To celebrate the release of the TV series The Lady Grace Mysteries, I thought it would be good to check out the book that inspired it.
The Lady Grace Mysteries Assassin follows Lady Grace, who is expected to choose a husband for her 16th birthday out of Sir Charles, Sir Gerald, and Lord Robert. However, before she can make her decision, Sir Gerald is murdered. Lord Robert is immediately blamed for the crime, but Lady Grace is convinced that something doesn’t add up. Determined to uncover the truth, she teams up with her friends to investigate the murder and discover who the real killer is before it’s too late.
Overall, I thought the book was enjoyable, although it wasn’t one of the best mysteries I’ve ever read. At the same time, it certainly wasn’t bad either. One thing I struggled with was the format. The entire story is told through Lady Grace’s diary rather than being written as a normal book. While the style helps you understand her thoughts and feelings, I found it made the story harder to get into. It took me longer to feel invested than it usually would with a standard narrative. So I did struggle with this aspect of the book
That being said, I ended up enjoying the book more than I expected. I had assumed it would be aimed at a much younger audience, but it was surprisingly more mature than I anticipated. The mystery kept me guessing in places, and there were some surprises throughout the story that stopped it from becoming super predictable. There were also a few funny moments that helped balance out the darker parts of the plot.
Lady Grace herself is a likeable character. It was easy to root for her as she tried to solve the mystery, and I enjoyed seeing her work alongside her friends rather than trying to do everything alone.
I also appreciated the historical setting. Although the story is fictional, Grace Cavendish includes lots of historical details that make Tudor England feel authentic. The book features real historical figures, including Queen Elizabeth I, and blends lots of fact with fiction.
Overall, The Lady Grace Mysteries: Assassin is an okay historical mystery. While the diary format made it harder for me to enjoy and connect with the story, the engaging characters, interesting mystery, historical setting, and some twists made it an enjoyable read.
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