Read this book in 2012, and its the 2nd marvellous volume of the delightful "Clarenceux" trilogy.The year is AD 1564, and William Harley, a Catholic Clarenceux King of Arms, is in possession of a highly dangerous document.When this secret document gets stolen, he suspects a group of Catholic sympathisers, a group calling themselves the Knights of the Round Table.Protestant Master spy Francis Walsingham intercepts a coded message from the Knight to a Countess with Catholic leanings.In this world ...

A book sent to me from my local bookshop as part of my historical fiction subscription, I found the book didn't need to be read in sequence as it was just as good as a stand alone. I found some of the chapters very gruesome, but that was indicative of the era, and I was guessing at each turn as to who had the Catholic treasure. There was a lot of skulduggery! I'm glad to have read it though.

Rip-roaring tale; historically compelling in depictions of Elizabethan England; attractive and interesting characters that pull you into the story. But ultimately, it falters on the believability of the incidents: the protagonist is stabbed through the hand and is fighting with a sword 3 days later; cut on the face, shoulder, without food for days, but swims for miles, runs for more and travels many miles on a fast horse. Pirate has a 3/4" pistol ball removed from his leg then jumps up and races...

I picked this up because I enjoy historical book reads.....and I was severely disappointed by this.This book seems to messy and all over the place. Nothing seems logical! I got very annoyed with EVERYONE in this book, from Cecil (hello this is the beloved Cecil that I love to read about in other historical fictions, but definitely NOT this!) to Clarenceaux to the pirate. The bulk of the book had a lot of information to wade through and didn't make it an easy read. I got lost a few times and was ...

I have been reading this series of books featuring the character Clarenceax, in chronological order, and so far have really enjoyed them but this latest one I found was a bit too bogged down as regards the overall story line and I got a bit fed up with the detail and confused as to who was betraying who, and who was a traitor and whose side the characters were on. Nevertheless I shall follow on and read the next in the series and the next if available, as I do overall enjoy them

This is the second in what appears to be a series featuring William Harley, Clarenceux. I did read the first. How Clarenceux can still be alive I am not sure as this is truly stretching the notion of having 9 lives. I will immediately start reading the third book as I am interested to see what further trouble will visit him as he attempts to serve loyally as herald with the added challenge of being a Catholic during Elizabeth's reign. In this book we see him betrayed by Cecil, hated and tortured...

This is the second in a trilogy of novels 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 beli...

I enjoyed reading the first book in this series, Sacred Treason (will post review soon), so I was looking forward to reading this second installment in the trilogy. At the start, I was a bit confused on the introductory chapter about pirates. Having prior knowledge of the plot from the first book, I was a bit thrown off by the pirates. It was interesting, mind you, but I just still was not getting how it will tie in to the plot.The first half of this book with the background chapters on the pira...

Another triumph from historian Ian Mortimer under his pen name James Forrester. Swashbuckling fast-paced action mixed with wonderful characters, moral dilemmas, surprising plot turns and rich historical background, plus great writing - what could be better? Going straight on to the next and last book in the series.

I've really enjoyed reading both of James Forrester's Clarenceux books. They are well-crafted yarns, which rattled along at a good old pace. The added bonus is the historical accuracy, with so much of the plot coming back to following wherever the power and the money are. If you like historical fiction and are interested in the Tudors, then this is for you.