A Question of Guilt: A Novel of Mary Stuart and the Death of Henry Darnley
When Mary Stuart is executed for plotting the downfall of her cousin, Elizabeth I, Queen of England, many believe that she is executed unjustly. Some also believe that Mary could not possibly have had anything to do with the murder of her husband, Henry Darnley. Lady Janet de Ros, the Scottish-born wife of an English merchant, is one of those people. She is convinced that Mary Stuart could not have gone so far as to have her husband murdered.
Janet is a curious, strong-willed woman on a mission to find out the truth behind the death of Mary Stuart. She travels to Edinburgh with her husband on business and spends her time talking to servants and locals who knew the former queen, many of whom readily discuss what they know of the situation. Knowing this much information puts her life in danger, and her husband repeatedly asks her to stop inquiring into the matter, but Janet forges ahead in her investigation—which ends up threatening to tear her family life apart.
Lee’s excellently researched novel is written in a fluid, engaging style and is full of intrigue, cover-ups, and plots. Her investigation of this historical mystery provides a vivid theory of what might have happened between Mary Stuart and Henry Darnley and will keep readers turning the pages.
