- Hardcover: 352 pages
- Publisher: Macmillan (12 Oct 2001)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 033390415X
- ISBN-13: 978-0333904152
- Product Dimensions: 23.2 x 16.7 x 2.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,172,402 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
A haunting historical murder mystery, set in the court of Mary Queen of Scots. It is 1566 and Mary Queen of Scots is in residence at Craigmillar Castle. But as rumours of treasonous plots abound, no one there can feel safe. Least of all Lord James Bothwell, who survives a murderous attack thanks to a lad by the name of Will Fellows. But what is surprising is that Will snatched the diamond-encrusted dagger not from the hands of an ambitious lord, jealous of Bothwell's close relationship with Mary, but from a woman, who then disappears into the night. Of the many ladies he knows, who would want him dead? His new bride Jean Gordon, only too aware of his infidelities? Anna Throndsen, the abandoned mother of his son William? Or perhaps one of the many lovers of Mary's dissolute husband Henry Darnley? When Bothwell's mistress Janet Beaton hears of the attack, she puts her steward Tam Elidor on the assassin's trail. And he must act fast because the attempts on Bothwell's life are about to escalate...But the enigmatic Tam is a mystery in himself, having arrived at Janet's castle months before with no memory of his name or previous life. All he does have are vague glimpses of the future - a future that looks dark for both Bothwell and his queen...
About the Author
Alanna Knight is a novelist, biographer and playwright. She is an expert on Scottish history and is an authority on Robert Louis Stevenson. She lives in Edinburgh.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Set in Scotland in 1566, we enter the story when Mary Queen of Scots is resident at Craigmillar Castle. My Lord Bothwell is her favourite, but surrounded on all sides by plots and intrigue. When he is accosted one evening by one Will Fellows who says that he has just saved his Lordships life from being stabbed by a woman who was following him, James Bothwell fears for his life.
Recounting the tale to his mistress of eleven years, Janet Beaton, she immediately instructs her servant Tam Eildor to investigate. There are many suspects, as Jamie Bothwell has not always spread sweetness and light to those around him. There is his new bride Jean Gorod, who has hardly seen him she they were wed, and what of Anna Throndsen, the mother of his son, whom he abandoned once he had secured her dowry.
As Tam Eildor investigates he is drawn into the life at court and in particular to one of the Queen's Maries; But what of Tam himself, who arrived at Janet's home just a few months ago, but has no memory of his former life. Who is he really?
Alanna Knight weaves a fascinating tale of life at court in Scotland in the 16th century, set around the murder of Henry Darnley. This is the first in a new series and I look forward to the next adventure of Tam Eildor.
-----
Lizzie Hayes
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Strange that I had no interest for history at school and as an adult I find it very absorbing.
It does read like a history book at times, but don't let that put you off. This is OUR history and as such is very educational.
At times though, the plot is confusing and doesn't fit particularly well with actual events, but is a fairly believable mix of fact and fiction.
I must admit though, I inwardly groaned at the revelation of Tam Elidor - without spoiling it for the future reader, I won't say who he is - but needless to say, his identity spoils the whole novel and could leave you very disappointed that a tale is spoilt by cliche.
I wouldn't recommend you buy this book, but if you like history and murder mystery combined, get it from the library.
1 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I hoped for good things from this whodunnit, bearing in mind the subject matter, but I was disappointed. There were one or two things I liked about it: the leading character was not without charm, but this was not enough to retrieve the book from mediocrity. The use of English was poor, and in many cases actively confusing. The writing also suffered badly from the "let's give a history lesson" syndrome which used to be common in historical novels intended for children, with the result that most of the dialogue sounded very artificial. The plot didn't hang together, and I failed to guess the identity of the would-be murderer simply because the whole thing was so impossible, right from the opening scene where Bothwell behaves in a way no sane person would do. As for the ending, I really hope this isn't intended as the first in a series - now the gaffe is blown, any reappearance by the mysterious "Tam Eildor" would fall very flat. Not that I would bother to read it, after this one.
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