| ||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
|
More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
It is the crowning day of twenty-five-year-old Bess Tudor's life as she returns from exile to become England's queen. But even as her magnificent procession wends its way to Westminster Palace, a shot rings out, muffled by the jostling crowd.
Within moments of becoming England's ruler, Elizabeth learns of the brutal murder of a highborn lady of the court, the sister of one of her dearest friends. Elizabeth cannot refuse her friend's request to find the killer -- especially since the prime suspect is too close to the crown -- and her friends -- to overlook.
Elizabeth must be circumspect. Trust can be deadly. So she summons her small band of loyal retainers and plunges into a cauldron of conflicting loyalties and deadly intrigue.
From the pomp, pageantry, and insidious gossip of the court to the lethal tidal pools swirling under London Bridge, the passionate young queen must seize the reins of her empire -- and find a killer determined to destroy the crown itself....
Within moments of becoming England's ruler, Elizabeth learns of the brutal murder of a highborn lady of the court, the sister of one of her dearest friends. Elizabeth cannot refuse her friend's request to find the killer -- especially since the prime suspect is too close to the crown -- and her friends -- to overlook.
Elizabeth must be circumspect. Trust can be deadly. So she summons her small band of loyal retainers and plunges into a cauldron of conflicting loyalties and deadly intrigue.
From the pomp, pageantry, and insidious gossip of the court to the lethal tidal pools swirling under London Bridge, the passionate young queen must seize the reins of her empire -- and find a killer determined to destroy the crown itself....
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
First Sentence
THE MAIN THOROUGHFARE OF LONDON WAS awash with banners, pennants, and brocade bunting on the new queen's recognition day. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt
THE MAIN THOROUGHFARE OF LONDON WAS awash with banners, pennants, and brocade bunting on the new queen's recognition day. Read the first page
Explore More
Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Mass Market Paperback
LOVE IT. THE TREACHEROUS NOBILTY AND POLITICS OF COURT LIFE ARE
BROUGHT TO LIFE IN THIS 2ND BOOK IN THE ELIZABETHAN COURT.
ELIZABETH IS A FASCINATING CHARACTER IF NOT INDEED FAR FETCHED.
A GOOD MIX OF HISTORICAL AND FICTIONAL CHARACTERS. A REAL
TREAT. THE ATTENTION TO DETAIL IS SECOND NONE. I LOOK FORWARD TO The Queene's Cure (Elizabeth I Mysteries)
BROUGHT TO LIFE IN THIS 2ND BOOK IN THE ELIZABETHAN COURT.
ELIZABETH IS A FASCINATING CHARACTER IF NOT INDEED FAR FETCHED.
A GOOD MIX OF HISTORICAL AND FICTIONAL CHARACTERS. A REAL
TREAT. THE ATTENTION TO DETAIL IS SECOND NONE. I LOOK FORWARD TO The Queene's Cure (Elizabeth I Mysteries)
Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I wish I'd never started reading this series. Written by US author Karen Harper, they centre around the ludicrous idea of ER I as some sort of Charlie's Angel character, a daredevil detective determined to track down the latest murderer within the palace walls. And yet, they are quite snappily put together, with a fair old mix of characters and some well-researched period detail thrown in. If you can put up with an awful lot of repetition (everybody enters a room "out of breath") they will keep you entertained for a while!
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
11 reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
A fun historical mystery
5 Jan 2000
Format:Hardcover
The history books depict Elizabeth I as a strong monarch who refused to share her power with anyone. That influenced her decision to remain single. However, rarely is it mentioned that Elizabeth occasionally dressed as a common herb woman to play detective.
Her second investigation (her first is chronicled in THE POYSON GARDEN) begins on the day that Elizabeth left the Tower to march in a London procession to take up residence in Westminster. However, during the walk, someone murders one of her retinue. Elizabeth begins to investigate a murder that ties into a plot to kill the Queen.
Karen Harper is renowned for her meticulously researched historical novels that allow the reader to visualize the era being described. THE TIDAL POOL is an enthralling work that conveys a unique look at Elizabeth as well as conveying a feel for the period. Ms. Harper is a powerful storyteller who turns Elizabeth I into a believable amateur sleuth.
Harriet Klausner
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Not bad, perhaps disjointed
10 Nov 2008
Format:Mass Market Paperback
The Tidal Poole is a mystery set during the time of Elizabeth I's coronation. One woman is shot while another is raped and strangled: it lies to Elizabeth I and her Privy Plot Council, a group of her courtiers, bodyguards, and servants, to unravel the mystery.
The mystery itself wasn't bad, and Elizabeth's unravelling of the plot against her is well-handled. Harper also portrays the historical figures reasonably - her Dudley is as unctuous and self-serving as he is known to have been in real life, yet we understand what Elizabeth saw in him; her Cecil is perhaps more altruistic than the real Cecil, but otherwise is a very real, rounded character. Unfortunately, she does not handle the large number of characters she creates with the same deftness, nor does she introduce these characters properly to the new reader.
This is I think a fatal mistake many series writers make - they assume the reader is with them from the first novel and are spare with characterization in later books which would allow the reader to know who was who. Often, though, the first novel is not as well-distributed as later ones, so many readers are only able to begin at the second novel and are confused by characters which are written as if the reader should know more about them than they can. This is especially troubling in Harper's case, as she creates so many characters that it's difficult for even a reader who's already read the first book to keep up. It also doesn't help that the character Harper seems to think the most sympathetic, the Herb Strewing Mistress, comes across as a dull, bland quack with little between her ears.
I'd recommend this book for the interesting plot, for Harper's sympathetic comprehension of Elizabeth I's position, and for her portrayal of historical characters such as Cecil and Dudley. The original characters are far less satisfying.
The mystery itself wasn't bad, and Elizabeth's unravelling of the plot against her is well-handled. Harper also portrays the historical figures reasonably - her Dudley is as unctuous and self-serving as he is known to have been in real life, yet we understand what Elizabeth saw in him; her Cecil is perhaps more altruistic than the real Cecil, but otherwise is a very real, rounded character. Unfortunately, she does not handle the large number of characters she creates with the same deftness, nor does she introduce these characters properly to the new reader.
This is I think a fatal mistake many series writers make - they assume the reader is with them from the first novel and are spare with characterization in later books which would allow the reader to know who was who. Often, though, the first novel is not as well-distributed as later ones, so many readers are only able to begin at the second novel and are confused by characters which are written as if the reader should know more about them than they can. This is especially troubling in Harper's case, as she creates so many characters that it's difficult for even a reader who's already read the first book to keep up. It also doesn't help that the character Harper seems to think the most sympathetic, the Herb Strewing Mistress, comes across as a dull, bland quack with little between her ears.
I'd recommend this book for the interesting plot, for Harper's sympathetic comprehension of Elizabeth I's position, and for her portrayal of historical characters such as Cecil and Dudley. The original characters are far less satisfying.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Good Mystery, Interesting History
25 May 2000
Format:Hardcover
Karen Harper's The Tidal Poole is vastly superior to the first effort of her Elizabeth I Mystery series -- and I liked The Poyson Garden well enough to have bought this second one. Immediately after her coronation in 1559 the young Queen Elizabeth is again convening her Privy Plot Council, a ragtag kitchen cabinet of trusted court officials and loyal servants. This time their task is to find the murderer of Penelope Whyte, Lady Maldon, a loose woman of fashion and sister of valued friends. Lady Whyte's sordid murder leads to the uncovering of an unexpected plot against the Queen herself.
I recommend this book. Harper's characters are engaging; her Elizabeth is credible and sympathetic; and her recreation of Tudor London is fascinating. I especially appreciate her knowledge of herbal medicines and cosmetics.
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
