Customer Reviews

The Tidal Poole

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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

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.

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.

The second of a (so far) three volume mystery series, The Tidal Poole seems well researched with lots of details suggesting the Elizabethan era. But the characters including Good Queen Bess (a young GQB) are one dimensional and less than compelling. Although I like the subgenre of historical mysteries as a rule, this is one of the weaker series. The fault, I suppose, lies in Harper's portrayal of Elizabeth herself. Her temper, easily aroused passions, and inconsistent relationships with her key courtiers become off-putting and unbelievable. She must have watched the old Bette Davis movie a lot. Too bad. I really wanted to like this...

with what I think is well researched background and good atmosphere, it really strained my ability to "suspend disbelief". The idea that Elizabeth I would be so free to assume another identity and go wandering around London just was too much a stretch for me. Not that she would necessarily be recognized--as most of her subjects had no idea what she looked like. The kingdom was in such turmoil at the time with disaffected Catholics, duplicitous nobles and general lawlessness, I don't think she'd ever risk falling into unfriendly hands. Elizabeth was notoriously (and justifiably) suspicious of everyone, so the idea that she might be fooled by such a transparent villain was not at all believable. That being said, the characters were well drawn, and the Tudor atmosphere seemed authentic.

This is one of the worst books I have ever read. The Tidal Poole is so impossibly crowded with character references/relationships the reader is lucky to recognize and become invested in any one, let alone the (30? 40?) you are asked to keep in order.

But it's worse than that -- this is a poorly crafted novel from the standpoint of both the dialogue and the use of modern day slang which -- even if it was in use during the reign of Elizabeth I -- sounds out of place. The "voice" of Elizabeth is the voice of . . . a woman in her 50's, not her mid-20's. Others have mentioned that the premise of the book is, itself, ludicrous: That Elizabeth I could even be suffered to tolerate let alone physically examine the rotting corpse of a murder victim is a tall order. I tell you even now I have no idea, really, who did what in this 5:15 pm subway car of a book.

I read this book only because it was on the heels of Kate Ross' "Julian Kestrel" series, a series so exquisitely written, and the character development so real, I hungered for another historical murder mystery. Drop this implausible, forgettable and poorly crafted story, and start a journey with deliciously crafted characters. Pick up Kate Ross' "Cut to the Quick" and then proceed in chronological order to best appreciate Julian's development and unpeel him, one layer at a time (er, his character too, heh heh). The dialogue, and slang, is so fast-paced and authentic that you develop an ear for each of the characters and know intuitively which one is speaking just by the "color" of their voice. Really, really good writing. I'd love to see Kate Ross' novels adapted to a PBS series, they are so colorful.

Skye

Not the most plausible series, but it is entertaining and that's why it's called fiction. I did enjoy the first book better, but The Tidal Poole kept me reading and the mystery was well-done. If you're a history buff, better skip it, but if you enjoy reading just for the sake of reading, I recommend the series. :)

3.5 stars

This is the best of the series i have read so far, everything works here. So if you have read the first one definately pick it up, its better then the first even.

I just have a hard time imagining Elizabeth I wanting ANYONE to call her Bess, especially servants. You have to suspend reason to enjoy these books - but once you do, you get a nice mystery. The culprit isn't that hard to figure out in this book - but you keep reading to find out why they did it and how "Bess" and her band of slueths gets it all worked out. One thing that I do believe Harper does do convincingly is how she portrays Elizabeth and Dudley. Of course, we'll never know what really went on, but it reads true to me. Worth reading.

I just love the era of knights, queens, and kings. This book fulfilled all of my book reading desires. It protrays Elizabeth the I as a yound queen who on the day of her march to the palace has one of her best friends relatives murdered. Elizabeth is protrayed as a young woman who hates to share here power with anyone, but is caring and sentative to the plight of her people. She almost ends up dying to figure out the mystery. Karen Harper did a surpurb job of researching the Elizabethian era. I loved the fact that a queen can still be "hot headed" enough to dress as a commoner and get her hands dirty.