Review Sacred Treason by James Forrester

Published by Sourcebooks Landmark
9 October 2012

My thoughts

England 1563, and with widespread Catholic plots against Queen Elizabeth I, herald William Harvey, known as Clarenceux, is worried when he is presented with a sinister book belonging to his friend, Henry Machyn. However, Machyn is in fear of his life, and he warns Clarenceux that the book must remain secret. When the Queen’s secretary, Francis Walsingham finds out about the book, his deadly determination to possess its secrets forms the basis for this well written and exciting historical mystery.

James Forrester has used his considerable skill as a historian and with impeccable research has created a truly believable Elizabethan world, and as you become immersed in the story, Tudor England with all its faults and failings is gradually revealed. The clever blend of fact and fiction is manipulated to good effect and as the twists and the turns in the plot are gradually revealed you find yourself almost wanting to go back to re read parts again, just to make sure you haven’t missed anything.

As this is the first book in a proposed trilogy, it is reassuring to discover that not all of the secrets are revealed and that there will be further discoveries to be made as the trilogy progresses.

4****



My thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for a digital copy to read and review.