyn clan. During the time of Queen Mary’s reign, Elizabeth has had to deal with always looking over her shoulder. Now with this new threat inching closer, Elizabeth must find out whom is behind it and she is hoping that her sister is not the one pulling the strings. After receiving a letter from her Aunt Mary who she thought was dead; Elizabeth...more
I didn't care for this book. I was somewhat interested how some of the things would be resolved in later books in this series but not enough to plow through more by this author.
Since I just read The Queen's Governess for a review for Library Journal and liked it so much, I thought I would pick up one of Karen Harper's Tudor mysteries. I started with the first, The Poyson Garden. What I liked about Harper's writing in her historical novel, was just as clear in her mystery: good historical detail, a well-written story, and even better, there was a fine mystery too. I was impressed that she could take known historical events and insert a mystery in the middle. Very talent...more
I've been reading a lot of science fiction lately, and decided this would be a good excuse to recheck an early love of mine- historical fiction (not the lust in the dust, bodice ripper type). This fit the bill, though I find my adult ideas of historical literature are more demanding than my youthful excursions. It was a simple mystery story, of strong loyalties and poisonous (literally) plots. I have always been fascinated by Ann Boleyn and the path of Elizabeth 1 to the throne. I found myself w...more
I'm going to be honest here -- I didn't like this one at all! I would have thought that the author, having written the well-researched Passion's Reign/The Last Boleyn would have had the good sense not to go mucking about with the historical details, but this mystery novel with Princess Elizabeth as a murder solving sleuth was just too much suspension of belief to take serious. Feh! Not for me, and I haven't picked up another one of hers since in this series.
For the complete review, please go he...more
For the complete review, please go he...more
Eminently forgettable way to pass a few hours. Karen Harper has clearly done her research, and the result is a tale that immerses you quite well in Elizabethan England. Unfortunately, I found the characters themselves not terribly sympathetic and the mystery rather flimsy, though I did like the use of St Anthony's fire. There was a lot of potential with the villain's motivations, but they were conveyed in a way that was exasperatingly muddled. Not a bad book, but definitely not the best in the s...more
First sentence: "The Queen wishes to see you alone in her privy chamber, my lady."
Elizabeth Tudor has had quite the life. Her father beheaded her mother and declared Elizabeth a bastard. Her sister Queen Mary refuses to acknowledge Elizabeth as her heir and keeps her under house arrest lest she start an uprising among the Protestant heretics of the realm. To make matters worse, it seems the surviving Boleyns are being targeted by a master poisoner. Will Elizabeth catch the poisoner before the p...more
Elizabeth Tudor has had quite the life. Her father beheaded her mother and declared Elizabeth a bastard. Her sister Queen Mary refuses to acknowledge Elizabeth as her heir and keeps her under house arrest lest she start an uprising among the Protestant heretics of the realm. To make matters worse, it seems the surviving Boleyns are being targeted by a master poisoner. Will Elizabeth catch the poisoner before the p...more
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My mother got me this series for Christmas a couple of years ago thinking I would like it because it's Elizabeth I, but it definitely has my mother's touch with it being the start of a mystery series.
I really did like this book and definitely think I will enjoy the series. It's, as far as the first book is concerned, historically accurate though it is much more of a fictionalized storyline. I really enjoyed the characterization of Elizabeth: staunch, smart, clever, anxious, impatient, dominate,...more
I really did like this book and definitely think I will enjoy the series. It's, as far as the first book is concerned, historically accurate though it is much more of a fictionalized storyline. I really enjoyed the characterization of Elizabeth: staunch, smart, clever, anxious, impatient, dominate,...more
I love this series so much! Not many people know this, but I am a huge fan of Queen Elizabeth I, and I read everything I can about her. This is a fantastic mystery series by Karen Harper, a former Brit. Lit. teacher. The stories feature Queen Elizabeth and a group of friends who form what is called a Privy Council. Together, they help Elizabeth solve various mysteries, from poyson plots (hence the title) to murders. I love the way Harper depictes Elizabeth: spunky, intelligent, and sassy to say...more
I decided to pick up this book because I thought it would be a lightweight reading. And it was light... too light and in a very bad way. I love mysteries, at least I love the mysteries by Agatha Christie, with interesting characters and even peculiar ones, as Poirot, with storylines that tie us from the first page to last due to all the suspense created around a particular event or character or because the twists are ingeniously introduced here and there. None of this happens in this book.
To be...more
To be...more
Elizabeth Tudor, effectively imprisoned on an estate in rural England, hears about a murder done by enemies of the Boelyn family and takes steps to investigate it both for the sake of her mother's family and also in order to ensure her own safety.
This was a quick read, an okay piece of historical fiction, and a pretty bad mystery (at least by my golden-age conditioned standards there *was* no mystery, for the identity of the villain was made clear to the reader long before the characters could f...more
This was a quick read, an okay piece of historical fiction, and a pretty bad mystery (at least by my golden-age conditioned standards there *was* no mystery, for the identity of the villain was made clear to the reader long before the characters could f...more
I was a bit wary of an historical mystery featuring Queen Elizabeth I as an amateur sleuth. I have no trouble with fictional detectives but believing in real people is a bit different as I discovered when I tried to read a book featuring Jane Austen as a detective. Sadly that was also a problem here.
Princess Elizabeth, living is Hatfield at her sister’s command, receives a letter of her aunt Mary, long thought dead, who asks her to come and visit because there's something she must tell her. The...more
Princess Elizabeth, living is Hatfield at her sister’s command, receives a letter of her aunt Mary, long thought dead, who asks her to come and visit because there's something she must tell her. The...more
A pleasant little read. This is a cosy mystery set in Tudor times with highly improbable, although very intriguing, scenario of Princess Elizabeth investigating a plot to poison her, and all other Boleyns. If you suspend the belief that this would have happened to a heavily guarded political prisoner. Then this is a very enjoyable read. Queen Mary is still in power, although believed to be dying. Princess Elizabeth is banished to Hever Castle, this much is true to history. But having the princes...more
Elizabeth Tudor, during the time of Queen Mary, fears someone (possibly instigated by Mary) is trying to poison her and her Boleyn relatives. To ferret out the truth she must slip away from Hatfield, where she is closely guarded, disguised as a boy. The novel uses sufficient historical fact to be somewhat credible, but in the case of Elizabeth, the unvarnished truth would be compelling enough for any novel. Still, for lovers of the Tudor period in history, the book is fun.
. The start of an interesting series about Queen Elizabeth the 1st. This one takes place before she is queen. It’s very interesting reading about court intrigue, local plots, and family squabbles all in one book. Someone is trying to poison all the member of the Boleyn family. I’ve decided to read the rest of the series based on my reading of this one. Of course, I got the suggestion for this book on DorothyL in the first place.
In this historical mystery Princess Elizabeth was recently released from the Tower of London and now is under house arrest at Hatfield. After learning of a plot to poison the remaining Bolyens, herself included Elizabeth is on the hunt to find this poisoner. Could it be her half-sister Queen Mary, one of her faithful companions, who would want her and all her family dead? I liked this fast-paced, richly detailed Elizabeth I mystery.
This book didn't set my world on fire. I've read better historical mysterys. A very average book. Harper kept trying to hint that someone close to her was false but it turned out that all the people in her poyson privy council were true so that seemed like a dead end for the reader. Elizabeth seemed to be able to escape far to easily for someone next in line for the throne. I'm not going to make any effort to read the next one.
I read this book a couple of years ago when I first started this series, but I decided to reread the first few books before picking up where I left off.
I really enjoy Karen Harper's casual inclusion of rich historic detail. She does it in such a way that it seems natural and real without blatantly ignoring historical fact or weighing the story down with too much unnecessary or boring information.
I really enjoy Karen Harper's casual inclusion of rich historic detail. She does it in such a way that it seems natural and real without blatantly ignoring historical fact or weighing the story down with too much unnecessary or boring information.
Pretty interesting read. As usual with a novel with a basis in historic fact, I'm now very curious to read a history of Queen Elizabeth I and see exactly how much of this book was made up.
Things I didn't enjoy: Mostly nit-picky style things. I also don't enjoy mysteries all that much where the reader isn't given any clues as to whodunit. But still, interesting plot and characters.
Things I didn't enjoy: Mostly nit-picky style things. I also don't enjoy mysteries all that much where the reader isn't given any clues as to whodunit. But still, interesting plot and characters.
Finally got around to reading the first book in the Elizabethan Mysteries! And it's just as awesome as all the others. The first book takes place before Elizabeth becomes Queen, her half sister, Queen Mary is still on the throne, but she is dying. I'm not sorry I didn't read these books in order, but knowing how all her privy plot comes to be is a bonus for later books. The Poyson Garden revolves around, you guessed it, poison plots. Elizabeth realizes, at the age of 20, that not only does she h...more
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This is the first in a series of Elizabeth I mysteries by Harper. It introduces the continuing cast of characters that Elizabeth I gathers around her for both friendship and protection in the turbulent times she lived in. Thes books provide a great view of life in Tudor England in both the royal court and among the commoners. Plus they're great fun to read!
Interesting. Written using the language of the time, which means you may have to use a dictionary to understand the story. This book is part of an Elizabethan series of which has received good reviews from my local librarians, but I am unsure at this time if I will read them. They may make good filler books for those times you are at a loss for what to read.
I found the book interesting - it did take a second time of sitting down to read it to actually get into the story. I think it was because it was Queen Elizabeth....it's hard to imagine her before she was queen.
The author does a great job bring the younger Elizabeth alive-the mystery behind the poisoner keeps the story going and there's lots of great history folded into the book.
The author does a great job bring the younger Elizabeth alive-the mystery behind the poisoner keeps the story going and there's lots of great history folded into the book.
this was actually surprisingly enjoyable, particularly as a break after slogging through The Historian and before getting back to the tiny print of Armageddon. This is a diverting little historical mystery staring Elizabeth I and it reminded me a lot of Tamora Pierce's books, particularly the Song of the Lioness. I look forward to finding more of this series.
Discovered this series just this past year and I love it! Queen Elizabeth I as amateur detective. So cool. This author does an awesome job recreating the time period and has done a lot of research on the life of Queen Elizabeth and those around her. I really enjoy the way she weaves fact into her fiction. Makes it seem more real.
Aug 11, 2011
Erin
added it
I just don't buy Elizabeth I as an amateur sleuth. I love Stephanie Barron's "Jane Austen, Girl Detective" series so I thought I'd like this one, but it never quite achieved an engaging sense of authenticity. I may pick up the next one in the series to see if she develops her voice but it's not high on my "to read" list.
I'd put this at 2.5 stars if I could. Not the best but I did like it well enough to nudge past the "it was okay" rating. It was pretty light, which was what I was in the mood for, and I enjoy historical fiction and mysteries. I will read another from the series and hope for a little more depth of plot and character.
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A New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Karen Harper is a former college English instructor (The Ohio State University) and high school literature and writing teacher. A lifelong Ohioan, Karen and her husband Don divide their time between the midwest and the southeast, both locations she has used in her books. Besides her American settings, Karen loves the British Isles, where her Scott...more
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