The Doublet Affair

Ursula Blanchard #2

by Fiona Buckley

The novel begins as Ursula Blanchard, waiting woman to Queen Elizabeth I, is having a lesson in picking locks under the watchful eye of her majesty's secretary of state. An unusual lesson indeed for a respectable woman of the court, but Blanchard is no ordinary lady in waiting. She does have the proper antecedents for her place, but an eye and an ear for suspicious dealings helps her to earn additional income. She is a spy, paid to seek out traitorous deeds. In The Doublet Affair, Lord Burleigh sends her to watch some erstwhile friends whose dealings have become more suspicious than keeping the odd Catholic priest under their roof. The plot is enriched by Ursula's own ambivalence about her role: not only does she have a fondness for the family under suspicion, she longs to leave court entirely to join her French husband.

The central mystery is an appropriate one for the period. There are the usual mysterious deaths as well as hints of treachery against the crown. Indeed, one of Fiona Buckley's strengths is her historical appreciation for the fact that Elizabeth, despite her longevity, was never completely secure on the throne; Catholic plots and other schemes of usurpation abounded. Buckley's weakness is her certainty (and Ursula's) that Elizabeth was gentler in religious persecution than her sister. Regardless, Buckley's imaginative sense of quotidian life in Elizabethan England is delightful, and the mystery reaches a satisfying conclusion--with Ursula's lock picks put to good use.

Fiona Buckley is a pseudonym for an established author venturing into historical whodunits. The Doublet Affair follows her first effort, To Shield the Queen. --K. Crouch

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

368 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

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

[Rachel N. · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's 1561 and Ursula Blanchard is a lady in waiting for Queen Elizabeth. she wants to rejoin her estranged husband in France, he supports Mary Queen of Scots. While she's waiting Secretary of State William Cecil sends Ursula to the Mason's house because he has reports of suspicious activity occurring there. Ursula met the Mason's int he first book in the series. The mystery itself and the time period are interesting. I'm hoping not every book in the series deals with some plot to get Mary on the throne. I also don't understand Ursula's obsession with her husband Matthew. He's annoying and has totally opposite beliefs as her. I'm hoping he eventually gets written out of the series. I will eventually continue the series.

[Avid Series Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Doublet Affair by Fiona Buckley is the second book of the Ursula Blanchard mystery series set in Elizabethan England. In 1561 Ursula Blanchard is still serving as lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth, who forbids Ursula to leave with her daughter Meg and live with her husband Matthew in France. Before Elizabeth will grant permission, Ursula must complete another spying assignment. Ursula must return to Leonard and Ann Mason's home, this time as governess. She must investigate all who live there or visit, to determine if they are plotting to restore Mary Stuart to the throne.

Ursula pines for her husband, however diligently digs up information about the curious visitors who interact with the Masons. While the characters Ursula investigates are unlikable, their supposed inventions are interesting: a music box, and a glider launched from a rooftop.

Putting herself at tremendous risk, she uncovers a coinage scheme to destabilize Elizabeth's economy by pro-Catholic forces. Predictably, Matthew is involved, and Ursula takes further risks with and for him. But then...she makes a life-changing choice, based upon her deep-seated fear of Catholicism (in the first book, she heard and believed a vivid prediction that a return to Catholicism would mean mass burning at the stake for the general population).

[Linda Bridges · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book in the Ursula Blanchard series has Ursula doing one more task for Queen Elizabeth. This time she is sent to Lockhill, the home of Ann and Leonard Mason, whom she had met in book 1. There is something fishy going on that may be related to bringing Mary Stuart to the throne. A man who had been investigating is already dead. Armed with lock picks and the instructions to notice anything out of the ordinary, Ursula travels to Lockhill, ostensibly to tutor the daughters of the house in embroidery and dancing. Her heart's desire, however, is to join her husband, Matthew, in France where he fled after being suspected of treason. Along with her faithful retainers Brockley and Dale, Ursula has many narrow escapes and discovers more than she bargained for.
I enjoyed this book as much as the first one. Although it may be a bit implausible that there would have been a woman spy working for Queen Elizabeth, it is probably no more improbable that there was a strong reigning queen in England. So I don't have a problem buying into the concept. I can't understand why she keeps bailing out her husband, except that the sex is good! Hopefully she'll give him up by book 3. The book is full of entertaining characters, and I like it that Ursula is frequently nervous or afraid as she goes about her spying. It makes her human. I look forward to reading more in this series.

[Nancy H · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an excellent second entry in the Ursula Blanchard series. Plots, counterplots, and dangers abound in this story, and Ursula has to try to figure out what is happening, despite the complications and confusions. Her life is in immminent and immediate danger before she manages to figure out what is happening and how to get help, but there are things she has to sacrifice even then. This is definitely a good read.

[the Kent cryptid · Rating 3 out of 5]

The problem with The Doublet Affair is that the man with whom the main character is in love is objectively terrible. He (a) is a kind of a traitor; (b) is utterly patronising; (c) forces her to marry him (!) in book one. He's clearly a hottie, but she spends an infuriating amount of time in this one mooning over him, despite him also being the definition of a bad idea.

The mystery also isn't as compelling as in book one, and I hope there are eventually going to be some villains in this series who aren't Evil Catholics.

[Kate Quinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 2 in the Ursula Blanchard mysteries. Ursula's adventures as Elizabethan lady-in-waiting and part-time spy continue as she is recruited this time to spy on a Catholic household which might be hiding more than just Latin prayers. Ursula's loyalty to her queen is put to the test: she hates spying on a family she genuinely likes, and she wrestles with the more personal dilemma of whether to follow her beloved but estranged Catholic husband into exile in France. Ursula's two servants and partners in crime are nicely fleshed out here: Fran the maidservant whose comic wailing is always entertaining, and her husband Brockley whose deadpan oneliners and ready sword spring equally to Ursula's defense in the face of danger. Ends on an unexpectedly somber note as Ursula takes murder on her conscience in order to save a man from the horrific price of treason. Good character development and an always-excellent sense of Elizabethan time and place.

[Jennifer James · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a lot of fun. The main plot points are factual historical events during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, but the rest of it is just fun fiction including spying and being shot at by arrows. Ursula Blanchard, the protagonist, is smart and fun. The book is a quick and easy read, and highly enjoyable.

[Tanya · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm giving this three stars because I do like the series but I had a hard time with this as an audiobook. NOT THE BOOK'S fault. My fault because I cannot let work go when I am driving.

I do think sometimes Ursula does some.....dumb things? I get the whole migraine thing, BELIEVE ME I do.

Still like Dale and Broccoli best. I'll continue with the series but need a little break.

[Lapin · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are many things to enjoy about these Ursula Blanchard books, but I want to like them more than I actually do. Mostly I regret that there are places where the labour of its plotting is visible through the surface of the tale.

[Donna Church]

Having helped her husband escape England in the previous book, Ursula is again alone but missing Matthew. She writes him and appeals to Queen Elizabeth to be allowed to move to France to be with him. However, a new potential plot against the Queen means that Ursula is needed at the Mason home. After the death of another spy, Jackdaw, the Crown is concerned that the Masons, known papists, may be involved. Ursula moves to the Mason's home to tutor the girls on domestic arts and attempt to search Mr. Mason's study.

Ursuala notes that many visitors to the Mason home could be part of the information network. With Brockley and Dale helping, Urusula continues to follow her insights to explore the various visitors to the Mason home. One leads her to the workshop of a man who presented Queen Elizabeth a music box. On the way back, the three are shot at by arrows suggesting the violent nature of the conspirators. However, she doesn't anticipate the arrival of her own husband at Mason's home. As the two attempt to reconcile, their allegiances again stand between them leading to a new separation as Matthew flees the country once again.

[J. Kirsch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Similar to To Shield the Queen, in this book our indomitable young noblewoman sleuth, Ursula Blanchard, goes undercover in a household where not all is as it seems. Although similar in setup to the first book, Buckley paints some interesting new dimensions in this historical novel with an added theme of inventors and inventions.

Replete with murders and murder attempts later on, there is plenty of intrigue and more going on in this book. The build-up at the beginning is gradual though as the puzzle begins to unfold. The patient reader is well rewarded, though, and the recurring presence of Ursula's dangerous French husband adds some extra spice to the narrative. Also, Ursula following her own moral code despite great risk makes her that much more likeable. As always, Ursula's relationship with Queen Elizabeth and Sir William Cecil ranges from warm to ambivalent.

[SEH · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book two in the Ursula Blanchard series. I thought it was not quite as strong as book one - it just seemed a little less finished, kind of like a bowl made of roughly hewn wood whereas book one at least got a few rounds of sandpaper. The back and forth-ing about the supposed love story between Ursula and Matthew is starting to get old and I dearly hope it doesn’t drag out into book three. But the basic story and characters are there and solid, and I rather liked the quirky inventions of the flying device.

I come back to this series when I want some light and easy reading that I don’t have to think much about. Book three is already sitting in my stack, but I’m planning to tackle something else first, in the meantime.

[Beachreader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Buckley has upped the intrigue, dangers, and violence in this second installment in the series featuring Ursula Blanchard. The investigations that Ursula undertakes in this book are incredulous, especially the breaking into a building by climbing through a window while wearing a dress. Since wearing a wide hoop farthingale during that time was the norm, the event would have been impossible.

Ursula performs too many risky maneuvers which seem unlikely for a lady in waiting to the Queen. The overly violent scenes were too numerous and the violent sex scene was unnecessary.

I liked some parts of the book and I am interested in seeing how Ursula's life continues, so I will try a few more of the books.

Not recommended to new readers.

[Jonathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series is so fun and well written. I really want to rate it higher. But as with the first book in the series, this book displays an over-the-top hatred of Catholicism, matched by an a-historical sentiment that Queen Elizabeth could do no wrong and that English Protestants in the sixteenth century were basically modern secular agnostics. Every Catholic in this story is either dumb as nails or evil to the point of mustache twirling. I will eventually read book 3, but it's going to take me some effort.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel was the second book of a cozy mystery series set in Queen Elizabeth I's court. The plot was interesting with a fair number of surprising turns, and the characters were drawn fairly well. Again, it was a much slower paced novel than I'm used to for cozy mysteries but perhaps it is more in line with the historical setting as a result. I like the series and will eventually read more of the novels, but I'm in no rush to find them.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall a solid historical mystery - I especially loved the supporting characters Dale and Buckley.

But boy did I despise the love interest. I get that it would be unrealistic for a man in this setting to be a feminist, even here in Elizabethan Times Lite. But he had no respect for her as a person, no interest in what was important to her, and his goals and values were the opposite of hers. I also didn't like who she was when she was around him.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good tale to listen to while driving. I like the Ursula character very much -- intelligent, insightful, and womanly. I also like Brockly and Dale, and the way Matthew turns up. The plot of this novel, like the first in the series, is surprising and interesting.

[Paulette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am enjoying these books, the author includes enough history, with the fashion of the day, and the politics of the court of Elizabeth I. Along with that is the mysterious events which send Lady Blanchard into danger and often force difficult decisions on her.

[Mercy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this genre. I can't get enough. This is one of the better ones. Kept me interested and guessing and I was able to figure out part of it but the whole plot caught me off guard. Can't wait to read the rest of the series.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book of the Ursula Blanchard series, and it is much stronger than the later books. That doesn't mean it is perfect, but it does mean the characters and story are more engaging.

[Leezie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A re-read for me but still just as solidly entertaining as ever.

[Amy Lepore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad...I enjoyed the story, and it was a quick read. A nice way to pass rainy days.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

quite enjoyable. This time Ursula ferrets out a new plot against the new Queen Elizabeth.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

An immersive experience into Tudor times.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really dislike Matthew and am annoyed by Ursula's inability to move past him. Ok mystery otherwise.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful! This kept me turning the pages and the red herrings were terrific!

[Elizabeth Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this second installment of the Ursula Blanchard mysteries.

[Zulfiya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did like it more than the first novel in the series.

[Kenzie Mills · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as the first but I plan to continue on with the series and hope for improvement!

[Kristina Deluise · Rating 3 out of 5]

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