The Queen’s Necklace

By Adrienne Chinn

What it’s about?

The most famous necklace in the world has finally been found…
Bryher Finch’s life isn’t just a disaster, it’s a catastrophe, until a chance invitation to chart her family tree changes everything. As Bryher uncovers the ancestry she never knew about, she stumbles on
the find of the century – Anne Boleyn’s ‘B’ necklace, as enigmatic as Henry VIII’s most notorious Queen herself.
But Bryher isn’t the only one who wants the necklace…

What I think:

I really enjoyed this dual timeline narrative.

Bryher Finch and Anne Boleyn are young women connected across the centuries by family ties. They also share a drive for success at any price and problematic sisters.

In the present, Bryher is an American actress married to a star. She’s had some success, and clearly believes more is due her way. Until a sextape is leaked and her life implodes. Her marriage ends, her reputation is ruined and her career is on pause.

Bryher is forced to accept a reality TV show that explores your heritage, where she meets distant cousin, Betty and discovers her link to the Boleyn family, through Anne’s sister, Mary.

Anne’s story is well- known. What I liked about this retelling is that the famous B necklace is the focal point of the events. A gift to Mary from her father as the oldest daughter, it becomes a symbol of family honour, pragmatic decisions and financial security. Both Mary and Anne struggle with the complexities of the Tudor court, reputation and finding happiness.

I found Bryher completely unlikeable at the beginning. She is rude, arrogant and obsessed with the superficial aspects of her career. Bryher is forced to confront some of her own demons and consider what she is willing to do to save her career.

My favourite character is Betty. She is an absolute delight. Bryher sees her as bumbling and naive, but she is really generous and kind. She shows that she is not dimwitted as Bryher believes her to be as the discoveries around the necklace emerge.

I really enjoyed this, particularly the scenes between Mary and Anne.

If you like Anne Boleyn, dual timelines and historical fiction with an interesting twist then you will enjoy The Queen’s Necklace.

About the author:

Adrienne Chinn was born in Grand Falls, Newfoundland, grew up in Quebec, and eventually made her way to London, England after a career as a journalist. In England she worked as a TV and film
researcher before embarking on a career as an interior designer, lecturer, and writer. When not up a ladder or at the computer writing, she often can be found rummaging through flea markets or
haggling in the Marrakech souk. Her debut novel, The Lost Letter, was published in 2019. Her second
novel, the international bestseller, The English Wife, was published in 2020. Her third novel, Love in a
Time of War, the first in a series of four books in The Three Fry Sisters series, was published in 2022.
The second book in the series, The Paris Sister, was published in 2023, and the third book, In the
Shadow of War, was published in March 2024. Her next book, an historical timeslip novel,

The Queen’s Necklace, will be published in September 2025, followed by the fourth book in The Three
Fry Sisters series, set during WWII, in 2026.

Social Media Links:
https://www.adrienne-chinn.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/adriennechinnauthor/
https://www.instagram.com/adriennechinn/
https://x.com/adriennechinn/with_replies?lang=en&wptouch_preview_theme=enabled

Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me to be a part of this fantastic blog tour.