Betrayal (The Grace Mysteries) [Hardcover]

Lady Grace Cavendish (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 28, 2004 | Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up | Series: The Grace Mysteries (Book 2)

Now that Lady Grace is the Queen’s secret “Lady Pursuivant”—a title normally reserved for those who pursue wrongdoers of the Crown—she can hardly believe that a new mystery has fallen in her lap. But what else can it be when Lady Sarah, a fellow lady-in-waiting known for her fancy clothes and hoity-toity attitude, is missing and feared kidnapped by the dashing Captain Drake. Despite her hard feelings, Grace must help rescue Sarah . . . or Sarah’s sullied reputation will ruin her life. But was Sarah really kidnapped? It’s up to Lady Pursuivant to find out!

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Reviewed with Grace Cavendish's Assassin.

Gr. 4-7. This new series, ostensibly the diaries (or daybooks) of Lady Grace Cavendish (the real author is British writer Patricia Finney), takes place in the court of Queen Elizabeth I, where Grace serves as a lady-in-waiting. With plenty of twenty-first-century spunk, she solves mysteries that are turning the court upside down. In Assassin, one of Grace's suitors is murdered, and the 13-year-old's cool-headed calculations prove that the lord to whom she has given her hand is not the killer as everyone supposes. He is also not the man Grace believes him to be, so she gives him the boot. In Betrayal, another young lady-in-waiting seems to have eloped with Sir Francis Drake, but Grace uses her prognosticating skill and masquerades as a boy to prove otherwise. The books, which occasionally use Old English words (there's a glossary) and handwritten notes, are filled with details of Elizabethan life. An author's note distinguishes fact from fiction. The stories move swiftly, and the mix of history and mystery will keep kids interested. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Inside Flap

Now that Lady Grace is the Queen's secret "Lady Pursuivant"—a title normally reserved for those who pursue wrongdoers of the Crown—she can hardly believe that a new mystery has fallen in her lap. But what else can it be when Lady Sarah, a fellow lady-in-waiting known for her fancy clothes and hoity-toity attitude, is missing and feared kidnapped by the dashing Captain Drake. Despite her hard feelings, Grace must help rescue Sarah . . . or Sarah's sullied reputation will ruin her life. But was Sarah really kidnapped? It's up to Lady Pursuivant to find out!

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (September 28, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385731523
• ISBN-13: 978-0385731522
• Product Dimensions: 5 x 0.7 x 7.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #623,441 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #19 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > History & Historical Fiction > Fiction > Renaissance
  • #28 in Books > Children's Books > Literature & Fiction > Historical Fiction > Renaissance

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another exciting adventure featuring Lady Grace., September 16, 2004

By 

Rebecca Herman (USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Betrayal (The Grace Mysteries) (Hardcover)

This is the second book in the Lady Grace Mysteries series, about Lady Grace Cavendish, a thirteen-year-old Maid of Honour at the court of Queen Elizabeth I.

When Lady Sarah, a fellow Maid of Honor to Queen Elizabeth I, disappears, apparently having eloped with the dashing young Captain Drake, thirteen-year-old Lady Grace Cavendish takes it upon herself to discover the truth of Lady Sarah's whereabouts. Her discoveries lead her to believe that rather than leaving of her own free will, Lady Sarah may have been kidnapped. Grace decides to disguise herself as a boy, and along with her friend Masou, a tumbler at the court, stows away aboard Captain Drake's ship in the hope of rescuing her, and finds herself facing a dangerous adventure.

I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoyed the first Lady Grace Mystery, as well as to new readers who enjoy reading a blend of historical fiction and mystery. I also really love the historical setting. I look forward to reading more of Grace's adventures in upcoming books in this series.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly accurate medieval fiction, February 1, 2005

By 

Jonathan Appleseed - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Betrayal (The Grace Mysteries) (Hardcover)

Imagine my surprise when, upon reading a book set in medieval England recommended for grades 4 -7, that the accuracy of the prose, style, mannerisms, dress - nearly everything - was fairly on par with the inestimable Sharon Kay Penman, writer of medieval historical fiction, and considered the best in her field. I loved that it was written in diary form, for that added a sense of immediacy to the work.

Quite honestly, I did not expect to enjoy this book. I couldn't imagine a book written for young readers that took the time period seriously, and gave it it's full measure. But this book does. It even includes a glossary at the end, something that is invaluable to those unfamiliar with the times, as well as a briefing on the real history behind the fiction.

I read this book straight through, starting it at midnight, and finishing around 1:30am. I had expected to read perhaps ten pages, and then pick it up the next day, but I was so surprised at how realistic the story was, how aptly the author painted the period - in other words, completely enthralled - that I couldn't put it down. I kept making excuses to continue reading, and finally when there were only forty pages left, I just said to heck with it, and finished it.

The only concern I have regarding the book was that the mystery didn't start until page 50 or so. Generally, an author needs to hook their readers in within the first two pages or they've lost them. I hope this didn't cause the author to lose any readers - it certainly didn't lose me. I'm looking forward to reading more of these mysteries.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Queen Elizabeth I's Lady Pursuivant to the Rescue!, August 30, 2005

By 

Erika Sorocco (Southern California, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Betrayal (The Grace Mysteries) (Hardcover)

The year is 1569, and thirteen-year-old Lady Grace Cavendish, Queen Elizabeth's favorite Maid of Honor, as well as Her Majesty's Lady Pursuivant, has just wrapped up one case, and is itching for another. However, she never knew that it would come so soon.

When Lady Sarah, a buxom red-headed Maid of Honor to Queen Elizabeth I, disappears, thought to have eloped with Captain Drake, a dashing young sea captain whom is way below Lady Sarah's social standing, Lady Grace takes the matter into her hands, determined to find out the truth. After all, while Lady Sarah may be giving Captain Drake goo-goo eyes, she would never disgrace her parents or family by marrying someone with as little money as him. Deciding that Lady Sarah has been kidnapped, Grace, along with her friend, and a professional tumbler at the Court, Masou, stowaway on Captain Drake's ship, in the hope of rescuing Lady Sarah before the ship sets sail. But Lady Grace's plans quickly go awry, and soon she and Masou are facing quite the dangerous high seas adventure.

I adored Lady Grace Cavendish's first adventure ASSASSIN very much when I read it earlier in the year. So I was skeptical of thinking that BETRAYAL could match ASSASSIN in its depiction of a marvelous adventure story. Luckily, my hopes were far exceeded in this marvelous addition to the series. BETRAYAL combines a wonderful mix of royals, sleuthing, and high seas hijinks that will please even the pickiest reader. Lady Grace has once again proved herself as a fabulous Lady Pursuivant, and I cannot wait to read about her next adventure. Fans of ASSASSIN must run out and buy BETRAYAL today, for it is an adventure-filled sequel that will please all.

Erika Sorocco

Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper