Available Now: The Tudor Conspiracy by C.W. Gortner

Hunted by a shadowy foe in Bloody Mary’s court, Brendan Prescott plunges into London’s treacherous underworld to unravel a dark conspiracy that could make Elizabeth queen—or send her to her death in C.W. Gortner's The Tudor Conspiracy, Book 2 in The Elizabeth I Spymaster Chronicles.

England, 1553: Harsh winter encroaches upon the realm. Mary Tudor has become queen to popular acclaim and her enemies are imprisoned in the Tower. But when she’s betrothed to Philip, Catholic prince of Spain, putting her Protestant subjects in peril, rumors of a plot to depose her swirl around the one person whom many consider to be England’s heir and only hope—the queen’s half-sister, Princess Elizabeth.

Haunted by his past, Brendan Prescott lives far from the intrigues of court. But his time of refuge comes to an end when his foe and mentor, the spymaster Cecil, brings him disquieting news that sends him on a dangerous mission. Elizabeth is held captive at court, the target of the Spanish ambassador, who seeks her demise. Obliged to return to the palace where he almost lost his life, Brendan finds himself working as a double-agent for Queen Mary herself, who orders Brendan to secure proof that will be his cherished Elizabeth’s undoing.

Plunged into a deadly game of cat-and-mouse with a mysterious opponent who hides a terrifying secret, Brendan races against time to retrieve a cache of the princess’s private letters, even as he begins to realize that in this dark world of betrayal and deceit, where power is supreme and sister can turn against sister, nothing—and no one—is what it seems.

Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (July 16, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0312658494
ISBN-13: 978-0312658496

PURCHASE AT:

Amazon.com

Barnes & Noble

IndieBound

Books-A-Million

Blackstone Audio

Random House

Book Review: The Tudor Secret by C.W. Gortner

Be swept into a world of half-truths, lies, and murder in The Tudor Secret, by acclaimed historical novelist, C.W. Gortner.

It is the summer of 1553. The foundling, Brendan Prescott, who was raised by the powerful Dudley family, is summoned to court to be the squire to Robert Dudley. The Dudleys had never shown him any kindness in the past, so he approaches his new role with a heavy dose of trepidation.

A chance meeting with Princess Elizabeth finds Brendan drawn into the middle of the danger and intrigue that surrounds her world. Her brother, King Edward VI, is dying, and Elizabeth is determined to see him, despite those who wish to capture her and her half-sister, Princess Mary, to prevent them from ever taking the throne.

Brendan is promised the key to unlocking the secrets to his mysterious past; but with the help of an orphaned stable-boy and a lady-in-waiting, his primary goal is to protect Princess Elizabeth, at any and all cost.

I've read Gortner's The Last Queen and The Confessions of Catherine de Medici. I helped the author promote the latter of the two. Since the first book, I have been a huge fan of his work, so I was thrilled when he contacted me and requested my help in promoting his latest release.

While Gortner's previous novels have focused on strong women who defied convention, the spotlight of The Tudor Secret, is a fictional male character with a mysterious past who becomes an important player in protecting Princess Elizabeth and her half-sister Princess Mary. Though Elizabeth is a dominant figure throughout the story, for the first time, Gortner places his bet upon his a character of his own imagination to carry the day. And carry the day, he did.

Brendan is a sympathetic character from the start. A foundling, he was raised by the powerful Dudleys. It is odd that he would be brought to court by those who seemed to despise him. Brendan soon becomes entangled in a plot that involves the Dudleys, the dying King Edward VI, Elizabeth, and her protector, William Cecil. He is instantly taken by the Princess, and pledges his life to her service.

Along the way, Brendan meets Peregrine, an orphaned stable boy who brings back memories of his youth. Peregrine became one of my favorite characters. I'm hoping we see more of him as this series progresses.

Gortner has always had an eloquent style, but here he loosens the reins a bit and provides the reader with a lighter, and superbly told story of intrigue and suspense. When you believe you've uncovered the secrets, a new twist is introduced, which begs you to continue reading, no matter the hour.

I truly enjoyed The Tudor Secret and am eager for the release of the next book. Lovers of historical fiction, the Tudor era, and stories filled with action and suspense, will want to pick up a copy of this one.

Title:  The Tudor Secret (The Elizabeth I Spymaster Chronicles)
Author:  C.W. Gortner
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
ISBN-10: 0312658508
ISBN-13: 978-0312658502
SRP:  $14.99 (paperback)

Also available in a hardcover, audio, and a Kindle edition.

The author paid me to promote The Tudor Secret through a virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book! I received no monetary compensation to provide this review.