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In a Treacherous Court
in Paperback edition on August 2, 2011 and has 301 pages.
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First in the Susanna Horenbout and John Parker historical suspense series set in 1525 at the Court of Henry VIII of England. And it’s suitable for young adults.
My Take
I am somewhat prejudiced to liking this because it combines history with a working artist and it’s nicely done with a blend of real people and Diener’s characters creating a suspenseful treasonous plot against Henry VIII. Diener provided a well-blended backstory on her principal characters. She sets her historic scenes well enough that I feel as though I’m there and includes enough emotion that will have you worried but won’t concern your doctor.
Diener includes the cultural background on how women are perceived as well. It’s enough to make you grateful for American equality.
LOL, oh, yes, Susanna is definitely a painter as she keeps being distracted by interesting features, fascinating groups of people, and tantalizing individuals. I do love that she confounds everyone at court with the mere fact that she is able.
Being used to the usual concerns about maintaining a virginal state, it was a treat to encounter a heroine who is willing to make her own decisions and not be excessively concerned with her virginity. A slight bit of moral tale is here in Susanna’s realizing that inadvertently having waited for Parker to be her first was actually better than using the blacksmith.
I do love how Parker gets revenge on Boleyn for his actions against Susanna! At least someone had balls!
The major hole I see in this plot is the premise that letters one can burn are enough to hold their recipients to account although I do think Diener’s underlying plan is a good one.
An easy read with just enough to keep you interested. I’m looking forward to number 2 in this new series as I like both Susannah and Parker very much.
The Story
It’s a disastrous journey when a fellow passenger is murdered and the trip to Henry’s court includes two assassination attempts against Susanna. Thank god she has Parker to guard her. She should have been safe once she met with the King, but, no. Killers continue to slip out of the woodwork and Parker continues to hunt.
It’s only Parker and his newly increased staff’s fast actions that save her. Together they follow the clues to track down the truth. One that could be fatal to both. Or fatal to many others caught in a circuitous trap.
The Characters
Susanna Horenbout is a Flemish painter sent by her father to take a position as a Court painter in 1525 to Henry VIII. She is definitely qualified for the post, although her father is sending her to get her away from his blacksmith! Gerard Horenbout is Margaret of Austria’s painter.
John Parker is the King’s man. One of the very, very few the King trusts. His official title is King’s Keeper of the Palace of Westminster and his Yeoman of the Crossbows. Mistress Greene is his housekeeper at Orchard Cottage in Crooked Lane in London. Simon is a yeoman guard undercover as a cartman and, Parker hopes, his friend.
Peter Jack is the boy who accepted the job to murder Susanna. Eric is his little brother. They’re both mudlarks and desperate for money to survive. The rest of the gang includes Harry, Will, and the other lads are hired on as “messengers”.
Master Harvey was a merchant who filled his purse and his desire for excitement by collecting information for the King. It seems that Mistress Harvey does hold something of interest. Dr. Pettigrew was the physician on board when Harvey breathed his last. Captain Caitlin is in command of the ship which brought them over from the Netherlands.
Henry VIII is King of England and still married to Katherine of Aragon. Charles Brandon is the Duke of Suffolk and Diener claims he is Henry’s brother-in-law, which doesn’t really make sense if he is still married to a Spanish princess. The Earl of Norfolk, Francis Bryan, Neville, William Carey, Courtney, and Guildford are lords and Denny is a guard at the court. Elizabeth Carew, Nicholas‘ wife, is the King’s latest mistress.
George Boleyn has a terrible reputation in history and Diener makes excellent use of it in this story. Tom Fielder and Norris are servants to Norfolk; Margaret is his mistress.
Richard de la Pole is a contender for Henry’s throne. He’s simply waiting for a papal endorsement before he comes into the open. Meanwhile, he is subverting members of the court.
Gripper is not to be trusted. Mistress Gladys Goodnight haunts the docks.
The Cover and Title
The cover is swirly everywhere with gold-to-purple floral sprays lining the left edge and a pale background with a pale castle surrounded by trees with Susanna, her brunette hair tumbling around her, in her gold-trimmed purple velvet gown with its purple-on-gold brocade underskirt all a’swirl.
The title is accurate for Susanna has arrived In a Treacherous Court where the king’s nobles are plotting against him. And someone believes Susanna holds dangerous information.
