January AD 1193. England lies uneasy, a land without a king. Two months have passed since King Richard set sail for Acre. Two months and no word. Rumours abound that the king is dead. The Lionheart's mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine, prays for his safe return, holding the throne for one son while her other conspires to seize it. Who can she trust? As a murdered man lies dying on the road to Winchester, he thrusts a blood-stained letter into the hands of a young squire. Justin de Quincy, the bastard-born son of the Bishop of Chester, now holds the key to the fate of the land. In this time of uncertainty he must prove his worth and show himself to be the Queen's Man.

First of four historical crime novels from the bestselling author of LIONHEART, set in and around the court of Eleanor of Aquitaine.

About the Author
Sharon Kay Penman is the author of eight critically acclaimed historical novels: The Sunne in Splendour, Here be Dragons, Falls the Shadow, The Reckoning, When Christ and his Saints Slept, Time and Chance, Devil's Brood and Lionheart.

Reviews
Energetic and adroitly plotted... Justin is so beguiling, and the action so lively and unpredictable, that readers will cheer Justin's return in further adventures * Publishers Weekly *
Masterfully told... Penman's authentic period details, larger-than-life characters, and fast-paced plot add up to great reading for both mystery fans and history buffs. * Booklist *



Book Information
ISBN 9781784974152
Author Sharon Penman
Format Paperback
Page Count 384
Imprint Head of Zeus
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing PLC