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Susanna, Lady Appleton #3
Face Down Among the Winchester Geese
It is the spring of 1563, and Susanna, Lady Appleton, wants only to tend to the medicinal herbs in the garden of her London townhouse. But the appearance of a mysterious veiled woman disrupts her plans. Is the woman just another mistress of Robert's, her forever-philandering husband? When the woman is found dead with a snapped neck in London's notorious brothel district, and her last known visitor was Robert, Lady Appleton is forced to investigate. As she delves deeper into the mystery she uncovers a string of murders of dark-haired women, all occurring on St. Mark's Day, and, most perplexing, all with a goose feather left by the bodies. For Susanna, nobody, not even her own husband, is above suspicion. "Authentic detailing, glimpses of historical characters, and a stand-out heroine will endear this to fans of historicals" Library Journal; "Creible characters and a convincingly detailed background make this a solid bet for historical mystery fans" Publishers Weekly
311 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
About the author
Kathy Lynn Emerson
104 books150 followersaka Kaitlyn Dunnett, Kate Emerson, Kaitlyn Gorton
Kathy Lynn Emerson began writing as a child: a newspaper for her dolls and then a rambling adventure series featuring characters from all her favorite television shows. In addition to contemporary, historical and time-travel romance (some written under the pen-name of Kaitlyn Gorton) and historical novels written as Kate Emerson, Kathy has written children's books, non-fiction, short stories, and historical mysteries. She won the Agatha award for mystery nonfiction for How to Write Killer Historical Mysteries. She also writes as Kaitlyn Dunnett.
Kathy Lynn Emerson began writing as a child: a newspaper for her dolls and then a rambling adventure series featuring characters from all her favorite television shows. In addition to contemporary, historical and time-travel romance (some written under the pen-name of Kaitlyn Gorton) and historical novels written as Kate Emerson, Kathy has written children's books, non-fiction, short stories, and historical mysteries. She won the Agatha award for mystery nonfiction for How to Write Killer Historical Mysteries. She also writes as Kaitlyn Dunnett.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
July 14, 2020
2020 bk 237. Oh, My, Goodness. This is the most suspenseful of the series. Lord and Lady Appleton are back at court, well, he is. Lady Appleton is happy her husband at least found a spot in London that had a bit of a garden to continue her work, until she is interupted, by yet another of her husband's, uhm, women. But when that woman dies, and it is learned that she is one of many all killed on the same day and all left with a goose feather near her, Susanna's brain goes to work ferreting out a murderer.
September 1, 2018
Face Down Among the Winchester Geese by Kathy Lynn Emerson is the third book of the Face Down mystery series set in 1563 England. Lady Susanna Appleton and her maidservant and companion Jennet have relocated to a house on Catte Street in London at Sir Robert's request. Unbeknownst to them, he has a complex plot underway, which requires their residence in London.
Typically, he is not at home when a beautiful woman arrives at Catte Street to see him. Susanna immediately assumes Diane is one of Robert's mistresses. When the woman is found murdered, Susanna wonders if Robert could be a killer, and decides she must solve the case to find out. She soon learns there is an annual murder on St. Mark's Day, each time a small, dark-haired beauty.
The first murder took place after a night of drunken revelry by Robert and his fellow noblemen. Susanna assumes all the murders are done by one killer, so she traces the movements of each man for each year, to try and rule out suspects. She interviews each man, and occasionally family or neighbors, to learn their characters.
Robert is alarmed by Susanna's questions, so he persuades one of the noblemen, Diego Cordoba, to flee England so he can be blamed for the murders. The advantage of that scheme would be to quiet all questions or surveillance, so Robert and Diego can proceed with their covert plot.
Susanna is not fooled by Robert's scam; she keeps investigating. Suspense builds to a cross-country chase to rescue a kidnapped royal. Not all questions are resolved; sure to appear later in the series.
Typically, he is not at home when a beautiful woman arrives at Catte Street to see him. Susanna immediately assumes Diane is one of Robert's mistresses. When the woman is found murdered, Susanna wonders if Robert could be a killer, and decides she must solve the case to find out. She soon learns there is an annual murder on St. Mark's Day, each time a small, dark-haired beauty.
The first murder took place after a night of drunken revelry by Robert and his fellow noblemen. Susanna assumes all the murders are done by one killer, so she traces the movements of each man for each year, to try and rule out suspects. She interviews each man, and occasionally family or neighbors, to learn their characters.
Robert is alarmed by Susanna's questions, so he persuades one of the noblemen, Diego Cordoba, to flee England so he can be blamed for the murders. The advantage of that scheme would be to quiet all questions or surveillance, so Robert and Diego can proceed with their covert plot.
Susanna is not fooled by Robert's scam; she keeps investigating. Suspense builds to a cross-country chase to rescue a kidnapped royal. Not all questions are resolved; sure to appear later in the series.
February 26, 2009
The personal story line is moving along very well and using the actual historic conflicts in both politics and religion very well. The mysteries are a means to expose the social situation in a time of dramatic changes.
November 1, 2011
I enjoyed the first few books in this series, but parts of this one severely tested my suspension of disbelief. Not sure if I’ll keep going with the series or not. [Oct. 2011]
January 10, 2026
A gentlewoman of intelligence and education solves a series of murders in the time of Queen Elizabeth I. Lots of local color and political intrigues. It’s a solidly written book with a nice twist or two. Enjoyable. This is the 3rd in a series. I haven’t read the others but may do so.
June 10, 2019
Really compelling.
March 9, 2017
One of the perils of being a used bookshop aficionado is that you pick up books out of sequence. So this is the first of the Susanna, Lady Appleton mysteries I've picked up, even though we are part-way through her larger story already.
I feel like this is one of those stories where the author loves the period, has done research, and has created characters that they find dynamic and dramatic, but the mystery suffers.
Susanna is an interesting character, one of those strong women in historical fiction that I never quite believe. Certainly there were strong, independent, and intelligent women in Elizabethan England, but sometimes they read too modern. Sometimes they ignore conventions at the time that don't ring true.
That said, Lady Appleton does not entirely fall into that trap, just moments of "huh" sometimes. Mostly she's an interesting character, a smart woman in a conventional marriage that neither she or her husband really wants.
The characters are the strongest part- its the mystery that lacks. Its all set up and no follow through. When we learn the murderer its bland, with unbelievable reasons and motivations.
So I'm not hungry for more of these mysteries, but I am not repulsed. Perhaps I shall run into Lady Appleton again.
I feel like this is one of those stories where the author loves the period, has done research, and has created characters that they find dynamic and dramatic, but the mystery suffers.
Susanna is an interesting character, one of those strong women in historical fiction that I never quite believe. Certainly there were strong, independent, and intelligent women in Elizabethan England, but sometimes they read too modern. Sometimes they ignore conventions at the time that don't ring true.
That said, Lady Appleton does not entirely fall into that trap, just moments of "huh" sometimes. Mostly she's an interesting character, a smart woman in a conventional marriage that neither she or her husband really wants.
The characters are the strongest part- its the mystery that lacks. Its all set up and no follow through. When we learn the murderer its bland, with unbelievable reasons and motivations.
So I'm not hungry for more of these mysteries, but I am not repulsed. Perhaps I shall run into Lady Appleton again.
February 23, 2017
A good time passer. Not brilliant literature, but interesting characters and historical details. Good mystery plot.
July 26, 2009
I am really enjoying this series of murder mysteries that take place during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
In April 1563, Susanna and her husband, Sir Robert Appleton, courtier and occasional spy for Queen Elizabeth, are residing in London at Sir Robert's insistence, though Susanna would be much happier at Leigh Abbey, her ancestral home in Kent. A mysterious young Frenchwoman comes calling to see Robert. The next day she is found murdered near a brothel, a goose feather lying close to her body. Intrigued by the slaying of a woman she suspects was mistress to her husband, and determined to understand what her husband is keeping from her, Susanna investigates, with the help of her loyal housekeeper, Jennet, and an intelligent brothel-owner named Petronella. Susanna discovers that the murder is only the last in a series of six, and that her husband is a suspect, along with several other courtiers. Meanwhile, as Susanna noses around, Robert is anxiously working to put into place a scheme of his own, one that his wife's meddling could easily upset.
In April 1563, Susanna and her husband, Sir Robert Appleton, courtier and occasional spy for Queen Elizabeth, are residing in London at Sir Robert's insistence, though Susanna would be much happier at Leigh Abbey, her ancestral home in Kent. A mysterious young Frenchwoman comes calling to see Robert. The next day she is found murdered near a brothel, a goose feather lying close to her body. Intrigued by the slaying of a woman she suspects was mistress to her husband, and determined to understand what her husband is keeping from her, Susanna investigates, with the help of her loyal housekeeper, Jennet, and an intelligent brothel-owner named Petronella. Susanna discovers that the murder is only the last in a series of six, and that her husband is a suspect, along with several other courtiers. Meanwhile, as Susanna noses around, Robert is anxiously working to put into place a scheme of his own, one that his wife's meddling could easily upset.
December 14, 2015
After reading her book on how to write historical mysteries, I was of course interested in reading one of her mysteries. This was the first one I laid my hands on. I was intrigued by Lady Appleton's not-so-happily-ever-after marriage and the fact that she actually considers her husband a possible suspect in the murders she is trying to solve.
I enjoyed the voice, setting and other things that made this unique from other historical mysteries, and I will be reading more about Lady Appleton.
I enjoyed the voice, setting and other things that made this unique from other historical mysteries, and I will be reading more about Lady Appleton.
August 20, 2011
This is the third in the Face down series. I enjoy these mysteries and the main character is quite independent. I would not put them down as literary masterpieces but for a nice read they are enjoyable. The main Character, Lady Appleton, has been developing as the series progresses and I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
May 23, 2014
I am still enjoying this series, though this one seemed a little less developed than previous installments. The dynamic between Susanna and her husband is interesting and sort of unusual, but I have to say, I've been rooting for him to "be disappeared" for the past few books. Not sure I'm getting my wish but I'll take it as a win.
July 27, 2016
This is the first book in the series that I have read. The existence of a serial killer in Elizabethan England is an interesting premise. I am interested enough to continue with the series. There are some historical discrepancies, so beware if you're a stickler for historical details. I enjoyed the story in spite of the gaps.
February 11, 2008
This was the BEST of the series, in my opinion. Great hook of an opening, a great plot and tension.
August 2, 2009
Lady Susanna Appleton #3
September 26, 2010
Very interesting, well-written. If you're curious about the Elizabethan age, this would suit you. This is #3 in the series.
November 6, 2010
I'm really enjoying this series. The settings give a fascinating peak into medieval life.
April 15, 2012
Still enjoying the series.
October 11, 2012
Another great mystery. I'll be interested to see how the sub-plot with her husband turns out.
October 25, 2013
Another great Tudor mystery.
January 27, 2014
Finding her husband is less a man than she thought Susanna continues to look for the truth in all areas of society I will continue to follow this series
February 1, 2014
Terrible! Heaps of historical errors and stilted writing style trying to emulate period England. If you want to see how it's done, try Barbara Hambly & her vampire series.
August 18, 2015
Oooohhhh, I really do dig these Lady Appleton mysteries.. and without going to much into it, what a surprise in the turn of events!!
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November 1, 2018Eventually fun and games cease
for the maiden seen as an eye piece.
Are these events connected?
Will more girls be collected
face down among the winchester geese?
for the maiden seen as an eye piece.
Are these events connected?
Will more girls be collected
face down among the winchester geese?
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews