A Discovered Diamond
"I couldn’t put this book down. Using complex, well-developed main characters from different social strata this novel offers a glimpse of what life must have been like during this period at diverse levels of society."
AMAZON UK
AMAZON UK
The Scottish Queen Trilogy #3
Romance / Fictional Saga
1500s
Scotland/ France
The third story in Jen Black’s The Scottish Queen Trilogy sees reluctant hero Matho Spirston putting
his life in danger once more as he tries to deliver the Dowager Queen of
Scotland’s personal letters to her family in France. It is Matho’s first trip
across the Channel and he finds both the language and cultural differences a
challenge, a situation worsened by the fact that his mission is threatened by
an unknown opponent. Help is on hand, however, in the shape of a lanky young
stable-hand called Jehan, who comes to the rescue when the inn in which Matho
is lodging is burnt to the ground. Homeless and jobless, Jehan joins up with Matho,
helping him with his French in return for lessons in self-defence. Lessons that
become increasingly necessary because whoever it is that wants the satchel of
letters Matho is carrying is willing to go to extreme lengths to get it.
Eventually, Matho succeeds in fulfilling his task and
receives replies to the Queen’s letters to take back to Scotland. The journey home,
though, is equally full of dangers. Matho and Jehan become caught up between
opposing armies as Habsburg troops cross the French border, and to complicate
matters Matho also has to look out for a young French noblewoman named Agnes,
who insists he take her to Paris. Matho advises against it, but the strong-willed
young lady (illegitimate daughter of a de Guise cleric) is not disposed to
accept advice – not until she sees they really could be trapped in the front
line. Matho decides the only safe option is for Agnes is to return with him to St
Andrews, from where, hopefully, she can join the Dowager Queen’s household at
Stirling as a distant relative.
Meanwhile, in England, Meg (otherwise known as Margaret
Douglas, niece of King Henry VIII) is preparing for marriage to the Scottish
traitor Matthew, Earl of Lennox, whose own royal task will bring him face to
face with Matho at Dumbarton. I would have liked more on vivacious Meg, her
appearance in this story is too short, but what happens with Lennox at
Dumbarton perhaps makes up for it. To say more on this would be a spoiler. From
here on, the intrigue behind King Henry’s territorial ambitions and the struggle
for power over the infant Mary Stewart is action-packed. The various means by
which Matho Thirston evades capture and hanging make him a veritable sixteenth
century James Bond.
I haven’t read the previous two stories in the Trilogy,
but I couldn’t put this book down. Using
complex, well-developed main characters from different social strata this novel
offers a glimpse of what life must have been like during this period at diverse
levels of society. Jen Black weaves
familiar personality traits and recognisable emotions of ambition and jealousy,
love and regret into distant political intrigues, making this a very enjoyable
book. Her description of Scottish castles
and surrounding countryside is informative but not intrusive. These tidbits of
history, combined with a rapidly moving plot that finally arrives at a
never-quite-certain satisfactory ending, make this very worthwhile historical
fiction. I particularly liked Ms Black’s style: she has a light touch and knows
how less can be more.
The
Queen’s Letters works well as a
stand-alone novel, but it is bringing a complex story to a close so it would be
advisable to read the Trilogy in order. This way one knows more about the key
players of the time, why Matho Spirston carries such a burden of guilt, and why
he should or should not accept Agnes as his wife.
© J.G. Harlond
Thank you for such a thoughtful review, J.G. Absolutely delighted with it.Jen
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