Winner of The HWA Gold Crown 2020

From the No.1 bestselling author of The Ashes of London and The Fire Court comes the next book in the phenomenally successful series following James Marwood at the time of King Charles II. Over 1 Million Andrew Taylor Novels Sold!

A royal scandal...
In the Court of Charles II, it's a dangerous time to be alive - a wrong move may lead to disgrace, exile or death. The discovery of a body at the home of one of the highest courtiers in the land could therefore have catastrophic consequences.

A shocking murder...
James Marwood, a traitor's son, is ordered to cover up the killing. But the dead man is known to Marwood - as is the most likely culprit, Cat Lovett.

The stakes have never been higher...
Marwood is sure Cat is innocent so determines to discover the true murderer. But time is running out. If he makes a mistake, it could threaten the King himself...

Praise for Andrew Taylor

'One of the best historical crime writers today' The Times

'If you like C. J. Sansom, or Hilary Mantel, you'll love Andrew Taylor' Peter James

'Effortlessly authentic...gripping...moving and believable. An excellent work' C. J. Sansom

'This is historical crime fiction at its dazzling best' Guardian

'One of the best historical novelists around' Sunday Times

'A breathtakingly ambitious picture of an era' Financial Times

'A masterclass in writing for the genre' Ann Cleeves

'Andrew Taylor is one of our finest storytellers' Antonia Hodgson

'Vivid and compelling' Observer

'A novel filled with intrigue, duplicity, scandal and betrayal, whose author now vies with another master of the genre, C. J. Sansom' Spectator

'Taylor brings the 17th century to life so vividly that one can almost smell it' Guardian

'A most artful and delightful book, that will both amuse and chill' Daily Telegraph

Author: Andrew Taylor
Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 05/05/2020
Series: James Marwood & Cat Lovett #3
Pages: 464
Weight: 1.5lbs
Size: 9.30h x 6.30w x 1.80d
ISBN: 9780008363970

About the Author

Andrew Taylor is the author of a number of crime novels, including the ground-breaking Roth Trilogy, which was adapted into the acclaimed TV drama Fallen Angel, and the historical crime novels The Ashes of London, The Silent Boy, The Scent of Death and The American Boy, a No.1 Sunday Times bestseller and a 2005 Richard & Judy Book Club Choice.

He has won many awards, including the CWA John Creasey New Blood Dagger, an Edgar Scroll from the Mystery Writers of America, the CWA Ellis Peters Historical Award (the only author to win it three times) and the CWA's prestigious Diamond Dagger, awarded for sustained excellence in crime writing. He also writes for the Spectator and The Times.

He lives with his wife Caroline in the Forest of Dean.