The Last Protector

By Andrew Taylor (author)
Part of the James Marwood & Cat Lovett series

"Continuing this bestselling historical crime mystery series in fine style, do put it right to the top of your 'to be read list'."

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LoveReading Says

A twisty, intriguing, multi-layered mystery and fascinating fictional foray into the past from award-winning author Andrew Taylor. It’s 1668, James Marwood is tasked with finding out why Oliver Cromwell’s son has returned to London while Cat Lovett is drawn into a conspiracy, and both are soon in grave danger. This is the fourth in a terrifically readable series which began with the Ashes of London. I have to say that I just throw myself into each of these reads with abandon, completely trusting that what is to come will be a vividly convincing and exciting read. What a fabulous period in history this is, James and Cat really do live in interesting times! I love how each individual story twists around the other until they join together. I really do hope we will see more from these two. I can highly recommend this bestselling series, it’s just fabulous!

Liz Robinson

Find This Book In

Primary Genre	Crime and Mystery
Other Genres:	Historical Fiction
Recommendations:	Liz Robinson's Picks of the Month Books of the Month

About

The Last Protector Synopsis

A dangerous secret lies beneath Whitehall Palace...

Brother against brother. Father against son. Friends turned into enemies. No one in England wants a return to the bloody days of the Civil War. But Oliver Cromwell's son, Richard, has abandoned his exile and slipped back into England. The consequences could be catastrophic.

James Marwood, a traitor's son turned government agent, is tasked with uncovering Cromwell's motives. But his assignment is complicated by his friend - the regicide's daughter, Cat Lovett - who knew the Cromwells as a child, and who now seems to be hiding a secret of her own about the family.

Both Marwood and Cat know they are putting themselves in great danger. And when they find themselves on a top secret mission in the Palace of Whitehall, they realize they are risking their lives...and could even be sent to the block for treason.

About This Edition

ISBN:	9780008325558
Publication date:	18th March 2021
Author:	Andrew Taylor
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers Ltd an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
Format:	Paperback
Pagination:	428 pages
Series:	James Marwood & Cat Lovett
Primary Genre	Crime and Mystery
Other Genres:	Historical Fiction
Recommendations:	Liz Robinson's Picks of the Month Books of the Month

Press Reviews

Andrew Taylor Press Reviews

'Boasting political intrigue and evocative period atmosphere, The Last Protector is crime writing at its most elegant and assured' Waterstones blog

Praise for Andrew Taylor:

'One of the best historical crime writers today' The Times

'If you like C. J. Sansom, or Hilary Mantel, you'll love Andrew Taylor' Peter James

'Effortlessly authentic...gripping...moving and believable. An excellent work' C. J. Sansom

'This is historical crime fiction at its dazzling best' Guardian

'One of the best historical novelists around' Sunday Times

'Taylor has long been the pre-eminent chronicler of beautifully atmospheric historical crime' The Times

'A breathtakingly ambitious picture of an era' Financial Times

'This is how historical crime should be written, with rich authenticity underpinning a twisting plot' The Times

'A masterclass in writing for the genre' Ann Cleeves

'Andrew Taylor is one of our finest storytellers' Antonia Hodgson

'Few historical novelists write with more authority and a greater sense of authenticity than Andrew Taylor' Sunday Times

'Vivid and compelling' Observer

'A novel filled with intrigue, duplicity, scandal and betrayal, whose author now vies with another master of the genre, C. J. Sansom' Spectator

'This is a novelist of consummate skill at the absolute peak of his power' Manda Scott

'Glorious' Sunday Express

'One of the most reliably enjoyable of historical novelists' The Sunday Times

'An atmospheric pleasure, full of twists and memorable characters' The Times

'Taylor brings the 17th century to life so vividly that one can almost smell it' Guardian

'Taylor combines his detailed research with a deviously twist-laden storyline' Observer

'A most artful and delightful book, that will both amuse and chill' Daily Telegraph

'A depth few other historical crime novels can match' Sunday Times

'Terrific' Sarah Hilary

'Elegant, engrossing' Sunday Express

'A complex weave of history and mystery' The i

'This is terrific stuff' Daily Telegraph

Author

About Andrew Taylor

Andrew Taylor has been a full-time writer since 1981, and has written over twenty books. He has been described by The Times as 'One of Britain's best writers of psychological suspense.'

Having decided to become a writer at the age of ten, he claims that it was his newly recognised facility for writing stories, teamed with the idea that a writer's life consisted of not wearing a tie to work, that first attracted him to the career. More recently however he has suggested that 'one of the attractions of writing fiction is that it allows you to create your own little universe and play God to your heart's content.' It was the discovery of Sherlock Holmes at the tender of age of eight and earlier yet with Enid Blyton's Hurrah for Little Noddy, that his love for crime novels was incited. 'Another thing I like about crime fiction' he asserts, 'is its lack of pretension. It sets out to entertain - it's fiction with its sleeves rolled up.'

In the years preceding Andrew Taylor's breakthrough in the literary world, he worked as a boat-builder, wages clerk, teacher, librarian, labourer and freelance publisher's editor. Since then, Public Lending Right estimates place his British public library readership in the top one per cent.

His novels include the Dougal and Lydmouth crime series, the psychological thriller The Barred Window and his ground-breaking Roth Trilogy, now published in one volume as Requiem for an Angel. He also reviews and writes about crime fiction, particularly in the Independent Awards received for his books include the John Creasey Memorial award from the Crime Writer's Association and an Edgar Scroll from the Mystery Writers of America, both for Caroline Minuscule, and the CWA's Ellis Peters Historical Dagger. The Roth Trilogy was adapted into the acclaimed ITV drama 'Fallen Angel'. 'The American Boy' was a 2005 Richard & Judy Book Club choice.

He lives in the Forest of Dean with his wife, a photographer, and their two children.