THE POYSON GARDEN

Davina Porter presents this hybrid of historical fiction and mystery set in last days of Bloody Mary, when her half-sister and heir, Elizabeth, uncovers a plot to kill her and other descendants of Anne Boleyn. Porter is a master at capturing the nuances of her characters' personalities, as well as their class and social status. She reads crisply at a pace that keeps the plot moving forward and its segments easily distinguishable. Porter's versatility with accents is a boon to this story, in which the regional and ethnic differences of the characters play a role. J.E.M. © AudioFile 2000, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/SEP 00]