Susanna obliges him, but when she arrives at the Black Jack Inn, the barkeeper claims to have just seen her kissing Robert before they both left. Susanna, not unaccustomed to Robert’s dalliances, is not surprised, and tries to retrace Robert’s steps to locate him. As Susanna nears the center of town, she notices a man drunkenly stumbling atop stone steps at the Eleanor Cross, a monument marking a stopping place of the queen’s funeral cortege.

When the man tumbles to the bottom of the stairs, herbalist Susanna rushes to his aid and is surprised to recognize the man as Robert. Adding further to her surprise, she discovers the dying Robert has been poisoned and was not necessarily drunk.

Susanna is arrested immediately. She is brought to a dreadful jail, but because of her wealth, she is able to buy herself better accommodations, and eventually her freedom, though she must employ a guard and return after Easter to stand trial and face possible execution.

Susanna returns to her home, Leigh Abbey and implements the plans she made to solve the crime on her own while awaiting her release. She enlists her maidservant Jennet and several other confidants as she sets out on long trips across England in the dead of winter in search of Robert’s former mistresses and the true murderer.

Face Down Beneath the Eleanor Cross, the fourth in the Lady Appleton series, is rich with the details of 1565 England. The superstitions and strong beliefs in herbs, the details of daily life, including the poor and wealthy, as well as the hardships faced when traveling, all weave a rich tapestry that provide a strong historical context in which to place the mystery.

Especially well-drawn is the deplorable penal system. Susanna knows she must look for the true murderer because no one else will. She also learns very early on that her imprisonment can be made much more pleasant by bribing the guards and keepers. In an especially wonderful scene, Susanna is presented with a bill equivalent to court costs after she is declared innocent. Susanna tips the bailman almost twice the bill as Emerson tweaks the ridiculousness of the situation.

Susanna is a very brave, strong-willed woman, but so is her counterpart Jennet. Jennet is a bit more naïve than her mistress, but her loyalty and willingness to stand up to anyone who slanders Susanna is to be admired.

Kathy Lynn Emerson has created a believable setting with strong, likable characters and a mystery, that while easily solved, provides an exciting climax in the court room. While details of the setting are explained well and a few notes at the end help clarify things, perhaps a map marking Susanna’s journeys would have been helpful to those just beginning to delve into Elizabethan England.

Face Down Beneath the Eleanor Cross is a fun fast-paced read that will have new readers seeking out previous Lady Appleton adventures and all readers eagerly awaiting her next.

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry