📖 Book of my Month ~ The Players by Minette Walters

 

Allen & Unwin
2 January 2025

Thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book

A gripping tale of compassion, imposture, trickery and surprising alliances set against the backdrop of The Bloody Assizes, from the bestselling author of The Last Hours and The Swift and the Harrier.

The much-anticipated sequel to The Swift and The Harrier

England, 1685. Decades after the end of the civil war, the country is once again divided when Charles II's illegitimate son, the Protestant Duke of Monmouth, arrives in Dorset to incite rebellion against his Catholic uncle.

Armed only with pitchforks, Monmouth's army is quickly defeated by King James II's superior forces and charged with high treason. Those found guilty will be hanged, drawn and quartered.

As Dorset braces for carnage, the redoubtable Lady Jayne Harrier and a small group of trusted allies - including her courageous son and the independent-minded daughter of a local lawyer - contrive ways to save men from the gallows.

Compelling and powerful, The Players is a story of guile, deceit and compassion during the dark days of The Bloody Assizes. Secrets are kept and surprising friendships formed in a dangerous gamble to thwart a brutal king's thirst for vengeance...

📖 My thoughts..

Having been impressed with The Swift and the Harrier when it was published in 2021, I was excited to discover that the much anticipated sequel was to be published in 2025. 

As the novel begins in 1685 we have now moved considerably on from the English Civil War and whilst King Charles II's reign brought a period of stability to the country, his brother, and successor, King James II is a very different monarch. When the Duke of Monmouth, the illegitimate eldest son of Charles II incites insurrection examples must be made of those supporters who took part in the ill-fated rebellion and it is there where we meet again with Lady Jayne Harrier who lives in Dorset with her son Elias, Duke of Glanville. We learn something of what has gone on in the previous years with Jane but largely the book focuses on the events following the Monmouth rebellion and the Bloody Assizes which took place in the aftermath when James II was hellbent on revenge.

The story brings a true sense of the injustice which was meted out to Monmouth supporters whether they be guilty, or innocent, and whilst Lady Jayne and her son do what they can to ameliorate the damage, history still carries the scars laid down by Judge Jeffreys and his harsh punishments. The characterisation is, as always, excellent with a whole host of fully rounded fictional figures who sit very comfortably alongside those from history. The timeline is recreated with a fine eye for even the smallest detail and the way in which time comes to life is testament to the author's skill at bringing history alive. 

I've have enjoyed reading The Players so much that I am delighted to make it the Book of My Month for January.

About the Author

Minette Walters is one of the world's best-selling crime writers. She is the author of twelve novels, winning the CWA John Creasey Award for The Ice House, the Edgar Allan Poe Award in America for The Sculptress and two CWA Gold Daggers for The Scold's Bridle and Fox Evil. The Last Hours and The Turn of Midnight mark an exciting new direction for Minette. She lives in Dorset with her husband.

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