No catches, no fine print just unadulterated book loving, with your favourite books saved to your own digital bookshelf.
New members get entered into our monthly draw to win £100 to spend in your local bookshop Plus lots lots more…
Find out more
Rory Clements is the bestselling author of the John Shakespeare series of Tudor spy thrillers. His six acclaimed novels, Martyr, Revenger, Prince, Traitor, The Heretics and The Queen's Man, follow Elizabeth's Intelligencer, John Shakespeare, brother to the playwright William, through the dark underworld of Tudor England as he unmasks the traitors and conspirators who plot against the Queen. The seventh John Shakespeare novel, Holy Spy, is due to be published in February 2015. Rory Clements won the Crime Writers' Association Ellis Peters Historical Fiction Award in 2010 for Revenger, and has been shortlisted for CWA Awards for Martyr, Prince and The Heretics. A TV series is currently in development.
Author photo © Madeleine Clements
1936 and the huge canvas of Europe in chaos is superbly portrayed by this renowned author of historical fiction. Previously writing about the spy world of the Tudor period we know we are in good hands here. If you have not read one of his John Shakespeare thrillers you should. (I understand TV is on the cards.) This new series introduces Tom Wilde, a Cambridge history don, a bit of a recluse who buries himself in his work and period spy novels. His next door neighbour is self-employed publisher Lydia whose best friend, Nancy, dies mysteriously. Lydia enlists Tom’s help. Then Nancy’s right-wing gentry parents are brutally murdered and a conspiracy seems afoot. Enter a reporter, Eaton, whom Tom believes works for MI5. Now the death toll mounts and so does the danger for Tom and Lydia. But it turns out the real plot is much higher up the international scene. Terrific. An excellent start to what promises to be a cracking series. ~ Sarah Broadhurst
February 2017 Book of the Month. 1936 and the huge canvas of Europe in chaos is superbly portrayed by this renowned author of historical fiction. Previously writing about the spy world of the Tudor period we know we are in good hands here. If you have not read one of his John Shakespeare thrillers you should. (I understand TV is on the cards.) This new series introduces Tom Wilde, a Cambridge history don, a bit of a recluse who buries himself in his work and period spy novels. His next door neighbour is self-employed publisher Lydia whose best friend, Nancy, dies mysteriously. Lydia enlists Tom’s help. Then Nancy’s right-wing gentry parents are brutally murdered and a conspiracy seems afoot. Enter a reporter, Eaton, whom Tom believes works for MI5. Now the death toll mounts and so does the danger for Tom and Lydia. But it turns out the real plot is much higher up the international scene. Terrific. An excellent start to what promises to be a cracking series. ~ Sarah Broadhurst
A galloping good yarn, stuffed full to the brim with double-crossing intrigue, yet intelligently braced against historical fact and figures. The mostly cool, calm and collected spy John Shakespeare is surrounded by a writhing vibrant cast of often unscrupulous or just plain villainous miscreants. The most vivid character of them all is the turbulence that is London in 1586, artfully written so that the reek, the uproar, the menace feels completely authentic. The threads of two investigations weave together, one based on historical fact, the other fictional and characters slip from one story to the next with ease. Clements has developed a wonderfully entertaining series, and ‘Holy Spy’ keeps with tradition as a compelling and immensely satisfying read. ~ Liz Robinson
A galloping good yarn, stuffed full to the brim with double crossing intrigue, yet intelligently braced against historical fact and figures. The mostly cool, calm and collected spy John Shakespeare is surrounded by a writhing vibrant cast of often unscrupulous or just plain villainous miscreants. The most vivid character of them all is the turbulence that is London in 1586, artfully written so that the reek, the uproar, the menace feels completely authentic. The threads of two investigations weave together, one based on historical fact, the other fictional and characters slip from one story to the next with ease. Clements has developed a wonderfully entertaining series, and ‘Holy Spy’ keeps with tradition as a compelling and immensely satisfying read. ~ Liz Robinson
December 2014 Book of the Month. It is 1582 and John Shakespeare, brother of William, spy for Walsingham, is sent with his loyal servant Boltfoot on a mission to his home town, Stratford-on-Avon, to investigate a conspiracy to free Mary Queen of Scots. The conflict between crown and Catholics has seeped into the Shakespeare family, or almost for Anne Hathaway, engaged to William has signed a document claiming loyalty to the Church in Rome! Much now ensues: murder, duplicity, missing documents, plots of treason and skulduggery all bounce off the pages at a hell of a lick. This is great stuff, a terrific addition to an excellent series which, if you haven’t discovered it, then you have a treat in store.
March 2014 Book of the Month and eBook of the Month. It is 1582 and John Shakespeare, brother of William, spy for Walsingham, is sent with his loyal servant Boltfoot on a mission to his home town, Stratford-on-Avon, to investigate a conspiracy to free Mary Queen of Scots. The conflict between crown and Catholics has seeped into the Shakespeare family, or almost for Anne Hathaway, engaged to William has signed a document claiming loyalty to the Church in Rome! Much now ensues: murder, duplicity, missing documents, plots of treason and skulduggery all bounce off the pages at a hell of a lick. This is great stuff, a terrific addition to an excellent series which, if you haven’t discovered it, then you have a treat in store.
Walsingham spy now in the service of Sir Robert Cecil, John Shakespeare, older brother of William, finds his trusted band of fellow spies are being picked off one by one, oh, and the Spanish are landing in Cornwall and somehow the exorcising of mad women is bothering him. Shakespeare always has lots to contend with which is what makes these adventures so compulsive. This is his fifth, as good as ever. The historical detail is terrific and the action fast and furious. Do read them. Click here to see the new book in the John Shakespeare series, The Queen's Man. In addition to our Lovereading expert opinion for The Heretics a small number of Lovereading members were lucky enough to be invited to review this title - 'A tremendous read. Absolutely grips your imagination. Once again religion and politics are at the fore front of this fabulous book.' – Susan Walsh. Scroll down to read more reviews.
From Rory Clements, winner of the Ellis Peters Historical Fiction Award, comes Traitor, the fourth in his acclaimed bestselling John Shakespeare Elizabethan mystery series. 'Does for Elizabeth's reign what CJ Sansom does for Henry VIII's' Sunday Times The John Shakespeare series: 1. Martyr 2. Revenger 3. Prince 4. Traitor 5. The Heretics 6. The Queen's Man
A compelling murder mystery set within the splendour and intrigue of the Elizabethan age. The John Shakespeare series: 1. Martyr 2. Revenger 3. Prince 4. Traitor 5. The Heretics 6. The Queen's Man
From Rory Clements, winner of the Ellis Peters Historical Fiction Award, comes REVENGER, the second in his acclaimed bestselling John Shakespeare Elizabethan mystery series. 'Does for Elizabeth's reign what CJ Sansom does for Henry VIII's' Sunday Times The John Shakespeare series: 1. Martyr 2. Revenger 3. Prince 4. Traitor 5. The Heretics 6. The Queen's Man
Martyr is the first in the acclaimed and bestselling John Shakespeare Elizabethan mystery series by Rory Clements, winner of the Ellis Peters Historical Fiction Award. Click here to see the new book in the John Shakespeare series, The Queen's Man. In addition to our Lovereading expert opinion some of our Reader Review Panel were also lucky enough to read and review this title.
An exorcism a siege a stealthy killer What else could go wrong?John Shakespeareintrepid private detective and brother to a rising young playwright in Elizabethan Londonis approached by a condemned Jesuit priest with an unusual proposition: the Father is haunted by the memory of Thomasyn Jade, a teenage girl subjected to brutal exorcism rites a decade past.He wants Shakespeare to track her down and offer reparations for her treatment.As Shakespeare begins his investigation, a plot to assassinate the Queen is underway, and rumors of a papist conspiracy begin swirling from Seville. And when, one by one, Shakespeares trusted spies are horribly murdered, all clues seem to be linked to the mysterious Thomasyn Jade Heart-pounding and packed with fascinating historical detail, The Heretics is a thriller to rival the best of C. J. Sansom and Alex Grecian.
A riveting novella set in Elizabethan Englandperfect for fans of C. J. Sansom and The Tudors.Just a few days before Christmas, a reluctant John Shakespearebrother of a rising playwrightanswers a plea for help from Joshua Peace, Searcher of the Dead, but he has no idea the kind of menace he will face. A naked man has been found in a snowdrift, a wreath of holly crowning his head and a bullet in his back.As all around him prepare for the festive season, Shakespeare must unravel a complex plot of passion and treachery and confront a cold-blooded murderer who will not hesitate to kill again.
The Elizabethan Bond is back . . .Under the threat of a second Spanish Armada, John Shakespeare is sent to Lancashire to guard over Englands secret weapon and its inventor, the maverick magician Dr. Dee.But nothing is so simple when the country is a hotbed of secret loyalties and civil unrest. During his mission, Shakespeare stumbles upon Catholic priests in hiding, a mysterious Bohemian seductress, andof coursemurder.Between facing off with a nefarious witch hunter and attending one of the first performances of A Midsummer Nights Dream, the intrepid John Shakespeare fights to stay alive while on the hunt for a deadly traitor.
From Rory Clements, winner of the Ellis Peters Historical Fiction Award, comes Traitor, the fourth in his acclaimed bestselling John Shakespeare Elizabethan mystery series. 'Does for Elizabeth's reign what CJ Sansom does for Henry VIII's' Sunday Times The John Shakespeare series: 1. Martyr 2. Revenger 3. Prince 4. Traitor 5. The Heretics 6. The Queen's Man
*****FANS OF THE EXPLOSIVE BBC TV SERIES 'GUNPOWDER' STARRING KIT HARRINGTON will love the bestselling John Shakespeare series of Tudor spy thrillers from Rory Clements, winner of the Ellis Peters Historical Fiction Award*****'[Clements] does for Elizabeth's reign what CJ Sansom does for Henry VIII's' Sunday Times**********When a reluctant John Shakespeare answers a plea for help from Joshua Peace, Searcher of the Dead, a few days before Christmas, he cannot know what lies ahead. A naked man has been found in a snowdrift, a wreath of holly crowning his head and a bullet in his back. But it is no ordinary corpse. Shakespeare recognises him as Giovanni Jesu, a black man from Venice, a close associate - and some say much more - of the disgraced Earl of Oxford. Who would kill such a man and why? As all around him prepare for the festive season, Shakespeare must unravel a complex plot of passion and treachery and confront a cold-blooded murderer who will not hesitate to kill again.
A compelling murder mystery set within the splendour and intrigue of the Elizabethan age. The John Shakespeare series: 1. Martyr 2. Revenger 3. Prince 4. Traitor 5. The Heretics 6. The Queen's Man
From Rory Clements, winner of the Ellis Peters Historical Fiction Award, comes REVENGER, the second in his acclaimed bestselling John Shakespeare Elizabethan mystery series. 'Does for Elizabeth's reign what CJ Sansom does for Henry VIII's' Sunday Times The John Shakespeare series: 1. Martyr 2. Revenger 3. Prince 4. Traitor 5. The Heretics 6. The Queen's Man
Martyr is the first in the acclaimed and bestselling John Shakespeare Elizabethan mystery series by Rory Clements, winner of the Ellis Peters Historical Fiction Award. Click here to see the new book in the John Shakespeare series, The Queen's Man. In addition to our Lovereading expert opinion some of our Reader Review Panel were also lucky enough to read and review this title.
For fans of CJ Sansom and SJ Parris, MARTYR is the first of Rory Clements' acclaimed and bestselling John Shakespeare series of Tudor spy thrillers. Clements, winner of the Ellis Peters Historical Fiction Award, 'does for Elizabeth's reign what CJ Sansom does for Henry VIII's' Sunday Times England is close to war. Within days the axe could fall on the neck of Mary Queen of Scots, and Spain is already gathering a battle fleet to avenge her. Tensions in Elizabeth I's government are at breaking point. At the eye of the storm is John Shakespeare, chief intelligencer in the secret service of Sir Francis Walsingham. When an intercept reveals a plot to assassinate England's 'sea dragon', Francis Drake, Shakespeare is ordered to protect him. With Drake on land fitting out his ships, he is frighteningly vulnerable. If he dies, England will be open to invasion. In a London rife with rumour, Shakespeare must decide which leads to follow, which to ignore. When a high-born young woman is found mutilated and murdered at an illicit printing house, it is political gunpowder - and he has no option but to investigate. But why is Shakespeare shadowed at every turn by the brutal Richard Topcliffe, the blood-drenched priest-hunter who claims intimacy with Queen Elizabeth herself? What is Topcliffe's interest in a housemaid, whose baby has been stolen? And where do two fugitive Jesuit priests fit into the puzzle, one happy to die for God, the other to kill for Him? From the splendour and intrigue of the royal court, to the sleek warships of Her Majesty's Navy and the teeming brothels of Southwark, Shakespeare soon learns that nothing is as it seems . . .
If this is your author page then you can share your Twitter updates with your readers right here on LoveReading
Find out more