Ursula Blanchard is the illegitimate half-sister to Queen Elizabeth I and a very close ally, occasionally acting as a spy on the Queen’s behalf. She would like to live quietly out in the country with her husband, the wealthy Hugh Stannard. She would like to see her daughter, Meg, marry a man worthy of her.

Fourteen-year-old Meg is ready to be betrothed, and soon enough an invitation arrives from the Duke of Norfolk to attend an event. Ursula and her husband think this is a splendid place for Meg to meet the young Edmund Dean; they wonder if this might make a suitable match.

Meg falls instantly head over heels. Edmund seems to admire her as well, though that admiration is mostly concentrated on her large dowry. There is something in his eyes that Ursula doesn’t like. Now regretting her decision for them to have met, she now wonders if her instincts are true.

If this weren’t enough to worry about, something else comes up to turn Ursula’s world upside down. Two men are dead, and Mary, Queen of Scots, seems to be after the crown of England again. A coded letter has been recovered, but Ursula needs to reveal its secrets. It could mean her half-sister’s life. But is that secret something she really wants to know?

Since Ursula has sworn to protect her Queen and half-sister, she finds herself risking her life as she tries to tease out the truth behind the letter. Figuring out the secrets, however, could very well mean her own life. Will she be able to survive long enough to put an end to this possible threat? Will she figure out who Edmund Dean really is?

Siren Queen is so full of mystery and intrigue that you will forget you are reading something historical, and the characters are captivating. This is simply one of the best recent mysteries. Siren Queen may have a slightly predictable ending, but by the time you get there you don’t care anymore. It is too fun to pass up. Mystery fans will not be disappointed with this one. This book gets four and a half out of five stars for intrigue, lovely characters and being, much like the rest of the series, very hard to put down.