Liked the historical stuff more than the actual mystery, which didn't end up being all that intriguing. But the history! This is what makes Elizabeth Peters different. This book also takes on a little more significance in view of the fact that Richard III's remains were finally discovered last year under a parking lot in Leicester, England. I'm glad Elizabeth Peters was still alive to hear about that discovery. It was a pretty big deal. Anyway, not being much of a Shakespearean, I didn't know that much about Richard III's terrible reputation, although I did vaguely remember something from high school history about "the princes in the tower" (Richard's nephews, debated heirs to the throne whom he supposedly had killed). He is suspected of a lot of other bloodguilt as well. But there are societies of people who call themselves Ricardians that believe that his reputation was maligned by his successors, and that he was in reality a very decent king. Incidentally, they were a moving force behind the excavations last year. This novel, written in the 70s, is about a group of them who gather for a house party. One of them claims to have a letter from Elizabeth of York, the king's niece, that will help to exonerate him in the eyes of the world. But then someone starts playing tricks on the guests, and Jacqueline Kirby, the librarian who knows all, starts to worry about what these tricks might be leading to.
I do enjoy books that turn me into an armchair historian. I now know significantly more about Richard III and his family, and I can understand why people get interested. ( )

This was an enjoyable story to listen to. It is Jacqueline Kirby's second adventure. She's a librarian and amateur sleuth. This time she's in England meeting with her old friend Thomas. He invites her to a house party who attendees are all devoted to proving the innocence of King Richard III.

The house party is filled with a variety of interesting characters - the rich eccentric host, the army man, the vicar, the alcoholic author with designs on the host, the poor relation and her two children - one a precocious and distasteful son and the other her attractive daughter, and the daughter's lawyer suitor.

Each guest has adopted the role of one of the principals of Richard's cronies. When a series of "accidents" begin to happen that mimic the fates of those cronies, Jacqueline in on hand to determine who the perpetrator is and what his goal is.

Grace Conlin did a fine job with all the voices. I really like her interpretation of Jacqueline. ( )

Sort of an English country-house mystery, but with the question of Richard III's reputation at the center. Not quite as good as The Daughter of Time, but still an engaging read. ( )

Jacqueline Kirby moves closer to the center stage in this book. I like that I was brought up to speed about Richard III and the alternative opinions about what his actions must have been. Perhaps he wasn't the scoundrel that the Tudors (and therefore Shakespeare) made him to be.

There's a nice mystery within the story, beyond the mystery of who killed the young princes. There were paths I was led down, but the author played fair. All the information to solve the mystery was there. And I loved the oh-so-typical English house party location.

While it is nice to read the series in order, this book stands alone should people want to start here. If you like cozy mysteries or are interested in English history, I think you'd like this book. ( )

Not nearly as enjoyable as the first in this series. ( )