Review: Courting Dragons by Jeri Westerson

Synopsis: Introducing Will Somers, the king's jester but nobody's fool in this exuberant, intriguing and thoroughly entertaining mystery set in Tudor England – the first in a new series from the author of the critically acclaimed Crispin Guest Medieval Noir series.

1529, London. Jester Will Somers enjoys an enviable position at the court of Henry VIII. As the king's entertainer, chief gossip-monger, spy and loyal adviser, he knows all of the king's secrets – and almost everyone else's within the walls of Greenwich Palace.

But when Will discovers the body of Spanish count Don Gonzalo while walking his trusted sidekick Nosewise in the courtyard gardens, and a blackmail note arrives soon after demanding information about the king, is one of his own closely guarded secrets about to be exposed? Trouble is afoot at the palace. Are the king's enemies plotting a move against him? Will must draw on all his wit and ingenuity to get to the bottom of the treacherous and deadly goings-on at the court before further tragedy strikes . . .

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A mystery set in the time of Henry VIII of England - in this instance, the amateur detective is none other that Henry's own Fool, Will Somers.

Will Somers makes his appearance at the court of Henry VIII around 1525. Court jesters were permitted familiarities without regard for deference, and Somers was said to have possessed a shrewd wit, which he exercised without fear or favour.

Having become familiar with the character of Will Somers via my reading of all things Tudor, I was looking forward to how Jeri would make use of this personage in the role of sleuth. Whilst she does do a fair job of it, however, I didn't really feel myself engaged in either story nor characters in this instance. The novel is set four years after Will's arrival at court - Catherine of Aragon is still Queen of England, but Anne Boylen is becoming more noticeable. Somers' liaison with the Spaniard Don Gonzalo de Yscar, who is attached to the entourage of the Spanish Ambassador, Eustache Chapuys, is imagined by the author, as much of his own personal life is shrouded in mystery.

It is the first in a new series, so there are bound to be some background foundation laying and character building in the original instance before things develop over time.

Plenty will love this new series - however, I am unsure as to whether I will be pursuing this series further or not.