Mystery, murder and merriment are cleverly woven together to make a gem of a story.
The book is full of Tudor twists and turns.
I enjoyed reading it immensely.

I jumped into this series with this book 3, so some background is lost, but not too much. Set in one of my favorite time periods, the Tudor court, Will is asked to assist with a murder mystery. It is a fine balance between being the Henry's fool and Henry's detective. While Will is aware of almost all secrets within Henry's court, he is not proliviledged enough to go scot free is he starts questioning higher levels of the court. His love life is also complicated. His wife and his lover both wanting his time and his affectiins. Overall, this book was well put together, and I will read books 1 and 2 in the near future to catch up

#netgalley #RebelliousGrace

Westerson has found a delightful way of providing readers with an alternative view of events during Henry VIII's reign. With the court jester as their guide, readers are taken into the depths of the castle for a behind the scenes look into the dynamics of the court. Will Somers' antics at the table, his demeanor with Henry, and his love frolics, all place him in the center of events. While the murders themselves in this series are not centered on fact, the overarching events of the book are. In this book, Westerson shed light on the Pilgrimage of Grace rebellion and Henry's marriage to Jane Seymour. Fast read that will have you guessing.

Will Somers, the King’s Fool of this series, finds himself hoist on his own petard in this particular case. After his success at investigating murders on his own in the two previous books in this series, Courting Dragons and The Twilight Queen, this time around his king has ordered him to look into the death of one of Will’s fellow royal servants.

Not as a result of the original murder, but because some ghoulish or desperate person disinterred the corpse of the late Geoffrey Payne in order to disembowel the man two weeks after his burial. Someone seriously had it out for the victim, and King Henry VIII has tasked his fool, Will Somers, with discovering who would do such a terrible thing – and especially why.

Finding out who might have wanted the man dead is one thing, figuring out who hated him so much that they desecrated his corpse is something else altogether.

Evidence from the murder has long been washed away, but Will knows THAT is where he must begin, with a trail long grown as cold as the winter winds whipping through the palace. But Will, as the king’s own, personal, fool, has permission to poke his nose in anywhere and everywhere at court. With his king’s commission, he has the warrant to ask all the questions he wants, as well.

Even as every single noble he even attempts to talk with makes him all too aware that they will remember this slight and take it out on him whenever the first opportunity arises. Because even if they’re guilty they know they can’t be punished – but sooner or later, Will Somers most certainly can.

But Will can’t resist the puzzle – no matter how much he wishes that he could. The more he digs into the problem, the more it seems like that problem is much bigger than the ‘mere’ death of one of the queen’s own royal servants – not that Will Somers, a royal servant himself, would ever see it so.

That his best witness is unreliable by their very nature only adds to the conundrum, as each clue he teases out takes his investigation one more rung up the ladder of people that Will knows he cannot touch – even if they are guilty.

Especially if they have involved a member of the court so high that they cannot even be questioned, let alone touched, at all.

Escape Rating B+: Historical mysteries like this one, and the King’s Fool series of which it is the third entry, have to walk a tightrope over the historical era they portray. That’s especially true in this case, as Will Somers, the ‘King’s Fool’ of the title, was a real person in the court of Henry VIII, and his position and duties are known to history – if not the details of his days and nights.

At the same time, as an integral part of the court, Will was, by definition of his duties, in a position to literally see all and know all about the doings of the high and mighty among whom he served.

Which is very much where that tightrope comes in. His job, not as a ‘court jester’ but as the king’s own fool, required him to be in the rooms where Henry VIII’s reign happened – while at the same time being ignored as beneath the notice of the courtiers in that room with him.

The conceit of this series has put Somers in the sort of position that modern detectives would envy. He is intimately aware of all the ‘goings on’ in court, and he has been part of the court more than enough years to know how things work, where the nobility stash the skeletons in their personal closets and where the metaphorical and occasionally physical bodies are buried.

At the same time, he’s an outsider. He’s not himself a noble and he never will be. He’s a servant and all too frequently reminded of that fact. He’s beneath notice – and yet, he has the ear of the king. He can go everywhere and see everything and continue to slither out of trouble as long as he doesn’t go too far for the king to allow him to keep both his position and his head.

The story gets told, and the mystery gets solved, through Will Somers’ intimate perspective on the court and the people in it. It very much feels as if the mystery is second to the detailed and loving portrait of the court and its denizens. Not that Will doesn’t manage to solve the mystery while getting into as much danger as any contemporary detective, but that both the solution and the danger are tightly wrapped in the historical period.

I enjoy this series a LOT because this is a period that has always fascinated me. The history that it dives into so deeply is recognizable and familiar and the ‘you are there’ feeling is one that I’m eager to be a part of. I hope it works just as well for readers who are experiencing this era for the first time.

The series continues to move through the reign of Henry VIII based on that old doggerel about his wives, “Divorced, beheaded, died. Divorced, beheaded, survived.” The next book in the series, tentatively titled Beloved Sister but recently changed to Devil’s Gambit, will be set during Henry VIII’s brief marriage to Anne of Cleves, which she survived in style.

In the meantime, I’m also looking very much forward to Six Wild Crowns by Holly Race coming in June, the start of an epic fantasy series that also takes its inspiration from the court of Henry VIII and his wives.

I am eagerly anticipating both of these upcoming books!

Christmas is a time of merriment and joy unless you are in the court of Henry VIII in 1536. Then it is a time of stress and murder. Henry’s second wife Anne Boleyn has only been dead for a few months while his third wife Jane Seymour is slowly adjusting to her new role as queen. A rebellion known as the Pilgrimage of Grace is taking over northern England and the leader Robert Aske wants to visit the court to discuss matters with King Henry VIII. To top it all off, a servant of Queen Jane has been murdered and the only one who can solve the crime is a fool, Will Somers. Can Will Somers connect the dots and save those closest to him, or will the treasonous act be another downfall in such a tumultuous year? This is the premise for the third book in the A King’s Fool Mystery series, “Rebellious Grace” by Jeri Westerson.

Thank you Severn House and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this novel. This is the second book in the A King’s Fool Mystery series I have read, the first being The Twilight Queen. While I had issues with The Twilight Queen when I saw that Westerson would cover the Pilgrimage of Grace and Jane Seymour in her next novel, I decided to give the series another chance.

We begin with the discovery of the body. The male servant Geoffrey Payne had his neck slashed in a rather unusual way, but there was no murder weapon by the body. The body is quickly buried and the investigation is left to Sir Nicholas Carew. However, this is not the only distraction at court, as Will Somers will soon find out. There is a real divide between Protestants and Catholics throughout the kingdom and while Queen Jane Seymour acts as a peacemaker at court, in other areas of England, the Pilgrimage of Grace is on the move to bring back Catholicism, led by Robert Aske. Thomas Cromwell has the idea of inviting Robert Aske to join the Christmas celebrations to discuss matters. And then there is the fact that Elizabeth and Mary are joining their father at court as a way to reconcile. So, you know, a very quiet Christmas.

With the craziness of court, Will Somers is of course caught directly in the middle of the mess. He is not only trying to cheer up his friend and employer King Henry VIII, but after it is discovered that poor Mr. Payne’s corpse was dug back up and disemboweled, he is asked to assist Sir Nicholas Carew with the investigation. To add even more drama, there is a connection between the dead man, the queen’s jewels, and the Seymour family. Will has to juggle all of this plus his ever-complicated love life between his wife Marion and his lover Nicholas Pachett.

I loved this mystery, especially the additions of the characters John Blanke, Jane Foole, Jane Seymour, and Edward Seymour. It was so gripping and well-balanced that I finished it in a day, which I hadn’t done with a book in a while. If you want a delightful murder mystery set in the court of Henry VIII or if you have read the other books in the A King’s Fool Mystery series, I highly recommend you read, “Rebellious Grace” by Jeri Westerson.

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.

Will Somers, Henry VIII’s jester, has been involved in past investigations, putting his wife Marion and his own life in danger. When a servant is murdered he is reluctant to get involved. Then the body is dug up and disembowled and Henry wants to know who is responsible. Members of his court recommend Will investigate, based on his past results. The servant was tied to the Queen and Will calls on Jane Foole, the Queen’s jester, for answers. She ties the murder to a piece of jewelry that Jane Seymour had entrusted to the servant to provide aid to a group of Catholic pilgrims, an act of treason if it was discovered. Will’s solution to the murder could jeopardize the Queen’s life. It also involves members of Henry’s court who wield power and influence with the King. These same men have convinced King Henry to meet with Robert Aske, the leader of The Pilgrimage of Grace, a religious revolt in support of the Catholic faith. Will uses his presence at court and his talents as a jester to temper Henry’s rage against the treasonous group.

Will Somers is a complicated character, by his own admission. He loves Marion, but is also drawn to Nicholas, a young Lord. If their affair is discovered it could lead to a death sentence. Marion is aware of her husband’s activities and is not happy. She knows, however, that he truly loves her. Will’s love and loyalty also belongs to King Henry, who he refers to as Harry and Uncle. It is Will that he calls for when plagued by nightmares to ease his mind and entertain him. Jeri Westerson’s story is one of court intrigues and dark hallways, but it is also filled with Will’s love for Marion, Nicholas and his king. It is historical fiction at its’ best and will appeal to fans of Michael Jecks and C.J. Swanson. I would like to thank NetGalley and Severn House for providing this book.

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.

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.

Will Somers, court jester and court observer!

The perilous life of Henry VIII‘s court jester Will Somers continues to be complex. Will himself is both discerning, convoluted and endearing.
Will’s devotion to Henry and the Princesses Mary and Elizabeth is real.
His struggles with the love he has for Marion his wife and for Nicholas Patchett, Lord Hammond. A quandary! He loves them both and yet he has said to Marion he will stay true to his love for her, not love his paramours. Ahh! Will is a torn man.
Geoffrey Payne, a courtier close to Queen Jane (Seymour) has been brutally killed, buried and then dug up again and his body disembowelled. Will has declared he will find the murderer.
We are led down an intricate path, part of which includes Queen Jane’s fool, Janie Foole. Westerson’s note on the role of fools is fascinating reading.
I enjoyed Will’s interactions with the Windsor Herald of Arms in Ordinary, Charles Wriothesley, an observant man, and chronicler of the times, as they transpire without embellishment.
Tension underlying all this comes from happenings in the North. Barrister Robert Aske and his Pilgrimage of Grace, a march of nine thousand who swore an Oath of Honourable Men. They wanted to be able to practise their Catholic Faith. Henry’s advisors wanted him to ask Aske to the palace to negotiate. Will is uneasy.
The corridors of Windsor can be dark and deadly.
Another intriguing and well researched novel by Westerson chronicling these times, practices and events.

A Severn House ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

Will Somers is Henry XIII's jester. His life is circumscribed by whatever Henry wants. Henry is now on Wife #3, Jane Seymour. Henry is waiting for a son. Catherine of Aragon gave him Mary I; Anne Boleyn gave him Elizabeth I, but he wants a son. Both girls were sent away from court, but Jane Seymour has prevailed upon Henry to bring them back. A courtier is murdered and Henry charges Will with figuring out who did it. The odd thing is that the victim had his throat cut vertically, not horizontally and then, after he was buried, his body was dug up and he was disemboweled. Will figures out that someone is looking for a brooch belonging to Jane Seymour. He thinks Lady Jane gave it to the victim in order to pass it along to a man leading a crusade against Henry's closing of all Catholic churches and monasteries in England in favor of the new religion. There are too many suspects. But Will is clever and he know his way around the court. I like this series because of the fantastic research the author does. My father, the Elizabethan scholar, would have liked these. Recommended.

Rebellious Grace was worth the year's wait after The Twilight Queen as it too is an interesting read. The Fool continues to be a mess of contradictions which forms the main thread and it does make me very curious to know how much influence Will Sommers really did have over Henry VIII. That is one of the challenges with faction, how much is fact, how much is based on fact and how much is pure fiction.

That aside, a well put together book and one worth reading if you like a bit of a mystery and some history!

Will Somers is back, and as wily as ever. I find I am liking these books because of the endearing characters (especially Nosewise), despsite the unusual choice of detective - a court jester. One would have thought (as did I initially) that it just wouldn't work - but unaccountably, it does! This is probably due to the author's skill in drawing her characters and embedding them firmly in the hearts of her readers. Even the faintly anachronistic insertion of male/male relationships works as this is not casually accepted by all, which is just as it would have been in Tudor England. The period is accurately portrayed and the reader is thoroughly immersed in time and place. Even HenryVIII is given a bit of a soul, which one doubts he can have had, given his well-documented exploits. It is ironic, as we as rather sad, to read of the Queen and Will's attempts to assist her, when one knows exactly her eventual fate. A thoroughly enjoyable book, and I'm looking forward to Will's next appearance.

A great read if slow to start.
Will the court jester is charged by an incresingly disturbed Henry VIII will discovering who was responsible for the gruesome murder of a courtier.
Amisdt a backdrop of political and religeous intrigue Will has to use his skills to discover the murderer whilst satisfying a capricious Henry.
He has to use a mixture of guile and his privelige as a court jester to uncover the truth., whilst keeping his own passions and love scret from prying eyes.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Jeri Westerson for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Rebellious Grace coming out January 7, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I haven’t read the other books in the series, but I’ve read another book by this author. I really love her historical mysteries. This book was really cozy to me. I’m obsessed with historical murder mysteries. I love the time period and the intrigue. The characters were really interesting and I loved the royalty involved in the plot.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical murder mysteries!

Jeri Westerson's King's Fool mysteries draw on all sorts of interesting material. They're set during the reign of Henry VII, and I suspect that eventually the series will have included all six of his wives. The fool is an interesting character because he can speak difficult truths—as long as he appears to be jesting. And this fool in particular is bisexual, so the romantic and erotic possibilities are many.

As the title suggests, this volume is set during the Pilgrimage of Grace, a movement to return England to Catholicism after the execution of Anne Boleyn. Those participating in the "Pilgrimage," really an uprising, are sure they are acting in both God's and the king's best interests. But, now that Henry is the head of the church in England, questioning the new Protestant faith is equivalent to questioning Henry himself. And Henry does not like to be questioned, verbally or through actions.

Will Somers, the King's fool, has been charged with solving the murder of one of Queen Jane Seymour's retainers. While Will investigates, Robert Aske, leader of the pilgrimage, is spending the Christmas season at court, trying to find an agreement between the King, himself, and Thomas Cromwell. If you know your history, you'll know how that effort winds up.

Setting the novel during the Christmas season allows Westerson to offers feasts, performances, dancing, and general fol-de-rol, which adds to the charm of this novel. It's more or less a "cozy" mystery, though no one in Henry's England can ever feel fully certain of their status and safety.

Rebellious Grace is a good read for those who enjoy historical mysteries, particularly those set in Tudor times, and who don't want the action to get too bloody.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.

Will Somers, jester to King Henry VIII, finds himself tangled in a mess when he investigates the murder of a servant to Jane Seymour.. it's 1536 and the King is distracted by political and religious issues (I got a bit lost in this) but Will knows he's got to solve this or risk the King's wrath. This slim volume packs a great deal of history into a clever mystery featuring an unusual and appealing character in Will (and his wife as well). Don't worry of you haven't read the earlier books as this will be fine as a standalone. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A very good read for fans of historical mysteries.

This is book 3 of Will Somers, King’s Fool mysteries, and a Jester or Fool must keep his Royal master happy with jokes and amusements, but this is not an easy job when the King is Henry the Eighth.
When a body is found with his throat cut, Will is tasked with investigating the murder. The dead man is a servant to Queen Jane Seymour, could this be a plot against her recent marriage to the King?
Due to his unique position at court, Will is allowed access to all areas. He has been a skilled investigator before, and before long, both Marion, his long suffering wife, and Will’s current paramour, Lord Hammond are all involved in the search for a killer.
The King is distracted by The Pilgrimage of Grace, whereby disaffected Catholics are rebelling against the new Protestant religion and the closure of the Monasteries, which has deprived them of medical care for the sick, education for the children and the loss of alms to help in their poverty. They are led by the lawyer Robert Aske, and Will meets him when he goes to court to see the King.
This is a fascinating look at the fashions, politics and religious upheavals in England in 1536. Will Somers bisexuality has to be kept secret, it is an unlawful act, his wife Marion is a very understanding woman. There is a skilful use of both actual and fictional characters, with enough clues Laid down to tempt the reader. The humour is very bawdy and earthy, the Glossary at the beginning of this book is very helpful.
The term Fool, is not an expression of pity or derision, or used as a term of disability, but used as a term for their innocence, they were respected as being too innocent to be guilty of misdeeds. They were respected for their naivety.
I enjoyed this risqué read, and it was a most unusual murder to be committed. The narrative flows and the characters are very likeable.
I am already looking forward to the next title, Beloved Sister. A five star read.
My thanks to Netgalley and Severn House Publishers for my ARC freely given in return for my honest review. I will leave reviews to Goodreads and Amazon UK upon publication.

Once again Will Somers, the official fool to King Henry VIII, is called upon to solve a murder, this time of a servant in Queen Jane's household. And once again he manages to accomplish the task, with help from his long-suffering wife and the support of his lover, Sir Nicholas. As in the previous installment in the series (the only one I'd read prior to this), the mystery is the least compelling and convincing part of the book. What I most enjoyed about "Rebellious Grace" was the detailed depiction of life in the Tudor court and the well-rounded characters. Will, who narrates, is a bit garrulous and redundant; I'd like to see his musings edited a bit. In fact, I'd love if his wife, Marion, narrated one of the subsequent books. Even so, I'm already eager for next title in the series, which is set to take place during Anne of Cleve's brief time as consort.

Thank you, NetGalley and Severn House, for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I liked Jeri Westerson’s Crispin Guest medieval noir mysteries. However, I read the first in her King’s Fool series, and now the third, Rebellious Grace. This series, set during the reign of Henry VIII, is filled with politics, court fashion, and customs. And, Will Somers, the king’s jester, is the primary character. I like Will, and his way of investigating. Courtiers realize he makes a good inquisitor, and even the king turns to him for answers.

By 1536, Henry VIII is married to Jane Seymour. He’s turned away from the Catholic Church, an action that has divided his court and the country. Henry has to deal with rebellion, but, first he has to deal with a murder in the corridors of the palace. Geoffrey Payne, a servant in the queen’s household, has been found with his throat cut. Two weeks later, that same man’s body is removed from its grave and disemboweled. That’s when Henry tasks Will with finding the killer.

Because it’s the Christmas season, Will has time on his hands to investigate. With the help of his wife, Marion, and his lover, Nicholas, he questions people in the queen’s household as well as others in the castle. By the time he’s eliminated his primary suspects, he realizes his murderers could be too high up in the palace hierarchy for him to accuse.

Westerson does a masterful job incorporating the holidays, the murder investigation, and the primary political problem of the time, “The Pilgrimage of Grace”, in which 9000 people marched, demanding the monasteries and the Catholic Church be restored. While all the issues blend smoothly in the story, it’s helpful to have her Afterword in which she discusses the facts and people involved.

I like Will, and his quiet, but witty way of questioning people. He has access to the entire palace, as the King’s Fool, but he also knows his place. And, he fears for his position, as everyone does. I’m looking forward to the next book that takes place during Henry VIII’s short marriage to Anne of Cleves.