Feud (The Grace Mysteries) [Hardcover]

Lady Grace Cavendish (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up | Series: The Grace Mysteries

There is much excitement at Court as the famous painter Levina Teerlinc arrives to paint the Queen's portrait. The Maids of Honor are recruited to help entertain the Queen during the sittings, and to pose for the painter while the Queen is busy. They love being in the studio but have to beware as deadly poisons are used in some of the paints! One of Lady Grace's fellow Maids of Honor, Carmina, begins to act rather strangely--she seems confused and always tired. Her family has recently been involved in a feud with another noble family after her father was killed in a jousting tournament--is it possible that Carmina is being poisoned? Could the painter or her assistants be involved? Can Grace solve the mystery and discover the truth behind the strange happenings at Court?

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

The fifth book in The Lady Grace Mysteries, purportedly written by Grace Cavendish, maid of honor to Queen Elizabeth I, begins with the painting of portraits of Her Majesty, the arrival of a troupe of players at Nonsuch Palace, and the sudden illness of another maid of honor. Endnotes include a glossary of Elizabethan terms and a commentary discussing feuds. Readers will absorb Elizabethan social history and vocabulary as they try to unravel the mystery and follow the adventures of the appealing Lady Grace. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

All miscreants and ill-thinkers, keep out! The Lady Grace Mysteries come to us from the most privy and secrete daybooke of Lady Grace Cavendish, Maid of Honour to her Gracious Majesty, Queen Elizabeth I of that name. The author lives in London, England.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (October 10, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385733232
• ISBN-13: 978-0385733236
• Product Dimensions: 5.4 x 0.8 x 7.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #891,704 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #25 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > History & Historical Fiction > Fiction > Renaissance
  • #33 in Books > Children's Books > Literature & Fiction > Historical Fiction > Renaissance

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of Grace's best!, March 12, 2007

By 

Jennie (metro DC) - See all my reviews

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

Lady Grace is maid-of-honor to her majesty Queen Elizabeth (the first) and also her personal detective. The books are in diary form and chock-full of historical details and interesting facts, but without this information getting in way of the story. Not only that, but they are fun, rollicking adventures of Grace acting quite improperly and loving it. The Queen (not always the most proper woman) turns a blind eye as long as she saves the day and not many people find out.

One of my favorite parts of the series is the characterization of Queen Elizabeth. She is every bit regal, but also possesses a fantastic and wicked sense of humour.

Feud is the sixth book in this alphabetical series. The Queen is having her portrait painted, but the Queen has more important things to do than stand around all day while people paint her picture. Lady Sarah, who looks somewhat like the Queen, is standing for most of the portrait, and Grace has to sit and read to her. Grace would much rather watch the painters and learn their craft. While watching the artists, Grace learns quite a few things-- especially that certain paints are poisonous.

At the same time, an acting troupe has shown up and Lady Carmina is falling mysteriously ill. Grace suspects, but can't prove, she's being poisoned. Paints are being stolen from the work room-- if Grace can find the thief, will she find the poisoner? Who would want to harm Carmina?

The problem with this book is that a feud Carmina's family is involved in is the turning point of the plot, but it's hidden in the background. The pointers leading the the feud would have been very subtle foreshadowing and would make an almost-twist (and exciting) ending. But, alas, the book is named feud, so we know it's going to be important. The most interesting thing about this book is not the feud or the information presented about feuds. The most interesting thing is the information about the painting and artistic techniques of the Elizabethan age. This story contains more false leads than the previous mysteries and is one of the best.

I can't wait for Gold! see all my reviews at [...]

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars But who's the poisoner?, February 3, 2007

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

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

A new addition to the 'Lady Grace' mysteries is FEUD by Grace Cavendish, the sixth book which provides a fine mystery surrounding Lady Grace's investigation into the art world at the Queen's Court when a famous painter arrives to paint the Queen's portrait. Poisons are being used in some of the paints - and a family feud is suspected. But who's the poisoner?

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An enjoyable mystery from the Lady Grace series., December 23, 2007

By 

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

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

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

It is March of 1570, and a new portrait of Queen Elizabeth I is being painted at court. Lady Sarah, one of Lady Grace's fellow Maids of Honor, is being a stand-in for some of the portrait work. As Grace must accompany her to the workroom, she is able to observe the artists working and learns how deadly and poisonous certain paints can be. Shortly after, Carmina, another of the Maids of Honor, becomes mysteriously ill. Grace wonders if she is being poisoned - but who would poison Carmina, and why? Grace is determined to get to the bottom of this mystery.

This was another excellent book in the Lady Grace series. It told an enjoyable story and included many interesting details about life in Elizabethan times. I'd definitely recommend this book to readers who enjoyed the other books in the series.