State
of Treason
By
Paul Walker
Publication Date: 20th May 2019
Publisher: Sharpe Books
Page Length: 289 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction / Historical Thriller
London
1578
A
cauldron of conspiracy, intrigue and torture.
The might of Spain
and the growing influence of the Catholic League in France all threaten the
stability of Queen Elizabeth and her state.
William Constable,
a physician and astrologer, is summoned to the presence of the Queen’s
spymaster, Sir Francis Walsingham. He is charged to assist a renowned Puritan,
John Foxe, in uncovering the secrets of a mysterious cabinet containing an
astrological chart and coded message. Together, these claim Elizabeth has a
hidden, illegitimate child (an “unknowing maid”) who will be declared to the
masses and serve as the focus for an invasion.
Constable must
uncover the identity of the plotters, unaware that he is also under suspicion.
A connection to his
estranged mentor, Doctor Dee, comes under scrutiny.
Pressured into
taking up a position as a court physician, Constable becomes a reluctant spy.
Do the stars and
cipher speak true, or is there some other malign intent in the complex web of
scheming?
Constable becomes
an unwitting pawn, in a complex game of thrones and power.
State of Treason is the first
in a series of Elizabethan thrillers featuring William Constable.
Pick up your copy of
State
of Treason
Paul
Walker
Paul is married and lives in a village 30 miles north of London. Having worked in universities and run his own business, he is now a full-time writer of fiction and part-time director of an education trust. His writing in a garden shed is regularly disrupted by children and a growing number of grandchildren and dogs.
Paul writes historical fiction. He inherited his love of British history and historical fiction from his mother, who was an avid member of Richard III Society. The William Constable series of historical thrillers is based around real characters and events in the late sixteenth century. The first two books in the series - "State of Treason" and "A Necessary Killing" - were published in 2019. The third book, titled, "The Queen’s Devil", was published in the summer of 2020.
He took a diversion to the early 20th century and wrote a thriller based at the peace conference in Paris at the end of the First World War. "A Turbulent Peace" was published in 2022. Now, it's back to the sixteenth century and more Elizabethan intrigue for William Constable and his confederates.
Connect
with Paul:
Thank you for this unexpected and very welcome post, Mary Anne
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