Death Foretold: Words can kill...

Catrin Surovell Tudor Mystery #2

by Angela Ranson

A gripping murder mystery at the Elizabethan Court! For fans of S J Parris, Andrew Taylor, S W Perry and Andrew Swanston.

Are courtly predictions leading to murder…?

1561

Queen Elizabeth is under pressure from all her advisors to marry, but no one can agree on a potential husband.

The conflict is slowly eroding Elizabeth’s power and authority among the nobility, especially when a prophecy starts to spread that seems to predict the deaths of senior members of the queen’s court.

Tension grows when one of the queen’s maids of honour, Mathilda, is killed and placed on a false altar of hawthorn branches.

Her death follows the first lines of the prophecy, making people fearful about who could be next.

Amid rising hysteria, the queen orders her trusted lady-in-waiting Catrin Surovell to investigate.

Catrin soon learns that there is more to this mysterious death than anyone thought.

Strange symbols and eerie events put her on the trail of the murderer.

What do the symbols mean? Is someone using the guise of magic to destabilise the queen’s reign?

Catrin has to figure it out and stop the murderer before he strikes again…

DEATH FORETOLD is the second book in the Catrin Surovell Tudor Mystery Series. It is an exciting historical thriller set at the court of Elizabeth I.

THE CATRIN SUROVELL TUDOR MYSTERY
BOOK Shades of Death
BOOK Death Foretold

319 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 23, 2024

About the author

Angela Ranson is a Canadian expat who used to spend her days teaching teenagers English and History. She now enjoys living in the wild beauty of North Yorkshire and working as a university administrator. In 2014, she earned a doctorate in the history of sixteenth-century England from the University of York, and spent several years publishing non-fiction articles about the early years of Queen Elizabeth I. Most recently, she acted as editor and contributing author for the book Defending the Faith: John Jewel and the Elizabethan Church (Penn State Press, 2018).

C.S. Lewis once said: ‘Write about what really interests you, whether it is real things or imaginary things, and nothing else.’ In Angela’s case, real and imaginary things often blend into one story. Her novels attempt to recreate the atmosphere of Tudor England, exploring fresh themes and ideas by finding fictional solutions to real-life crimes and mysteries. She tries to create puzzles that the reader can solve by tracing the clues, and loves including ciphers, cryptic messages, secret treasures and hidden meanings. As in life, things are not always what they seem.

That’s what makes it interesting.

Reviews

[Graeme · Rating 4 out of 5]

So far I have enjoyed reading the Catrin Surovell series by Angela Ranson. Lady Catrin manages to be a strong protagonist, with an agency of her own, whilst navigating the realities of Elizabethan era London.
The mysteries themselves, keep the reader engaged. Even if there are times when it is painfully obvious who the culprit is. Thankfully the characters are usually pretty quick to also notice the glaringly suspect behaviour. So there is never a feeling that the protagonists are deliberately acting obtuse, just to pad page length.
Bit of a sidetone, but I did appreciate Lucy getting a chance to shine more than she did in the first novel. Her and Catrin make a good team.
Based on the first two novels, I'd be happy to recommend the Catrin Surovell series to those interested in mysteries, or already fans of the genre. I'd say I prefer it much more than the Bower Street Mysteries. But I suspect I'm not the target demographic for that series.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Tudor Mystery

Catrin is back! Can the second book live up to your high expectations? You bet! Catrin is back at Elizabeth's court just as strange and deadly things begin to happen in London and at court. Her brilliant mind is needed more than ever and as before, Lucy is by her side. Catrin's sharp wit and quick barbs aimed at any man who belittles her due to her gender are glorious. The plot is cleverly twisted politically, historically, and quite personally for Catrin. If you loved the first book, grab this one. You won't be disappointed.

[Sarah Kellum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written

I really enjoyed the behind the scenes story that is very unusual. A woman as a main character instead of a knight was wonderful. I think it made the book more interesting and entertaining.
The twist and turns make you think you know who is the bad guy but then you are thrown a curve ball and instead you just feel he is a coward. Cartrin is wise to be so untrusting of just about everyone. Love it.

[Greg Kerr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elizabethan Mystery Full of Tension and Surprise

How Ranson can make the Elizabethan Court interesting in the twentieth century is amazing. Another enjoyable tale as entertaining as any murder mystery set in today's London.

[Paul Ranson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. There were a lot of twists and turns. There was a good mixture of dark mystery with bright friendships. I loved getting a glimpse into the court of Queen Elizabeth I. Really well done! I would highly recommend.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

1561 Queen Elizabeth employs Lady Catrin to determine the source of a prophecy which foretells the death of members of the court. The first to die is a maid of honour. But that is not even the beginning.
An entertaining and well-written historical mystery with its cast of likeable and/or interesting characters.

[Patricia L Kerr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Royal Drama

A bit slow to start but the whole story came together nicely. I did not read the first book but this book is a stand alone so not needed. Characters were developed fully and likeable except the haughty ones.

[Simon Mcleish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much in the same vein as Angela Ranson's first historical novel, but not quite as good.