I read this book back in 2012, and it remains a marvelous second volume in the delightful "Clarenceux" trilogy. The year is AD 1564, and William Harley, a Catholic Clarenceux King of Arms, finds himself in possession of a highly dangerous document. When this secret document is stolen, he immediately suspects a group of Catholic sympathizers calling themselves the Knights of the Round Table. Protestant Master spy Francis Walsingham intercepts a coded message from the Knights to a Countess with Ca...

My local bookshop sent me James Forrester's "The Roots of Betrayal" as part of my historical fiction subscription, and I was pleased to find that it works just as well as a standalone novel. You don't need to have read any previous books to dive right in. Some of the chapters are pretty gruesome, but that's really just a reflection of the period, and I was constantly trying to guess who was after the Catholic treasure. There's a whole lot of shady dealings going on! Overall, I'm really glad I pi...

A rip-roaring tale it is, indeed! James Forrester's depictions of Elizabethan England are historically compelling, and the characters are attractive and interesting, readily pulling you into the story. However, *The Roots of Betrayal* ultimately falters on the believability of the incidents. Our protagonist is stabbed through the hand and is fighting with a sword a mere three days later. He's cut on the face and shoulder, deprived of food for days, yet swims for miles, runs even further, and tra...

I grabbed "The Roots of Betrayal" because I'm always up for a good historical fiction read... and boy, was I let down by this one.This book feels so messy and all over the place. Nothing really makes sense! I got seriously annoyed with EVERYONE in this book, from Cecil (and listen, this is supposed to be the Cecil I actually *like* reading about in other historical novels, but definitely NOT here!) to Clarenceaux, and even the pirate.The majority of "The Roots of Betrayal" was just wading throug...

I've been working my way through this series featuring Clarenceax in order, and up until now, I've genuinely enjoyed them. But this latest installment, "The Roots of Betrayal" by James Forrester, felt a bit bogged down. The overall storyline got a little convoluted, and I found myself getting frustrated with the excessive detail. Honestly, I got completely turned around trying to figure out who was betraying whom, who was a traitor, and whose side everyone was actually on. Despite that, I'll def...

This is the second installment in what seems to be a series starring William Harley, Clarenceux. I did read the first book. How Clarenceux is still kicking is beyond me; this series is really pushing the limits of having nine lives! I'm diving straight into the third book because I'm keen to see what fresh hell awaits him as he tries to faithfully serve as a herald, all while navigating the added challenge of being a Catholic during Elizabeth's reign. In "The Roots of Betrayal" by James Forreste...

This is the second novel in a trilogy featuring William Harley, Clarenceux King of Arms. At the end of the first book, “Sacred Treason”, Clarenceux found himself in possession of a document which could destroy the reign of Elizabeth I. Charged with protecting this document – a marriage agreement between Lord Percy and Anne Boleyn, which proves Elizabeth to be illegitimate with no right to the throne – by Lord Cecil, Clarenceux finds himself in a very difficult position. Walsingham still believes...

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, Sacred Treason (review coming soon!), so I was definitely looking forward to diving into the second part of the trilogy, The Roots of Betrayal. Right at the start, though, I was a little thrown by the introductory chapter about pirates. Because I already knew some of the plot from the first book, the pirates felt a bit out of left field. It was interesting, don't get me wrong, but I wasn't quite seeing how it would connect to the main story.The fir...

Another triumph from historian Ian Mortimer, writing as James Forrester. *The Roots of Betrayal* delivers swashbuckling, fast-paced action mixed with wonderful characters, moral dilemmas, surprising plot turns, and a rich historical background, plus great writing—what could be better? Going straight on to the next and last book in the series. Forrester's historical thrillers are just fantastic!

I've thoroughly enjoyed reading both of James Forrester's Clarenceux novels. They're expertly crafted stories that move along at a cracking pace. A real bonus is the historical accuracy; so much of the plot revolves around following the power and the money. If you're a fan of historical fiction and have an interest in the Tudors, then "The Roots of Betrayal" is definitely for you. Forrester really brings the era to life.