Queen of Ambition

Ursula Blanchard #5

by Fiona Buckley

Ursula Blanchard, loyal lady of the Queen's Presence Chamber and gifted sleuth, is at home amid the glittering complexities of the royal court. Now, Ursula has a new part to play in the service of her Queen -- a role that exposes her to hidden dangers in the famed university town of Cambridge. Assigned as a harbinger for the Queen's upcoming Summer Progress to Cambridge, Ursula is placed in charge of not only Her Majesty's comfort, but also her safety. For Ursula, that means undertaking menial employment in a pie shop to investigate rumored political perils behind a swashbuckling student playlet conceived at the University to entertain the Queen. Even in such a bastion of Protestant power and scholarly pursuits as Cambridge, protecting the Queen is not purely academic. When a handsome young student's all-too-conveniently timed death rouses her suspicions, Ursula applies her superior powers of observation to untangling a mystifying jumble of oddities, coincidences, secrets, and ciphers that surround her...and discovers ominous signs of treason.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, Historical Mystery, British Literature, Crime

384 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 4, 2001

About the author

Valerie Anand is a British author of historical fiction. Under the pen name Fiona Buckley she writes the series of historical mysteries, set in the reign of Elizabeth I of England, featuring "Ursula Blanchard" (whose full name is Ursula Faldene Blanchard de la Roche Stannard). Under her own name she writes historical fiction based on the royalty of England and the Bridges over Time series which follows a family from the eleventh century through the nineteenth century.

Series:
* Ursula Blanchard

Reviews

[Truls Ljungström · Rating 4 out of 5]

Förmågan att blanda det privata med det offentliga/politiska är verkligen en av Fiona Buckleys styrkor. I detta fall är skurken en informator som blivit förälskad i sin ointresserade och högpolitiska matmor, och för att vinna henne, tänker han sig att begå högförräderi på ett chevalereskt och spektakulärt sätt. Det blir underbart tokroligt, och Ursula, vår vågade huvudperson, blir aldrig mer eller mindre än hon är, och det är också det underbart. Rekommenderar varmt.

[Sarah Hearn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've only read a couple of these Ursula Blanchard novels but they are always thorough and historically accurate. A good plot: the Queen will visit Cambridge as part of her summer Progress. While the city has always been staunchly Protestant, Secretary Cecil is sure a pair of brothers are plotting something ut he and his code-breakers can't work out what. He sends Ursula ahead to try and figure it out.

[Margaret Carpenter · Rating 1 out of 5]

I must assume that no one ever took it into their head to explain to Ms. Buckley that the rule of "showing not telling" is an imperative one. This novel could have been riveting if handled well. More of a disappointing realization of potential than a fluff read.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's something about this series I find very satisfying. The characters seem to react like real people and that makes all the difference in the world.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historical mystery & intrigue! Nice pacing, clever enough that I couldn't guess the endng!

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

These keep getting better. I didn't want it to end.

[Avid Series Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Queen of Ambition by Fiona Buckley is the fifth book of the Ursula Blanchard mystery series set in 1564 Cambridge, England. Queen Elizabeth I will be making a "Summer Progress" stop in Cambridge. Most festivities will be at the university, therefore not available to villagers. However the Queen will ride through the village escorted by Sergeant of Horse Robert Dudley, then while still in the village, she'll be presented a bouquet of flowers by a local woman. A group of students plan to stage a playlet - a mock sword fight - in conjunction with the flower presentation.

Secretary of State Sir William Cecil fears trouble with the playlet. He assigns Ursula Blanchard to go to Cambridge well ahead of the Queen, to discreetly investigate any possible plots/threats against the Queen. She 'dresses down' and works as a cookmaid at Jester's Pie Shop. Although seriously hampered by the grueling work, she does indeed discover evidence of foul play: past, present and future.

First, a student who wants to warn her of danger dies "accidentally", next a retired professor who is sending secret letters dies. Neither death seems suspicious to anyone but Ursula. But her instincts prove correct. When she learns of the playlet's surprise agenda, Ursula knows it's a cruel trick. She fears for the flower presenter's safety, and tries to warn her. But that attempt goes awry due to jealousy.

Besides the playlet, Ursula is also convinced that rambling, seemingly disorganized letters between half brothers are really in code. Sir William Cecil has the University's top cipher experts try to decode the messages. They conclude it is not using any cipher. Ursula is still convinced. And of course she is eventually proved correct.

Ursula's success uncovering plots, protecting the Queen and averting planned crimes is deeply resented by her friend Rob Henderson. He was also assigned the duty of discovering and foiling plots, but he didn't believe her warnings and scoffed at her evidence (and so, resoundingly failed in his duty). He cannot stand being upstaged by a woman (this is 1564) - that is the irrevocable end of their friendship.

Rob and Mattie Henderson were the trusted friends who always cared for Ursula's daughter Meg while Ursula was on assignments for the Queen. Their friendship is quite a loss. Then a letter brings word of a surpassingly greater loss.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ursula, the heroine of this series set in the Elizabethan era, is a feisty yet believable character who frequently puts herself in danger in order to protect her queen. This is the second of the series I have read, and both were fine books, with enough period detail to feel authentic without being pedantic.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ursula is sent to work in a pie shop (undercover) to check out the atmosphere in the college town of Cambridge before the queen arrives for a five day visit. She is to be greeted by a playlet, put on by the students, but there are swords and kidnapping involved in the plot, which makes everyone slightly on edge.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this novel which has Ursula working in a pie shop! Matthew dies at the end, resolving that plot question. Good reading for lying on the couch in anxiety and exhaustion!

[Hannnah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overall it was interesting. However it was hard to get into...

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

quick paced... which is something I have been craving. I enjoy reading this series in order to see how Ursula is growing as a spy... how it is becoming less against her will and more a calling.

[Maya Ch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ursula is again the huntress for enemies of the Queen. But her personal trials are not over yet as well.

[Cheri Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've said it before...... these books are amazing.

[Kristina Deluise · Rating 3 out of 5]

PLEASE SEE THE DELUISE BOOK SERIES YOU TUBE CHANNEL FOR MY REVIEW

[Lisa M. Paulson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not her best…

This was not the best by this author…. I wish it was a little more realistic and not as unnecessarily wordy

[Gretchen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 and a half stars for the fifth novels starring Ursula Blanchard and crew. While this novel wasn't anything spectacular, I felt like it finally sets up the coming books for something good. The whole Elizabeth I vs. Mary Queen of Scots drama is building (we all know how that ends) and Ursula is finally rid of the man she's been lusting over for the last five books. Say what you want but I don't think the relationship between Ursula and Matthew was ever anything but a sexual attraction. Ursula has proven in several books now that she's a sexual being and she finds a variety of men attractive. I'm not saying this is a bad thing but I find it distracts from the plot of the story. If I wanted that kind of raw sexual attraction, I would read those kind of books. Don't just throw something like that into a novel because you think it's needed. I promise it's really not. Anyway, rant over.

I am hoping the mysteries start to get a little more complicated now that Ursula seems to be branching out on her own. So far the mysteries have been rather predictable and not overly suspenseful. If you want a little more complexity and suspense, I highly recommend C.J. Sansom's Matthew Shardlake novels. They are set during the time of Henry VIII. I have been reading them along side the Ursula Blanchard novels and I can't help compare them.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5 stars) The fifth book in the Ursula Blanchard series follows closely after the 4th in time, with Ursula being sent to Cambridge, ahead of the queen's arrival there, to scope out the surroundings and make sure the preparations are in order. Because of a tip surrounding a mini-play that will be presented to the queen, Ursula goes deep undercover, working as a servant in a pie shop in order to find out more some characters suspected to be involved in a plot against England. The pie shop is owned by one of the brothers under suspicion, whom Sir William Cecil suspects of writing letters in a code that his spies have been unable to break. The other brother is at Cambridge and has put forth the idea of the mini-play. Ursula's servant Brockley, is also undercover as a servant to the other brother. When a member of the group of students holding the play tries to tell Ursula of something that is bothering him, but dies under suspicious circumstances, Ursula is convinced that there is something sinister going on. As she unravels the details, she also must deal with her feelings for Brockley and her guilt about their closeness which has become obvious to his wife, Fran. The clues lead to a dramatic close to the story, and some major changes in Ursula's life going forward.

[J. Kirsch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Queen of Ambition is another solid entry in the Ursula Blanchard mystery series set in Elizabethan England. Set in Cambridge, it features Ursula in a very different light from the previous 4 books, with her having to go undercover as a common workingwoman. It also has some major plot twists that affect her relationship with Matthew de la Roche and her connection to France, as well as her new holdings in Withysham.

To be perfectly honest, I found this to be the weakest of the 5 books in the series so far. Don't get me wrong, it is well worth a read and still kept me well entertained. I also should hasten to add that I am already two-thirds of the way through the Ursula Blanchard book AFTER this one, called "A Pawn for a Queen", and it is absolutely fabulous (in fact it's my favorite in the series so far) - so I highly recommend continuing in the series if you've read this far. Fiona Buckley's eye not just for historical detail and political machinations, but also for tender and meaningfully developed relationships, is unmatched.

[Richard Stueber · Rating 2 out of 5]

Routine book in this series starting in summer 1564. Our heroine Ursula, born Faldene, married first to the late Gerald Blanchard and now to Matthew de la Roche. Matthew is a wanted man and is back in France. Ursula gets a new spying job from Queen Elizabeth and Secretary of State William Cecil. Elizabeth is going on a Royal Progress to Cambridge, where a plot against her is suspected.
Ursula takes a menial job in a pie shop run by Roland Jester who is plotting with his half brother Giles Woodforde. What are they up to? Someone is in danger. Is it Elizabeth herself or Sir Robert Dudley? Dudley is rumored to be marrying Mary Queen of Scots, but this doesn't sit well with Elizabeth's cousin Lady Margaret Lennox who wants to marry her son Henry Darnley to Mary.
The first murder victim is Thomas Shawe who is the beloved of Ambrosia, daughter of Roland Jester. Who else is in danger and can Ursula do anything about it?

[Lalla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is part of the series featuring Ursula Blanchard as a member of Queen Elizabeth's court who is often asked to work undercover when the Queen's security is in danger. The plot revolves around religious and political scheming as well as giving the reader a view of abusive husbands and what recourse was left to battered wives at this time.
The setting is in Cambridge which is to be a stop on the Queen's summer progress. I enjoyed reading about the area and how the townspeople prepared for the Queen's visit. There are many twists and turns before the end of the story. The reader will enjoy this book, one of the best of this series.

[Anita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good, but not as captivating as some of the other titles in the "Ursula Blanchard" historical mystery series.
However, I would recommend it for anyone who enjoys Elizabethean-era stories. Ursula is an interesting character, as are her two faithful "servants," (more pals than employees, really), but this adventure gives them less exposure than some others.
Still, it is a fun romp through Tudor times - and unlike some historical series, it is easy enough to follow even if British history isn't your strong point.

[Kathie H · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love this line: "I was of the temperament that could not win satisfaction from a well-planned Christmas dinner or shelves full of preserves, and if that was wrong, well, it was the way I had been made and those who disliked it had better address their complaints to the Almighty who made me." Spoken by the heroine, Ursula, circa 1556.

[Moonmomie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy Elizabethan Historical Fiction, which is what brought me to this series. I had never been interested in any kind of mysteries up until reading these books. They were a complete surprise to me. The plots in all of the Ursula Blanchard Mysteries are rich and fun, the characters are interesting and complex. I really loved this entire series of books.

[Charlotte Osborn-bensaada · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great series set in Queen Elizabeth's court. Buckley takes several real historical mysteries and asks what if... Worth reading for a strong interesting heroine that while sometimes needing rescue is rather good at figuring out her own options given the limited options available to women of the time.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

A medieval castle in Wales, young lovers imprisoned in the tower, a spring/winter romance and a foul murder have Ursula Blanchard using all of her skills in another Elizabethan "whodunit" from Fiona Buckley. Add an old woman accused of witchcraft and being locked in a shepherd's hut high in the mountains and you have one of Buckley's best in the series!

[Valerie K · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book 5 in the Ursula Blanchard series. Full of surprises. Ursula is such an interesting character, her inner conflicts and how the different parts of her life pull her in different directions really adds to the stories. In this one, the contrasts were especially stark since she was under cover. I'll stop there so I don't give anything away.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still enjoying the Ursula Blanchard series. In the 5th book Ursula finds herself in Cambridge preparing for Queen Elizabeth's visit, and working undercover in a pie shop as a cook maid. Cecil suspects a plot in underfoot, Brockley and Dale are there to aid her sleuthing. Good plot twist at the end. Also delves into domestic abuse in the Tudor era, and what rights, or lack or rights women have.

[Duffy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though I tend to want to read books "in order" enough info is given so that the current book can be enjoyed by itself. One is immediately immersed in the storyline and is learning about the time period while enjoying the story itself.

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

good series