A very good book looking at the murder and the events leading up to Anne Boleyn's death. It also included information I had never heard before. And I'm a bit of a Tudor nerd with Anne Boleyn being my favorite of Henry's wives.

NetGalley, Carissa Miller

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Nearly 500 years after Anne Boleyn’s execution, her guilt remains widely disputed, with myths surrounding her conviction fueled by centuries of misinformation. Despite the destruction of all legal records related to her trial, Anne's downfall appears to have been less about her alleged adultery and more about political maneuvering, as factions sought to restore Princess Mary’s influence at court. Behind Anne’s death lay complex alliances and secretive plots, revealing that her execution was part of a broader power struggle that had little to do with her actions.

I didn’t know much about Henry VIII and his wives beyond the “Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived,” saying. So I was interested to know more about the circumstances of wife number 2, Anne Boleyn. And I was not prepared for just how complicated it was!

Records of the trial and letters from those involved were destroyed, no doubt so blame could not be put on any of the conspirators. Still, the facts of what happened leave enough for inferences to be made. Anne Boleyn as queen was a liability that had to be dealt with to satisfy a capricious king.

This was a detail and name heavy book, so the casual reader might find it difficult to get through. However, those who have an interest in Anne Boleyn will enjoy just how her death came to be.

NetGalley, Bethany Swafford

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Despite centuries of misinformation, Anne Boleyn’s guilt remains unproven. This book investigates the mystery surrounding her execution, exploring the political machinations and hidden agendas of those who benefited from her downfall. By examining the missing evidence and the relationships between key players, it reveals a plot far more complex than Anne’s alleged crimes.

This well-researched book takes a unique approach to Anne Boleyn’s life. Many of the artifacts relating to her trial were destroyed, leaving us with significant gaps. This entertaining and easy-to read book looks at those gaps—at the communications that should be there but aren’t, and what conclusions we can draw.

NetGalley, Andrea Romance

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

A stunningly well researched presentation of the actual events behind Anne Boleyn's death & the evidence of her innocence.

I love reading a different new perspective on women in our history, it feels as if the author advocates for her, a retrospective feminist take on the politics and Tudor events which took place 500 years ago. These books should be taught in our School's history lessons.

NetGalley, Happy Knitter2020

Few historical figures fascinate as much as Anne Boleyn, with her meteoric rise and sudden fall drawing interest for centuries. In 'Planning the Murder of Anne Boleyn' Caroline Angus casts a forensic eye over the run up to Anne’s arrest and the dark days of May 1536. Filled with new insights, Angus makes a compelling case in what must be one of the sixteenth century’s greatest miscarriages of justice.

Elizabeth Norton, Historian

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Having read numerous books about Anne Boleyn, this is a very meticulously researched novel, very readable, not remotely dry, and has a lovely chronological diary form full of facts and evidence.
I have always favoured Mary Boleyn, but Anne was the charismatic one, and still is almost 500 years later.
It has been interesting to read an almost blow by blow account of the arrests of the main characters, Smeaton, Norris, Weston, Brereton and George Boleyn, and the perfunctory amount of evidence against them.
King Henry decided it was time for a new Queen to provide him with a male heir, and truth and facts were not going to matter , Anne was going to die.
All the evidence against her seemed to be based upon hearsay. Dates about alleged affairs are easily disproved, quite often Anne and her so called lovers weren’t even in the same locations. Anyone trying to commit adultery with the Queen, would have had to conceal themselves from the ladies- in - waiting and trusted members of her household, who would have been the first to gossip. Despite most being related to the Boleyn and Howard families, there were always opportunities and temptations in the form of bribery, promises of promotion and rich husbands for those with such a secret to tell.
Jane, Lady Rochford, seems to have had a particularly harsh press. She is supposed to have given evidence against her husband George and her sister in law, apparently there is no such evidence to support that claim. It was also particularly cruel to make Sir Thomas Boleyn sit in judgement against two of his children.
I would have liked more evidence of these events, but everything was destroyed after the trial of Anne, very convenient to all concerned. Some letters are in the Vatican library, but not available to view.
Anne was a complex person, well educated and confident enough to have intellectual discussions on controversial subjects on religion and politics with the leading figures of the time. I didn’t know about her efforts to help a Poor Law being enacted in 1536, a great passion of hers, combined with efforts to keep Monasteries open for the benefit of the ordinary people
Her daughter seems to have carried on the religious freedoms that were so important to her mother.

NetGalley, Daphne Sharpe

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Planning the Murder of Anne Boleyn is a thought-provoking and richly detailed exploration of the conspiracy that led to the death of one of England’s most famous queens. Caroline Angus provides a fresh perspective on the political, religious, and personal factors that drove Anne Boleyn’s enemies to plot her demise, making a compelling case that Anne’s fate was sealed by forces far beyond her control. A 5-star read for Tudor history enthusiasts and anyone fascinated by the high-stakes drama of the English court, this book is both an enlightening and engrossing journey into the heart of a royal tragedy.

NetGalley, Chelsea Dugan

Caroline Angus delves into Anne Boleyn’s death with forensic precision, and chronologically, as the full horror is played out. She studies the different roles of all the people involved, the foreign alliances, Henry VIII’s affair with Jane Seymour and Anne’s innocent flirtations with Henry Norris and Mark Smeaton. She is especially good at analysing Anne’s relationships with Cromwell and the King, and Cromwell’s evil schemes concerning her.

This is an excellent book to read if you love to read about the Tudors and Anne Boleyn, or you like to read about royal history. It is also an excellent reference book.

NetGalley, Lisa Sanderson

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

This is an excellent book. I enjoyed Angus's writing style. It was clear, well-detailed, and easy to follow. This book also laid out how events unfolded in 1536 in such specific detail it painted a vivid picture of how events unfolded as violently as they did.

I particularly enjoyed how Angus examined the women within Anne's household and the roles that they may or may not have played in how events unfolded. After reading this book, I started to think of Lady Worcester in a completely different light.

It also never occurred to me to consider how Princess Mary may have played a role in the events unfolding in 1536. The way that Angus was able to weave that into the overall narrative was also exciting and I think it made everyone involved even more dynamic. Cromwell was a complicated man, but his juxtaposed interest in protecting Mar and the Reformation was interesting to read about and consider throughout the book.

NetGalley, Shana Needham

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

This is both fascinating and detailed. Caroline Angus looks again at the facts and people involved in the life and death of Anne Boleyn and presents a persuasive case to confirm she was an innocent victim. History is shaped by the winners and here, Henry was always in command. He got what he wanted and after a king first marriage, with no successor, he set his cap at Anne Boleyn. The Boleyn’s were equally keen to improve their status and the royal marriage was encouraged.

However, fast rising star is invariably destined to fall and in this case, Boleyn was soon subject to gossip and innuendo. Angus looks in detail at the royal court and courtiers, particularly Cromwell and their role in the accusations laid against her. There is huge difficulty in determining the facts as all papers and records relating to events, known as The Great Matter, were systematically destroyed. Angus devotes the first part of the book to the people which sets the scene for the trial and subsequent execution. I found her presentation methodical and informed and she paints a very different picture of all those involved in this duplicitous and cruel affair, it’s well written and very enjoyable if you enjoy Tudor history and there’s much food for thought.

NetGalley, Anita Wallas

If you want a solid book specifically about the fall of Anne Boleyn, I recommend you read, “Planning the Murder of Anne Boleyn” by Caroline Angus.

NetGalley, Heidi Malagisi

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

I thought I'd accumulated quite a bit of the lore surrounding Anne Boleyn. She's one of my favourite subjects around the Tudor Dynasty, and certainly the female queen who I am most interested in. I've read, listened, invested in podcasts (The Anne Boleyn Collection: The Real Truth About the Tudors by Claire Ridgeway. I'd highly recommend this) since I was gifted The Six Wives of Henry VIII by Antonia Fraser. There are various authors this has opened up to me, but I hadn't known of Caroline Augus.

I'm extremely glad that taking a chance on a book on Net Galley has given me such good rewards. I found this book to be filled with information I didn't know. I felt as though I was next to Anne Boleyn through every paragraph, every page, etc. Her feelings, her thoughts, were pounding in my head and causing me to tense. I sympathised with her, even though she isn't always the most sympathetic character. What she did was clearly explained, and how it was true to her character to act like she did.

And I didn't feel as if the author was trying to blind side me. She showed Anne Boleyn as a full character, with all of her flaws, faults and aggressive behaviour. Yet, at the same time, I 'liked' Anne Boleyn. I've read other books, either portraying Anne Boleyn as a woman who had no control over her life, or, a conniving, evil woman who wanted to be queen and would threaten/kill anyone who got in her way. This book on the other hand, was even-handed. Caroline Augus didn't omit information that made Anne Boleyn looked bad, and she didn't white-wash anything Anne Boleyn said or did either. This is one of the most comprehensive biographies I've read on Anne Boleyn.

I'd highly recommend this biography. This one is right up there, along with Hunting the Falcon by John Guy & Julia Fox, and, The Fall of Anne Boleyn, by Claire Ridgeway. From the latter's book alone, I have been listening to her podcast.

NetGalley, Kat Corish

We all know how Anne Boleyn died, but do you know how she got to that stage? Well, I do now - thanks to this cool book.

Planning the murder of Anne Boleyn was no small feat, yet it was more a conjecture of events that led to it: her sour relationship with Cromwell, Henry VIII desperately wanting a son, the lack of support from her family, but also, the ever-changing factions at the Tudor court.
As Caroline Angus explains in this extremely researched book, uncovering the truth about the plans to murder the Queen lies in figuring out what is missing - letters, records, official documents - rather than looking at the little evidence that still remain. It is about finding out who was where and who was not, to see what was going on.

NetGalley, Manon Palmer

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed the book. As a long time fan of Tudor history and particularly the C J Sansom books, this was a great resource for the real story behind the fall of Anne Boleyn. The narrative was engaging and easy to read and digest. A good insight to the politics and personalities of the time. The legend of Anne Boleyn has endured for nearly 500 years.

NetGalley, Carol Standish-Leigh

The author draws the background of the events perfectly, even for a person who has never been interested in this subject before, the book will be an excellent compendium of knowledge.

NetGalley, Karolina Bajek

Surprise, surprise! I read another Tudor-related book! And - surprise, surprise again! - I really enjoyed reading it. Maybe you’re asking yourself, why on earth would she read the umpteenth book about Anne Boleyn and still not be bored? Well, first of all, that’s what the word “obsession” entails. And secondly, it’s always delightful to learn something new about a topic or time period you think you already know quite well.

In Caroline Angus’ book, for instance, I love the way the author manages to present the facts of Anne Boleyn’s downfall and still make it read a like a thriller - I know how it ends, and yet I still found myself on the edge of my seat. I love how the book really puts into focus the complicated relationship between Anne Boleyn and Thomas Cromwell, how religious reform came into play here, and how detailed the “trial” (if you can even call it that) is described. I love that there are only so many historical sources one can find and use as reference - and the rest is up to us. There’s a lot of speculation about Anne Boleyn’s final days, and since the written evidence from that time was mostly destroyed, we’ll never know for sure what happened. But I’m so grateful to every author/historian that provides their own version on what could have happened.

As the author writes in her thank you notes: “Finally, to all Anne Boleyn lovers (for she has no haters), while myths and misunderstandings continue to persist even after five centuries, there are plenty of us still researching, still advocating, still reading, and still educating on the realities of 1530s England. No matter how we approach the topic, we all strive for the same thing.” Please, I say, never stop!

NetGalley, Katrin Figge

I've learned and debunked so many things about Anne Boleyn's fall from grace that this book has readily become one of my favourites on the issue. It's astonishing how well researched this has been and how many theories, facts and texts the author has brought up.

Loved it.

NetGalley, Eloise Falcone

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

I never imagined a complete book could be filled with just the final days of Anne Boleyn. The author blew my mind by how fantastically everything was laid out here. Henry convinced himself he needed to be rid of her and he made sure that it happened. She was innocent on all accounts. Her downfall was all Henry. I highly recommend this book to anyone that loves Tudor history.

NetGalley, Stephanie Peterson

A very in depth account of the people and events surrounding the death of Anne Boleyn. I was actually very surprised by the sheer amount of details this did contain. It seemed well thought out and researched and I loved the final thought in the book... I would recommend for someone just interested in Anne's tragic ending.

NetGalley, Leslie Hall

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

A very close up look at the end of Anne Boleyn's life and (high praise to Caroline Angus for calling it what it was) murder.

Angus carefully combs through all available evidence about the last few months of Anne Boleyn's life - while also pointing out the parts missing from the record due to deliberate destruction - and makes it clear that this was ALL Henry's idea - he wanted her gone, so Cromwell got her gone. Cromwell may have done all the grunt work, but it was very much at henry's bidding. Also, Anne was 100% innocent, and at the time everyone, even her enemies, said so.

NetGalley, Kara Race-Moore

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Angus meticulously delves into the intricate plot to assassinate Anne Boleyn, shedding light on the political machinations and personal rivalries of Tudor England. The book combines detailed historical research with a gripping narrative, offering readers both a compelling story and insightful analysis. Angus's engaging writing and thorough investigation make this a fascinating read for anyone interested in the darker corners of history and the dramatic power struggles of the era.

NetGalley, Elizabeth Schmit

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

The author did a great job and brought up some interesting points and did a great job with her research. Highly recommend for all Tudor history lovers.

NetGalley, Heather Michael

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

For most of us who like the history about the Tudor era, and thought they knew about Anne Boleyn 's downfall, think again and read this book.
A brilliant, and thoroughly researched book on the final months of her life and those that brought her demise... thanks to the author, many unanswered questions have answered thanks to the authors vast knowledge on the subject.

NetGalley, Angela Thompson