Customer Reviews

Feud (Lady Grace Mysteries)

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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 [...]

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?

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.

Written as a daybooke (diary) with old-fashioned script introductions, the narration easily transforms into a novel with dialog. This excellent slice-of-life story revolves around a youngish Queen Elizabeth and her ladies-in-waiting. Lady Grace Cavendish solves mysteries for the Queen, and in Feud, one of the maids-of-honour is taken seriously ill with no explanation. Lady Grace suspects poisoning when she finds out that paints which are poisonous are being stolen from the cupboard in the paint workroom. This excellent mystery is well-written with exquisite attention paid to historical detail. It includes an extensive glossary, notes on feuds and the facts behind the fiction. My students and I long for this series to continue!