Billed as The Miniaturist meets Gone Girl seems rather a heavy burden, and probably creates too much expectation around this book. But it is a well written and suspenseful story, about Frances Howard of the infamous and powerful Howard clan, who are still going strong in the court of King James I, despite an unfortunate habit of getting themselves executed for treason. We are in a world of saffron ruffs and silken sleeves, of apothecaries and witchcraft. Frances is married to the King’s favourite Robert Carr (a jumped-up 'nobody' believed by many to be his lover) but the golden couple get themselves embroiled in a dark mystery to do with the poisoning of another courtier. There is a trial, which may have dire consequences...
But ultimately what is interesting about The Poison Bed is the two versions of Frances that we are asked to consider: is she the hapless wife and pawn of her powerful uncle and husband, or is she at the heart of a manipulative intrigue of lies, a ruthless and merciless operator in her own right. The events are quite complex and involve lots of characters who have small parts to play, which I got a bit lost in at times, although Fremantle creates convincing relationships. We experience both Frances and Robert’s point of view as the drama unfolds and the noose gets closer. Victim or vixen? You will have to be the judge.
