Her Majesty's Mischief

by Peg Herring

Overview

Simon Maldon is sent by Queen Elizabeth to form an honest assessment of the Scottish queen's character. With Simon gone, his son Henry, wife Hannah, and old friend Calkin delve into the murder of Simon's brother-in-law, Will Clark. Determined to hide his crimes, the killer is willing — even eager— to murder again.

Simon faces his own trials when Scottish outlaws capture his party. In order to thwart their leader's grandiose schemes, Simon must escape and make his way to Edinburgh. Will the rough men of the Marches help or leave the Englishman to make his way as best he can?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781432830700
Publisher:	Gale Group
Publication date:	06/17/2015
Series:	A Simon & Elizabeth Mystery
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.50(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Peg Herring is the author of several series and standalones. She lives in northern Michigan with her husband and ancient but feisty cat.

Peg also writes as Maggie Pill, who is younger and much cooler.

Editorial Reviews

CRITICAL ACCLAIM FOR HERRING'S SIMON & ELIZABETH MYSTERIES:

"Simon Maldon, an apothecary's apprentice, earned the trust of the future Elizabeth I in Herring's first mystery, Her Highness' First Murder . . . Herring does a nice job of making Elizabeth a plausible partner in detection and the life-and-death intrigues of the period fresh and compelling."

— Publishers Weekly on Poison, Your Grace • Book 2

"The third title in Herring's excellent historical series (after Poison, Your Grace) captivates with its smooth prose, on-the-ground details, and use of clever and unexpected characters."

— Library Journal on The Lady Flirts with Death • Book 3

From the Publisher

2015-04-16
An apothecary and a queen combine their diverse skills to find a killer. Apothecary Simon Maldon and his wife, Hannah, live with their two adopted children in a small village outside London. When a dying man stumbles into their shop and tells them that Simon's brother-in-law Will Clark was deliberately murdered, not killed in a robbery as they thought, Simon decides to investigate for the sake of Annie, his widowed sister. As Simon tells his old friend Queen Elizabeth I of his search for Will's killer, he fails to realize how much she misses the other mysteries they had solved together (The Lady Flirts with Death, 2013, etc.). At length she makes it clear that she wants him to join an English delegation traveling to Scotland with an offer to make her cousin Mary Queen of Scots her heir if she'll marry Elizabeth's longtime friend and rumored lover Robert Dudley. Although Simon doubts he'll be of any use, Elizabeth trusts his judgment and ability to read people. She orders Calkin, a sergeant of her guards and old friend of Simon, to hunt for the killer. In the meantime, Simon takes a ship bound for Scotland. At an overnight stop, he and his fellow delegates are told that Mary is not in Edinburgh. Dickie Muir, the steward for Geordie Kerr, the laird of Duns Tower, claims Mary is shortly expected in Duns, so they follow him there. No sooner have they arrived than Simon realizes they're in a trap—but how to escape it? Back home, Calkin and Simon's entire family are in danger from a determined killer. Simon's third is once again long on historical detail, short on mystery.

Kirkus Reviews