The Queen’s Jewels
David Glenn’s two new novels, both mysteries, take place in the later years of Queen Elizabeth I’s court as the main detective, Sir Michael de Subermore, along with his sidekick, George Monty, endeavor to solve cases assigned to them by Sir Robert Cecil, main advisor to the queen and son of the famous Lord Burghley. In The Queen’s Jewels, Subermore is summoned because one of Elizabeth’s ladies-in-waiting has been strangled in the castle. Oddly, there are two sets of hand prints around the victim’s throat. Could two different people have murdered the same woman? The queen is appalled and afraid, given the crime has been committed so close to the royal person. Then, it is discovered that some of the queen’s jewels are missing, and the two events converge, muddying the way to the truth.
Both books are action-packed but, unfortunately, the writer uses different dialects in the dialogue, making the reading a tough go for those unfamiliar with Elizabethan expressions and Cockney accents. It is a bit like reading Mark Twain – possible, but the language seems dated and thus, the books lose some of their effect. However, if you like mysteries and you like the Tudor world, you may find these your cup of tea exactly.
