The Queen's Men by Oliver Clements is a wonderful historical fiction that is the second book in the Agents of the Crown series. I honestly really, really like this series. I am surprised more readers do not know about this hidden gem. Using real figures such as John Dee, Queen Elizabeth I, and so on and weaving them into a fictional narrative that is full of intrigue, mystery, espionage, and high-stakes drama really makes for a great end result. I am really looking forward to the new books! Excellent. 5/5 stars Thank you NG and Atria Books | Atria/Leopoldo & Co. 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 and Amazon accounts immediately. Date of Publication 12/7/21.

I enjoyed this second book in the series set in Elizabethan England. I enjoyed this action filled book and felt that it was well written, a historically accurate historical fiction book. The Queen’s Men is about a plot to kill Queen Elizabeth. Once again, John Dee is the protagonist of the story. I really enjoyed the subplots and felt that the author did an excellent job with character aand plot development. I am a fan of the series and I hope that there will be noire books to come.

I needed Oliver Clements' The Queen's Men. Lately, I've hit a string of lackluster historical mysteries. They haven't been complete failures, but they've left me aware of some of the weaknesses of the genre: the overly simple mystery at the heart of the novel and historical characters that feel more like cardboard photo props than real people. The Queen's Men is delightfully free of these problems.

The mystery is complex, stretched out across time with small leads that keep bringing a solution near, but not quite close enough. Clements' tale is woven of multiple threads, so moments of crisis and resolution occur throughout the book. The ending is powerful and climactic (I'm pretty sure my reading speed doubled on the last few chapters), but there are other dramatic solutions to seemingly intractable problems throughout. Clements introduces readers to the complex politics of the time (the reign of Elizabeth I) in a way that makes that information essential to the story, rather than a didactic add-on.

The central characters—John Dee, Francis Walsingham, William Cecil, Christopher Hatton, and Jane Frummond—are complicated on their own and in relationship to one another. Of the five, Frummond is (as far as I know) the only non-historical character, and her presence is a particular delight, an adventurous woman both of and beyond her time.

This is a historical mystery that should delight anyone who enjoys the genre. It will also delight readers of historical fiction and readers of "real" history who need an occasional romp. It's well worth purchasing or requesting from your local library.

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

I received an advance reading copy (arc) of this book from the publisher and NetGalley.com in return for a fair review. Going into this book, I wasn't quite sure if I would like it, but I have found a new literary hero (flawed for sure, but so much fun), Dr. John Dee, and a fabulous new author, Oliver Clements. Clements not only spins a great story, but he has fun in the telling. The author's sense of humor shines through on page after page with his snarky, but clever, remarks. I found myself re-reading many passages just for the giggle. For me, the story took second place and the way Clements wrote it won me over completely. It all starts out with an assassination attempt on Queen Elizabeth I (not to be confused with Elizabeth II--the current monarch). Set in the 1500s, John Dee is on a quest to create 'Greek fire'--a powerful weapon of war. His many failed attempts wreak havoc. He is also a 'friend' of the Queen and much to her dismay, calls her 'Bess' whenever they meet. His familiarity in front of her staff causes her to cringe and shoot him warning looks--all of which he takes in good stride. All kinds of things happen in the interim and there is never a dull moment--or page. Whether you like history or not, I highly recommend this book. It is written with intelligence and, at the same time, will make you laugh out loud. I had no idea that this was the second book in a series and you can be sure, I will be looking for the first one. I sincerely hope that many more will follow. Long live Dr. John Dee!