This is the first of Jeri Westerson's books that I have read. The third in a series of a King's Fool Mysteries. It isn't necessary to have read the previous two novels to be able to appreciate the tale that unfolds. This is an enjoyable murder mystery set in the court of Henry VIII during the Christmas period of 1536. Set against the backdrop of the Pilgrimage of Grace and the visit to court of Robert Aske, leader of the rebellion. Will Somers, jester to King Henry is tasked with finding out who committed the gruesome murder of a servant to Queen Jane (Seymour). The mystery of what happened to a brooch of Queen Jane is at the heart of events. Events that could lead to the downfall of yet another queen. This is quite short, being 224 pages long. Much of the storyline is taken up with the complicated personal life of Will, of his wife and lover. However, the story does move along quite nicely as the mystery unfolds, layer by layer. Any fan of Tudor history will recognise many or most of the names of the characters involved. Overall, I enjoyed the book and will happily await further novels in the series.

London in 1536 sees Christmas fast approaching & King Henry VIII is advised to invite Robert Aske, leader of the Pilgrimage of Grace (a religious protest) to the royal Court. Aske believes it to be an honour but the King & Thomas Cromwell have other ideas. Meanwhile a servant in the Palace is found murdered, his throat slit - strangely it has been cut vertically rather than horizontally - & even worse, his body is dug up from the churchyard & disembowelled two weeks later. What could be behind this gory disinterring? Henry asked Will Somers, the king's jester, to investigate. I found this to be a really good read. The mystery was interesting enough but the real fascination was the interaction between King Henry VIII & his Fool (& our wily detective) Will Somers. Both Somers & Jane Foole were real people in the Tudor court & I've heard it mentioned before that a Fool could get away with liberties that no other subject could. Here Somers is the King's 'conscience' subtly prodding him to reconcile with his daughter, Lady Mary, & musing aloud about the motives of Robert Aske, leader of the Pilgrimage of Grace. Somers also has his own quandary as he is torn between his affections for his wife & his secret male lover. This is the third in the series but the first one I've read & for me it worked just as well as a standalone. I think because each one is set in the court of a different wife of Henry VIII, it didn't feel as if I'd missed huge amounts. If you have a rudimentary knowledge of Tudor history, you should be fine. I also adored the character of Somers' dog, Nosewise. My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Severn House, for the opportunity to read an ARC. I am voluntarily giving an honest review.

I thank NetGalley and Severn House for an advance reader copy of “Rebellious Grace.” All opinions and comments are my own. The King’s Fool is once again in the midst of intrigue and dark dealings at the court of Henry VIII in “Rebellious Grace,” the third in the Tudor-era books by seasoned historical mystery writer Jeri Westerson, whose Crispin Guest medieval history series is a fan favorite. Jester Will Somers (a historical figure) is fast becoming another Westerson character readers will want to follow. Will’s personal story takes up a large part of our tale, as his love affair with a court courtier plays out, as it has in the two previous books. In fact, the mystery portion of the book often disappeared. I like my mystery stories to be more balanced, plot-wise. Everything soon becomes a journey of discovery for Will, as he finds himself in the thick of a murder investigation that touches the highest levels of Tudor society. King Henry plays a large part, as does his queen, and many others who readers will recognize from history (or the TV shows who delight in recording the history). In the end, the “needs of the court” prevails. I enjoyed “Rebellious Grace” for its characters and its glimpse into the life of the court of Henry VIII from the eyes of someone who must negotiate a very thin path between pleasing and angering the king. Will Somers continues to make a very good “detective” for the times.