Tag: tudor history

Sapere Books Sign a New Tudor Novel by Amy Licence

We are thrilled to announce that we have signed the fifth book in The Marwood Family Tudor Saga by Amy Licence.

Set at the court of King Henry VIII, the series follows the drama and intrigue at the heart of the Tudor court.

In Amy’s words:

“I’m really excited to be publishing the next instalment in Thomasin Marwood’s journey with Sapere Books. Readers of the series will recall her turbulent experiences at the court of Henry VIII in the 1520s. The young Thomasin arrived aged seventeen, fresh from her Suffolk childhood, to navigate the various intrigues and romances of court life. She is dazzled by the elegance of Anne Boleyn, before she finds a place in the household of Catherine of Aragon. Watching the royal marriage unravel, Thomasin becomes close to her mistress, who trusts her implicitly, whilst trying to protect her own heart from the handsome Rafe Danvers and other suitors.

“Now, two years later, the eagerly anticipated Legatine Court is about to open at Blackfriars, to test the validity of Henry and Catherine’s marriage and hopefully bring them all some resolution. Not all is as straightforward as it seems, though, as friends and lovers just as quickly turn into enemies, and long-term scandals in the Marwood family threaten to re-surface. Then there is Thomas Cromwell, keen to do Henry’s bidding, leading to some dangerous clashes with Thomasin’s father.

“I love writing the Marwood series, with all the colour, textures and details of life at the Tudor court. It’s the closest we can come to travelling back in time there ourselves. When I was planning this series, I wanted to create a heroine outside the cast of usual characters, a complete outsider with whom the reader could identify, and set her within the dynamic of known individuals like Anne Boleyn and Catherine of Aragon. There must have been many similar silent witnesses to the crucial events of the 1520s who have gone unnamed and unrecorded, so Thomasin also represents them.

“There’ll be some twists and turns in this book, but it’s building towards a mid-series mini-conclusion, with both Thomasin and her cousin Ellen settled by the end. I thought it time to give them both some happiness at last, after everything they’ve been through. After that, I hope to give Thomasin a little breathing space, then bring her back to court in 1532, for Book Six. She will find herself at Anne’s side through the coming years, as a witness to her queenship and downfall.”

 

To keep up to date with Amy’s latest releases, visit her website.

 

The Marwood Family Tudor Saga:

Book One: Dangerous Lady

Book Two: Troubled Queen

Book Three: False Mistress

Book Four: Lady of Misrule

The Queen’s Favourite is Out Now

Congratulations to Raymond Wemmlinger, whose page-turning Tudor adventure, The Queen’s Favourite, is out now!

England, 1558

Sixteen-year-old Catherine Seymour has always idolised her elder sister Jane. As a child Jane had been groomed to be queen, to marry her cousin King Edward, and since his death she has been determined to restore her family’s claim to throne.

Jane had spent time at Queen Mary’s court but she has now returned home to Hanworth Park to the delight of Catherine and their brother Ned.

To their surprise, Jane brings with her Lady Catherine Grey, sister of Jane Grey, the ill-fated nine-day queen, and heiress to the throne after Princess Elizabeth.

Jane confides in Catherine that she aims to bring about a betrothal between Lady Grey and Ned, so that their brother and his children have a chance to lay claim to the throne.

But everything changes when Mary suddenly dies, and Elizabeth succeeds as queen. Now the sisters must seek favour with a new monarch.

Luckily, Elizabeth’s succession proves advantageous for the Seymour family. Jane is chosen as a lady in waiting and immediately becomes a favourite.

Can Jane still bring her plan to fruition? Will it mean betraying the new queen?

Or will rumours of a romance between Queen Elizabeth and one of her courtiers change everything for the Seymour sisters…?

Congratulations to David Field!

Congratulations to David Field, whose absorbing historical thriller, Death By Gunpowder, is out now!

Death By Gunpowder is the sixth instalment of the Bailiff Mountsorrel Tudor Mystery Series – private investigation crime novels set during the reign of Elizabeth I and beyond.

Nottingham, England, 1605

Frustrated in their two previous attempts to restore the Catholic faith to England, a group of heretics plan to assassinate King James in Parliament in a massive explosion timed for November 5th, 1605.

But when that plot also fails and Guy Fawkes starts revealing the names of accomplices under torture in the Tower, those who had been complicit in the plot run for cover.

Not long after, Nottinghamshire bailiff, Edward Mountsorrel is called to investigate a mysterious explosion in a row of houses that has left four people dead.

And he soon unearths evidence that suggests this crime is linked to the larger plot on the king’s life.

His suspicions are confirmed when an official from London, acting with royal authority, orders Edward and fellow bailiff Francis Barton to hunt down the gunpowder fugitives who are believed to be hiding out in the local area.

But the men won’t go down without a fight. And Edward could find himself in the firing line…

A Matter of Blood is Out Now

Congratulations to C. P. Giuliani, whose absorbing historical thriller, A Matter of Blood, is out now!

A Matter of Blood is a page-turning espionage adventure set in Tudor England. It is the sixth book in the Tom Walsingham Mysteries series.

London, 1588

Mary Stuart, the deposed Queen of Scots, polestar of all Catholic intriguers, and a life-long danger to England has met the executioner’s axe.

But many of her supporters still hold influential positions in Paris and her death has not endeared England to the French.

Unbeknownst to the Queen of England, her spymaster, Sir Francis Walsingham, had more than a little to do with manipulating her into finally condemning her cousin.

And now a letter has been leaked exposing Walsingham’s secret to the Queen’s ambassador in Paris, Sir Edward Stafford.

There is no love lost between Stafford and Walsingham and the ambassador will happily expose his nemesis, no matter the consequences for England.

Walsingham instructs his cousin Tom to travel to Paris to quell the rumours and discover Stafford’s intentions. But then a troublesome Catholic leader, a kinsman of Stafford’s, is suspected to have been poisoned, and Tom finds himself embroiled in another mystery.

Can Tom win the trust of Stafford? Will he save his cousin’s reputation?

Or will the Parisians seek revenge on this hapless Englishman…?

The Queen’s Rival is Out Now

Congratulations to Raymond Wemmlinger, whose gripping Tudor saga, The Queen’s Rival, is out now!

England, 1553

As she is seventh in line to the throne, sixteen-year-old Lady Margaret Clifford knows her marriage should be an important one. Which is why she is shocked to learn her father has agreed to entertain a proposal from a mere knight.

Sir Andrew Dudley is a court favourite and joins the ranks of the Duke of Northumberland’s family who are attempting to secure politically advantageous marriages. His nephew, Guildford Dudley is recently married to Margaret’s cousin, Lady Jane Grey, and with the boy-king Edward VI failing to secure a marriage of his own and produce an heir, it is clear the Dudleys are plotting a path to the throne.

All is flung into turmoil when the king dies and the attempt to place Lady Jane Grey on the throne is foiled. Instead, Catholic Queen Mary takes the throne and Margaret is sent to court as one of her ladies-in-waiting.

With the Dudleys’ fall from grace, Margaret is relieved that Sir Andrew’s proposal is off the cards, though she is still keen to secure herself a match befitting her royal heritage.

But first she must win the favour of the new queen. And with Queen Mary fearing rivals to her throne, that is not an easy task…

Can Margaret steer clear of the political machinations at Court? Will she strengthen her ties to the English throne through marriage?

Death At The Tower is Published Today

Congratulations to Adele Jordan, whose captivating espionage adventure, Death At The Tower, is published today!

Death At The Tower is the second book in the Shadow Cutpurses Tudor Thriller Series: gripping adventures set during King Henry VIII’s reign in England with a strong female lead.

1536, London

Thief Gwynnie Wightham has a new master in Elric Tombstone. She may follow his word, but she has little loyalty for him, and there is even less friendship between them.

She has agreed to assist him to make sure he keeps his word to never go hunting for her mother. For if Emlyn is ever found, she will be tried not just for being a jewel thief, but for murder.

Tombstone’s task for Gwynnie is to investigate Captain Daundelyon, for there has been a tipoff that the Dandy Lyon, as he’s nicknamed, is a French spy, come to ingratiate himself with the king.

Gwynnie follows Captain Daundelyon around, noticing he’s a common thief, almost as skilled as her in her deception, but she finds no hint of his spy work.

But the Tudor court is cracking into factions – a great rift has swelled between King Henry and Queen Anne Boleyn, and what she does find is that Daundelyon’s presence is inextricably linked with Queen Anne’s downfall.

What is Daundelyon’s relationship to Anne Boleyn? Is he plotting against the king?

And can Gwynnie prove her worth and find a way to clear her mother’s name…?

Congratulations to Adele Jordan!

Congratulations to Adele Jordan, whose nail-biting historical thriller, Murder At Greenwich Palace, is published today!

Murder At Greenwich Palace is the first book in the Shadow Cutpurses Tudor Thriller Series. It is an espionage adventure set during King Henry VIII’s reign in England with a feisty female lead.

1536, London

Mother and daughter ‘shadow cutpurse’ team, Emlyn and Gwynnie have been stealing to survive for years, but they are ready to make their big break and escape a life of crime forever.

While Emlyn distracts the guards at Greenwich Palace, Gwynnie sneaks inside, searching for the royal jewels that will set them up for life.

But Gwynnie is disturbed in the act and whilst hiding, she sees something she can never unsee.

A man is murdered in front of her.

Gwynnie flees the crime scene but extreme flooding blocks her escape from the palace grounds.

And with the break-in discovered, suspicion for the murder is placed on the thieves.

If Gwynnie admits to what she has seen, she could find herself executed for a crime she didn’t commit.

Can Gwynnie find a way to reveal what she saw? Will she manage to find her way to freedom?

Or will her a career as a cutpurse end in death…?

A Snare of Deceit is Out Now

Congratulations to C. P. Giuliani, whose gripping espionage thriller, A Snare of Deceit, is out now!

A Snare of Deceit is a page-turning adventure set during the Elizabethan era in Tudor England. It is the fifth book in The Tom Walsingham Mysteries series.

London, 1587

A new year is being celebrated at Greenwich Palace, but not everyone is in the mood for rejoicing.

Mary Stuart, the imprisoned Queen of Scots has been officially declared a traitor. But Queen Elizabeth is reluctant to sign the death warrant and her mood has been downcast, even in the middle of the festivities.

And the night is soured further when one of the performers is found dead in the tiltyard.

The show must go on, but Tom Walsingham, spying for his cousin Sir Francis, stays behind to investigate. The dead man was no ordinary player, but a man called Jack Perkin, who Tom knew was meant to be passing information to the queen’s confidants about a plot against her life.

With Perkin’s death unlikely to be an accident, Tom feels the danger of the murderous plot escalating out of control. And the player was killed before he could pass on his warning.

But that would place the murderer at court. And dangerously close to the queen…

Can Tom find the killer? Will he uncover the deadly plot?

Or will the web of deceit close in on him…?

Death Foretold is Published Today!

Congratulations to Angela Ranson, whose gripping murder mystery, Dead Foretold, is published today!

Dead Foretold is the second book in the Catrin Surovell Tudor Mystery Series. It is an exciting historical thriller set at the court of Elizabeth I.

1561

Queen Elizabeth is under pressure from all her advisors to marry, but no one can agree on a potential husband.

The conflict is slowly eroding Elizabeth’s power and authority among the nobility, especially when a prophecy starts to spread that seems to predict the deaths of senior members of the queen’s court.

Tension grows when one of the queen’s maids of honour, Mathilda, is killed and placed on a false altar of hawthorn branches.

Her death follows the first lines of the prophecy, making people fearful about who could be next.

Amid rising hysteria, the queen orders her trusted lady-in-waiting Catrin Surovell to investigate.

Catrin soon learns that there is more to this mysterious death than anyone thought.

Strange symbols and eerie events put her on the trail of the murderer.

What do the symbols mean? Is someone using the guise of magic to destabilise the queen’s reign?

Catrin has to figure it out and stop the murderer before he strikes again…

Shades of Death is Published Today

Congratulations to Angela Ranson, whose absorbing historical mystery, Shades of Death, is out now!

Shades of Death is the first book in the Catrin Surovell Tudor Mystery Series: exciting historical thrillers set at the court of Elizabeth I.

1560

When Elizabeth Tudor first became queen, the realm rejoiced. Now, two years later, the queen has formed an attachment to Lord Robert Dudley that is causing widespread restlessness and discontent.

The tense situation threatens to become a full-blown disaster when Lord Robert’s wife, Amy, is found dead at the bottom of a staircase. Rumours fly through court suggesting Lord Robert killed her so he could marry the queen.

He is banished from court, but the queen is sure he is innocent. She sends her ladies-in-waiting, Catrin Surovell and Lucy Howard to the scene of Amy’s death, Cumnor Place, to discover as much as they can about what really happened.

Once there, Catrin and Lucy find evidence that the death was no accident, and discover that a stranger was with Lady Amy on the day she died.

And as Catrin investigates further, she finds a secret cache of dangerous documents in Amy’s handwriting, suggesting that she was part of a conspiracy against the crown.

But to find out who was responsible for Lady Amy’s death, Catrin will have to put her own life in danger…

Who was the stranger with Amy Dudley on the day of her murder? Did he cause her untimely death?

And can Catrin escape this dangerous web of secrets and betrayal?

Sapere Books Sign a New Tudor Thriller Series by Adele Jordan

The first book in the Kit Scarlett Mystery series

Following the success of Adele Jordan’s absorbing Kit Scarlett Tudor Mysteries, we are delighted to announce that we have signed her new series of Tudor thrillers.

In Adele’s words:

“I’m thrilled to be working with Sapere Books once more on my new series, The Shadow Cutpurses. This first instalment is the culmination of a lot of research into the Tudor era and a fascination with women’s lives outside of the royal court. This tale about cutpurses or thieves is a thriller, looking at what can happen when a woman at the bottom of the hierarchy is pitted against a man of ultimate power.

“My hope is that every page is a thrilling step in Gwynnie’s adventure. I hope that fans of my first series will find the same pace and spirit of adventure in this series, while plunging into the darkness of life during a slightly different period of Tudor history. It’s been a great joy to work with the Sapere family, and my huge thanks goes to Amy, Caoimhe, Richard and Natalie, for their support. My thanks also have to go to the other authors with Sapere, who through our chats have helped me to improve my writing.”

Sapere Books Signs a New Tudor Mystery Series by Paul Walker

We are delighted to announce that we have signed a new series of Tudor mysteries by Paul Walker.

In Paul’s words:

“I’m thrilled to have a contract with Sapere Books for my new series. With a well-deserved reputation for publishing outstanding and innovative historical fiction, it’s a privilege to join such a talented group of authors under the Sapere banner.

“The series is a spin-off from the first of my William Constable books, State of Treason. Hector Askham, a captain of Spymaster Walsingham’s guards, was rewarded with retirement to a small estate in North Norfolk for his role in foiling a plot against Queen Elizabeth. Eight years later, now a country squire settled into his new life, an unwelcome command from Walsingham arrives only a few weeks after the dispersal of the Spanish Armada. Another threat, more subtle and insidious, is understood to be nearing the Norfolk coast. Askham is expected to lead an ill-prepared and under-resourced defence. But is the intelligence flawed? Can he trust the word of spies and paid informers? To disobey Walsingham’s command is not an option, but the odds are stacked against success and if he fails, the consequences could be severe.”

Happy Publication Day to Adele Jordan

Congratulations to Adele Jordan, whose captivating espionage adventure, The Traitor Queen, is out now!

The Traitor Queen is the fifth book in the Kit Scarlett Tudor Mysteries Series.

1586

Female espionage agent, Kit Scarlett is stationed at Chartley Castle, where Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots, is under house arrest for plotting against the English Queen Elizabeth.

Kit helps Sir Francis Walsingham’s top codebreaker, Thomas Phelippes, as they intercept Mary Stuart’s communications with her conspiring supporters.

And when they have the proof that Mary Stuart has sanctioned Queen Elizabeth’s assassination, Kit races to deliver the message to Walsingham.

But before they can persuade Queen Elizabeth to sign Mary Stuart’s death warrant, the Scottish queen escapes.

And as Kit delves deeper into her mission, she finally discovers answers about her own past that shock her to her core.

With Queen Elizabeth’s life now in imminent jeopardy, can Kit find Mary Stuart and bring her to justice?

Even if Kit achieves her task, will she find the London she returns to is no longer the home she once thought it was…?

The Jane Seymour Conspiracy is Published Today

Congratulations to Alexandra Walsh, whose page-turning historical saga, The Jane Seymour Conspiracy, is published today!

The Jane Seymour Conspiracy is the fourth book in the Marquess House series, dual timeline conspiracy thrillers with an ingenious twist on a well-known period of Tudor and Stuart history.

London, 1527

Nineteen-year-old Jane Seymour arrives at court to take her place with Queen Katherine of Aragon. Discovering a court already beginning to divide into factions between Katherine and Jane’s second cousin, Anne Boleyn, Jane finds herself caught between the old world and the new. Determined to have a son, the king appears to be prepared to take whatever steps he deems necessary to secure the Tudor dynasty.

When King Henry VIII finally succeeds in his pursuit of Anne, Jane witnesses the slow unravelling of his interest in the new queen as she, too, fails in her task to deliver a son. Having watched both Katherine and Anne fall from grace, Jane has no ambition for the throne, but when the king begins seeking her out, Jane realises the decision may be out of her hands…

Pembrokeshire, 2020

When a set of papers called The Pentagram Manuscript makes its way to Perdita and Piper at Marquess House, they find they have a new mystery to unravel. The manuscript is the tale of five women on a quest to find true love, written while Anne Boleyn was queen. As Perdita begins to unravel the text, she discovers a code that leads to a whole new outlook on Henry’s relationship with Jane Seymour.

But before they have a chance to reveal all, the twins find themselves under threat from a different source. Their second cousin, Xavier Connors, is determined to wrest Marquess House from them. As Marquess House must be passed down through the female line, and Perdita and Piper do not have children, Xavier sees his twin daughter as being next in line. And when Piper is nearly driven off the road, they realise he will stop at nothing to get what he wants…

What really happened to Henry VIII’s Tudor queens? Why was history rewritten?

Will Piper and Perdita be able to unravel all of the secrets before it’s too late…?