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An old English Yule has never been merrier or more mysterious. A New Year's celebration has never looked more joyous but been so potentially deadly. Fearing the Twelve Days of Christmas of 1564 may be the last for her ailing, elderly friend, Lady Kat Ashley, Queen Elizabeth decrees a nostalgic, old-fashioned holiday. Delicious dishes for the table, holly and ivy, caroling, wassailing, mumming, and a Lord of Misrule to oversee it all are in the recipe for the revels. But one of the queen's show more kitchen staff is found as dead as the ornate peacock he was preparing for the feast. As more murders threaten customs, kingdom, and Christmas, Elizabeth and her diverse band of Privy Plot Counselors try desperately to solve the increasingly bizarre crimes.When the Thames freezes over and Londoners take to the ice for an elaborate Frost Fair. Elizabeth of England must outfox the diabolical demon who would kill not only the spirit of Christmas but the queen. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
It has been a few years since I picked up this series. I am glad I got back to it though. The insights into Christmas at court in the time of Elizabeth I were quite detailed and added interest to the plot. I also enjoy anything to do with this colorful queen! I intend to finish reading the rest of the series.
I love mysteries and Queen Elizabeth. I have read several in this series and this one was part of my Christmas reading this year. I enjoyed the recipes from the time period included at the beginning of each chapter that were later part of the story. Harper does a good job in capturing the time."
Plot implausible and writing not that good; I keep it for the Elizabethan Christmas details.
This is part of Karen Harper's series with Elizabeth 1 solving mysteries with the help of friends.
Then, amidst all that, the queen saw bare feet dangling head high. She gasped as she gazed up at a bizarre body, a corpse, part man, part bird.
Then, amidst all that, the queen saw bare feet dangling head high. She gasped as she gazed up at a bizarre body, a corpse, part man, part bird.
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Author Information
84+ Works 9,485 Members
Karen Harper is also the author of a number of contemporary suspense & historical novels. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, & Naples, Florida. (Publisher Provided) Karen Harper was born on April 6, 1945 in Toledo, Ohio. She attended Ohio University in Athens and earned her undergraduate degree. She went on to Ohio State University in Columbus for her show more graduate degree. She landed a teaching position in English at Ohio State University. She soon began writing historical and contemporary fiction. Her first book, Sweet Passion's Pain, was published in 1984. It was later published as The First Princess of Wales in 2006. She has written several series including: The Maplecreek Series, The Home Valley Series, The Queen Elizabeth I Series and Cold Creek Series. Her titles often make the New York Times and USA Today Bestsellers List. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Series
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- The Queene's Christmas
- Original publication date
- 2003
- People/Characters
- Elizabeth I, Queen of England; Katherine Ashley; William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley; Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester; Stephen Jenks; Meg Milligrew (show all 7); Ned Topside
- Important places
- London, England, UK
- Important events
- Elizabethan Era
- Dedication
- For my family, with whom I have shared many a happy Christmas, especially my mother, Margaret Kurtz, and husband, Don. And many more to come!
- First words
- I swear, Your Grace, that man will be the death of you yet!
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Somehow, that was the greatest gift of all.
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 167
- Popularity
- 195,356
- Reviews
- 5
- Rating
- (3.42)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 4
- ASINs
- 3
