Synopsis: It is November 1569, the river Thames has frozen over, upriver from London Bridge and the Frost Fair has set up near the Inns of Court. The Queens Court are buzzing with excitement at the prospect of visiting and Lady Grace can’t wait to skate down and have a look. Yet intrigue and mystery seem to follow Lady Grace wherever she goes and the Frost Fair is no exception.

Review:When a gruesome discovery on the ice interrupts the revelry the Queen gives Lady Grace permission to investigate further. The Queen is in one of her bad moods, the silver coins that she has ordered to be minted are not coming along quickly enough and she has just been informed that there may not be enough silver to mint them. In a foul temper she orders her Maids away to do as they wish. Putting on their outdoor skirts and cloaks and finding an escort the ladies skate down to the Frost Fair. It is only when they discover a dead body hidden away on the banks of the icy river, a body that has been blindfolded with two silver coins on its eyes, that Lady Grace realises there may be more than one reason why the production of the Queen’s new coin is being delayed.

With her friends Ellie the laundry maid and Masou the acrobat, Lady Grace sets out to find out more , and quickly finds herself caught in a web of deceit, counterfeiting and corruption, fearing for her life. Lady Grace is on a mission to track down those responsible for the forged coins found on the dead man’s body. Her search takes her to the home of the man’s widow, to the Mint itself, into the taverns and back streets of London. It is a dangerous mission and despite her life being put in danger on more than one occasion Lady Grace is both brave and resourceful being able to overcome her fears in order to bring the criminals to justice.

This gripping story  is the fourth in the series featuring the charming and resourceful heroine. Lady Grace Cavendish.  She is the Elizabethan Alex Rider for girls.

2007-08-01