I have read this book and enjoyed the tale. I reviewed for Fresh Fiction. When they release the review I will notify you. Here is my rating on Goodreads.

Queen’s own investigator!

1586, Ursula Stannard (Blanchard) once again does Sir Francis Walsingham’s bidding—and by extension her half sister’s, Elizabeth Tudor. This time she’s investigating rumours of pagan rites in a forest (brought to Ursula’s attention by a dame from the remote village of Chenston), and how that might or might not relate to Walsingham’s enquiries and lures around rumours of a plot being hatched by Mary Stuart against her cousin Elizabeth. Ursula is pointed straight towards Mary, albeit via a devious path.
Of course she’s also once more overseeing the education of her newest companion, a young gentlewoman of a Puritan background whom we met in the last story. I find I don’t really trust this particular young woman, Mildred Gresham. She is too eager to walk her own path, often unwisely.
Like the last adventure, we end up deep in the forests of England, in an out of the way village, where intermarriage is maybe to close, and where Christianity is surrounded by age old rituals, where danger and superstitions walk hand in hand, and can be easily manipulated.
I’ve enjoyed following Ursula’s life, the various paths she’s trodden, her quick execution of plans as danger looms. I’m exhausted and she probably is too. We can see her manservant and friend Roger Brockley is ageing, as is Dale, Brockley’s wife and Ursula’s maid. Ursula’s service for the Queen in this story is one that she will take no joy in. Though maybe one could say, who else can Elizabeth trust?
Where Ursula will go from here I don’t know. She serves at the Queen’s pleasure. Maybe it’s time for her own pleasure, time for less dangerous meanderings—raising horses, keeping an eye on her business fronts, and caring for her children and extended family group. That is, if the Queen and Walsingham will let her. But I suspect that won’t be, as is raised, if anything happened to Mary Stuart, Philip of Spain would be infuriated. The future beckons.

A Severn House ARC via NetGalley

Although this is the 19th book in the Buckley's Ursula Blanchard series, it can be read as a standalone. It is well written and intriguing.

Following immediately upon the events of the prior novel, as Forest of Secrets opens Ursula Stannard and her retinue are returning from Devon to Hawkswood, her home, she becomes aware that a woman has been waiting there for her return. This woman, Etheldreda Hope, had come seeking Ursula’s help. She knew something of Ursula’s reputation in helping people. Mrs Hope feared that a strange conspiracy, possibly connected in some way to Queen Mary, was involved with gatherings occurring around old pagan feast days in the Forest by her small village. Of course, if Mary is mentioned, Ursula must listen as she is always cautious around issues that might concern Queen Elizabeth. It has now become somewhat more general knowledge that Ursula is half sister to the Queen and interested in her concerns.

And so begins another mystery set in 1586 with all the trappings of the era. Information is procured by message sent with men, or boys, on horseback and received back in hours or days, not minutes. Access to areas can be limited by clothing, particularly women’s clothing as described. But Ursula has unusual access because of who she is and because she has the support of the Queen’s security leaders. They are united in protecting Elizabeth and stopping any possible conspiracies.

This is another interesting story in the series and one that can be enjoyed as a stand-alone read by someone new to the books though you would lose some details of past relationships. I find historical fiction a great way to explore earlier times. This series is a good example.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

i didn't realize this was such a long series when i started the ARC, but i still quite enjoyed the mystery and intrigue behind the plot. i enjoyed ursula as a character, but i was also disappointed to see how little of her son was mentioned. she also rarely ever thought about him while in minstead, which i found to be odd. overall, i liked the experience of reading this style of narrative and the mystery involved.

Fans of historical mysteries will enjoy this intricate look at machinations during the Tudor Period even if they have not read the preceding books in this long running series. Ursula Blanchard, half sister of Queen Elizabeth I,. finds herself pulled into strange doings in the village of Chenston.. There's accusations of witchcraft, pagan worship, and other things but Ursula is more concerned that there is yet another threat brewing from allies of Mary Queen of Scots. Her manservant Roger Brockley is by her side but not a romantic interest. It's pinned to Midsummer, Lammas, and Halloween of 1586, a momentous year for all concerned. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A very good read.

The year is 1586 and Ursula Blanchard is on a mission to protect Queen Elizabeth I. After returning home from a previous mission, Ursula and her household come into contact with a countrywoman named Etheldreda Hope who has brought a peculiar case to the forefront. In the forest by the village that Etheldreda calls home, there have been strange rituals occurring that include reference to an evil queen. Are these rituals harmless or is there a sinister motive behind the beliefs of the pagans who meet in the forest? Will Ursula and her household solve the case in time? This is the premise of Fiona Buckley’s latest Ursula Blanchard Tudor mystery, “Forest of Secrets”.

I would like to thank Severn House Publishers and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this book. This was my first time reading a novel by Fiona Buckley and I was intrigued by the plot. I was looking for a new Tudor mystery series after finishing the Shardlake series, so I decided to give this series a try.

What I did not know when I went into this series was that this was part of the Ursula Blanchard series and it was book nineteen. Not the greatest place to start a new series, but I still decided to give it a try. Ursula is an older noblewoman who works for Sir Francis Walsingham to protect Queen Elizabeth I from threats, like Mary Queen of Scots. By her side is her loyal household who are willing to risk their lives to help Ursula solve the cases that she has been assigned by the royal court.

This particular case was given to her by a woman named Etheldreda who has an interesting problem. She has been declared a witch by her village because her mule gave birth to a foal. Because of this, no one believes her when she says that there have been peculiar rituals occurring in the New Forest. She turns to Ursula and her team to help solve this mystery.

Personally, I did have some issues with this novel. It was difficult for me to get attached to the cast of this novel. I know that this was because I started this series very late so I don’t know the relationships between Ursula and her household.

Another issue that I had was that I didn’t feel like this book was set in the Tudor times. It seems weird to say for a novel that is set in 1586, but with the jargon and the descriptions that Buckley included, you could have easily exchanged characters from different time periods and it would have made sense. When I want to read a Tudor novel, I want to feel like I am transported into the past. With this novel, I just felt like I was reading a novel not set in a particular time period.

Overall, I thought this novel was okay. Buckley has obviously written a world that is beloved, but it was difficult to navigate in that world. I think I will need to read the rest of the Ursula Blanchard series before I reread this book. If you are a fan of the Ursula Blanchard series, you will enjoy “Forest of Secrets” by Fiona Buckley.

Ursula half sister to Queen Elizabeth undertakes secret missions to protect Elizabeth. A time where conspiracy is close to support Mary Stuart. When Etheldreda comes to Ursula to report of sinister goings on in her village with possible links to Mary Stuart. Ursula is asked by Walsingham the Queen’s spymaster to investigate. The New Forest and pagan rituals bring danger to Ursula is the whole village involved? A good historical mystery entwined with the conspiracy surrounding 2 Queens and a throne to be safeguarded.
I was given an arc of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

In Forest of Secrets Ursula finds herself investigating secret rituals that might just be in support of Mary Stuart...or maybe not. After meeting Ethelreda Hope who has fled from the village of Chenston because the villagers accuse her of being a witch after her mule gave birth to a filly. An unusual occurrence to be sure, but witchcraft? It doesn't help that Ethelreda is a bit wacky and odd, but nevertheless does she really deserve what the villagers want to mete out to her? And then there are the strange quarterly rituals or festivals that harken back to pagan days. Who is leading them? And what does he mean about an "evil queen"? Is it Mary or Elizabeth? Of course it's up to Ursula to figure out just what's going on and whether or not there is a threat to Queen Elizabeth, which she does in her usual competent way with her usual coterie of helpers plus a few new ones.

Forest of Secrets is an enjoyable read; if you liked Fiona Buckley's previous books you'll like this one too. Well written, fast paced, and really good and building suspense, it's definitely a page turner with some history thrown in to keep you hooked!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I will admit it took me a chapter or two to get into the book and I was a bit concerned that I might not care for it, but then from that point on I was hooked and didn't let go. I ended up staying up late into the night (or early morning) to finish the book as I had to know the ending.

I really loved the main character, Ursula, as she was a strong, independent and compassionate woman and the fact that this was not a book about romance. I also liked Mildred and the banter between her and Ursula made me chuckle. Apparently there are other books featuring Ursula that I am not familiar with but will definitely be reading more.

The book brings in Celtic/pagan history and builds to a climax whereby as you are reading, you are trying to figure out who the man behind the mask is.

A definite recommend.

England, 1586. After weeks on the road investigating a possible treason, Mistress Ursula Stannard is journeying back home with her retinue. She solves mysteries and has the ear of the queen and her council. Upon her arrival home, she has an unexpected guest: Etheldreda Hope, a simple country woman who comes from the New Forest. The vicar in her area wouldn’t listen to Etheldreda, so she thought to turn to Mistress Stannard regarding some strong goings-on in her village. “She thinks these Goings On, whatever they are, could have something to do with Mary Stuart.”

Ursula is tired of hearing the name of Mary Stuart as the woman has been at the center of her life’s work as a spy. As a young woman, Ursula was employed as a lady-in-waiting to the young Queen Elizabeth, where her pay was modest and not enough to support herself and her small daughter. She welcomed any chance to earn a little extra and undertook a secret mission. Thus, began her constant employment in secret missions. Ursula is a half-sister to the queen for which she has undertaken many secret missions. “Nearly all those missions had in some way involved Mary Stuart, the exiled queen of Scotland,” who plotted against Elizabeth.

The old tradition of Midsummer is taken for granted, but Midsummer in Chenston is special. There is more to it than the old tradition, and the meetings are happening more often. Etheldreda argues that that’s not right for Christian folks. The midnight rites call for the death of an evil queen, to save an honest one. But no names are attached. Which one is evil and which one is honest? Mary or Elizabeth?

Ursula’s investigations take her not only through the feasts at midsummer, but also Lammas and Halloween. The twisty plot is full of conspiracy and tensions, with plots brewing, conspirators being executed, some talking in hushed and horrified tones, others rising in savage joy.

I found some descriptions of Ursula’s thinking process slowing the pace at times. However, if you are familiar with this series and the character of Ursula, then you may feel differently about this.

This Tudor mystery brings some fun characters, mixed with pagan traditions and beliefs, and the plot that takes twists and turns. It starts with a good hook, pulling the readers into the mystery from the first pages and continuously building intrigue.

Review originally posted at mysteryandsuspense.com

My thanks to Fiona Buckley, Canongate Books and Net Galley for the ARC of FOREST OF SECRETS.
What an entertaining romp through Tudor England. Ursula, a daughter of Henry VIII and half-sister to Queen Elizabeth is drawn into yet another adventure where she must use her sleuthing skills to discover who it is who leads the strange ritualistic gatherings in a forest, and how far they will go to save Queen Mary of Scotland, her cousin and foe.. Lots of Tudor research and references to characters I have read about in other stories. I loved it!

This is another brilliant book on the authors Ursula series. Well researched, brilliantly written - Ms Buckley is an absolute go to for me, if I want to read something set in the Tudor era.

Paganism and Papism gone bonkers between Midsummer night and Halloween mixed with potential acts of high treason against the crown are the key ingredients in this highly entertaining Tudor whodunit, a new installment in the delightful Ursula Blanchard Mysteries.
It's 1586 and the atmosphere in England is awashed with conspiracy theories and tensions are running high. While Queen Elizabeth and her farthingales are giving in to hysterics and Sir Francis Francis Walshingham, her formidable spymaster dreams to separate Mary Stuart from her head, Mistress Blanchard, the queen half sister and genial courtesan, will be sent somewhere in rural England to investigate some weird shenanigans that might be threatening the crown......
If you are a fan of Fiona Buckley's terrific series you will enjoy this very colorful and historically accurate episode, with its twisty plot and its wonderful cast of characters.
To be enjoyed without moderation!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Severn House/Canongate Books for the opportunity to read this wonderful novel prior to its release date.