TO RUIN A QUEEN

Losing a baby in childbirth prompts Ursula Blanchard to return to her duties as special agent for Queen Elizabeth I, this time uncovering a plot to cast doubt on the queen’s parentage. Nadia May’s flawless diction and lively performance suit the lightweight story. May’s always-perfect characterizations encompass royalty and an aging hag, loyal servants and scruffy children, smarmy nobles and star-crossed lovers, all with skill and insight. Her enthusiasm for the story keeps her energy high as Ursula and her cohorts battle murderers, swindlers, and the urgings of lust. As a stand-alone volume, or part of the Mystery at Queen Elizabeth I’s Court series, TO RUIN A QUEEN offers a entertaining fun. R.P.L. © AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 03/JAN 04]