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Rain Sounds HQ: sleep aid

Medical and Health & Fitness

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Can’t sleep? Fall asleep fast to over 75 high-quality full-stereo recordings from around the...

ClareR (5938 KP) rated The Poison Bed in Books

Jun 17, 2018

The Poison Bed

E. C. Fremantle | 2018 | Fiction & Poetry, Mystery

8.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

Murder and Intrigue in the Jacobean Court.

Based on a true story, this is set in the Court of James I of England and Wales (James VI of Scotland). Robert Carr is a favourite of the King. There has long been much discussion about how far his favouritism went, and about how he possibly had homosexual tendencies.
Anyway, this story is based around the true story of how Frances Howard and her husband Robert Carr were charged with the murder of Thomas Overbury, and kept in the Tower of London for quite some time. This whole story illustrates the power of the Howards (particularly Frances' Great Uncle) and the intrigue of the Royal Court. Everyone has great aspirations, and will do whatever it takes to achieve them.
The characters, I felt, were well drawn and either unpleasant or terribly naive - no middle ground. I do like historical fiction, especially when it appears to be well researched, as this does. It's important to give the characters life as well, and that's what this book does really well. An exciting, intriguing story. Many thanks to The Pigeonhole and the publisher for the chance to read this book.