Most days are calm and orderly here at Leigh Abbey in Kent. In the morning, after I break my fast, I work on the manor’s accounts. As a widow, it is my responsibility to make certain bills are paid and supplies are ordered. I am responsible for nearly a hundred people, including the residents of the nearby village of Eastwold, who are dependent upon Leigh Abbey for their livelihood. At mid-morning, I am accustomed to visit my still room, where I concoct medicines and tisanes from herbs. I am known now, years after it was published, as the author of A Cautionary Herbal—a guide to poisonous plants. It was written in the hope of preventing accidental deaths caused by mistaking one root or leaf for another. Unfortunately, some depraved souls have also found it useful as a manual for murder.
This particular day, the 30th of April in the Year of Our Lord 1573, my routine was disrupted by news that Queen Elizabeth was planning to visit Kent on her summer progress. It is an honor to host the queen and her court. It is also an invitation to financial ruin. Wherever she chooses to stay for a night or two, householders are either sent packing or expected to remain and provide elaborate entertainments at their own expense.
Ahead of the progress, the queen’s harbinger visited. After inspecting the house and grounds, he instructed me to built a banqueting house in the branches of the ancient oak tree in my garden—a place for the queen to partake of light refreshments after she dines. I had no choice but to do so. One does not argue with the whims of royalty. Unfortunately, someone chose that location to commit a murder, leaving me to unmask the culprit before Queen Elizabeth arrives for her visit.
Sadly, this was not the first time I have been obliged to solve such a crime. Now that I think upon it, solving murders has been as much a part of many of my days as totaling up columns of figures or reading aloud to my maidservants. I have no doubt but that I will discover the truth and bring the killer to justice. The complicated part will be doing so without offending the queen. There are, you see, certain people she would prefer not be guilty.
Face Down Below the Banqueting House, A Face Down Mystery Book 8
Genre: Historical Mystery
Release: November 2024
Format: Print
Purchase Link
Face Down Below the Banqueting House is book eight in the Face Down mystery series featuring Elizabethan gentlewoman, herbalist, and sleuth, Susanna, Lady Appleton. In 1573, Queen Elizabeth is on a royal progress in Kent and plans to visit Susanna’s manor house, Leigh Abbey-an expensive and nerve wracking prospect for any householder. In preparation, a banqueting house is constructed in the branches of an ancient oak tree, but when a man is killed in a fall from that structure, it may be murder. Will that be enough to make the queen change her mind?
About the author
Kathy Lynn Emerson/Kaitlyn Dunnett has had sixty-four books traditionally published and has self published others. She won the Agatha Award and was an Anthony and Macavity finalist for best mystery nonfiction for How to Write Killer Historical Mysteries. She is currently working on creating new omnibus e-book editions of her backlist titles and is releasing newly edited print editions of the ten Face Down mysteries. Face Down Below the Banqueting House, the eighth entry in the series, was released on November 7, 2024. Her website is KathyLynnEmerson.com.