A gripping murder mystery set in 16th-century France, as Giordano Bruno fights against multiple factions manipulating the succession of King Henri III.December 1585: King Henri III of France is the last of his line. He has appointed a Protestant as his successor, which has caused a three-way war in his country. As a result, the king is in mortal fear of a coup being orchestrated by the ultra-conservative Catholic League. Radical philosopher, ex-monk and spy Giordano Bruno, forced to return to Paris, is called upon by King Henri to unearth the mystery behind several mysterious but linked deaths. Each victim is connected to a larger plot to manipulate the royal succession; what they knew and who killed them is a mystery to be solved. Meanwhile, Bruno makes an uneasy alliance with Charles Paget, a key figure in the community of English Catholics who tried to assassinate Queen Elizabeth. When Bruno is implicated in the death of Leonie, a member of the Queen Mother's "e;Flying Squadron,"e; he is forced to call on Paget and his connections for help--and finds that it comes with a price, involving an old enemy.From the Trade Paperback edition.
'A tight plot combines with subtly realised characters and an omnipresent sense of danger ... My pleasure in the vividly textured backdrop and a cracking story was accompanied by an uneasy shudder Daily Mail
'Colourful characters, fast-moving plots and a world where one false step in religion or politics can mean a grisly death' Sunday Times
'A delicious blend of history and thriller' The Times
'Vivid, sprawling ... Well-crafted, exuberant fare' Financial Times
'Successful historical thrillers need three elements: a killer plot that weaves seamlessly into the history; an engaging protagonist; and an atmospheric sense of place. Parris nails all three - Conspiracy is a gem' The Times
'This latest addition to the series will no doubt repeat its predecessors' success... The authentically febrile air of suspense that Parris generates, as well as a shoal of red herrings and some impish, what-if plotting. The drawing-room style denouement, conducted as it is in a salon at the Tuileries Palace, is also executed with knowing relish' Observer
'I can thoroughly recommend Conspiracy, which twists and turns like a corkscrew of venomous snakes Stuart MacBride
Author
About S. J. Parris
S.J. Parris is the pseudonym of author and journalist Stephanie Merritt. It was as a student in Cambridge researching a paper on the period that Stephanie first became fascinated by the rich history of Tudor England and Renaissance Europe. Since then, her interest has grown and led her to create this series of historical thrillers featuring Giordano Bruno.
Stephanie has worked as a critic and feature writer for a variety of newspapers and magazines as well as radio and television. She currently writes for the Observer and the Guardian, and lives in Surrey with her son.
