This was a 3.5 stars rounded up to a 4. I’m a huge fan of historical fiction, and I also love a mystery, so this book was right up my street. But it was a bit confusing at times in the way the story was told. Aside from the storytelling, I did devour this book in a day. It’s fasincating how cunning the characters are and the author makes all the characters seem as shady as each other. The storytelling was fantastic in the sense that the truth isn’t revealed until the very end, but this also made the book seem slightly rushed towards the end.

I would definitely recommend this for lovers of historical fiction who also enjoy mystery! I’ve not read a book like this one before so it made for a very enjoable read.

The task of repopulating the senior library has been an exciting and daunting task aS in a boarding school our aim is to encourage all members of the community to read. Because of this, I have been searching down a wide and diverse range of books to read that will entice a wide cross-section of the school to come in, browse and find books that they love.
Books like this will ensure that the senior students in the school see the library as a diverse, modern and exciting place with books that speak to them and they want to recommend to their friends, classmates, teachers and tutors.
It is an engrossing and exciting read with fully-formed characters and a plot that ensures that it's hard to look away. It is as far from formulaic as it is possible to be and kept me up far too late in order to finish it. I immediately wanted to read all of this writer's other books as I loved their voice and found that it really drew me into the story and made me think about it even when I'd stepped away from this tale.
This is a thought-provoking read which I'm sure will be a popular and well-read addition to our new library; I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to read it and I know that the students are going to absolutely love it too!

In the autumn of 1615, scandal rocks the Jacobean court of James I, when the king’s favourite, Robert Carr, Earl of Somerset and his young, captivating wife, Lady Frances Howard are arrested and imprisoned in the Tower of London. There they await trial for the murder, by poisoning, of Robert’s old friend and mentor, Sir Thomas Overbury, who, it is believed, stood opposed to their marriage and knew secrets that could not only damage Robert’s reputation but that of the king, too.

Being spectacularly raised from relatively common stock up to the king’s favourite, and so one of the richest and most influentially powerful men in the land, many want to see Robert convicted whether he’s guilty or not. Frances on the other hand is believed innocent by some, but equally believed wicked and insane by her enemies, especially because she is beautiful, intelligent and from one of the most notorious families for treason. While the king suspects them both, but hopes they are not.

The story unfolds to us through alternating him and her narratives. Her’s, or France’s, narrative is told from her confinement in the Tower, with her newborn daughter and the maid given to her, to whom she unburdens the events leading up to her arrest. Whilst His, or Robert’s, narrative is told literally as the same events are happening in real time. At first, this constant switching in tense and narrative was disconcerting and a little confusing, but do hang in there if you read this because this odd style choice pays off in dividends later in the book.

Then the day of the trials arrive. Robert still maintains his innocence. While Frances admits she may unwittingly have been party to the murder. Who is telling the truth? Robert? Frances? Both or maybe neither of them? And this is where the tense swapping comes into play, because it made it very hard for the reader to compare the two narratives; spot any differences; or worse spot what may have been altered or be missed out completely. Which ultimately paves the way for one shocking reveal!

Sadly, I have heard some criticism leveled at this book for historical inaccuracies and improbabilities, and if I am honest this is a time period I know or have read much about (another of the appeals for me), so I can’t say if their correct or not. But do I feel Fremantle has used real historical characters, involved in a real crime and written a gripping tale around them. Perhaps Elizabeth Fremantle writes accurate, unbelievable historical-fiction, while E. C. Fremantle writes sensational, historical thrillers, and I have enjoyed both!

What will you do if your best friend is besotted with an evil person? If you are someone who will resort to any means to save your friend, then you need to hear this story. The death of Thomas Overbury is a lesson that history teaches us; in the tug of war between friendship and love, the winner will always be the latter.
Reading 'The Poison Bed' helped me brush up some of my history lessons. The fact that I was not familiar with this poisoning case which shook the Jacobean court at least played in my favour. But those who are familiar with the story will surely know the real culprit. All the same, this is going to give you a different perspective and will surely satisfy the history buff in you.
Fremantle's beautiful and strong writing shook me and I closed the book with a feeling of distaste to all this political warfare. No one is invincible here and a mere lack of judgement will result in the downfall of even the mightiest. Isn't that one of the amusing things about historical fiction? It gives the reader a sense of power which comes from the knowledge of the futures of the characters involved. The story of Robert Carr and Frances Howard is no different. A love story, a murder, a tragedy -- you can call it what you may. It is all these.

I fell in love with the cover and then I fell in love with the book.
It's well crafted, full of passions and wonderfully written.
I appreciated the well researched historical background, the fleshed out cast of characters and the style of writing.
It's the first work I read by this author and won't surely be the last.
Strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Any author writing what can be very loosely termed ‘historical fiction’ has their work cut out at the moment when it comes to standing out. Elizabeth Fremantle pulls this off with aplomb, with a thrilling delve into a cause celebre of Jacobean London.

The examination into the roles of Robert Carr and Frances Overbury in the death of Sir Thomas Overbury is handled deftly, drawing in the reader from the off- like a soap opera but in the reign of James I. The decadence and intrigue of court is rendered beautifully, and there are rewards aplenty in terms of plot devices, Accomplished and masterful, ‘The Poison Bed’ is a testament to Fremantle’s mastery of her subject.

This is an absorbing cleverly written tale
It’s an addictive sensual novel that gets inside your head and makes me want to read all the authors book
A huge win

This tale of passion, subterfuge and murder, set in the early seventeenth century, has as its epigraph a quotation from Jacobean playwright John Webster’s ‘The Duchess of Malfi’, reminding us that we bring our misfortunes upon ourselves. Not only is this an entirely apposite indication of the novel’s content but that this illustration comes from a revenge tragedy reminds us that what is to come will not be pretty!
Elizabeth Fremantle takes the little-known story of James 1’s favourite Robert Carr’s downfall. He and his wife, Frances Howard, are accused of murdering Thomas Overbury who has been temporarily imprisoned in the tower. (Knowing that he may well meet with an accident on the way, given that he is opposed to the marriage of Frances to Robert, Thomas has refused James’ invitation to travel to Moscow as an emissary.)
Thomas is right to fear Frances. She is a wonderful dissembler who has been trained by her uncle to be utterly ruthless. She plays the appealing virgin, the loyal wife, the good friend and the faithful subject so well that, whilst the Court whispers all manner of gossip about her, she allows none of it to bring her down. But just how far has she corrupted Robert, a man devoted to king and country?
Whilst the author is clear that this is a work of fiction, most apparent in its superbly fitting conclusion, she certainly creates an authentic Jacobean world for us to inhabit. Domestic, political and cultural details feel very real. ‘The Poison Bed’ is an enthralling read, reminding us just how important caring parent figures are for the healthy development of their children by their absence in this novel! This history also teaches us that some who wield power are adept at twisting the truth to suit their own ambitions. A salutary tale for our age of fake news.

The him and her in this story are Robert Carr and Frances Howard, both pivotal characters at the heart of the court of James I and this story brilliantly captures a troubling and scandalous time in British history. They are accused of poisoning Lord Thomas Overbury and the story plays out as to the motives, means and subterfuge behind the plot and makes for fascinating listening, especially as I knew very little about this period of history and it has peaked my interest to investigate more!

Frances and Robert are both extremely fascinating characters - Robert is very close to the King, but is betrayed by his own lustful thoughts towards Frances which becomes obsessive with his pursuit of her. Frances is no stranger to getting what she wants from life and a disastrous marriage to Lord Essex gets her notoriety but not happiness.

Behind the scenes there are many plots to gain power over the King, and the manipulative behaviour displayed is quite staggering at times - there is no 'playing fair' in these high stake games that are being played and it's all about getting what you want, no matter who you damage in the long run and I loved how devious some of the characters were in their quest for power.

The way the story is told from both perspectives also really worked well - you get to see their lives before, during and after the court case and allows you to get to know both characters even better.

This is a gripping piece of historical fiction and gives a real insight into just how underhanded life could really be in the Jacobean court!

My first thought: this could go really well or really poorly
Thankfully, it went really well. It's a really good 'who done it?' novel that keeps your guessing. Did NOT guess the ending!

The Poison Bed tells the story of Frances and Robert, two star-crossed lovers who must be together despite the machinations of court and Frances family, the infamous Howards. Except it doesn't as these star-crossed lovers both have their secrets and scandals such as Robert been King James 'favourite' and Frances been married already. But an existing marriage to the Howards is just a small issue when considering the opportunity of getting the kings favourite, despite what his relationship with the king is, into the family fold and ultimately under their control. The story unfolds from the perspective of Frances and Robert but this novel really takes the unreliable narrator idea and runs with it. Whilst based on real people the author has fictionalized the happenings of the scandalous court of King James, one I must be honest I knew little about. It has piqued my interest now so I'll definitely be looking into this period more. In regards to the novel itself, it felt a little long for the story it was telling but ultimately was an enjoyable and compulsive read with a killer ending. Imagine a domestic thriller set in post-Tudor times and you have The Poison Bed.

I did not have a chance to read this book before the review date. Sorry, I will try to review and update on media afterwards

Not a period of history with which I am familiar, so did a quick internet search. This was a fascinating story which illustrates the problems of a weak monarch following a strong one. Lots of intrigue and false testimony. I didn't feel any sympathy for the participants but some great characters and a storyline which brought the times and participants to life.

The chance to go back into an historical era of betrayal, murder and degradation. Although this is fiction it is written around events in history and painted an eye opening picture of the times.
Because I’ve read this book, it has given me a desire to read more about our British history. I totally enjoyed it and would highly recommend it.

Married at an early age to a man who despises her, Frances Howard is the pawn in the political machinations of her great-uncle Lord Northampton. Seeing an advantageous proposal to marry Frances to King James' 'favourite' Robert Carr, Northampton makes it happen. However when Carr's former friend Thomas Overbury dies under suspicious circumstances both Frances and Robert are imprisoned in the Tower because one of them was guilty of poisoning Overbury weren't they?
The mysterious death of Thomas Overbury has been a Jacobean murder mystery that has never been solved. James I was infamous from his liking for handsome young men, although homosexuality has never been proven, and Robert Carr was a long-term favourite who rose his before his fall. In this book both Frances and Thomas tell their tales as they sit in the Tower awaiting their fate. Fremantle has a reputation for writing strong, if romantically nuanced, historical fiction but this is a departure. It feels altogether more sophisticated with a twisty plot line, unreliable narrators and a story that is not far removed from the Jacobean tragedies of Webster (which are scorned by Frances in the book). Is Frances Howard an innocent dupe? There are hints of MacBeth in this tale as well. My only quibble is the vernacular used at times, it is too modern and jars in historical context, other than that I was suitably impressed.

I was riveted by this book for the first third or so but then I gradually lost interest and did not finish as I simply could not warm to any of the characters and I found the plot hard to follow as it moved between different points of view. The cover is very attractive and the overall premise is interesting, it was just not for me, sorry.

I'm sorry to say this book just didn't do it for me.

The 'hype' of Gone Girl meets The Miniaturist made me want to read it but I couldn't connect with it. I spent the first chunk of the book bewildered by who was 'speaking' and that made it incredibly hard for me to engage with the characters and therefore the story itself.

I loved the concept and knowing it was based upon truth made it even more exciting for me. The Poison Bed has a vast amount of 5 star reviews so I guess I must have been missing something but it didn't work for me.

I should have loved this with its combination of history, political intrigue and a mystery . However it doesn't quite come together for me. There's some nice writing, and a real sense of the period, but there isn't enough pace. The protagonists spend a lot of time having conversations and observations that don't really add anything to the story, especially when the same events are related from both Frances' and Robert's points of view.

A gripping thriller based on a real life Jacobean murder.
A king who likes young men but whose favourite then falls for a beautiful young woman at court.
She is glamorous,ambitious but in a disastrous marriage which is annulled with the help of her conniving family.
She marries the favourite
His original benefactor is sequestered in the Tower of London and murdered
Who is responsible?
With all its twists and turns this will keep you guessing right up to the last page

The Poison Bed is a slight change of direction for Elizabeth Fremantle. She has previously written four conventional historical fiction novels set in the Tudor and Elizabethan periods, telling the stories of Katherine Parr (Queen’s Gambit), Katherine and Mary Grey (Sisters of Treason), Penelope Devereux (Watch the Lady) and Arbella Stuart and Aemilia Lanyer (The Girl in the Glass Tower). This, her latest novel, also features the story of a strong and fascinating woman, but includes additional elements of mystery and suspense which give the book the feel of a psychological thriller at times. It’s not entirely different from her other books, but different enough that she obviously felt a slight change in name was appropriate.

The novel opens in 1615 with Frances Howard and her husband Robert Carr imprisoned in the Tower of London, accused of the murder of Thomas Overbury. Overbury had been a friend of Robert’s, but was opposed to his marriage to Frances – is this why he had to die, or could there be another reason? There is certainly plenty of evidence to link both Frances and Robert with his poisoning, but in order to discover the truth, we must go back to the beginning of their relationship and follow the chain of events that led to Overbury’s death.

Robert and Frances take turns to tell their side of the story in alternating chapters headed ‘Him’ and ‘Her’. Robert’s is written as a straightforward first person narrative, while Frances relates her story to a young wet nurse who is sharing her room in the Tower to help take care of her newborn baby. In this way we get to know both main characters, as well as their friends, family members and rivals – but it’s important to remember that at the court of King James I, nobody is ever exactly as they seem.

As one of the ambitious and powerful Howard family, Frances could be seen as a pawn, pushed into making one advantageous marriage after another – first to Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, and then to Robert Carr. Yet Frances is an intelligent young woman with a mind of her own; she is prepared to do what is necessary to take control of her destiny…but would this include murder?

Robert Carr is the king’s favourite – some would say the king’s lover – and this has enabled him to rise to a much higher position at court than he could otherwise have hoped to achieve. Robert (at least as he is depicted by Fremantle) does not really have the strength of character to take advantage of this, but others, such as Frances’s scheming great-uncle, see getting close to Robert as a way of wielding influence over the king. Robert denies any involvement in Thomas Overbury’s murder, but is he telling the truth?

While Robert and Frances, as our narrators and protagonists, are always at the heart of the novel, there are other interesting characters to get to know too. I particularly liked the portrayal of James I and his relationship with Robert, but I also enjoyed the elements of black magic in the story and the roles played by the astrologer Simon Forman and the physician’s widow Anne Turner. There’s a lot going on in this novel, which makes it quite a gripping read. I found the first half more enjoyable than the second, which is when the thriller aspect becomes more dominant, but that’s just my personal preference.

The Poison Bed, in case you’re wondering, is based on a true story – you can find plenty of information on the Overbury Scandal online – but the interpretation of the characters and their motives is Fremantle’s own. If all of this is new to you, I would recommend not looking up any of the facts until after you’ve finished the novel as it’s a story packed with twists, turns and surprises. I have read about the same events before, in Marjorie Bowen’s The King’s Favourite from 1938, but this is a very different book, with a fresh and different approach. I love the cover too!

It seems that the author is currently writing another historical crime novel under the E.C. Fremantle name called The Honey and the Sting. I’m curious to see what it is about.