A Net For Small Fishes [B1536]

2021 HCDJ in excellent condition. "A bravura historical debut . . . a gloriously immersive escape."-Guardian. A gripping dark novel based on the true scandal of two women determined to create their own fates in the early 1600s Jacobean court. When Frances Howard, beautiful but unhappy wife of the Earl of Essex, meets the talented Anne Turner, the two strike up an unlikely, yet powerful, friendship. Frances makes Anne her confidante, sweeping her into a glamorous and extravagant world, riven with bitter rivalry. As the women grow closer, each hopes to change her circumstances. Frances is trapped in a miserable marriage while loving another, and newly-widowed Anne struggles to keep herself and her six children alive as she waits for a promised proposal. A desperate plan to change their fortunes is hatched. But navigating the Jacobean court is a dangerous game and one misstep could cost them everything.

From recent MIXED Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "Loved!! The writing is beautiful and lush and it gave me the most epic book hangover"; "I don't read much historical fiction but this was gripping with incredibly strong female characters, political intrigue and revenge."; "This was an interesting insight into middle and upper class life in the court of King James VI/I with some good twists, but it never fully grabbed me."; "Not as gay as I thought it might be, but good and very colorful."; "An interesting read about the true story of the Overbury Scandal of the 1600s English court. Anne and Francis (Frankie) were firm friends who defended each other to the end. While I appreciated this story of strong women who had to endure within the confines presented to women at this time, I found it slow and somewhat monotonous to read."; "This was a really good story, it started off kind of slow but once it picked up I was hooked and in the edge of my seat the whole time. This made me feel a lot of things and even taught me a little lesson about friendship, loyalty, and relationships. By far one of the best books iv read this year."