DARK QUEEN WATCHING

Dark Queen Watching

(Margaret Beaufort Mystery #3)

Paul Doherty

Severn House Publishing Publication Date: December 7, 2021

Historical Fiction | Mystery

SUMMARY

Three husbands are in their graves, almost all her family also inhabit their graves, and Margaret Beaufort and her son Henry VII are all that remains of the Lancastrian hopes for the throne.  It is 1471 and Edward IV is sitting on the throne, again.  Following Henry VI’s questionable death, the Yorkist take the crown in another installment in the Battle of the Roses. 

Margaret is alone, except for her trusty henchmen and a few others that are loyal to her son’s right to the English crown.  Margaret Beaufort seems to have been known as a very clever and admirable adversary and this is the third installment in Paul Doherty’s Margaret Beaufort Mystery.  The amount of scandal and intrigue that occurred during this time in English history and around Margaret Beaufort is perfect for a historical mystery fiction novel, a genre I absolutely adore!

Set in Medieval England, and they are not known as the Dark Ages for nothing, directly following the death of Henry VI.  The murders are gruesome, the inhumane treatment towards others, and overall brutality of that period is up close and personal.  While we know the history and ultimate outcomes, yes Margaret’s son becomes king eventually, the road there is full of treachery, deceit, double dealings, and surprise alliances.

CHARACTERS

The list of characters both real and fictional is long but not too difficult to keep straight.  I will admit that keeping Google handy for any quick clarification needed probably helped.  Though the book is the third in the Margaret Beaufort series, I did not feel it was focused on her as a character.  You spend a great deal of time with her henchmen as they are working their way through the threatening occurrences that seem to surround Margaret. 

The presence of two groups of hired foreign assassins and their unknown benefactors become the center of the mystery.  These assassins are ruthless and incredibly frightening.  The bodies start piling up as the story progresses, all the while you are not sure who is doing it or why.

Christopher Urswicke plays a key role in this book and is in fact a historical figure.  He was indeed a priest and confessor to Margaret.   However, Urswicke in this book is described as her clerk and appears to be our investigator.  He eventually is the one that provides the connections and ultimately the resolution for the why and the how of this mystery.   

OVERALL IMPRESSION:

Despite being the third in the series, of which I have read no other books, I found it perfectly fine as a stand-alone.  There is a nod at the end of the book that there is definitely more to the story, but the books’ mystery is solved, and all loose ends are tied.  Of course, there is more to story… the English Royal’s story is still never ending.  The story is fast paced right from the beginning – and sets the tone of darkness, betrayal and violence that is expected when picking up a book set in Medieval England.    Margaret is a fascinating character for her time and my curiosity has been piqued by this book.  I may already have the first book in this series waiting to be read.