Ursula Blanchard stars in a new outing in Fiona Buckley's historical fiction series about the natural daughter of King Henry VIII. Previously, her name was Ursula Stannard, but now Ursula Blanchard is widowed in THE NET OF STEEL. Having attended her half-sister Elizabeth I at Sir Francis Walsingham's funeral, Ursula returns to Faldene House, the Sussex home of her childhood, where her elderly Uncle Herbert has passed away too.

Although Ursula’s Aunt Tabitha was not affectionate to her, it’s still a shock when the older lady is found dead of poison the morning after the funeral. Suicide is decreed. Life must continue, and Mistress Blanchard, now with another house to oversee, packs up when she may and arrives home to Hawkswood. Here, her son, Harry, has recently been betrothed to the daughter of a neighbour, a fine girl his own age. But as fate would have it, Ursula made enemies during her years of spying for the Queen. The Mercer brothers, three foreign pirates, and probably others, wish her family and friends ill. Tragedy will follow. Perhaps it has been shadowing Ursula since she left London.

I like a lot about this tale. When I’m about to delve into a historical story I feel the need to pause, to remember the period, the politics, the established characters, and the locations. But the pages fairly skipped along once I got reading because the action starts early and doesn’t let up. As a lady in her fifties of good substance, Mistress Blanchard doesn’t have to suffer fools or restrictions, once she wears the appropriate dresses at Court that is. If she wants to ride astride around the county, or breed trotting horses for sale, nobody can tell her otherwise, for all the year is 1590. The serving staff such as Brockley and maid Dale, and stable staff, even forester and gamekeeper, are all fiercely loyal. Many ladies might barely have known the names of the outside ground staff, but as mistress of her home and land, Ursula takes on responsibilities. This means that now she must protect everyone from the pirates’ desperate deeds.  

The skullduggery includes violence against women, which proves how bullies are always cowardly. But women turn out to be the strongest characters. Suspense is deftly maintained, and several long, tiring rides are required, showing us the reality of travel, a major feature of this series. Fiona Buckley has provided the twenty-second mystery THE NET OF STEEL with plenty of novelty; new spices and faces, new sorrows and joys. You don’t need to start with the first book in the series, TO SHIELD THE QUEEN, but any prior mystery would be an advantage to get to know the cast.