"The King's Favourite" by Marjorie Bowen is a historical romance set on the background of the famous Overbury case in the 17th century England. This is the story of Frances Howard and the famous "Overbury" Case, involving King James I of England. Marjorie Bowen never sentimentalises her history; she spares us nothing in sordidness and tragedy. Even her heroine is very far from spotless. She knows how to write historical romance which lives and is convincing because she does not draw impossibly good or bad people.