The Cygnet Prince (The Tudor Rose Murders, 3)
The Cygnet Prince is the third book in G. J. Williams’ Tudor Rose Murders Series. Jasper, a young German prince, arrives in England claiming to be the son of Henry VIII and Anne of Cleves, and therefore the rightful king of England. William Cecil, Queen Elizabeth I’s most trusted adviser, employs the Queen’s astrologer, John Dee, to disprove Jasper’s claims.
John Dee proclaims himself to be one of the sharpest minds in the land, but, in truth, it is Margaretta, his lowly assistant and scribe, who solves his cases, for she can read minds as well as Dee’s forbidden Tarot cards.
While Dee conducts interviews, Margaretta, quill in hand, whispers guidance to him in their native Welsh. To avoid suspicion, Dee dismisses her as a mumbling simpleton who just happens to be adept at taking notes. These scenes are a delight, and their complex relationship brings the book alive. Margaretta veers from loathing Dee for taking all the credit, to feeling grateful for his rare acts of kindness towards her.
Surprisingly, Williams’ scene-setting passages are somewhat perfunctory, and consequently the book is dialogue-heavy. Nevertheless, the plot is multi-layered: as well as Jasper, the young pretender, there is a poisoner at large within Elizabeth’s court; a heinous attempt to disinherit Margaretta’s beloved brother; and a terrible betrayal. There are no high-stakes action sequences; instead, the book focuses on diligent detective work, and a large cast of well-drawn, engaging characters who leap off the page.
I haven’t read the first two books in the series, but it didn’t spoil my enjoyment of this fast-moving tale.
