Jeri Westerson

Jeri Westerson's King's Fool mysteries draw on all sorts of interesting material. They're set during the reign of Henry VII, and I suspect that eventually the series will have included all six of his wives. The fool is an interesting character because he can speak difficult truths—as long as he appears to be jesting. And this fool in particular is bisexual, so the romantic and erotic possibilities are many.

As the title suggests, this volume is set during the Pilgrimage of Grace, a movement to return England to Catholicism after the execution of Anne Boleyn. Those participating in the "Pilgrimage," really an uprising, are sure they are acting in both God's and the king's best interests. But, now that Henry is the head of the church in England, questioning the new Protestant faith is equivalent to questioning Henry himself. And Henry does not like to be questioned, verbally or through actions.

Will Somers, the King's fool, has been charged with solving the murder of one of Queen Jane Seymour's retainers. While Will investigates, Robert Aske, leader of the pilgrimage, is spending the Christmas season at court, trying to find an agreement between the King, himself, and Thomas Cromwell. If you know your history, you'll know how that effort winds up.

Setting the novel during the Christmas season allows Westerson to offers feasts, performances, dancing, and general fol-de-rol, which adds to the charm of this novel. It's more or less a "cozy" mystery, though no one in Henry's England can ever feel fully certain of their status and safety.

Rebellious Grace is a good read for those who enjoy historical mysteries, particularly those set in Tudor times, and who don't want the action to get too bloody.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.… (more)

In this second installment of a series, real-life Tudor court jester Will Somers uncovers the truth behind the murder of a musician evidently staged to implicate Queen Anne. The investigation includes a number of historical figures as well as fictional ones, and both the dialogue and details of court life feel authentic (the eBook opens with a glossary).

While I am not particularly enamored of the Tudor period, the mystery was fairly engaging, and the author's afterword did a nice job of contextualizing the historical elements and characters. Anyone who likes Tudor fiction is likely to find this worthwhile, if only as another perspective on the complicated people and politics of the era.… (more)