As the Queen's procession crest over the last hill on their way to Lord Arundel's Nonsuch, Kate Haywood and other Ladies of Queen Elizabeth's court are absolutely overwhelmed by its beauty. Designed to be the most lavish palace in Christendom, King Henry, Queen Elizabeth's own father, started building it; yet after his last visit there with his new Queen, the ill-fated Catherine Howard, he never returned nor finished it.

Both the Queen and Kate, her favourite musician, are looking forward to a summer break of lighthearted merriment and dancing. With the fawning attention and wealth of Lord Arundrel, Nonsuch is the most beautiful place to enjoy the warm lingering days of summer in 1559 away from all the smells of London. Still danger can lurk anywhere and with her other role of helping to protect her Queen, Kate is ever watchful.

With Kate's ever inquisitive nature and friendly smiles, she is usually welcomed everywhere and, as she is not titled, allows her to slip in and out of places to get information that the Queen with her large court of ever present courtier or Sir Robert Dudley, the Queen's good friend and protector, could not get. Kate is pleasantly surprised when her actor friend, Rob Cartman, arrives at Nonsuch. Kate senses he is holding something back, but what is it?

MURDER IN THE QUEEN'S GARDEN is the third book in Amanda Carmack's exciting Kate Haywood Elizabethan Mystery series and it is filled with dangerous situations and dilemmas for young Katie Haywood. Carmack's many fans are sure to relish this latest adventure that brings back many of the characters featured in earlier mystery. With brief background references to the past, MURDER IN THE QUEEN'S GARDEN is a very entertaining read either as a stand-alone story or as a continuation in the series.

Well-known for her historical romances written under the names of Amanda McCabe and Laurel McKee, Carmack slips in some hints of romantic tensions in this Elizabethan mystery as well. Katie, as well as some of her friends, are starting to yearn for marriage, yet Katie is aware that the Virgin Queen is less inclined to let her Ladies in Waiting be available for that. Can Katie decide who has won her heart? Will they be free to have the romance they desire? What futures does Dr. John Dee forecast with his star cast horoscopes? Who is in danger? Who will die?

Carmack had done amazing research for the writing of MURDER IN THE QUEEN'S GARDEN and seamlessly is able to elaborate and realistically expand on her interesting plot developments by blending in authentic and fictional characters and their background histories in the stories and interconnections of the various royal families. Her Author's Notes at the end of the book are almost as full of intrigue as how she has uses the material in MURDER IN THE QUEEN'S GARDEN.

If you like historical fiction or just can't get enough of the Tudors, you are sure to delight in the magic of Nonsuch in MURDER IN THE QUEEN'S GARDEN! Carmack truly delivers on fascinating period details, along with intriguing danger and vivid characters! It is written in the stars...a tale of murder and dark secrets... a true reading pleasure!