Captive Queen by Jade Scott

A fantastically detailed and well researched account of Mary , Queen of Scots incarceration in Britain once she fled her beloved Scotland.
From coming over the Solway to eventual execution at Fotheringhay Castle aged 44 .
We get to read about her day to day living , how she spent her time and the plots of trying to get her free .
I knew the background story , but it was very interesting and informative to learn more.
Highly recommend .

Captive Queen: The Decrypted History of Mary, Queen of Scots by Jade Scott is an excellent nonfiction that I really enjoyed.

For some reason I have a true fascination specifically with Mary Queen of Scots…for many years now. I have read nonfiction and historical fiction and several books within that collection have been some of my true favorites. I will add this one to that list.

This book really honed in on her life and happenings, big and little, during her time of incarceration especially through many of the letters and correspondence that filtered to and from her.

The author presents a well-researched nonfiction that helps shed light on another facet of Queen Mary that helps better define who she was as a Queen and a woman.

5/5 stars

Thank you EW and Michael O'Mara Limited | Michael O'Mara for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 10/24/24.

I’ve always been interested in the Tudors and there’s always been a shroudy aspect of mystery when it comes to Mary and especially her twenty year stint in captivity.

With all the plots, the espionage, cryptic ciphers and hidden messages, you’d be forgiven for thinking this was a plot for an epic blockbuster. It’s such an intriguing era of history and I really enjoyed learning more during this time.

My previous knowledge was only slightly foundational so to build on the little I knew and flesh out my knowledge on the topic was great and it made for really interesting reading.

I also loved that at the start of each chapter, it expertly set the scene for what was outlined to come, as fiction before non fiction followed. It was a great way to begin each segment. It was really well written and in a compelling way and I got to be quite invested in everything that was going on.

A great read for any history buff. It was enlightening and brings the latest in some of her recently deciphered letters.

A very interesting story about Mary Queen of Scots. A subject that I knew very little about. A sad life and a short one she was mostly ignored by her father and was a strong Catholic. I enjoyed this very much. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

A new take on the captivity of Mary Queen of Scots. This biography covers the nearly twenty-year period when Mary was imprisoned by Elizabeth I. She feared Mary not only because she was the rightful Scottish Queen, but also because she was Catholic, so an uprising could have resulted in Britain becoming Catholic again. Mary wrote and received a multitude of letters during her captivity, many of those to her allies being in code. Some of these have been previously decoded but now many more have been decrypted. Through these coded letters, more details of her attempts to escape have been found. The book charts her life during her imprisonment, until the time of her execution for treason in 1587. For added interest, photos of some of the coded letters are included. An engrossing read

As a history enthusiast, I was delighted to read this intelligent and enlightening account of the life of Mary, Queen of Scots. Jade Scott uses Mary’s letters to explain her story. Through her coded correspondence, we discover how the captured Queen kept her support alive. We also find out the lengths Elizabeth I spymasters were prepared to go.

I appreciated how the author set the scene on the events of Mary’s life. Using the cyphered letters we could see further into her thoughts and actions. I felt that by the end of the book I understood Mary more. I also understood the obstacles she was up against and the determination of those working for her cousin. The relationship with Elizabeth was a complicated one and this can be seen clearly through the correspondence. I was enthralled.

A fascinating read, bringing clarity and a greater understanding of a pivotal figure in our history.

That opening paragraph was enough for me, I would love to see an authentic letter signed Marie Stuart and the coded letters to friends and those she was asking for help from, oh yes, my kind of dreamscapes!
I read my first book about this tragic Queen when I was 11 years old, and fell in love with this determined and strong willed woman. I hoped this book would increase my knowledge, but I was so disappointed that the items I wanted to see, photographs of documents, examples of cyphers and personal letters to her son and friends both at home and abroad were so badly formatted and the incomplete photographs that spread over two or three pages, were rendered almost impossible to read. My copy had no dates included throughout, luckily, thanks to my growing collection of books about Marie Stuart, they were easy to find, and I am sure that all will be amended in the final copy, which I will have to buy.
I loved the descriptions of the many unusual ways to seal an envelope, especially the spiral lock, sounds like an early form of origami.
I always thought the Casket letters were suspect, otherwise they would have been produced at her trial.
She endured twenty years of imprisonment in England, and since the early 1990’s, I have attempted to visit every place in France, Scotland and England, that is associated with this enduring figure, it has become a passion of mine and a long standing joke within my long suffering family. Having lived close to Fotheringhay, Stamford and having family living near Chatsworth House, that part has been rather enjoyable.
I will still highly recommend this book for the explanations about the failed intrigues that were attempted over the years of captivity, her sense of worth and her defiance even to the end game. Depending upon the readers bias, there will be either acceptance of guilt or protestations of innocence, but that’s what such a book like this should be about.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers Michael O’ Mara Ltd, for my ARC, freely given in exchange for my honest review. I will leave reviews to Goodreads and Amazon UK upon publication. Five stars.

I’ve long held a fascination for the beleaguered Queen of Scots whose return to Scotland in 1561 heralded a new beginning only to have everything fall to pieces in just a few short years. Whilst the story of Mary Stuart’s fall from grace is widely documented this fresh look at the decrypted evidence from Mary’s letters, whilst imprisoned, certainly help to reshape her story. Covering the twenty years of Mary’s imprisonment, her constant struggle to gain support for her cause and her unjust incarceration, we begin to learn just how frantic were Mary’s efforts to gain her freedom.

Mary scribed thousands of letters, most were cleverly encrypted, with devious codes, in order to make their contents inaccessible to prying eyes. Comprehensively researched and imaginatively written, this showcases the author’s skill in bringing Mary’s troubled captivity to life, as well as documenting the surreptitious duplicity of Elizabeth I’s spymasters, this fascinating read gives a realistic insight into Mary state of mind whilst incarcerated in various strongholds in England. I especially enjoyed the small vignettes at the start of each chapter which give an intimate account of Mary’s thoughts and feelings which read like historical fiction. The detailed Dramatis Personae at the start of the book gives a who’s who of all the key players who played a role in Mary’s imprisonment, be they friends or enemies, and the colour illustrations help to place the biography within it’s specific timeframe.

The legacy of this troubled Queen of Scotland will never grow old as we continue to be fascinated with her life story and her relationship not just with, Elizabeth, her ‘sister quene’ but also with her supporters who wanted her restored to her throne and equally, those who were just as determined to keep Mary, Queen of Scots strictly under the control of her English gaolers.

Jade Scott's *Captive Queen* offers a fresh and engaging look at the life of Mary, Queen of Scots, especially during her time in imprisonment in England. By sharing newly decoded letters, Scott reveals the remarkable strength, political savvy, and complex relationships that Mary navigated while confined, making her story even more captivating.

This book is a fantastic pick for history buffs and anyone intrigued by the ups and downs of Mary Stuart's life. Scott does an amazing job of blending rich historical details with storytelling, creating a vivid picture of a queen who refused to back down, even in tough times.

One of the highlights of *Captive Queen* is its detailed exploration of Mary's letters. These personal insights allow readers to connect with her emotions, fears, and dreams in a really intimate way. Scott also dives into the fascinating world of the secret codes and ciphers Mary used, showcasing her cleverness and determination.

While the book focuses on Mary's time in prison, it also places her experiences against the backdrop of the political and religious turmoil of her era. Scott skillfully ties Mary's personal challenges to the larger historical context, creating a rich and engaging narrative that's hard to put down.

In summary, *Captive Queen* is a thought-provoking and insightful read that offers a new perspective on Mary, Queen of Scots. With thorough research and a compelling writing style, this book is sure to enhance your understanding and appreciation of this fascinating historical figure.

I think it is fair to say that everyone in the UK will have at least heard the name Mary Queen of Scots. The Captive Queen shares with us many of the details of her very strange life and does it with aplomb.

Mary Queen of Scots has always niggled me as I have always been curious about her actual life and, finally, I have many of the answers that I was hoping for. If you think that life is complex in the 21st Century, you are going to be very surprised at how complicated it was back in the 16th Century, especially when you remember how rudimentary things were then when compared with the world today.

I will just mention two titbits of information. It is only very recently that some of the codes used by Mary and her supporters to exchange messages and plans have been deciphered. Think how much more powerful our technology is for things like this.

Mary was a Queen in captivity and yet her main meal of the day was served with around 30 different dishes for her to choose from!

I found Captive Queen to be a fascinating glimpse of her life and I am so pleased to have read it.

No hesitations in recommending. This is a beautifully written book that brings to light new letters that have been discovered in France from Mary, Queen of Scots, I felt like I knew Mary Queen of Scots a lot better after reading this book. I will look out for more books written by Jade Scott. The way Jade writes about history brings it to life.