Spring, 1523. Henry VIII readies England for war with France. The King's chief minister, Cardinal Wolsey, prepares to open Parliament at Blackfriars. The eyes of the country turn towards London. But all is not well in Wolsey's household. A visiting critic of the Cardinal is found brutally slain whilst awaiting an audience at Richmond Palace. He will not be the last to die.

Anthony Blanke, trumpeter and groom, is once again called upon to unmask a murderer. Joining forces with Sir Thomas More, he is forced to confront the unpopularity of his master's rule. As the bodies of the Cardinal's enemies mount up around him, Anthony finds himself under suspicion. Journeying through the opulence of More's home, the magnificence of Wolsey's York Place, and the dank dungeons of London's gaols, he must discover whether the murderer of the Cardinal's critics is friend or foe.

With time running out before Parliament sits, Anthony must clear his name and catch the killer before the King's justice falls blindly upon him.

About the Author

Steven Veerapen was born in Glasgow to a Scottish mother and a Mauritian father and raised in Paisley. Pursuing an interest in the sixteenth century, he was awarded a first-class Honours degree in English, focussing his dissertation on representations of Henry VIII's six wives.

Reviews

'A convincing portrait of the deadly realities of life in Henry VIII's court'

-- David Robinson * The Scotsman *

'Skilfully drawn and powerfully evocative, the second novel in the Anthony Blanke series leaves little to the imagination... Steven Veerapen draws upon his extensive knowledge of the period to create a narrative that always rings true'

* LoveReading *

'A cracking good read because it gives you an insight into life in those times'

-- Breege Smyth * Oban Times *

'Steven Veerapen does an excellent job of bringing the Tudor era to life... Highly recommended'

-- Tony Riches

'If you enjoy an historical mystery that demonstrates a deep understanding of its period, then this is for you.'

-- Michael Lynes * Historical Novel Society *

'[Veerapen's] depiction of the world of the English court in the 1520s is rich, detailed and satisfying and everything feels just right...an engaging and enthralling story that keep you guessing right to the end'

-- Ken Lussey * Undiscovered Scotland *



Book Information
ISBN 9781846976292
Author Steven Veerapen
Format Paperback
Page Count 384
Imprint Polygon An Imprint of Birlinn Limited
Publisher Birlinn General
Weight(grams) 281g