Reviews
"It was a scandal that makes Showtime's "Tudors" look tame: Queen Elizabeth I and the married Earl of Leicester were so close that tongues were wagging across Europe. When the earl's wife was found dead at the bottom of a staircase in 1560, speculation that the earl had killed his wife and would marry the queen nearly toppled the monarchy. Skidmore, a sitting member of the British Parliament and the author ofEdward VI: The Lost King of England, attempts to solve the mystery using a long-lost coroner's report." "New YorkPost "A valuable and interesting book... I must thank Chris Skidmore for a fascinating read, and the chance to look again at one of the darkest crimes on one of the most innocent victims of the Tudor world." "Philippa Gregory, bestselling author ofThe Other Boleyn Girl "The death of Amy Robsart in September 1560 remains one of the fascinating unsolved mysteries of Tudor history... Chris Skidmore deftly takes us through the whole scene and in doing so considers a completely new possibility which changed my mind." "Antonia Fraser, bestselling author ofMarie Antoinette: The Journey "A brilliant study of the greatest unsolved Tudor mystery....Death and the Virgin Queenis a meticulous account of Amy's death and its aftermath. Skidmore writes brilliantly and his research is impeccable." "John Guy, author ofQueen of Scots: The Life of Mary Stuart "A nicely fleshed-out portrait of Elizabeth I (1533 "1603), with new revelations of the queen in love and the man who sought desperately to marry her.... Skidmore moves engagingly back and forth in the story, dwelling on how fresh scrutiny of the evidence may point to the answer of this terrible death.... A fresh elucidation of this precarious period of Elizabeth's reign." "Kirkus Reviews "Historian Skidmore reaches back in time to investigate an unsolved mystery steeped in passion, jealousy, and drama.... Unearthing new evidence, including the original coroner's report, Skidmore revisits the case with a scholar's eye and a detective's intuition. ... a gripping read with an abundance of Tudor appeal."--Booklist "The death of Amy Robsart has always been one of history's favourite whodunits... Chris Skidmore offers a detailed examination of evidence old and, crucially, new "and, along the way, a riveting exemplar of the degree to which it is, and is not, possible to solve a historical mystery." "Sarah Gristwood, author ofElizabeth and Leicester: The Truth about the Virgin Queen and the Man She Loved "Skidmore paints wonderful, intimate scenes of Elizabeth and Dudley... The romance between Elizabeth and Dudley has often been told, but rarely is anything added to what we knew before. It is here. Skidmore's most impressive new material is the previously lost coroner's report, which offers an important revelation about the nature of Amy's injuries." "Leanda de Lisle, author ofAfter Elizabeth: The Rise of James of Scotland and the Struggle for the Throne of England "Drawing extensively on historical documents, including the original coroner's report, only recently uncovered in the UK's National Archives, Skidmore not only examines the various theories surrounding these long-standing questions but also provides an in-depth look at how Amy's death and Elizabeth and Dudley's relationship affected the early years of the Virgin Queen's reign.... owing to the wealth of detail, both academics and general readers with an interest in Tudor history will find much of interest." "Library Journal, "As Skidmore mines Robert''s correspondence, the coroner''s report on Amy, and ambassadors'' dispatches, Tudor England in all its rich complexity springs to vivid life in a tantalizing, authoritative, and in-depth analysis of a centuries-old mystery that continues to stir imaginations."- Publishers Weekly "It was a scandal that makes Showtime's "Tudors" look tame: Queen Elizabeth I and the married Earl of Leicester were so close that tongues were wagging across Europe. When the earl's wife was found dead at the bottom of a staircase in 1560, speculation that the earl had killed his wife and would marry the queen nearly toppled the monarchy. Skidmore, a sitting member of the British Parliament and the author of Edward VI: The Lost King of England , attempts to solve the mystery using a long-lost coroner's report."- New York Post "A valuable and interesting book . . . I must thank Chris Skidmore for a fascinating read, and the chance to look again at one of the darkest crimes on one of the most innocent victims of the Tudor world."-Philippa Gregory, bestselling author of The Other Boleyn Girl "The death of Amy Robsart in September 1560 remains one of the fascinating unsolved mysteries of Tudor history . . . Chris Skidmore deftly takes us through the whole scene and in doing so considers a completely new possibility which changed my mind."-Antonia Fraser, bestselling author of Marie Antoinette: The Journey "A brilliant study of the greatest unsolved Tudor mystery. . . . Death and the Virgin Queen is a meticulous account of Amy's death and its aftermath. Skidmore writes brilliantly and his research is impeccable."-John Guy, author of Queen of Scots: The Life of Mary Stuart "A nicely fleshed-out portrait of Elizabeth I (15331603), with new revelations of the queen in love and the man who sought desperately to marry her. . . . Skidmore moves engagingly back and forth in the story, dwelling on how fresh scrutiny of the evidence may point to the answer of this terrible death.. . . A fresh elucidation of this precarious period of Elizabeth's reign."- Kirkus Reviews "Historian Skidmore reaches back in time to investigate an unsolved mystery steeped in passion, jealousy, and drama. . . . Unearthing new evidence, including the original coroner's report, Skidmore revisits the case with a scholar's eye and a detective's intuition. . . . a gripping read with an abundance of Tudor appeal."-- Booklist "The death of Amy Robsart has always been one of history's favourite whodunits . . . Chris Skidmore offers a detailed examination of evidence old and, crucially, new-and, along the way, a riveting exemplar of the degree to which it is, and is not, possible to solve a historical mystery."-Sarah Gristwood, author of Elizabeth and Leicester: The Truth about the Virgin Queen and the Man She Loved "Skidmore paints wonderful, intimate scenes of Elizabeth and Dudley . . . The romance between Elizabeth and Dudley has often been told, but rarely is anything added to what we knew before. It is here. Skidmore's most impressive new material is the previously lost coroner's report, which offers an important revelation about the nature of Amy's injuries."-Leanda de Lisle, author of After Elizabeth: The Rise of James of Scotland and the Struggle for the Throne of England "Drawing extensively on historical documents, including the original coroner''s report, only recently uncovered in the UK''s National Archives, Skidmore not only examines the various theories surrounding these long-standing questions but also provides an in-depth look at how Amy''s death and Elizabeth and Dudley''s relationship affected the early years of the Virgin Queen''s reign. . . . owing to the wealth of detail, both academics and general readers with an interest in Tudor history will find much of interest."- Library Journal, "As Skidmore mines Robert''s correspondence, the coroner''s report on Amy, and ambassadors'' dispatches, Tudor England in all its rich complexity springs to vivid life in a tantalizing, authoritative, and in-depth analysis of a centuries-old mystery that continues to stir imaginations."- Publishers Weekly "It was a scandal that makes Showtime's "Tudors" look tame: Queen Elizabeth I and the married Earl of Leicester were so close that tongues were wagging across Europe. When the earl's wife was found dead at the bottom of a staircase in 1560, speculation that the earl had killed his wife and would marry the queen nearly toppled the monarchy. Skidmore, a sitting member of the British Parliament and the author of Edward VI: The Lost King of England , attempts to solve the mystery using a long-lost coroner's report."- New York Post "A valuable and interesting book . . . I must thank Chris Skidmore for a fascinating read, and the chance to look again at one of the darkest crimes on one of the most innocent victims of the Tudor world."-Philippa Gregory, bestselling author of The Other Boleyn Girl "The death of Amy Robsart in September 1560 remains one of the fascinating unsolved mysteries of Tudor history . . . Chris Skidmore deftly takes us through the whole scene and in doing so considers a completely new possibility which changed my mind."-Antonia Fraser, bestselling author of Marie Antoinette: The Journey "A brilliant study of the greatest unsolved Tudor mystery. . . . Death and the Virgin Queen is a meticulous account of Amy's death and its aftermath. Skidmore writes brilliantly and his research is impeccable."-John Guy, author of Queen of Scots: The Life of Mary Stuart "A nicely fleshed-out portrait of Elizabeth I (15331603), with new revelations of the queen in love and the man who sought desperately to marry her. . . . Skidmore moves engagingly back and forth in the story, dwelling on how fresh scrutiny of the evidence may point to the answer of this terrible death. . . . A fresh elucidation of this precarious period of Elizabeth's reign."- Kirkus Reviews "Historian Skidmore reaches back in time to investigate an unsolved mystery steeped in passion, jealousy, and drama. . . . Unearthing new evidence, including the original coroner's report, Skidmore revisits the case with a scholar's eye and a detective's intuition. . . . a gripping read with an abundance of Tudor appeal."-- Booklist "The death of Amy Robsart has always been one of history's favourite whodunits . . . Chris Skidmore offers a detailed examination of evidence old and, crucially, new-and, along the way, a riveting exemplar of the degree to which it is, and is not, possible to solve a historical mystery."-Sarah Gristwood, author of Elizabeth and Leicester: The Truth about the Virgin Queen and the Man She Loved "Skidmore paints wonderful, intimate scenes of Elizabeth and Dudley . . . The romance between Elizabeth and Dudley has often been told, but rarely is anything added to what we knew before. It is here. Skidmore's most impressive new material is the previously lost coroner's report, which offers an important revelation about the nature of Amy's injuries."-Leanda de Lisle, author of After Elizabeth: The Rise of James of Scotland and the Struggle for the Throne of England "Drawing extensively on historical documents, including the original coroner''s report, only recently uncovered in the UK''s National Archives, Skidmore not only examines the various theories surrounding these long-standing questions but also provides an in-depth look at how Amy''s death and Elizabeth and Dudley''s relationship affected the early years of the Virgin Queen''s reign. . . . owing to the wealth of detail, both academics and general readers with an interest in Tudor history will find much of interest."- Library Journal, "A valuable and interesting book... I must thank Chris Skidmore for a fascinating read, and the chance to look again at one of the darkest crimes on one of the most innocent victims of the Tudor world."-Philippa Gregory, bestselling author of The Other Boleyn Girl "The death of Amy Robsart in September 1560 remains one of the fascinating unsolved mysteries of Tudor history... Chris Skidmore deftly takes us through the whole scene and in doing so considers a completely new possibility which changed my mind."-Antonia Fraser, bestselling author of Marie Antoinette: The Journey "A brilliant study of the greatest unsolved Tudor mystery.... Death and the Virgin Queen is a meticulous account of Amy's death and its aftermath. Skidmore writes brilliantly and his research is impeccable."-John Guy, author of Queen of Scots: The Life of Mary Stuart "A nicely fleshed-out portrait of Elizabeth I (1533-1603), with new revelations of the queen in love and the man who sought desperately to marry her.... Skidmore moves engagingly back and forth in the story, dwelling on how fresh scrutiny of the evidence may point to the answer of this terrible death. ... A fresh elucidation of this precarious period of Elizabeth's reign."-Kirkus Reviews "Historian Skidmore reaches back in time to investigate an unsolved mystery steeped in passion, jealousy, and drama.... Unearthing new evidence, including the original coroner's report, Skidmore revisits the case with a scholar's eye and a detective's intuition. ... a gripping read with an abundance of Tudor appeal."--Booklist "The death of Amy Robsart has always been one of history's favourite whodunits... Chris Skidmore offers a detailed examination of evidence old and, crucially, new-and, along the way, a riveting exemplar of the degree to which it is, and is not, possible to solve a historical mystery."-Sarah Gristwood, author of Elizabeth and Leicester: The Truth about the Virgin Queen and the Man She Loved "Skidmore paints wonderful, intimate scenes of Elizabeth and Dudley... The romance between Elizabeth and Dudley has often been told, but rarely is anything added to what we knew before. It is here. Skidmore's most impressive new material is the previously lost coroner's report, which offers an important revelation about the nature of Amy's injuries."-Leanda de Lisle, author of After Elizabeth: The Rise of James of Scotland and the Struggle for the Throne of England, "It was a scandal that makes Showtime's "Tudors" look tame: Queen Elizabeth I and the married Earl of Leicester were so close that tongues were wagging across Europe. When the earl's wife was found dead at the bottom of a staircase in 1560, speculation that the earl had killed his wife and would marry the queen nearly toppled the monarchy. Skidmore, a sitting member of the British Parliament and the author of Edward VI: The Lost King of England , attempts to solve the mystery using a long-lost coroner's report."- New York Post "A valuable and interesting book . . . I must thank Chris Skidmore for a fascinating read, and the chance to look again at one of the darkest crimes on one of the most innocent victims of the Tudor world."-Philippa Gregory, bestselling author of The Other Boleyn Girl "The death of Amy Robsart in September 1560 remains one of the fascinating unsolved mysteries of Tudor history . . . Chris Skidmore deftly takes us through the whole scene and in doing so considers a completely new possibility which changed my mind."-Antonia Fraser, bestselling author of Marie Antoinette: The Journey "A brilliant study of the greatest unsolved Tudor mystery. . . . Death and the Virgin Queen is a meticulous account of Amy's death and its aftermath. Skidmore writes brilliantly and his research is impeccable."-John Guy, author of Queen of Scots: The Life of Mary Stuart "A nicely fleshed-out portrait of Elizabeth I (15331603), with new revelations of the queen in love and the man who sought desperately to marry her. . . . Skidmore moves engagingly back and forth in the story, dwelling on how fresh scrutiny of the evidence may point to the answer of this terrible death.. . . A fresh elucidation of this precarious period of Elizabeth's reign."- Kirkus Reviews "Historian Skidmore reaches back in time to investigate an unsolved mystery steeped in passion, jealousy, and drama. . . . Unearthing new evidence, including the original coroner's report, Skidmore revisits the case with a scholar's eye and a detective's intuition. . . . a gripping read with an abundance of Tudor appeal."-- Booklist "The death of Amy Robsart has always been one of history's favourite whodunits . . . Chris Skidmore offers a detailed examination of evidence old and, crucially, new-and, along the way, a riveting exemplar of the degree to which it is, and is not, possible to solve a historical mystery."-Sarah Gristwood, author of Elizabeth and Leicester: The Truth about the Virgin Queen and the Man She Loved "Skidmore paints wonderful, intimate scenes of Elizabeth and Dudley . . . The romance between Elizabeth and Dudley has often been told, but rarely is anything added to what we knew before. It is here. Skidmore's most impressive new material is the previously lost coroner's report, which offers an important revelation about the nature of Amy's injuries."-Leanda de Lisle, author of After Elizabeth: The Rise of James of Scotland and the Struggle for the Throne of England "Drawing extensively on historical documents, including the original coroner''s report, only recently uncovered in the UK''s National Archives, Skidmore not only examines the various theories surrounding these long-standing questions but also provides an in-depth look at how Amy''s death and Elizabeth and Dudley''s relationship affected the early years of the Virgin Queen''s reign. . . . owing to the wealth of detail, both academics and general readers with an interest in Tudor history will find much of interest."- Library Journal, "A valuable and interesting book . . . I must thank Chris Skidmore for a fascinating read, and the chance to look again at one of the darkest crimes on one of the most innocent victims of the Tudor world."-Philippa Gregory, bestselling author of The Other Boleyn Girl "The death of Amy Robsart in September 1560 remains one of the fascinating unsolved mysteries of Tudor history . . . Chris Skidmore deftly takes us through the whole scene and in doing so considers a completely new possibility which changed my mind."-Antonia Fraser, bestselling author of Marie Antoinette: The Journey "A brilliant study of the greatest unsolved Tudor mystery. . . . Death and the Virgin Queen is a meticulous account of Amy's death and its aftermath. Skidmore writes brilliantly and his research is impeccable."-John Guy, author of Queen of Scots: The Life of Mary Stuart "A nicely fleshed-out portrait of Elizabeth I (15331603), with new revelations of the queen in love and the man who sought desperately to marry her. . . . Skidmore moves engagingly back and forth in the story, dwelling on how fresh scrutiny of the evidence may point to the answer of this terrible death.. . . A fresh elucidation of this precarious period of Elizabeth's reign."- Kirkus Reviews "Historian Skidmore reaches back in time to investigate an unsolved mystery steeped in passion, jealousy, and drama. . . . Unearthing new evidence, including the original coroner's report, Skidmore revisits the case with a scholar's eye and a detective's intuition. . . . a gripping read with an abundance of Tudor appeal."-- Booklist "The death of Amy Robsart has always been one of history's favourite whodunits . . . Chris Skidmore offers a detailed examination of evidence old and, crucially, new-and, along the way, a riveting exemplar of the degree to which it is, and is not, possible to solve a historical mystery."-Sarah Gristwood, author of Elizabeth and Leicester: The Truth about the Virgin Queen and the Man She Loved "Skidmore paints wonderful, intimate scenes of Elizabeth and Dudley . . . The romance between Elizabeth and Dudley has often been told, but rarely is anything added to what we knew before. It is here. Skidmore's most impressive new material is the previously lost coroner's report, which offers an important revelation about the nature of Amy's injuries."-Leanda de Lisle, author of After Elizabeth: The Rise of James of Scotland and the Struggle for the Throne of England
