State of Treason
(William Constable Spy Thriller series Book 1)
By Paul Walker
(William Constable Spy Thriller series Book 1)
By Paul Walker
Publication Date: 20th May 2019
Publisher: Sharpe Books
Page Length: 289 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction
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:
Tudor history is fascinating, the glamour and the glory taking centre stage, but the horrific things done in the name of religion and so-called protecting the crown makes this era a very somber one indeed. So may people were tortured and died because of Sir Francis Walsingham. He may be a hero to some, much like Sir Thomes More is to many, but like More he wan nothing more than a butcher who used religion as a tool to put honourable men through an unimaginable death.
ReplyDeleteJohn Foxe certainly lived a very interesting, if not bookish life, and I am glad to see that you have written about him as he is not one of that many people, unless they know their history, will have heard of.
I am certainly looking forward to reading your book.
John Foxe was a character who grew in importance as I was writing. All I researched suggested an intelligent and kindly man who would make an ideal partner for William in solving the mystery. I hope you enjoy the book.
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