Golden Cargoes
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- $12.99
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
The queen's half-sister, Ursula Stannard, returns to solve another Tudor mystery in this page-turning tale of suspicious riches, murder and hidden treasures – can she find the golden cargoes?
May 1589. Being the queen’s half-sister and occasional secret agent, can take its toll, which is why Ursula Stannard is looking forward to the simple pleasure of attending the wedding of her tenant’s daughter. But on arrival, Arabella the bride-to-be is refusing to marry her intended.
Ursula tries to reason with Arabella on behalf of her mother, Joan Mercer, but she senses all is not well with her betrothed, or within the Mercer household. The family have gold and jewels beyond their means, and Ursula suspects they may not have gained such riches legally.
When the strangled corpse of local herbalist and suspected witch is found, and Ursula learns through her connections at Court that English vessels are being plundered by a trio of mysterious ships – she once again takes on the mantle of secret agent.
With someone willing to kill to protect their secrets and a bounty of golden cargo at stake, Ursula is in danger! Can she uncover the culprits, save the reluctant bride, and remain unscathed herself?
Golden Cargoes is the twenty-first book in the popular Ursula Blanchard series which follows Ursula, a most unconventional Tudor spy as she solves unpredictable, compelling mysteries.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Set in 1589, Buckley's tense 21st Tudor mystery (after Shadow of Spain) finds Ursula Stannard—half-sister of Elizabeth I and an occasional spy—with nothing more on her mind than making an appearance at the wedding of a tenant's beautiful daughter, Arabella Mercer, whose family holds many unpleasant secrets. Trying to be helpful to Arabella's difficult mother, Ursula visits the local healer, Mother Lee, for a migraine remedy and is surprised to spot two golden goblets, unlikely riches for a humble healer to possess. Ursula suspects something fishy is going on after learning from a sea captain that the goblets are part of a set taken as booty from a Spanish ship—and when Mother Lee is strangled, she's sure of it. Meanwhile, Ursula is summoned to court and discovers that the queen and her counselors are disturbed by rumors of a trio of English ships that are robbing their fellow Englishmen rather than attacking Spanish vessels. It's up to Ursula to search the southeast corner of England for the hidden treasure of the pirates, a mission riddled with danger. As usual, Buckley's vivid portrayal of the resourceful, clever, and devious Ursula carries the plot. Readers will hope to continue seeing more of her.
