Thank you to Netgalley and Michael Joseph for allowing me to read this book for an honest review.

This book for me was quite strange, you flitted backwards and forwards in time without even realising and personally I found myself getting confused. But it in the end we came full circle and everything made sense.

I'm going to assume that Frances Howard has a split personality? Especially as she talks about the "other Frances" from time to time. In the beginning you're given the impression that she is a bit of a naive little girl but in reality she knows way more than she's letting on.

I felt sorry for Robert Carr as he seriously got himself mixed up in some rather corrupt and if I'm honest completely mental situations. But love is love and you'll do pretty much anything for it. Not only is he the King's favourite but he falls in love with Frances and gets to marry her after what seems like an age. Love at first sight for him, whoever said romance was dead?

In all seriousness if this book was unjumbled and laid flat it truly would be a fantastic book. But as I kept getting confused about where in time we were, it didn't seem to flow right. Don't get me wrong, I did really enjoy it, it's a fantastic book and a brilliant plot. I'm giving this a 4/5 rating. It would be a 5 if it flowed better and I weren't getting so confused.

The story is told through the memories of the two leading characters who are imprisoned in the tower. It starts with a lady and her baby with a net nurse and then in turns to her husband the other prisoner. It is a mystery that slowly evolves as the past meets the present and then goes to the future. It emerges that it is set in the time of James 1 and the intrigues and plots that take place as two religious factions vie for position and power, of guarded secrets, friendship, love and betrayal that results in their imprisonment in the tower. The resulting trial and what happened afterwards makes up a gripping tale with a surprise ending.

Thanks Penguin UK - Michael Joseph and netgalley for this ARC.

Fremantle gives us a real historical tale that will have you on your toes with suspense, awe, and you won't know if you should feel compassion or hatred at their daring.

It took me a while to get into The poison bed, but i persevered on and enjoyed it. Set around the court of James I, Elizabeth Freemantles historical fiction gripped me from around a third of the way in. Based on real life scandal i enjoyed the twists and writing style. Having read The girl in the glass tower, by the same author and thoroughly enjoying that, i shall look out for more of her work. Thank you to the author, netgalley and publisher for allowing me to read.

A really interesting fictional account of a real incident that occurred in 17th Century England. We are told the story by two narrators -Robert Carr a favourite of James I, and his wife Frances who is one of the Howard clan - but do we trust them? The novel is packed with intrigue, love and treachery and makes a really good read. I am now going to explore more factual accounts of the time and the Overbury incident but this is historical fiction as I love it - based on fact, strong characters, plenty of historical detail and a great story to boot.

The Poison Bed by Elizabeth Fremantle
An intense, spellbinding expose of an aristocratic 17th century scandal at the court of James I of England.
Elizabeth Fremantle’s new novel is set within the febrile atmosphere of the English court of James I and concerns a scandal attached to one of his early favourites, Robert Carr, Earl of Rochester and Lady Frances Howard, initially married to the Earl of Essex. The scandal arises from the mysterious death in the Tower of London of fellow courtier Thomas Overbury and the subsequent trials of Robert and Frances on a charge of murder.
The ensuing story is told from the viewpoints of Him and Her, with many twists and turns and a constant thread of intrigue and power struggles between the opposing political factions. Fremantle has provided a completely gripping piece of historical fiction with a intense psychological thriller, in which the characters of Robert and Frances are exposed to provide the final, unexpected denouement.
I thoroughly enjoyed this well researched, well-paced story with its historical base of the Jacobean era which makes a refreshing change from those based on Tudor times. The novel’s mixture of romance, history and mystery are well balance and I feel sure it will be a great success with all fans of these genre.
Many thanks to the publisher, Michael Joseph and NetGalley for giving me an advance review copy of such a fascination novel.

I did not find this book an easy read. It took me several days to get through. I couldn't really get into the Him and her alternation and struggled with the time line which seemed to weave backwards and forwards with no real sense. Said to be ah historical mystery thriller I didn't feel the thrill or the mystery. It was however very true to the historical setting and towards the end the author brings all the lines together with some success. I am sure there are many who will enjoy the book is just didn't work for me.

A well written novel based on real events, it taught me many things about the period. This was a different genre to my usual choices but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

A story about the powerful Howard family at the time of James I, the opposing ‘Essex’ faction; the murder of Sir Thomas Ovebury and the subsequent trial. It is told from the viewpoints of ‘Him’ and ‘Her’ – those being Robert Carr, one of the King’s ‘favourites’ and Frances Howard. It begins with a female (unknown) being taken to the Tower of London, confessing to a murder and we learn that her husband is already residing there…

Between these 2 groups, one led by The Earl of Northampton (Howard) and the other by the Earl of Essex there is constant rivalry, power struggles and intrigue. These are ruthless people who stop at nothing to achieve their aims of power, money, favours - and positions closest to the King. Alongside this are the male ‘favourites’ of the King – Robert Carr and later, Villiers – hated, mocked (quietly!) and envied for their influence and position by the other courtiers.

Frances Howard is married to the Earl of Essex – but her Great uncle (Northampton) declares that this marriage has ceased to be profitable to the family, so looks to where most profit may be gained.

Although fiction, the story is based in fact and surrounding named characters are held to account for the subsequent murder that occurs of a prisoner in the Tower. The beginning of the book is more like a love story, then it gets grisly, then you learn that the characters are not all they seem. Interesting, but I felt it was a bit drawn out. And although it made a good story I couldn’t help but wonder if Frances really had been as evil as she is painted in the latter half – maybe she was. We’ll never know.

A passionate Jacobean thriller that lulls you into a false sense of security much like France's Howard's hemlines. I devoured this novel like Robert Carr when he first got his hands on her. Scandal, mystery, jewels tossed around like they are rainwater, and let's not forget the tarts - this has all the ingredients for a brilliant historical tale based on true events.

I do like a bit of historical crime/ mystery and when its based on true facts it always has that extra zing to it. This is a twisty Jacobean set tale, London set and some very dastardly goings on. I guess the name of The Poison Bed kind of sets the scene!
there’s a nice little trail of intrigue weaving through the book and even though you might find the beginning slow to begin with, this is important scene setting as the cloud of intrigue clears later on. A couple is accused of murder and they each get their say....a clever way of revealing the truth the Jacobean justice way

I’ve read a lot of Tudor and Plantagenet set books but not really any Jacobean ones but this was really good and it’s got me thinking what else they might have been up to! Can’t remember doing this in history - but I wil make up for that now!

It’s an interesting twist on the historical thriller, mystery novel and the true story inspiration really puts it up a notch. If I had a slight complaint, I would say that the ending seemed a bit long I think it would have been more effective had it been wrapped up earlier so to speak.

I did enjoy it though and what a cover! Those Jacobeans hey? Bet there’s more stories where this came from!

I am a fan of both crime/ mystery and historical fiction although I’m quite picky with what I read in both genres. This was an absolute treat, combining the best of both genres in a twisting plot that continually jinks and surprises you. I nearly always have an idea of what the conclusion will be in a mystery novel but I was literally guessing until the end with The Poison Bed, then looking back I saw what a clever trail had been seeded throughout the book. Set in the Jacobean court, it follows the scandal of a couple accused of murder, told in alternating his and hers viewpoints. This was a good choice for the narrative structure and worked well. The plot and pacing were taut and the historical detail was on point. Really very good.

!! Spoilers Ahead !! This is my first from this particular author, which really surprised me when I realised there is a Tudor trilogy in addition to this Jacobean whodunnit. It's certainly an interesting way to blend two genres, I can't say that I've ever read any historical fiction laid out like a modern thriller but somehow it does work. A lot of that is down to how sensational the facts were at the time- Robert Carr, the beautiful favourite and rumoured lover of the king and his confessed murderess wife Frances Howard, of the notorious Howard aristocratic dynasty. There is intrigue aplenty and not a little bit of salacious gossip, making the majority of this book a real page turner whether you are familiar with the case or no. Unfortunately once the game is up and our villain is clear, the tale does begin to drag and I felt that it took overly long to wrap things up. Because of this the reveals lost quite a bit of impact. For the most part though I found this book very entertaining so I'm definitely going to watch for new material in future.

I enjoyed this book when I got through the first quarter. I felt that it took a long time to set the scene and to get to know the characters and the era. In fact it didn't tell who the king was and I had to work out which king was on the throne and therefore the era the characters belonged to. t is unusual to read a story set in the time of James 1 of England.
I enjoyed the court descriptions and I like the fact that the story was based on a true story. I recommend the book to readers who are interested in historical fiction as I felt that the descriptions were realistic.

This was a new genre to me. I learned so much about the Jacobean period. I was captivated from the beginning. Mixing romance, history and intrigue and a touch of mystery. I was sure I knew the outcome but the twists and turns really were gripping. Loved it.

Unfortunately I didn't finish this novel, it was down to me and not the book as the premise reads very well, I struggled to get to know the characters and got confused who was who, but again that was down to me, I think the era it was set just didn't pull me in, but I'm sure it will be a great read for fans of historical fiction

A twisting tale of power, poison and intrigue. Historical fiction with the pull of a psychological thriller. Based on a real Jacobean murder. Fascinating.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book. This book had me wanting more. It was very well written, great characters and storyline. I couldn’t put it down. Definately worth 5stars.

I went into reading this book, knowing full well it was going to be excellent, I have read every single Fremantle book and loved them all, this was no exception.
Her previous books were set in the Tudor period which was a win win for me, as I love to read about this era, I really wanted her to write more in this vein, but when i learn't that this was a murder / mystery/ Jacobean re jigging of a poisoning in the court of James 1st I just new i had to have it.
When i recieved it, I started it almost straight away, pushing back the the other things I was reading and just ate my way through, eating one chapter at a time until I had finished and was totally sated.
This piqued my interest into this actual occurance and have now, thank you Elizabeth Fremantle have learn't a new bit of history.
A great read and totally recommend this to anyone who loves to read an excellent historical fiction.
A more detailed review will appear on my blog nearer the publication date.
Once again thank you Net galley and the Publisher to let me have my fill of one of my favoured authors.
So, Elizabeth Fremantle, I hope you are writing another, because I need more!

This well-written (and clearly well-researched) Jacobean fiction is about a real-life scandal I was surprised I had never heard about, given its juicy content. It defies genre in that it is a combination of historical fiction, literary fiction, romance and mystery.
There is a wonderful twist in the book that reminded me a lot of Sarah Waters' novel Fingersmith and from the moment of the twist in Fremantle's novel, I couldn't put it down.
I loved the multi-person perspectives here - flipping between Him and Her and also the way the narrative develops.
There is also a decent amount of bodice-ripping throughout the novel (and because it's James I/VI, a good dose of codpiece-ripping too!) so if you're a fan of Philippa Gregory's early work, you'll like this.
I would say this is not necessarily for fans of Hilary Mantel's work as it lacks the difficulty and complexity of that work, but this has a greater pace ... and I love a page-turner. This is exactly that.
The cover of this book is beautiful and evocative and the content matched it.