Shadow of Spain

WOW! This book is phenomenal! It is gripping, intriguing, full of history, full of twists and turns, and so much more. Whenever I picked up "Shadow of Spain", I was whisked back in time to the Elizabethan Era, and went on such an adventure with this story.

The Tudor and Elizabethan Eras are two of my favorite eras to read about, and as soon as I saw that this novel is set during this time, I just knew I needed to read it! This is the 20th book in Fiona Buckley's "An Ursula Blanchard Mystery" series, but is the first I have read. I definitely think this book can work as a stand-alone novel, and I can't wait to read the previous books in the series as well! Ms. Buckley's storytelling is simply spectacular. She brings the past vividly to life right before the reader's eyes, and she seamlessly weaves history and fiction together to create a story that is rich in historical detail. I can only imagine the amount of research Ms. Buckley must have done, and her passion for writing is so clear.

Queen Elizabeth I's court is preparing for an invasion by King Philip II of Spain, which will become known as the Spanish Armada. Elizabeth is also hoping to form an alliance with the Duke of Parma, who is Philip II's nephew. During a meeting, Elizabeth, Ursula, and some of the queen's other advisers find out that one of their spies has been murdered, but, they do not know by whom. Ursula, Elizabeth's half-sister and a secret agent, is told that it is possible she will need to flee to safety should England be attacked. However, when Ursula's ward, Mildred, runs away and elopes with a man whom she hardly knows, Ursula and her friend Christopher follow the couple to where they believe the couple has gone, the Duke's court.. Did the man Mildred marry actually marry her for the right reasons? Will Ursula be able to find Mildred? Who can be trusted, and who can't? What happens once the Philip II's ships come to England? With lots of spying, double-crossing, alliances, lies, secrets, and more, this book will keep you on the edge of your seat.

If you enjoy historical fiction and / or historical mysteries, I highly recommend this book! It kept me turning the pages chapter after chapter to see what would happen next, and I read the book in one day as I absolutely could not put it down! I hope this series continues, and I can't wait to read what Ms. Buckley writes next.

Thank you so much to Canongate Books-Severn House for the ARC of this book! All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

A rollicking and very entertaining new addition to Fiona Buckley's marvellous Tudor Mystery Series starring Ursula Stannard, Queen Elizabeth's half sister and talented royal spy.

It's March 1588 and England is facing the imminent invasion of its shores by the formidable Spanish Armada, a huge naval operation orchestred by Philip II of Spain who dearly hopes to bring England back under the Catholic umbrella and avenge Mary Stuart's death....So begins a race against time for the English crown to thwart the voracious ambitions of a dangerous & perfidious foe determined to wreak havoc upon its lands and topple the beloved Virgin Queen from her throne....

Spies, double agents, traitors, murderous shenanigans and a colorful (and at times sinister) cast of characters will take the reader into a frenetic voyage from London to Brussels and to the court of Philip's nephew, the Duke of Parma, the current governor of the Spanish Netherlands where the maps of the impending and much feared invasion must be obtained at all costs.....

Cleverly plotted with enough twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat, this delightful historical romp is also a very captivating fictional tapestry of a nation on the brink of greatness. Ms Buckley is simply brilliant! So go ahead and enjoy this literary feat whitout any moderation whatsoever👍

Many thanks to Netgalley and Canongate/Severn for this terrific ARC

Fiona Buckley features Ursula Blanchard, half sister of Queen Elizabeth I, helping her sister in negotiations with the Duke of Parma just before the Spanish Armada sails for England. Ursula is also trying to save one of her ladies in waiting who has made a misalliance with a British agent at the court of the Duke of Parma. Lots of historical color and mystery. Enjoy.

Shadow of Spain, the latest entry in Fiona Buckley’s Ursula Blanchard series, is an exciting story set in the unsettled and dangerous time as Philip of Spain is threatening an invasion of England. Queen Elizabeth is involved in secret diplomacy with the Duke of Parma of the Netherlands to ensure he keeps his army at home. Meanwhile, there are intrigues a foot and, while not personally involved, Ursula cannot help but become close to some of the activity. After all, she is half sister to the queen and has acted as messenger for her in the past.

The plot is complex, with overlapping plots involving the messenger/spies employed by the countries involved, Ursula’s ward Mildred, and important trips to Brussels. I don’t want to give all plot; that is summarized in many places. What I do want to mention is the inclusion of helpful summaries of Ursula’s background with the court and Elizabeth and of her relationship with her sister in what is an odd and unequal relationship. I appreciated this closer look into the reality of Ursula’s life and emotions.

I continue to recommend this series. The tale here is compelling. I did have a minor quibble with the presentation of part of the story as it is told to Ursula in the form of letters. It’s not unusual that the letters would have been written to Ursula by this character. The issue I had was that this was the only means to get the information into the novel. By the time I finished reading, my concern had faded quite a bit as everything fell into place so well.

Rating 4 to 4.5.

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

The Shadow of Spain, the latest entry in Fiona Buckley’s Ursula Blanchard series,. It is set just as Philip II of Spain is threatening to invade England. Ursula’s relationship with Elizabeth is as always fascinating and she is such a brave character you can’t help but love her. I look forward to the next book in the series.

Shadow of Spain is the twentieth installment of the Ursula Blanchard mystery. The mystery takes place just before the Spanish Armada. This was a wry interesting mystery. I like how the Tudor characters come to life. I also like Mrs. Buckley’s portrayal of Elizabeth. She is courageous and loves her people. Therefore, I recommend this for fans of The Tudors!

March, 1588. With England in a state of high alert as King Philip of Spain amasses a vast fleet of warships ready to invade, Queen Elizabeth and her advisors seek a possible alliance with the Duke of Parma, Governor of the Netherlands. But their plans suffer a major setback when one of their most reliable spies is found murdered in the Hertfordshire countryside, shot dead by a crossbow bolt as he was transporting secret correspondence between the queen and the duke.

The queen’s half-sister and occasional secret agent, Ursula Stannard, is happy not to be involved for once. But when Ursula’s ward Mildred elopes with the handsome yet mysterious Berend Gomez, Ursula is forced to follow the pair to Brussels, where she finds herself plunged into a hotbed of intrigue and rumour at the Duke of Parma’s court, a place where no one is to be trusted.

Can Ursula rescue Mildred, effect an alliance with the duke, and stay alive in the process? The future of England depends on it. (NetGalley synopsis)

I have read all of the Ursula Blanchard series, which means that I have grown attached to many of the characters. Christopher Spelton is one that, I agree with Ursula, got away from her but continues to hold a special place in my heart. Therefore, I cried at Christopher’s loss.

I also understand Ursula. She is tired of “hearing the cry of the wild goose” as she puts it. However, she cannot ignore the plight of her half sister, Queen Elizabeth. I think Ursula and Elizabeth have had such lack of familial ties while younger that they cling to each other in a way that makes England stronger. It is one theme that I enjoy in this series. Elizabeth is strong but not heartless. She knows that she is England, that all of the people are England, and Ursula, though she is a woman, understands that more than the males.

But along with the “goose cry”, Ursula seems to attract strays. In many of the books, she takes in hand a young girl, sometimes a young boy but mainly girls, that the parents have either ignored or are unable to care for. In this novel, Ursula is still dealing with young Mildred. I find this both compassionate but annoying. Each young girl Ursula cares for is ignorant of the world or silly in love with everyone. I find this repetitive. I would like to see Ursula take in a young girl who is just like her, and falls in love with Ursula’s son Harry. Then the series could follow as if Ursula is the true spymaster, a counterpart to Lords William Cecil and Francis Walsingham.

I love this series so much. Not just for the mysteries and adventures, but for the descriptions of everyday life. I love hearing Ursula’s worries and feelings for the different strays and her children, as well as the individuals working at her estates.

Overall I rate this novel 4 out of 5 stars.