*****Part of the bestselling John Shakespeare series of Tudor spy thrillers from Rory Clements, winner of the Ellis Peters Historical Fiction Award*****
‘[Clements] does for Elizabeth’s reign what CJ Sansom does for Henry VIII’s’ Sunday Times
**********
Spring 1593. England is a powder keg of rumour and fear. Plague rages, famine is rife, the ageing Queen’s couriers scheme: Elizabeth’s Golden Age is truly tarnished. Meanwhile Spain watches and waits – and plots.
Into this turmoil a small cart clatters through the streets of London, carrying a deadly load. It is the first in a wave of horrific bombing attacks on the Dutch immigrant community that will change John Shakespeare’s life for ever.
Driven on by cold rage, Shakespeare’s investigations will take him from magnificent royal horseraces to the opulent chambers of Black Luce’s brothel, from the theatrical underworld of Marlowe and Kyd to the pain-wracked torture cells of priest-hunter Richard Topcliffe, and from the elegant offices of master tactician Robert Cecil to the splintering timbers of an explosive encounter at sea.
As Shakespeare delves ever deeper, he uncovers intricate layers of mystery and deception that threaten the heart not only of the realm, but of all that he holds dear.
‘[Clements] does for Elizabeth’s reign what CJ Sansom does for Henry VIII’s’ Sunday Times
**********
Spring 1593. England is a powder keg of rumour and fear. Plague rages, famine is rife, the ageing Queen’s couriers scheme: Elizabeth’s Golden Age is truly tarnished. Meanwhile Spain watches and waits – and plots.
Into this turmoil a small cart clatters through the streets of London, carrying a deadly load. It is the first in a wave of horrific bombing attacks on the Dutch immigrant community that will change John Shakespeare’s life for ever.
Driven on by cold rage, Shakespeare’s investigations will take him from magnificent royal horseraces to the opulent chambers of Black Luce’s brothel, from the theatrical underworld of Marlowe and Kyd to the pain-wracked torture cells of priest-hunter Richard Topcliffe, and from the elegant offices of master tactician Robert Cecil to the splintering timbers of an explosive encounter at sea.
As Shakespeare delves ever deeper, he uncovers intricate layers of mystery and deception that threaten the heart not only of the realm, but of all that he holds dear.
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Reviews
PRAISE FOR THE JOHN SHAKESPEARE SERIES
'A cracking plot full of twists right up to the last minute. I look forweard to the next'
'A colourful history lesson . . . exciting narrative twists'
'An engrossing thriller'
'An excellent debut'
'This is a historical thriller to send a shiver down your spine . . . atmospheric - the evocation of the filth and debauchery of London is quite exceptional. Clements demonstrates the compelling eye for detail and character that Bernard Cornwell so memorably brought to Rifleman Sharpe . . . I could not tear myself away, it is that good'
PRAISE FOR PRINCE
'A genuine page turner, and cleverly weaves in real historical events and personalities. Fans will not be disappointed'
'Intriguing . . . wonderfully graphic and descriptive. Clements richly deserves the accolade: "faster moving than C J Sansom" '
'Clements' thrilling murder mysteries are a real cut above . . . steeped in authentic 16th-century politics, the plots are complex and clever, and the characters believable and engrossing. But his greatest gift is the ability to bring to life the squalor, intrigue and perils of Tudor London and amidst it all create a superbly tense and entertaining mystery. Roll on Mr Shakespeare's Act IV'
'This very well-plotted, erudite, historical mystery has many twists and turns which make for a very vivid and fast story line. A very absorbing read with a real quality, similar in style but perhaps faster moving, than books by James Forrester or C J Sansom . . . I was completely transfixed whilst reading it and did not want it to end. I consider it one of the best books I've read this year. I will certainly look out for more stories by this very talented writer'
'Blending fact with fiction Clements tells a rip-roaring yarn with vigour and energy and a huge enthusiasm for the period . . . Prince is a novel lacking neither action nor spice. An undeniably enjoyable and lively plot that gathers pace and excitement throughout . . . A devilishly good read'
'There is a veritable cornucopia of elements to praise here . . . John Shakespeare is one of the great historical sleuths'
'Prince is action packed, and its pages are filled with intricate layers of deception. The late Elizabethan world is brilliantly portrayed with exciting narrative twists. . . . Historical detail is expertly integrated into sophisticated plot strands to create a seamless whole . . . This novel is extremely intelligent and exceptionally well written. I could not put it down until I reached its final startling denouements'
'A cracker . . . gripping'
'What most impressed me about this story was Clements' ability to set a fast-paced crime thriller in the London of 1593 and to make it entirely convincing. Clements gives life to this world, not just through years of painstaking research into all things Elizabethan . . . but through his use of real figures from history and the manipulation of actual events. What we end up with is a scenario that is believable, and perhaps this is what makes it such an enjoyable read. Whether intentionally or no, many of the topics dealt with in this book also still resonate today and it gives acts of terrorism, for example, a longer historical context'
'A good read, well researched and believable'
'Clements can be seen as doing for Elizabeth's reign what CJ Sansom does for Henry VIII's . . . What's impressive in the latest is how much of Tudor society it crams in, from the court and Derby's estate to outlaws and the soldiers in its concluding scene'
'There's plenty of thrills . . . the multiple plot elements are well-handled . . . there's much that's enjoyable and Clements' orchestration of the narrative is skillful'
'The best yet in Rory Clements' magnificent series about John Shakespeare . . . As always, the historical detail is fascinating and sometimes delightfully obscure . . . another sumptuous feast that will leave you sated - but craving for the next helping!
'I found this the best book in the series'
Praise for Prince:
'A genuine page turner, and cleverly weaves in real historical events and personalities. Fans will not be disappointed'
'Intriguing . . . wonderfully graphic and descriptive. Clements richly deserves the accolade: "faster moving than C.J. Sansom'
'Clements' thrilling murder mysteries are a real cut above . . . steeped in authentic 16th-century politics, the plots are complex and clever, and the characters believable and engrossing. But his greatest gift is the ability to bring to life the squalor, intrigue and perils of Tudor London and amidst it all create a superbly tense and entertaining mystery. Roll on Mr Shakespeare's Act IV'
'Blending fact with fiction Clements tells a rip-roaring yarn with vigour and energy and a huge enthusiasm for the period . . . a novel lacking neither action nor spice. An undeniably enjoyable and lively plot that gathers pace and excitement throughout. A devilishly good read'
'There is a veritable cornucopia of elements to praise here . . . John Shakespeare is one of the great historical sleuths'
'This very well-plotted, erudite, historical mystery has many twists and turns which make for a very vivid story line. A very absorbing read with a real quality, similar in style but perhaps faster moving, than books by James Forrester or C.J. Sansom. I consider it one of the best books I've read this year. I will certainly look out for more stories by this very talented writer'
'What most impressed me was Clements' ability to set a fast-paced crime thriller in the London of 1593 and to make it entirely convincing. Clements gives life to this world, not just through years of painstaking research into all things Elizabethan - from cuisine to clothing, politics to borstals, autopsies to witchcraft - but through his use of real figures from history and the manipulation of actual events. What we end up with is a scenario that is believable, and perhaps this is what makes it such an enjoyable read. Whether intentionally or no, many of the topics dealt with in this book also still resonate today and it gives acts of terrorism, for example, a longer historical context'
'A colourful history lesson . . . exciting narrative twists'
'An engrossing thriller'
'An excellent debut'
This is a historical thriller to send a shiver down your spine . . . atmospheric - the evocation of the filth and debauchery of London is quite exceptional - it demonstrates the compelling eye for detail and character that Bernard Cornwall so memorably brought to Rifleman Sharpe. I could not tear myself away, it is that good
Beautifully done . . . alive and tremendously engrossing.
Enjoyable, bloody and brutish.
A cracking plot full of twists right up to the last minute. I look forward to the next.
This is a historical thriller to send a shiver down your spine.
Beautifully done . . . alive and tremendously engrossing.
Enjoyable, bloody and brutish.
A cracking plot full of twists right up to the last minute. I look forward to the next.
This is a historical thriller to send a shiver down your spine.
