To Ruin a Queen: Library Edition

Ursula Blanchard #4

by Fiona Buckley, Nadia May (Narrator)

Her devotion to her family trumps all.

Homesick for England, heartsick at being separated from her young daughter, Ursula Blanchard is struggling to build a new life in France with her husband, Matthew de la Roche. Ursula is devastated when she learns Meg has disappeared from the family that has fostered her since the French civil war forced Ursula to leave her behind. A wanted man in England, Matthew is unable to accompany her as she frantically journeys home.

Upon her arrival, Ursula is stunned to learn that Meg is not missing, but has been sent at the Queen's behest to Vetch Castle, the home of Philip Mortimer, descendant of Roger Mortimer, who was executed long ago for his part in the murder of Edward II. Ursula treads carefully as she seeks the truth about Philip Mortimer's schemes to force the Queen to restore his family's fortunes. But when a murderer strikes, she is quickly ensnared in a web of blackmail and treason that could topple the crown -- and cost Ursula her life.

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

Audiobook

First published January 1, 2000

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

[Kate Quinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perhaps my favorite of the Ursula Blanchard series. Ursula has survived a disastrous pregnancy and a bitter quarrel with her husband Matthew, and is back in England to bring her young daughter back to France - without being at all certain that she wants to live in France anymore herself. Once in England Ursula cannot help but end up neck-deep in a mystery, and finds herself sent to spy out potential trouble in a Welsh castle. The mystery is fun and has a poignant conclusion, but the moment of satisfaction really arrives when a wave of unexpected passion comes along in the most unromantic of settings. Ursula's turbulent marriage to her French husband has long been withering under the storms of their differing religious and political views; it has been her steady manservant Brockley who understands and supports her through her troubles - and finally, locked in a dungeon together, they are forced to confront their feelings for each other. All in all, a good historical mystery with excellent character development and some surprisingly unflinching things to say about the troubles of Elizabethan-age marriage, pregnancy, and cross-class romance.

[Truls Ljungström · Rating 3 out of 5]

Denna hade en gruvligt tråkig första halva, som jag verkligen inte ser poängen av att låta sträckas så långt. Att författaren självironiskt påpekar sina egna vanor och stilfigurer är sällan eller aldrig ett gott tecken; de gör hon på dessa sidor, och det var inte heller denna gång ett gott tecken. Den tar kring sida 200 fart, och blir ganska läsbar. Kulmen nås i efterperepetisamtalet mellan Drottningen och Ursula, vilket är riktigt charmigt. Därefter faller den när det impliceras att allt var ett spökes hämnd. Jag är inte förtjust i slarvigt använd deus ex machina, och väntar mig mer av historiska berättelser än så.

[Zulfiya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too many twists and turns. It read more like an a picaresque novel rather than a mystery story. Still not boring, but definitely only a three star read.

[Avid Series Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

To Ruin a Queen by Fiona Buckley is the 4th book of the Ursula Blanchard mystery series set in 1300s England. Ursula was promised that after her last arduous errand for Queen Elizabeth I (A Queen's Ransom) she would be free to live her life with her husband Matthew in France. She certainly has tried to settle into his country estate and enjoy life. In a moment of grave danger and loss, Ursula realizes she cannot be happy until she is reunited with her daughter Meg. Ursula returns to England, where she is tricked once again: Meg is missing, Ursula must spy for Elizabeth again to retrieve her.

Ursula has a plausible cover, as a genuine kinswoman to the Mortimer family. Vetch Castle on the border of Wales is a grim, harsh place, a fortress. Meg is indeed there, but Ursula quickly learns it's far too coarse an environment for her daughter. Ursula agrees that Meg should go to a safer place, a country home of friends, until Ursula completes her mission (this is hard to believe, her longing to be with her daughter overruled by loyalty to the queen who tricked her twice).

Philip Mortimer brags that he will restore his family to great power. His mother Lady Thomasina fears her son will try to ruin the queen with false accusations (treason punishable by death). Ursula's task is to find out what documents Philip plans to use for blackmail. She plots with her faithful servants Brockley and Dale, breaks into Philip's study, where she finds a murder victim. Ursula, Brockley and Dale are accused of the murder. Thomasina knows Ursula was spying at Elizabeth's request, but she has inexplicably turned on Ursula. They're roughly carted off into the mountains of Wales, and abandoned in a hut to die.

But in her short time at Vetch Castle and the neighboring village, Ursula had shown kindness and her good nature. A young boy comes to the rescue; his grandmother Gladys the woman Ursula had saved from stoning in the village. Ursula, Dale and Brockley stealthily return to Vetch Castle, and unravel the puzzling clues to solve the case.

Ursula's troubles are not over yet. Heavy flooding due to a fierce storm prevents travel to the east. She must wait for safe passage before she can reach her friends who are sheltering Meg. A message comes from Matthew: plague is rampant in France; she should not return to his estate until the danger is over (plenty of foreshadowing for the next book in the series).

[J. Kirsch · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fourth book in the terrific Ursula Blanchard mysteries series set during the time of Elizabeth I is yet another delight. I would say of the first 4 books I have read so far, The 1st and 3rd books are my favorite but book 4 is a very close second for me. Why? For one, our heroine finds herself in a haunted castle in the Welsh Marches. I also like that it brings some new characters into sharper focus, as well as introducing a fun new secondary character (Gladys Morgan, a Welsh healer and accused witch!). Both Gladys and Ursula's daughter Meg (here still only 8 years old) become more important as the series goes on, and the author does an excellent job of integrating these new characters in ways that are both exciting and meaningful.

On a side note, I enjoyed the added danger Ursula faces in this book during her harrowing adventure to the 'Long Mountain.'

I also loved the way the author wove in a powerful Welsh family (the Mortimers) into the story, blending fact and fiction while always making clear to the reader what has been added to enliven her historical twists and what is 100% historical. For example, at the front of the book is a fascinating family tree of the Mortimer clan that shows the key familial relationships while noting in italics where the character is fictionalized versus using standard font where the character was a real person.

All in all this was a sterling addition to Ursula Blanchard's many exploits. If you like a clever heroine who excels at playing the role of a 16th century spy and intelligence agent, then you can't go wrong here.

[Annette · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started out slow and a bit boring but as I continued to read it got better. As a work of historical fiction it was okay. Some pretty underhanded things took place in this book, the worst being the Queen having a woman's child taken to get her to return home to England just to do a bit of spying for her. Although this was not the first book in this series, I had no problem with the story or characters. It holds up as a stand-alone book and previous books need not be read. I will however be reading some of the earlier books in this series now that I have had a taste. I love history, detectives and murder-mysteries so this was a good choice to read. Ms. Buckley has whet my appetite so I will venture further into her world. The main character Ursula Blanchard, "secret agent" to Queen Elizabeth finds out her daughter has gone missing. She returns to England, leaving her French husband behind, to search for her Meg only to find she is not really missing but has been used as a ploy to get Ursula back in England. Elizabeth wants her to search out a plot to blackmail her and overthrow the crown. Ursula takes the job to get her beloved daughter back but what she discovers just my be Elizabeth's undoing.

[Debbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read by Fiona Buckley. While it is the fourth in the Ursula Blanchard series previous events were explained enough that I didn't feel lost. I enjoy historical fiction and have been looking for a new author to try.

Pros:
Takes place during Tudor England, one of my favorite time periods
Good historical descriptions

Cons:
Ursula's husband Matthew - He's only briefly in this book but I found him annoying.
The adoration for Elizabeth I - Yes, I understand she's the queen and to English people at the time Elizabeth was the state of England. But this felt so heavy handed to me.

Mixed:
Ursula - I couldn't bring myself to like Ursula but I didn't hate her either. I'm not drawn to her like I am to leading characters in other historical series. (Looking at you Sebastian St. Cyr and Matthew Shardlake)

I'll probably try another book in this series at some point. It was an ok book. I'm going to keep looking for a new historical fiction series.

[K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of the first four Ursula books, this was the first one I had a hard time starting and staying the course. Fortunately, I persevered and ended up thoroughly enjoying the book. There were lots of things I liked about this specific book once I was done with it - things such as how but for a single scene Elizabeth never appears in the book, but yet the potential impact of the mystery propels the story forward. I also liked how believable her reasons for staying back in England and taking on her latest assignment; her evolving relationship with her man Friday and a couple of red herrings thrown in the Tower so to speak. I liked the segue at the end setting up things for the next book.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was excellent. Very complex plot, which eventually resolves and comes right. I continue to like the main characters in this series and the way they are portrayed by the narrator. In this book the fate of older women was a background theme -- the aging Lady of the manor (Thomasine) who was not yet ready to give up her sex life, and the peasant Gladys who had resorted to truth telling, curses and false "spells" to maintain a position in society when she became too old and ugly and smelly to be accepted by other means.

[Smkelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you enjoy historical fiction with some intrigue mixed in you will enjoy this book. Story centers around a possible threat to Queen Elizabeth I. It is a light and easy read while relaxing over the holidays.

[Cheri Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible books. Right up there or quite a bit better than Kate Sedley's "Roger the Chapman" novels. I usually don't want to read the next book in a series(I like a little change of pace before I read next book), but not so with Miss Buckley's series. As I said.....these books are incredible.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ursula, living with Matthew in France, is lured back to England to find her daughter, who is not missing at all.

[CAW · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ursula Blanchard saves the kingdom and the Queen's reign once again!

[Kristina Deluise · Rating 3 out of 5]

BINGE READING, PLEASE SEE MY REVIEW ON DELUISE BOOK SERIES YOU TUBE CHANNEL

[Mark Baller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great series and I am going back to start at the beginning.

[cookiemonger · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's good to see that we're back to things actually happening and not just being a consequence for someone in Ursula's confidence doing something ill-advised. However, it's not as good to see that she continues to find herself manipulated rather than being a more proactive heroine. This is the fourth book. Ursula Blanchard is not Rincewind the wizard, she needs to either pack it in as a spy--because she does have the bloody temerity to do it--or she needs to decide on her own that this is the life and career that she wants and we can have done with this reluctant hero business. She's so strong-minded that it just doesn't work anymore.

Case in point, this adventure is credited as beginning when she threw a candlestick at her husband. After the tragic loss of her first child with Matthew, Ursula festers in her anger and grief. She sends Brockley and Dale to fetch Meg, hoping that having her daughter back will make everything right again. Unfortunately, Brockley and Dale return Meg-less, as she was kidnapped before they could spirit her away home. Ursula races to England in search of Meg, but of course it's yet another nasty plot on the part of Queen Elizabeth to get Ursula to England to do some spy work.

Sir Philip Mortimer, suffering from delusions of grandeur, desires to regain his family's long-ago lost lands and has hinted that he has means to force the queen to give them to him. His mother, fearing that these means would lead only to punishment for treason, begs that Ursula find and remove them.

But in the course of her investigation, Ursula instead stumbles upon a young man's body and everything goes tits up.

I was genuinely surprised by some of the events, particularly the body. The end wraps things up a tad slowly, but at least there aren't any dropped threads. Everything is explained satisfactorily.

My favourite part of this book was Gladys, a seventy-year-old Welsh woman who keeps getting accused of being a witch. She is endlessly useful, enjoys the rare benefits of being old and ugly, and stands up for herself as best she can. She makes a speech about the realities of getting old that is very striking. And not just for the time period.

The book is not without its problems, though. There are some weird things that stuck in my mind, making me wince a bit as I read. Mortimer, when he finds that his ward is making to ruin a brokered marriage by falling for the intended bride, goes on this long, rather out of place speech about how the boy came to be his ward, and Mortimer's relationship with the boy's father. It was even worse when the things he said became incredibly relevant later.

Another was this one scene. I've heard Twilight's writing style called aggressively coy, but then there is this (emphasis mine):

"Try me," Said Owen Lewis, and made it sound like an invitation.

I asked my question. As a way of abolishing flirtatiousness, it could hardly have been bettered. It produced a frown so intense that his strong black eyebrows nearly met above his nose.

"That is a most impertinent thing to ask."

"I am not being frivolous. My reason is far from frivolous, believe me."

"Nevertheless, I cannot answer you, and I bid you good day, mistress, I..."

I moved into his path as he was about to step past me. "Then I must answer the question for you," I said, and did so.

"Most unfair that is, mistress," he said, searching my eyes. "If you knew, why did you ask me?"

I know that in some books, especially mysteries, characters might do something like this. The purpose is clearly to preserve the revelation that the question and its answer might give the reader. But it just doesn't work here. It just looks like the writing was missing in the original manuscript and someone threw that in to fill in the gaps.

Most apparent here, from the same scene.

"...That much seems to be quite widely known. I also heard it said that..."

I produced the most scandalous suggestion I could think of, and as I had hoped, Lewis was most appalled.

Other than that, I didn't really have any glaring problems. They get into sufficient danger, not through being idiots, and get out of it in interesting ways. Even in the end, when things are mostly dealt with, Ursula still has her turbulent family life.

I'm looking forward to the next one more than I had wanted to continue to this one.

[Doctor Black · Rating 3 out of 5]

arouses suspicion

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ursula is complicated and surely valued by Elizabeth.

[Gretchen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three and a half stars for the fourth adventure featuring Ursula Blanchard. The mystery itself in this novel was the best of the series so far but Ursula's personal life continues to be a major hindrance to my enjoyment.

I have previously made mention of my irritation about all the Matthew pinning Ursula does. This book had less of the Matthew pinning (finally!) but didn't lack for issues in the personal life of Ursula. Apparently Ursula is just the kind of woman who automatically finds herself attracted to nearly every man she meets. I find it rather annoying. In this novel the reader is suppose to believe Ursula has been harboring some kind of unfulfilled sexual desire for her manservant Brockely. Seriously? Why is this necessary to the story? It kind of sounds like a pathetic attempt at diagnosing Ursula with Munchhausen's Syndrome to me. Then out of nowhere comes Owen Lewis and of course immediately upon seeing him, Ursula finds herself more or less wishing she didn't have a husband back in France. Again, why? After all that some might wonder why I even continue reading these novels? For the most part they are light mysteries and I find them to be an entertaining change of pace. Ursula isn't really a bad woman but if she were a man, we would accuse her of thinking with parts of her body not located inside her skull (if you know what I'm sayin'). I'm not suggesting people aren't like that. I know they are but it just gets annoying to read about book after book. Part of the reason I continue reading is because I'm hopeful one day Ursula will just come to her senses.

Before leaving off with this review, I have to say I am so glad Dale didn't die. I was all ready to shed oceans of tears over the death of this faithful maid! My tears can be saved for another day.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5 stars) The fourth book in the Ursula Blanchard series starts with Ursula in France with her husband Matthew. She has just experienced a traumatic birth and has lost her child and almost her own life in the struggle. She misses her daughter and Matthew agrees to arrange to have her brought to France. When she finds out that her daughter, Meg, has gone missing, she immediately sets off to England to find out what happened. She is shocked to find that this has been a ruse to recruit her to once again spy for Queen Elizabeth and England. She reluctantly agrees on a mission to spy on distant relatives in Wales at Vetch Castle, where Meg has been sent with her guardians, to see if there may be some incriminating evidence that the landholder, Philip, plans to use to get the queen to help him regain his ancestral position. Her reward will not only to be able to leave with Meg, but also to regain some of her husband's English property in her own name. What Ursula finds is most troubling, and when a death occurs and they stand accused, Ursula must find a way to clear their names, complete the mission, and possibly save them from death. This book in the series had a more gothic tone than the previous versions. I am curious to see where the next installment will take the characters.

[Richard Stueber · Rating 3 out of 5]

In April, 1564 Ursula Faldene Blanchard is not entirely happy living in France with her 2nd husband Matthew de la Roche. Ursula's daughter Meg (almost age 9) by her late first husband Gerald Blanchard has been living in England with Rob and Mattie Henderson.
Queen Elizabeth of England wants her former servant Ursula to go off to Castle Vetch on the Welsh border. Her daughter Meg and Mattie Henderson are there staying with Lady Thomasine Mortimer and her son Sir Philip Mortimer.
Lady Thomasine Mortimer and her son Sir Philip Morimer are to be investigated under orders of Queen Elizabeth whose distant relatives they are. They are also related to Gerald Blanchard. They soon appear to be distinctly suspicious and soon Ursula comes upon the body of Sir Philip's ward Rafe Northcote. Immediately Ursula is accused of the murder and she and her servants Fran Dale and Roger Brockley are taken to the hills and locked up in a distant cabin to die.
Ursula and company are rescued by the witchey old woman Gladys Morgan.
From there on things get tougher for the good guys. Do they prevail against the villains in the end and stop the malicious plot against Queen Elizabeth?

[Linda Bridges · Rating 4 out of 5]

Distraught after losing a child at birth, homesick for England, and missing her daughter, Meg, Ursula Blanchard leaves her husband Matthew in France and goes to England to retrieve Meg and bring her back to France. Upon arriving in England, she learns that Meg has been taken to "visit" a distant relative near the Welsh border. In actuality Meg is the bait being used to lure Ursula into another investigation for Queen Elizabeth I and William Cecil. Ursula travels to Vetch Castle only to find an unsavory situation for her daughter to be living in so she sends Meg away while agreeing to stay two weeks to try to accomplish the job Elizabeth has set her to do. Having no idea of what she is seeking, Ursula finds herself in quite a bit of peril, and when a murder occurs, she is accused and ends up being abandoned in a lonely cottage in Wales. As Ursula pieces together the clues she has discovers, she is able to solve both her own situation and complete the work of the queen.
This is the fourth book in the series and I have grown to increasingly like the books.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think Fiona Buckley does a nice job of placing her stories in historical context; however, that makes me not like Matthew so much. It is time for Ursula to decide whether she will continue to serve her queen or be Matthew's wife, because Ursula cannot do both. Ursula is stronger but in harm's way as the queen's spy, and while safer as Matthew's wife, Ursula gives up a part of herself.

I enjoyed Ursula's return to England and her albeit stilted but mending relationship with the queen. I enjoy Ursula and all her flaws, because her wit, bravery, cleverness, and compassion make her seem as if she were a real person.

[Gayle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good installment in this series. I just love this mystery series and am slowly collecting them all and getting them all read. The main character is wonderfully portrayed. I was able to deduce a good chunk of the mystery, but there were some twists that I didn't expect and others that I thought might happen that didn't. I am anxiously awaiting the next book in the series, but I have others that I need to read before I can get to it.

[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]

Ursula Blanchard is in the mountains of Wales in this tale of Elizabethan mystery by Fiona Buckley. An old woman is accused of witchcraft, young lovers have been imprisoned in the castle's tower, and there's a spring/winter romance hiding behind dark and treacherous castle walls. One of the best in the series IMHO!

[Ann Boytim · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good solid book to read, has it's moments of back in the Elizabeth 1st days pf s women who returns to England from France to bring her daughter (who is living in a foster home in England) back to France to live with her and her second husband. Along the way murder and mystery in a castle but of course all gets right in the end.

[Sherry Sharpnack · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a more gripping story than the previous ("A Queen's Ransom.) It jumped into the plot line immediately & kept me reading. However, the climax occurred at about 88% through the book! 12% of the pages for the denouement seems excessive, which is why I only awarded 4 stars. All in all, a fun mystery!

[Angelique]

I'm still enjoying this series and find the historical and fictional combination of this story just too good to put down. Ursula Blanchard is the type of woman I would have been in elizabethan england.