When Elizabeth St. John asked if I would enjoy an early release copy of her latest novel, The King’s Intelligencer, I didn’t hesitate for a moment. You see, I’ve read all of Elizabeth’s earlier novels and loved them! The King’s Intelligencer is no exception.
Elizabeth St.John’s critically acclaimed historical novels tell the stories of her ancestors: extraordinary women whose intriguing kinship with England’s kings and queens brings an intimately unique perspective to Medieval, Tudor, and Stuart times. In the process of writing these stories, Liz (aka Elizabeth) has become somewhat of a sleuth teasing out clues from fragile documents – diaries, letters, portraits – and piecing together events of the past.
The King’s Intelligencer is set during the reign of Charles II who has no children, so his heir is his younger brother James, Duke of York, and the heir-to-the-heir is James’s daughter the Lady Mary Tudor. Straight away we are thrust into the mystery of the princes who died in The Tower of London, because the bones or two children, believed to be the sons of Edward IV, are discovered at the tower wrapped in purple velvet. But did the princes die? And if they did, who was responsible? Charles II’s reign and Franny Apsley’s entire family depend on the answers to these questions.
Elizabeth St. John is a superb author of historical fiction. In this latest novel, she immediately transports us into the court of Charles II: the intrigues, the debauchery, the maneuvering for power, the secret liaisons. London is rebuilding after the Great Fire. Protestants are highly suspicious of anyone who is Catholic. Regicide and civil war occurred merely twenty-five years earlier. One wrong step could destroy a person’s future.
“Play the game to your greatest advantage, but keep your purpose to yourself.” This is Franny Apsley’s guiding principle.
The King’s Intelligencer is populated with dynamic, risk-taking characters involved in high-stakes circumstances: life, love, family survival, political intrigue, deadly secrets. Be prepared to be swept away as Franny Apsley tries to uncover the secret of the princes and her own’s family’s role in their disappearance or death.
The King’s Intelligencer ~~ London, 1674: When children’s bones are unexpectedly unearthed in the Tower of London, England’s most haunting mystery—the fate of the missing princes—is reignited.
Franny Apsley, trusted confidante to Charles II’s beloved niece and heir, Lady Mary Stuart, is caught up in the court’s excitement surrounding the find. Yet, as a dark family secret comes to light, Franny realises the truth behind the missing princes is far more complex—and dangerous—than anyone suspects. Recruited by her formidable cousin Nan Wilmot, Dowager Countess of Rochester, to discover the truth behind the bones, Franny is thrust into the shadowy world of intelligencers. But her quest is complicated by an attraction to the charismatic court artist Nicholas Jameson, a recent arrival from Paris who harbours secrets of his own.
Pursued by Nicholas, Franny searches for evidence hidden in secret family letters and paintings, and uncovers a startling diplomatic plot involving Lady Mary, which causes Franny to question her own judgment, threatens the throne, and sets England on a course for war. With only her courage and the guidance of an enigmatic spy within the royal household, Franny must decide how far she will go to expose the truth—and whether that truth will lead to England’s salvation or her own heartbreak.
In a glittering and debauched society where love is treacherous and loyalty masked, Franny must navigate a world where a woman’s voice is often silenced and confront the ultimate question: What is she willing to risk for the sake of her country, her happiness, and her family’s safety?
A captivating historical novel of conspiracy, passion, and courage, The King’s Intelligencer is one woman’s quest for a truth that could change the fate of a nation. A companion to the critically acclaimed best-selling novels The Godmother’s Secret and The Lydiard Chronicles, The King’s Intelligencer weaves together beloved characters and actual events to bring a suspenseful mystery to life.
Available on Amazon and #KindleUnlimited and through this Universal Buy Link.
You can Reach Elizabeth St John on her website, Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, and Goodreads.
FOR MORE ON READING & WRITING HISTORICAL FICTION FOLLOW A WRITER OF HISTORY. There’s a SUBSCRIBE function on the right hand side of the page.
M.K. Tod writes historical fiction. Her latest novel THAT WAS THEN is a contemporary thriller. Mary’s other novels, THE ADMIRAL’S WIFE, PARIS IN RUINS, TIME AND REGRET, LIES TOLD IN SILENCE and UNRAVELLED are available from Amazon, Nook, Kobo, Google Play and iTunes. She can be contacted on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads or on her website www.mktod.com.
2 Responses
I’m so eager to read this book!! Thanks for an intriguing review.
Thanks for such lovely words! I am so delighted you enjoyed sleuthing through the centuries with Franny!