The Poison Bed

A Novel

By: Elizabeth Fremantle

Narrated by: Karen Cass, Steve West

Length: 13 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

A spellbinding thriller set in the Jacobean Court of 1615 surrounding a famed couple imprisoned on suspicion of murder - but was it Lord Robert or Lady Frances who committed the crime?

A marriage. A murder. One of them did it. Which of them will die for it?

In the autumn of 1615, scandal rocks the Jacobean court, when a celebrated couple, Robert and Frances Carr, are imprisoned on suspicion of murder. Frances is young, captivating, and from a notorious family. She has been rescued from an abusive marriage by Robert, and is determined to make a new life for herself. Whatever the price.

Robert is one of the richest and most famous men in the kingdom. He has risen from nothing to become one of the country’s most powerful men. But to get to the top, you cannot help making enemies.

Some believe she is innocent; others think her wicked or insane. He claims no knowledge of the murder. The king suspects them both, though it is his secret at stake. Now a man is dead. And someone must pay with their life.

Who is telling the truth? Who has the most to lose? And who is willing to commit murder?

©2019 by Elizabeth Fremantle. (P)2019 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

This should be made into a movie!

What and amazing book! Exceptionally well written, unpredictable twists and an ending that is chilling. Someone buy the rights for this book and make it into a movie. both narrators were great but Steve West was absolutely amazing and really made Robert Carr very sympathetic and likeable.

A royal mess....in a well written story!

This book was great! The way each chapter alternated from “him” to “her” and their perspectives. This novel brought mystery, love, and suspense set in a solid historical setting. Really enjoyed this listen!

It's a must!!!

So hooked! I was captivated the whole time and the story just gets better at the end.

Interesting story buoyed by excellent narrators

This is a review for the audiobook. Fascinating look into the court of James Stuart, although fictionalized. What we lose in factual history is the passion, intrigue and machinations for power - all of which is brought to life in Freemantle’s story & skillful reading by Cass & West. Audiobooks can either succeed or fail depending on whether the narrators are atuned to the story. The book is read with the cadence and nuance required. Although some turns in the plot are predictable because of historical facts, the author does use creative license bringing vivacity to James’ 17th century court. And the narrators do not disappoint in literally breathing life into it. Sex and power have always been linked- in the Stuart monarchy it means your life, wealth, position and death is determined by one person, the King, who favors men as his bed partner. The heroine, if you can call her that, is the unsentimental and practical player in this narrative, using her husband - the King’s lover - to ensure her family’s political prominence & wealth. The problem is her husband is cooling on his relationship with the King; he has discovered heterosexual sex with her and has become obsessed. With so little to say in determining her own fate and limited by the mores of the time, Frances Howard does what she has to in order to keep her social standing and luxurious lifestyle. She has no say on who she loses her virginity to, when to have a child, who to befriend - her cunning mind is always assessing strengths & weaknesses, figuring out odds and stakes, all in the name of survival. A clever, entertaining, psychological suspenseful fiction that probably portrays what court life was like more accurately than we will ever know.

fantastic plot, and great cast

It was a fantastic story, a great historical psychological thriller, a great twist at the end

The Poison Bed

interesting story of obsession. I loved Steve West 's fantastic performance. he was the reason I listened to this book.

What a ride!

Absolutely excellent! A 17th century who dunit. I enjoyed it all the way through. Highly recommend.

Bored out of my skull

I purchased this under the impression that it had a lot more to do with witch trials. It doesn’t. At least, six hours into the audio book, there’s next to nothing about witches. It’s just a lot of boring nothingness. The first few minutes seems like it would be pretty good, and then it’s all downhill. I do like that it is read by two narrators, male & female, just not the particular narrators. After six hours of trying my best, I just can’t take seven MORE hours of it.