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Sir Robert Carey #6
An Air of Treason
After his hair-raising adventures in London, Sir Robert Carey has finally tracked down Queen Elizabeth, who is about to make a state visit to Oxford. But instead of giving the Courtier his much-needed warrant and fee for being Deputy Warden of the West March with Scotland, Her Majesty orders him to investigate the most dangerous cold case of her reign―the mysterious 1560 death of Amy Dudley(née Robsart), unloved wife of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester.
Some thirty years back, the late Dudley was Elizabeth’s favorite suitor and potential husband. Amy died at Cumnor Place, close at hand. The Queen has since been one of the most obvious suspects in arranging Amy’s murder. This makes Carey deeply uneasy with his sleuthing role. He’s further uneasy that his father, Elizabeth’s cousin from the wrong side of the blanket, is clearly involved. Then someone manages to poison Carey with belladonna, which temporarily blinds him. Worse still, Sergeant Dodd, the man most often guarding Carey’s back, has disappeared on the road from London.
As the Queen’s scandalous past collides with her magnificent State entrance into Oxford, can Carey rally in time to find both Dodd and the true murderer of Amy Robsart?
Some thirty years back, the late Dudley was Elizabeth’s favorite suitor and potential husband. Amy died at Cumnor Place, close at hand. The Queen has since been one of the most obvious suspects in arranging Amy’s murder. This makes Carey deeply uneasy with his sleuthing role. He’s further uneasy that his father, Elizabeth’s cousin from the wrong side of the blanket, is clearly involved. Then someone manages to poison Carey with belladonna, which temporarily blinds him. Worse still, Sergeant Dodd, the man most often guarding Carey’s back, has disappeared on the road from London.
As the Queen’s scandalous past collides with her magnificent State entrance into Oxford, can Carey rally in time to find both Dodd and the true murderer of Amy Robsart?
250 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2014
43 people are currently reading
188 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
August 10, 2020
5★
“No matter that he’d sworn fealty to the man he was to spy on and, in due course, kill. He’d sort it out with God later. God would surely understand that he had no choice.”
Ah, Sir Robert. You’d best watch your back! Life is cheap in Elizabethan England, and even friends and relatives in high places won’t stop a dagger in your ribs.
This is Sir Robert’s sixth outing in the marvellous series, which I am spreading out to enjoy for as long as possible. It takes place in September of 1592 when he has caught up with the Royal Procession at Oxford while the redoubtable Sergeant Dodd is fighting his way out of London.
Sir Robert is a handsome courtier, pining for his married lady-love but still flirting with anyone luscious who happens to wander his way. One of the first is the Italian firecracker from previous episodes who uses her (considerable) charms to woo men into speaking on her behalf. In this case, she’s hoping to get big contracts for wine.
As they chat at an evening event, the conversations move easily from one language to another.
“They were all speaking French now. Most of the English were good linguists because who could possibly want to learn their awful ugly uncouth bastard tongue, the spawn of Dutch and French?”
It also helped to have private conversations when young pages or henchmen were nearby. A henchman in those days was someone who served an employer, not necessarily the strong-arm bully that we think of today. The author uses a lot of historical words, but most are either understood from the context they’re in, or it doesn’t matter.
I have the “omnibus” edition of Knives in the South (books 4, 5, and 6 of the series), and it includes an extensive glossary at the end. I don’t know if there is one in the single book or not. I browsed through it at the end, but anything I really needed to know, I could easily google online. That’s a huge plus for today’s readers.
Carey is both nephew and cousin to Queen Elizabeth the First, and she sends him on a quest this time, to solve a 30-year-old murder. Before he starts, he has to fend off another attack. Meanwhile, Dodd’s progress to join Carey is delayed under life-threatening circumstances.
As I said, life is cheap, swords (and daggers) are drawn, and heads do roll. All the while, our handsome courtier is most keen to make sure his doublets and hose and boots are stylish and presentable, and poor Sergeant Dodd is just wishing he had some clothes.
But no spoilers. It’s another rip-roaring escapade with Carey showing off as always.
“Carey mounted in a way Hughie hadn’t seen since his childhood—hands on the saddlebow and leaping straight up, not touching the stirrups until he was seated. He looked pleased with himself at the trick.
‘Hmf,’ he said, as he found the stirrups. ‘Come on Hughie, up you get.’”
[There’s a very short clip of less than half a minute where you can see a man showing off this way. Ten seconds is all it takes to watch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjSBO... ]
These adventures take place in real time over the course of a few days with real courtiers, nobles, and royalty. Sir Robert Carey and his father, Baron Hunsdon, were real people, really related to the Queen.
Elizabeth herself has a much bigger role in this story, and I enjoyed seeing what she was like as a clever, flirtatious, mesmerising girl. Yes, she was desired for her position, but she seems to have had more going for her than that. Quite a woman, and one who was not willing to risk her life in childbirth it seems, which may have been why she had the reputation as the Virgin Queen. We’ll never know.
Great stories, full of humour, and with an excellent feel for the times. Any anachronisms in language are mild and not disturbing, which is more than I can say for a lot of historical fiction. The clothing is unbelievably intricate, compared to today’s simple styles. [But I suspect most of us smell a lot better, since both we and our clothes can be regularly washed.]
I read this during the Covid-19 Pandemic, so of course the references to the Plague certainly caught my eye.
“Sometimes men went crazy in the first onset of plague, as their fever rose and they became delirious. That’s why they had to be shut up in their houses, cruel though it was, because if you came within ten feet of them you could catch it and die and all your family with you. Half the purpose of the Queen’s summer progresses was to get her out of London and away from the plague.”
I’ll just keep on reading - at home!
“No matter that he’d sworn fealty to the man he was to spy on and, in due course, kill. He’d sort it out with God later. God would surely understand that he had no choice.”
Ah, Sir Robert. You’d best watch your back! Life is cheap in Elizabethan England, and even friends and relatives in high places won’t stop a dagger in your ribs.
This is Sir Robert’s sixth outing in the marvellous series, which I am spreading out to enjoy for as long as possible. It takes place in September of 1592 when he has caught up with the Royal Procession at Oxford while the redoubtable Sergeant Dodd is fighting his way out of London.
Sir Robert is a handsome courtier, pining for his married lady-love but still flirting with anyone luscious who happens to wander his way. One of the first is the Italian firecracker from previous episodes who uses her (considerable) charms to woo men into speaking on her behalf. In this case, she’s hoping to get big contracts for wine.
As they chat at an evening event, the conversations move easily from one language to another.
“They were all speaking French now. Most of the English were good linguists because who could possibly want to learn their awful ugly uncouth bastard tongue, the spawn of Dutch and French?”
It also helped to have private conversations when young pages or henchmen were nearby. A henchman in those days was someone who served an employer, not necessarily the strong-arm bully that we think of today. The author uses a lot of historical words, but most are either understood from the context they’re in, or it doesn’t matter.
I have the “omnibus” edition of Knives in the South (books 4, 5, and 6 of the series), and it includes an extensive glossary at the end. I don’t know if there is one in the single book or not. I browsed through it at the end, but anything I really needed to know, I could easily google online. That’s a huge plus for today’s readers.
Carey is both nephew and cousin to Queen Elizabeth the First, and she sends him on a quest this time, to solve a 30-year-old murder. Before he starts, he has to fend off another attack. Meanwhile, Dodd’s progress to join Carey is delayed under life-threatening circumstances.
As I said, life is cheap, swords (and daggers) are drawn, and heads do roll. All the while, our handsome courtier is most keen to make sure his doublets and hose and boots are stylish and presentable, and poor Sergeant Dodd is just wishing he had some clothes.
But no spoilers. It’s another rip-roaring escapade with Carey showing off as always.
“Carey mounted in a way Hughie hadn’t seen since his childhood—hands on the saddlebow and leaping straight up, not touching the stirrups until he was seated. He looked pleased with himself at the trick.
‘Hmf,’ he said, as he found the stirrups. ‘Come on Hughie, up you get.’”
[There’s a very short clip of less than half a minute where you can see a man showing off this way. Ten seconds is all it takes to watch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjSBO... ]
These adventures take place in real time over the course of a few days with real courtiers, nobles, and royalty. Sir Robert Carey and his father, Baron Hunsdon, were real people, really related to the Queen.
Elizabeth herself has a much bigger role in this story, and I enjoyed seeing what she was like as a clever, flirtatious, mesmerising girl. Yes, she was desired for her position, but she seems to have had more going for her than that. Quite a woman, and one who was not willing to risk her life in childbirth it seems, which may have been why she had the reputation as the Virgin Queen. We’ll never know.
Great stories, full of humour, and with an excellent feel for the times. Any anachronisms in language are mild and not disturbing, which is more than I can say for a lot of historical fiction. The clothing is unbelievably intricate, compared to today’s simple styles. [But I suspect most of us smell a lot better, since both we and our clothes can be regularly washed.]
I read this during the Covid-19 Pandemic, so of course the references to the Plague certainly caught my eye.
“Sometimes men went crazy in the first onset of plague, as their fever rose and they became delirious. That’s why they had to be shut up in their houses, cruel though it was, because if you came within ten feet of them you could catch it and die and all your family with you. Half the purpose of the Queen’s summer progresses was to get her out of London and away from the plague.”
I’ll just keep on reading - at home!
July 5, 2017
This series continues to be excellent! Not only does it continue to develop the characters of its main players, Sir Robert Carey, his trusty henchman Sergent Dodd and even Queen Elizabeth I, but also spins a believable tale around a real historical mystery.
Carey is still in the south, trying to persuade the Queen to give him money to pay his men and the warrant to allow him to continue his position of Deputy Warden in Carlisle. He has followed her to Oxford, where she tasks him with investigating the 30 year old murder of Amy Robsart, wife to Robert Dudley, Earl of Leisester and the Queen's lover at the time, before she will consider his requests. Carey's sleuthing into affairs at the highest level soon puts him into danger. Meanwhile Sergent Dodd has run into some trouble on the way to Oxford and has to use all his wits and skill to not only wriggle out of it but to come out on top. A good read with a dose of history involving the suspicious death of Robert Dudley's wife.
Carey is still in the south, trying to persuade the Queen to give him money to pay his men and the warrant to allow him to continue his position of Deputy Warden in Carlisle. He has followed her to Oxford, where she tasks him with investigating the 30 year old murder of Amy Robsart, wife to Robert Dudley, Earl of Leisester and the Queen's lover at the time, before she will consider his requests. Carey's sleuthing into affairs at the highest level soon puts him into danger. Meanwhile Sergent Dodd has run into some trouble on the way to Oxford and has to use all his wits and skill to not only wriggle out of it but to come out on top. A good read with a dose of history involving the suspicious death of Robert Dudley's wife.
June 13, 2016
Number 6 in the series and if you read this far and are still not a little bit in love with Sir Robert Carey and/ or Sergeant Henry Dodd then there is something wrong with you:). I have probably said this before but this is one of the best historical mystery series around.
Both of our heroes feature strongly in this episode as does Queen Elizabeth. The author takes a real historical mystery and attempts to discover a solution with very satisfying results.
A really good read and my only issue is that I only have one more book in this series left to go:(
Both of our heroes feature strongly in this episode as does Queen Elizabeth. The author takes a real historical mystery and attempts to discover a solution with very satisfying results.
A really good read and my only issue is that I only have one more book in this series left to go:(
June 22, 2020
Another great entry in the Sir Robert Carey mystery series. I'm not going to comment on the mystery plot as there would be too many spoilers. This time both Sir Carey and Sergeant Dodd have important story lines. The author is marvelous in portraying life during the reign of Elizabeth I with all of the political intrigue involved. These are books where I'm able to see the characters and settings in my mind and as I'm reading it's almost like watching a movie. With each book I've become more and more attached to Sir Carey and Dodd; I even cried at the end of this although more because I became so caught up in the relationships between the main and secondary characters. Highly recommend this series!
November 29, 2016
3.5 stars, an enjoyable read even if it stretches credulity in order to dredge up the mystery of the death of Amy Dudley, which happened before Robert Carey was born.
Amy was the inconvenient wife of Lord Robert Dudley, who is the only man Queen Elizabeth ever seriously considered marrying. Amy supposedly died from a fall down a staircase, a circumstance which people have been finding suspicious since it happened. In a somewhat contrived scenario, here the Queen asks Robert Carey to investigate her death.
The details of the setting were more interesting than the mystery, and as usual, Sergeant Dodd’s adventure was the most fun.
He and Carey are finally headed back north, and I look forward to the next book, away from London and the court.
Amy was the inconvenient wife of Lord Robert Dudley, who is the only man Queen Elizabeth ever seriously considered marrying. Amy supposedly died from a fall down a staircase, a circumstance which people have been finding suspicious since it happened. In a somewhat contrived scenario, here the Queen asks Robert Carey to investigate her death.
The details of the setting were more interesting than the mystery, and as usual, Sergeant Dodd’s adventure was the most fun.
He and Carey are finally headed back north, and I look forward to the next book, away from London and the court.
May 13, 2019
The action in book # 6 has moved out of London but hasn’t yet returned to the Scottish borders. Set in and around Oxford, An Air of Treason has Sir Robert investigating (by royal command, no less) the thirty-two year old death of Amy Dudley (nee Robsart) -one of the most famous (and mysterious) deaths of the Elizabethan era. Officially termed an accident, her death has been, even to this day, hotly debated. Was it an accident, or was it murder – and if so, who was the killer? As with the other Sir Robert Carey Mysteries, this is an excellent historical whodunnit, incorporating period politics, intrigue, action and humor. The point of view shifts between Sir Robert and Sergeant Dodd, which works both for the plot and also because they are such different characters. Finally (six books into the series) Queen Elizabeth appears in the story, which also includes powerful members of the English court: Lord Burleigh, the Earl of Essex, Sir. Robert Cecil, Lord Hunsdon, etc – many of whom are suspects in the case. Solid 4 stars..
February 4, 2014
Excellent Tudor mystery!
Oxford, 1593, and courtier Sir Robert Carey, youngest son of The Lord Chamberlain, Baron Hunsdon, still has not received his warrant from his cousin (on the legitimate and the illegitimate sides) Queen Elizabeth.
Queen Elizabeth is progressing to Oxford which is frantically crowded and preparing for her much anticipated visit.
Carey is thinking of ways to present himself to the Queen, when she sends for him.
When your Queen calls? What can you do but obey!
When your Queen changes your plans and her promises what can you do but acquiesce.
Elizabeth charges Carey with solving a thirty year old mystery--that of the death of the former wife of Dudley, the Earl of Leicester. Amy Dudley (nee Robsart) who appeared to have fallen down stairs to her death.
Carey is by himself in Oxford. Dodd is still down south and Carey is forced to hire a new serving man, Hughie Tyndale. He's a Scotsman, paid to assassinate Carey. We first meet him as he is busily planning and discarding ways to dispose of Carey. He decides that being Carey's henchman will suffice, offering ample opportunity.
As a bonus, the story is littered with fascinating facts about Tudor life, from the weight of courtly dress to practices in hiring servants. When Carey hires Hughie he inspects his ears, 'looking for a ragged ear from having it nailed to the Edinburgh pillory for thieving.'
Carey also hires an insignificant looking clerk, one John Tovey, whom I'm hoping will round out to be a helpful foil in Carey's future adventures, that is if Chisholm keeps him on.
Sergeant Dodd is a treasure of a character. He's waylaid enroute to Oxford.
The scene between Elizabeth and Dodd is nicely and amusingly written.
And then there's Kat. I do hope we meet her again.
Levels of coincidental happenings, combining both Carey's investigative abilities and chance, spiral down or up depending on your perspective, to the final unforeseen revelations.
(I found the Spoiler Alert historical note at the end of the book particularly interesting. Chisholm talks about the source materials he used regarding Amy Dudley's death).
As this chapter of Carey's story closes we are left wondering what the next chapter in his life might bring.
A notably enjoyable Tudor mystery from a series I, for one, mean to continue to explore.
A NetGalley ARC
Oxford, 1593, and courtier Sir Robert Carey, youngest son of The Lord Chamberlain, Baron Hunsdon, still has not received his warrant from his cousin (on the legitimate and the illegitimate sides) Queen Elizabeth.
Queen Elizabeth is progressing to Oxford which is frantically crowded and preparing for her much anticipated visit.
Carey is thinking of ways to present himself to the Queen, when she sends for him.
When your Queen calls? What can you do but obey!
When your Queen changes your plans and her promises what can you do but acquiesce.
Elizabeth charges Carey with solving a thirty year old mystery--that of the death of the former wife of Dudley, the Earl of Leicester. Amy Dudley (nee Robsart) who appeared to have fallen down stairs to her death.
Carey is by himself in Oxford. Dodd is still down south and Carey is forced to hire a new serving man, Hughie Tyndale. He's a Scotsman, paid to assassinate Carey. We first meet him as he is busily planning and discarding ways to dispose of Carey. He decides that being Carey's henchman will suffice, offering ample opportunity.
As a bonus, the story is littered with fascinating facts about Tudor life, from the weight of courtly dress to practices in hiring servants. When Carey hires Hughie he inspects his ears, 'looking for a ragged ear from having it nailed to the Edinburgh pillory for thieving.'
Carey also hires an insignificant looking clerk, one John Tovey, whom I'm hoping will round out to be a helpful foil in Carey's future adventures, that is if Chisholm keeps him on.
Sergeant Dodd is a treasure of a character. He's waylaid enroute to Oxford.
The scene between Elizabeth and Dodd is nicely and amusingly written.
And then there's Kat. I do hope we meet her again.
Levels of coincidental happenings, combining both Carey's investigative abilities and chance, spiral down or up depending on your perspective, to the final unforeseen revelations.
(I found the Spoiler Alert historical note at the end of the book particularly interesting. Chisholm talks about the source materials he used regarding Amy Dudley's death).
As this chapter of Carey's story closes we are left wondering what the next chapter in his life might bring.
A notably enjoyable Tudor mystery from a series I, for one, mean to continue to explore.
A NetGalley ARC
January 15, 2014
Amy Robsart, first wife of the Earl of Leicester, died on September 8, 1560. It took a year for the inquest to reach a verdict. So why has Queen Elizabeth commissioned Sir Robert Carey to investigate the case again thirty years later? Preparations are under way for Elizabeth to enter Oxford on this leg of her progress. Because of outbreaks of plague in London the progress has slowed down considerably to avoid returning to a part of the country where plague may still be actively spreading. All of this puts the royal party in close proximity to where Amy Robsart died. All Sir Robert has to do is find thirty-two year old clues and people from that time still living in order to question them. It was widely known in 1560 that Elizabeth wanted to marry the Earl of Leicester, but his marriage to Amy stood in the way. So why did they not marry when Amy died?
Sir Robert Carey is both the nephew and cousin of Queen Elizabeth which made for some interesting family dynamics. I enjoy reading historical mystery novels, but more from a period atmosphere aspect than the factual historical perspective. Readers who are interested in the true facts of this actual case will definitely enjoy speculating on the version this author has conceived for this novel. Could it be true? That is definitely for someone other than myself to decide, but it certainly was entertaining. This is the first novel I’ve read in this series and I appreciated the fullness of character I found in Sir Robert and Sergeant Henry Dodd. The atmosphere surrounding a royal progress was well described along with all the various court intrigues. There is a historical note at the end of the story which the author warns contains spoilers so it was good that I waited until I had finished the novel before I read that. There is also a glossary which I made use of often. I am looking forward to going back to read previous books in this series and I hope there will be more available in the future.
I received an ARC of this novel through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own.
Sir Robert Carey is both the nephew and cousin of Queen Elizabeth which made for some interesting family dynamics. I enjoy reading historical mystery novels, but more from a period atmosphere aspect than the factual historical perspective. Readers who are interested in the true facts of this actual case will definitely enjoy speculating on the version this author has conceived for this novel. Could it be true? That is definitely for someone other than myself to decide, but it certainly was entertaining. This is the first novel I’ve read in this series and I appreciated the fullness of character I found in Sir Robert and Sergeant Henry Dodd. The atmosphere surrounding a royal progress was well described along with all the various court intrigues. There is a historical note at the end of the story which the author warns contains spoilers so it was good that I waited until I had finished the novel before I read that. There is also a glossary which I made use of often. I am looking forward to going back to read previous books in this series and I hope there will be more available in the future.
I received an ARC of this novel through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own.
September 13, 2016
P.F. Chisholm's series has consistently ranked as one of my favorites in the historical mystery genre, and I'm thrilled to see Sir Robert Carey back in print. She brings Elizabethan England to life in all its intrigues, sights, sounds, and smells-- so much so that once you've stopped reading, it can be difficult to bring yourself back into the correct century. An Air of Treason also has her light touch of humor that I enjoy so much. Poor Sergeant Dodd is a Northerner through and through, and the problems he has in just being understood so far south can be quite funny. As a stranger to the area himself, Dodd is our window into the south of England in the sixteenth century.
Sir Robert Carey with his royal connections is our window into the court of Elizabeth I. He's a clothes horse and a ladies man, but he's no fool and very brave. His investigation takes him to Cumnor Place where Amy Dudley died. Since the woman's death, the manor house has been allowed to crumble slowly into the ground, and this is where Chisholm shows us that she can also write scenes that are spooky enough to make the hair stand on the back of your neck.
Carey's solution to Amy Dudley's death is a very interesting and satisfying one, and by book's end you'll see that a thread or two has been left dangling, ready to be picked up again in the next book. Although one book runs smoothly into the next in this series, it's not necessary for you to read them all in order for them to make sense... or for you to enjoy An Air of Treason. However, I wouldn't be at all surprised if historical mystery lovers found themselves reading this book and then looking for the rest. I highly recommend them!
Sir Robert Carey with his royal connections is our window into the court of Elizabeth I. He's a clothes horse and a ladies man, but he's no fool and very brave. His investigation takes him to Cumnor Place where Amy Dudley died. Since the woman's death, the manor house has been allowed to crumble slowly into the ground, and this is where Chisholm shows us that she can also write scenes that are spooky enough to make the hair stand on the back of your neck.
Carey's solution to Amy Dudley's death is a very interesting and satisfying one, and by book's end you'll see that a thread or two has been left dangling, ready to be picked up again in the next book. Although one book runs smoothly into the next in this series, it's not necessary for you to read them all in order for them to make sense... or for you to enjoy An Air of Treason. However, I wouldn't be at all surprised if historical mystery lovers found themselves reading this book and then looking for the rest. I highly recommend them!
December 8, 2013
My favorite place to visit Robert Carey and Sergeant Dodd is the West March near the Debatable Land. However this was an interesting although complicated mystery and outing.
Carey is asked by his aunt and cousin the Queen to revisit the mysterious murder of Amy Robsart Dudley 30 years after it occurred in 1560.Kidnapping, poisoning and gangs of robbers in the forest near to Oxford ensue. The gang of robbers who captures Henry Dodd, or as he calls them "broken men" have been infiltrated after 30 years by persons who have personal knowledge of the original events.
Lord Hunsdon, Lord Chamberlain and father to The Courtier, Sir Robert plays a fine part as does a new employee of his. Hughie Tyndale,a young Scot paid to kill him becomes a loyal servant and we shall surely see him again. Will Sir Robert meet up with his lady love in the next episode? Getting to be that time I think.
Recommended for Tudor fans and mystery lovers alike. Received from NetGalley for review purposes.
Carey is asked by his aunt and cousin the Queen to revisit the mysterious murder of Amy Robsart Dudley 30 years after it occurred in 1560.Kidnapping, poisoning and gangs of robbers in the forest near to Oxford ensue. The gang of robbers who captures Henry Dodd, or as he calls them "broken men" have been infiltrated after 30 years by persons who have personal knowledge of the original events.
Lord Hunsdon, Lord Chamberlain and father to The Courtier, Sir Robert plays a fine part as does a new employee of his. Hughie Tyndale,a young Scot paid to kill him becomes a loyal servant and we shall surely see him again. Will Sir Robert meet up with his lady love in the next episode? Getting to be that time I think.
Recommended for Tudor fans and mystery lovers alike. Received from NetGalley for review purposes.
November 24, 2016
I love these - a bit like Dorothy Dunnett's Lymond series only funnier and less tragic. I've moved straight on to the next one already though I know I'll regret it when I run out of it, too. Dodd is wonderful.
April 24, 2014
I think I have fallen in love with both Carey and Dodd!
May 14, 2021
Sir Robert Carey dons worn pearls, threadbare velvet, sharp sword and a heady awareness of betrayal, bribery and, of course, debt collectors in this sixth book of this historical series. P.F. Chisholm spares no mud, lice and chamber pots depicting what life was really like for royalty back in the reign of Elizabeth I. Carey is younger son of a, as they say, "by blow" of the late king. As such, he has little status and almost no money, which doesn't stop him from living high, wagering big, pawning his clothes, promising the world and keeping one step ahead of the thugs who would settle his debts for him.
But he is also very, very clever, and Elizabeth orders him to find out once and for all who killed the wife of the man she wanted to marry 30 years before.
A daunting task, but Carey operates like a detective and figures it all out by the end.
A subplot is that his henchman, Sergeant Dodd, is robbed, beaten and left for dead on the road to Carey's camp. In true warrior fashion, he recovers, realizes quickly who the real enemy is and ultimately recruits a ragtag group as a makeshift army for his master, Carey.
Here's the problem I had: There are so many names, and they come at such a rapid-fire rate that, unless some reader has an eidetic memory, all you'll want to do is skip over half of them and get to the story. The solution itself has a "deus ex machina" feel to it, so, the good news is that it's almost impossible to guess; the bad news is that, by the time the murderer is revealed, you're exhausted and you don't really care that much.
But he is also very, very clever, and Elizabeth orders him to find out once and for all who killed the wife of the man she wanted to marry 30 years before.
A daunting task, but Carey operates like a detective and figures it all out by the end.
A subplot is that his henchman, Sergeant Dodd, is robbed, beaten and left for dead on the road to Carey's camp. In true warrior fashion, he recovers, realizes quickly who the real enemy is and ultimately recruits a ragtag group as a makeshift army for his master, Carey.
Here's the problem I had: There are so many names, and they come at such a rapid-fire rate that, unless some reader has an eidetic memory, all you'll want to do is skip over half of them and get to the story. The solution itself has a "deus ex machina" feel to it, so, the good news is that it's almost impossible to guess; the bad news is that, by the time the murderer is revealed, you're exhausted and you don't really care that much.
September 3, 2018
I found this slightly more engaging than the previous novel, but unlike Crisholm's first three novels which were set in Carlisle, I still felt that there was something missing here. I think the mystery kind of disappointed me as well as the setting, as it was one of those where you can't really look back and see the clues. Convulting and twisting but somehow now all that brilliant, as it relies entirely on things that you could not have known to make the finale work. I enjoyed the characterisations though and the writing style was of a typically high standard.
September 25, 2018
The sixth book featuring Robert Carey is one of the best. Carey is on a seemingly impossible mission for the queen who won't tell him the details but leaves it to him to find out what happened before he was born. Sergeant Dodd gets into his own troubles as he travels from London to meet Carey at Oxford. Another page turner!
December 4, 2018
Carey's in Oxford and the Queen's on her way on a royal Progress to get out of plague season in London. Dodd's following along behind, but runs into trouble, while Carey is given the job of solving a thirty year old murder. Poisonings and stabbings and beatings follow amidst some solid detecting and tricky politics. Terrifically entertaining.
July 8, 2021
Once more an interesting entry in the series with a realistic twist to the mysterious death of Robert Dudley's wife. Carey and Dodd have been on separate but connected adventures for most of this book and much of the last and while they both function quite well on their own, they make a great team. Dodd is definitely eager to get back to the North, and his wife. Carey may miss the court.
July 23, 2017
Fun, exciting, and well grounded in history
I love the Humours, and the humor. Chisholm has really worked to connect the mystery and the behavior of characters to historical issues, motivations, and customs.
I love the Humours, and the humor. Chisholm has really worked to connect the mystery and the behavior of characters to historical issues, motivations, and customs.
July 27, 2019
Read through this one and the previous one pretty quickly. Always interesting to read historical fiction of people who were real at one point in time. Plus it's from a time period long enough ago that there's no one around to sue.
June 25, 2017
Got addicted to this series.
August 4, 2017
Fantastic. It's a great series. Meticulously researched and hilarious and convincing characters.
May 6, 2018
Rollicking good fun.
January 6, 2020
A lot faster paced than the last few books, great plot and great characters as always!
December 7, 2020
We've been to the Scottish Court with Cary, now we get to see the English Court during it's Summer Progress. And something of the woman who is Queen Elizabeth.
July 17, 2023
Love this series
February 27, 2014
Review originally published at The Bookwyrm's Hoard.
P. F. Chilsolm offers a well-written historical mystery which takes a look at the death of Amy Dudley (nee Dudley.) Chisolm's eye for historical detail is excellent, as is her portrayal of the politics and major players of the age: Queen Elizabeth, Lord Burghley (William Cecil), Lord Hunsdon (Henry Carey, father of the protagonist), and others. Unusually for a historical mystery, even the main character, Sir Robert Carey, actually existed in real life: the eighth son of Henry Carey, he eventually became Earl of Monmouth.
I was fascinated by Carey's investigation of Amy Robsart's death, but he doesn't really get going on it until well into the book. For that reason, and because of POV issues which I'll talk about below, it took me a while to really get invested in the characters and in the story as a whole. To be fair, there's a reason Carey can't start investigating right away: someone poisons him with belladonna, which nearly kills him. But even before that, there's a long period of scene-setting as Carey arrives in Oxford, where the Queen is on progress. Again, the historical detail is extremely accurate (to the best of my knowledge), and Chisolm brings to life the splendour and squalor of Elizabethan life as well as the convoluted political maneuvering of Elizabeth's court. Still, I found the beginning a bit of a slog.
Robert Carey is a flawed but engaging main character: a gambler and risk-taker, always in debt, but both charming and clever, with a mind that leaps immediately past surface appearances to the implications of whatever he is focused on. Even half-blind and recovering from the poisoning, he picks up more than most people would, and usually draws the right conclusions.
The POV changes frequently, alternating primarily between Robert and the irascible Sergeant Dodd, his man, who is separated from him for most of the book. That didn't really bother me, except that I couldn't see for quite some time what Sergeant Dodd's story had to do with the main plot. (It intersects eventually, in a way I hadn't anticipated at all.) I was, however, disconcerted whenever the POV shifted to other characters, as it does occasionally and without warning, even mid-scene. There's also a section at the beginning from the perspective of a character I assumed would be important, but who diminished rapidly once the Robsart investigation was underway.
Once the investigation really got going, the whole book seemed to take off, and I found myself turning the pages as fast as I could, eager to know both the results of Carey's investigation and Sergeant Dodd's eventual fate. There are more than a few surprises and a satisfyingly suspenseful section toward the end of the novel. The mystery itself is complex, and does rely in part on the murderer's confession, something that in this context actually worked well. While I doubt Chisolm has hit upon the true solution, her explanation of Amy's death fits the known facts as well as the character and motivations of many of the main players, and only part of it feels a little contrived -- from a historical viewpoint but definitely not from a fictional one.
Carey makes a good investigator, and the Elizabethan period has always fascinated me. Taking the book as a whole, I enjoyed it despite the slow beginning, and will probably seek out the rest of the series.
NOTE: I rated this book a 3.5 on my blog, The Bookwyrm’s Hoard.
FTC disclosure: I received an advance review e-copy from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.
P. F. Chilsolm offers a well-written historical mystery which takes a look at the death of Amy Dudley (nee Dudley.) Chisolm's eye for historical detail is excellent, as is her portrayal of the politics and major players of the age: Queen Elizabeth, Lord Burghley (William Cecil), Lord Hunsdon (Henry Carey, father of the protagonist), and others. Unusually for a historical mystery, even the main character, Sir Robert Carey, actually existed in real life: the eighth son of Henry Carey, he eventually became Earl of Monmouth.
I was fascinated by Carey's investigation of Amy Robsart's death, but he doesn't really get going on it until well into the book. For that reason, and because of POV issues which I'll talk about below, it took me a while to really get invested in the characters and in the story as a whole. To be fair, there's a reason Carey can't start investigating right away: someone poisons him with belladonna, which nearly kills him. But even before that, there's a long period of scene-setting as Carey arrives in Oxford, where the Queen is on progress. Again, the historical detail is extremely accurate (to the best of my knowledge), and Chisolm brings to life the splendour and squalor of Elizabethan life as well as the convoluted political maneuvering of Elizabeth's court. Still, I found the beginning a bit of a slog.
Robert Carey is a flawed but engaging main character: a gambler and risk-taker, always in debt, but both charming and clever, with a mind that leaps immediately past surface appearances to the implications of whatever he is focused on. Even half-blind and recovering from the poisoning, he picks up more than most people would, and usually draws the right conclusions.
The POV changes frequently, alternating primarily between Robert and the irascible Sergeant Dodd, his man, who is separated from him for most of the book. That didn't really bother me, except that I couldn't see for quite some time what Sergeant Dodd's story had to do with the main plot. (It intersects eventually, in a way I hadn't anticipated at all.) I was, however, disconcerted whenever the POV shifted to other characters, as it does occasionally and without warning, even mid-scene. There's also a section at the beginning from the perspective of a character I assumed would be important, but who diminished rapidly once the Robsart investigation was underway.
Once the investigation really got going, the whole book seemed to take off, and I found myself turning the pages as fast as I could, eager to know both the results of Carey's investigation and Sergeant Dodd's eventual fate. There are more than a few surprises and a satisfyingly suspenseful section toward the end of the novel. The mystery itself is complex, and does rely in part on the murderer's confession, something that in this context actually worked well. While I doubt Chisolm has hit upon the true solution, her explanation of Amy's death fits the known facts as well as the character and motivations of many of the main players, and only part of it feels a little contrived -- from a historical viewpoint but definitely not from a fictional one.
Carey makes a good investigator, and the Elizabethan period has always fascinated me. Taking the book as a whole, I enjoyed it despite the slow beginning, and will probably seek out the rest of the series.
NOTE: I rated this book a 3.5 on my blog, The Bookwyrm’s Hoard.
FTC disclosure: I received an advance review e-copy from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.
November 20, 2013
I was interested in An Air of Treason: A Sir Robert Carey Mystery because of a long fascination with Amy Robsart and the mystery behind her death. Who is responsible for this fascination? Sir Walter Scott and his novel Kenilworth which I read as a teenager.
Much has been written in fact and fiction, about Amy and whether her death was an unfortunate accident or murder. If murder, was her husband Robert Dudley involved? Was Queen Elizabeth, who adored Dudley, responsible?
Chisolm presents a new theory and has done a lot of research to make the theory plausible. While the truth will never be known, the circumstances give rise to plenty of speculation, and Chisolm has used many primary documents to develop his plot.
I have not read the previous novels in this series, but I did enjoy this one. Sir Robert Carey is a protagonist with flaws; he is often humorously egotistical, but is essentially a good man with a talent for solving mysteries.
Robert Carey is the son of Elizabeth's half brother, Lord Hunsdon. Hunsdon was the son of Mary Boleyn, and many believe, the illegitimate son of Henry VIII. Carey is, therefore, both Elizabeth's nephew and second cousin.
When Elizabeth orders him to investigate the death of Amy Robsart Dudley, Carey knows that the investigation of a thirty-year-old death will be dangerous for him. He is not sure if the death will incriminate Elizabeth, herself.
The story line of Carey's man, Sergeant Henry Dobson is equally interesting. Dobson provides plenty of action on his own.
I enjoyed the mystery and the researching on line for some of what is documented about Amy's death and the consequences thereof.
My main complaint is that Chisholm refers to Scots as Scotch. I've always heard that the much preferred choice is either Scots or Scottish. However, Scotch is an archaic term, and although I found it jarring, I guess it is appropriate.
Amusing, but crude, definition from Urban Dictionary:
scotch
Most definitely does not mean 'Scottish' when describing people. It is often used to describe liquor, eggs and beef among other things.
Those who call Scottish people 'Scotch' are often corrected with a polite saying-so, or a "F__ off, you stupid American bastard!", depending on how much Scotch the Scottish person has recently imbibed.
Stereotypical American - "Hey you're Scotch! Isn't Scotland in England?"
Drunken Scot - "F__ off, you stupid American bastard!"
Any hoo, a good historic mystery with interesting characters and an engrossing plot. There are six previous books in this series that I may be looking up soon.
NetGalley/Poisoned Pen Press
Historic Mystery. Feb. 4, 2014. Print version: 250 pages.
Much has been written in fact and fiction, about Amy and whether her death was an unfortunate accident or murder. If murder, was her husband Robert Dudley involved? Was Queen Elizabeth, who adored Dudley, responsible?
Chisolm presents a new theory and has done a lot of research to make the theory plausible. While the truth will never be known, the circumstances give rise to plenty of speculation, and Chisolm has used many primary documents to develop his plot.
I have not read the previous novels in this series, but I did enjoy this one. Sir Robert Carey is a protagonist with flaws; he is often humorously egotistical, but is essentially a good man with a talent for solving mysteries.
Robert Carey is the son of Elizabeth's half brother, Lord Hunsdon. Hunsdon was the son of Mary Boleyn, and many believe, the illegitimate son of Henry VIII. Carey is, therefore, both Elizabeth's nephew and second cousin.
When Elizabeth orders him to investigate the death of Amy Robsart Dudley, Carey knows that the investigation of a thirty-year-old death will be dangerous for him. He is not sure if the death will incriminate Elizabeth, herself.
The story line of Carey's man, Sergeant Henry Dobson is equally interesting. Dobson provides plenty of action on his own.
I enjoyed the mystery and the researching on line for some of what is documented about Amy's death and the consequences thereof.
My main complaint is that Chisholm refers to Scots as Scotch. I've always heard that the much preferred choice is either Scots or Scottish. However, Scotch is an archaic term, and although I found it jarring, I guess it is appropriate.
Amusing, but crude, definition from Urban Dictionary:
scotch
Most definitely does not mean 'Scottish' when describing people. It is often used to describe liquor, eggs and beef among other things.
Those who call Scottish people 'Scotch' are often corrected with a polite saying-so, or a "F__ off, you stupid American bastard!", depending on how much Scotch the Scottish person has recently imbibed.
Stereotypical American - "Hey you're Scotch! Isn't Scotland in England?"
Drunken Scot - "F__ off, you stupid American bastard!"
Any hoo, a good historic mystery with interesting characters and an engrossing plot. There are six previous books in this series that I may be looking up soon.
NetGalley/Poisoned Pen Press
Historic Mystery. Feb. 4, 2014. Print version: 250 pages.
April 13, 2014
I seem to be on a bit of a historical mystery kick these days! An Air of Treason by P.F. Chisholm is a good one!
Thirty-two years ago, the then-young Queen Elizabeth's favored suitor's wife died under mysterious circumstances. What were these circumstances? And why is she revisiting this scandal now?
The Elizabethan era is a fascinating one -- heading toward modern in many ways, and yet a completely different society as well. Chisholm does an excellent job of bridging these, and painting an evocative picture of aspects of what it must have really been like to live then and there. (This is one reason I prefer solid historical fiction to pure history; I am very curious about how people actually lived, not just about Great Events.)
The characters here are distinct and well-drawn, particularly the more primary ones. The main plot is nice and twisty, but with sufficient foreshadowing and cross-connections that it's satisfyingly solid, while -- for me at least -- the resolution was mostly a surprise. Various secondary plotlines are woven in, too, and it will be interesting to see which of these Chisholm picks up in the next volume.
This is the sixth volume in this mystery series, and although I had some trouble keeping the names and titles straight -- especially since the same person could be referred to by given name, surname, title or some abbreviation of any or all of them -- it wasn't confusing, and enough of the history and backstory was included to make sense even to me, who has not only not read any of the previous novels but who does not have a solid grasp of Queen Elizabeth's court. Nicely done! A "glossary" of the people involved, with ALL the ways in which their names and titles were used, would have been helpful at times. However, I appreciated the glossary of Elizabethan terms and slang at the end -- it was a fun bonus, as was the page or so of historical notes.
I enjoyed this book a lot, and I'll be looking for others in the series. I'd be curious what history buffs more knowledgeable about the era think of the context in particular, both historic and practical. I do recommend this book to others fascinated by the Elizabethan era, even when we are not experts on it.
Thirty-two years ago, the then-young Queen Elizabeth's favored suitor's wife died under mysterious circumstances. What were these circumstances? And why is she revisiting this scandal now?
The Elizabethan era is a fascinating one -- heading toward modern in many ways, and yet a completely different society as well. Chisholm does an excellent job of bridging these, and painting an evocative picture of aspects of what it must have really been like to live then and there. (This is one reason I prefer solid historical fiction to pure history; I am very curious about how people actually lived, not just about Great Events.)
The characters here are distinct and well-drawn, particularly the more primary ones. The main plot is nice and twisty, but with sufficient foreshadowing and cross-connections that it's satisfyingly solid, while -- for me at least -- the resolution was mostly a surprise. Various secondary plotlines are woven in, too, and it will be interesting to see which of these Chisholm picks up in the next volume.
This is the sixth volume in this mystery series, and although I had some trouble keeping the names and titles straight -- especially since the same person could be referred to by given name, surname, title or some abbreviation of any or all of them -- it wasn't confusing, and enough of the history and backstory was included to make sense even to me, who has not only not read any of the previous novels but who does not have a solid grasp of Queen Elizabeth's court. Nicely done! A "glossary" of the people involved, with ALL the ways in which their names and titles were used, would have been helpful at times. However, I appreciated the glossary of Elizabethan terms and slang at the end -- it was a fun bonus, as was the page or so of historical notes.
I enjoyed this book a lot, and I'll be looking for others in the series. I'd be curious what history buffs more knowledgeable about the era think of the context in particular, both historic and practical. I do recommend this book to others fascinated by the Elizabethan era, even when we are not experts on it.
July 23, 2014
At first, I didn’t think I was going to enjoy this book and I blamed that feeling on the fact I’d picked up the sixth book in a series. However, after a few chapters, I fell into the story – partly helped because many of the characters are based on actual historical figures, so I already had a sense of who they were and the real-life roles they had, but also because the tale itself is so engaging.
Chisolm does a marvellous job of bringing to life the latter years of Elizabeth the First’s reign and the rise of her favourite, the Earl of Essex, and the various politicking that went on. Her lead character is Sir Robert Carey, a courtier and cousin of the queen who, in this instalment is in Oxford where the queen is on progress. Determined to wrest from her Majesty’s tight fingers wages he’s owed for being Deputy Warden of the West march with Scotland, Carey converges on Oxford as well. Instead of getting his fee, Carey is given a task – to find out what really happened to the Earl of Leicester, Robert Dudley’s first wife, Amy Robsart, thirty years earlier.
The death of Amy has always been considered mysterious and cast aspersions not only on the queen but her favourite, Leicester, and is long read (and hotly debated) as one of the reasons Queen Elizabeth didn’t marry him. Effectively a cold case, Carey begins his investigation, but all too quickly discovers there are those who don’t want the truth to come out. Soon, Carey is in as much danger as it seems young Amy was as well…
Parallel to this story is that of Carey’s trusted man, Sergeant Dodd, who coming to join his master, is waylaid in violent circumstances and held captive. It’s not only the mystery of Amy’s death Carey has to solve, but of Dodd’s disappearance too. Carey must find his man before it’s too late – for Dodd, Carey and the queen.
This ended up being a rollicking good read. Historically accurate with lovely fictive embellishes, it should please lovers of history and those after a page-turning murder-mystery. I liked this so much, I went and bought the first few Carey adventures and cannot wait to read them
Chisolm does a marvellous job of bringing to life the latter years of Elizabeth the First’s reign and the rise of her favourite, the Earl of Essex, and the various politicking that went on. Her lead character is Sir Robert Carey, a courtier and cousin of the queen who, in this instalment is in Oxford where the queen is on progress. Determined to wrest from her Majesty’s tight fingers wages he’s owed for being Deputy Warden of the West march with Scotland, Carey converges on Oxford as well. Instead of getting his fee, Carey is given a task – to find out what really happened to the Earl of Leicester, Robert Dudley’s first wife, Amy Robsart, thirty years earlier.
The death of Amy has always been considered mysterious and cast aspersions not only on the queen but her favourite, Leicester, and is long read (and hotly debated) as one of the reasons Queen Elizabeth didn’t marry him. Effectively a cold case, Carey begins his investigation, but all too quickly discovers there are those who don’t want the truth to come out. Soon, Carey is in as much danger as it seems young Amy was as well…
Parallel to this story is that of Carey’s trusted man, Sergeant Dodd, who coming to join his master, is waylaid in violent circumstances and held captive. It’s not only the mystery of Amy’s death Carey has to solve, but of Dodd’s disappearance too. Carey must find his man before it’s too late – for Dodd, Carey and the queen.
This ended up being a rollicking good read. Historically accurate with lovely fictive embellishes, it should please lovers of history and those after a page-turning murder-mystery. I liked this so much, I went and bought the first few Carey adventures and cannot wait to read them
March 15, 2016
An Air of Treason is the 6th book in the Sir Robert Carey mysteries. I read the previous books some years ago so struggled a bit to remember who was who and what had happened in the last book. But I quickly got into it and was reminded of what a wonderful writer PF Chisholm is. She has clearly steeped herself in the Elizabethan period since the details were so convincing that I could almost smell, taste and feel what was happening – not all of it pleasant! I now know rather too vividly what belladonna poisoning feels like.
As with the previous books, the ‘hero’ is required to solve a mystery, this one set in Oxford and relating to events which took place almost before our hero was born. Needless to say, he does so, at some considerable risk to himself. Unlike in previous books, he’s not aided by his sidekick, Sergeant Dodd, who has his own problems and story in this novel. In the meantime, there are a number of new and interesting characters all of whom are vividly portrayed.
Yet another novel follows on from this one, which might account for at least one end which I didn’t feel was tied up. I gather the next one will take place in the Borders, which I’m glad about since I feel that’s the natural home of Sir Robert. If I have one criticism it’s that the real Sir Robert Carey had such a fascinating life and was so influential in the history of the Borders that it seems a pity that these novels are essentially whodunits. Still, that’s a question of taste and it’s a measure of the writing that, in spite of normally avoiding whodunits like the plague, I’ve already read and enjoyed six of them and am looking forward to the 7th.
As with the previous books, the ‘hero’ is required to solve a mystery, this one set in Oxford and relating to events which took place almost before our hero was born. Needless to say, he does so, at some considerable risk to himself. Unlike in previous books, he’s not aided by his sidekick, Sergeant Dodd, who has his own problems and story in this novel. In the meantime, there are a number of new and interesting characters all of whom are vividly portrayed.
Yet another novel follows on from this one, which might account for at least one end which I didn’t feel was tied up. I gather the next one will take place in the Borders, which I’m glad about since I feel that’s the natural home of Sir Robert. If I have one criticism it’s that the real Sir Robert Carey had such a fascinating life and was so influential in the history of the Borders that it seems a pity that these novels are essentially whodunits. Still, that’s a question of taste and it’s a measure of the writing that, in spite of normally avoiding whodunits like the plague, I’ve already read and enjoyed six of them and am looking forward to the 7th.
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