Reviews

'An exciting story is made all the richer by the author's command not only of the politics of the time but of the everyday details of inns and castles, courts and whorehouses.' Morning Star Online, 18 August 2011 (Mat Coward)

'This is more like it for the Tudor answer to James Bond. Master of heraldry, William Harley, stars here in a non-stop action adventure. He's tortured within an inch of his life (several times), outwits his scheming arch-enemy, gets involved in more swordplay than the late, great Oliver reed and falls in with a pirate gang. James Forrester has upped the pace from Sacred Treason , which saw us introduced to Harley, or Clarenceuix as he is better known. His pirate crew are a great creation. These are more pirates of the Solent than Pirates of the Caribbean but I could see an older, wiser Johnny Depp bringing gravitas to the role of Raw Carew. Great pirate, great name - and he forms a partnership with Clarenceux which leads them through this rollicking good yarn. Forrester has stopped over describing settings and puts a welcome focus on the action. I am glad he didn't spend a moment longer describing a gangrenous amputation. You could smell the rot long after you shut the book. Great story and a great twist, as Clarenceux continues his one-Catholic crusade NOT to go to war with the protestants.' The Sun, 5 August 2011 (Peter Thornton)

'No one can create a sense of historical space as convincingly as he does.' The Daily Telegraph, 2 August 2011 (Toby Clements)

'This is a fine historical novel, full of intrigue and drama.' Material Witness, 21 July 2011 (Ben Hunt)

'When circumstances lead [Clarenceux] into an unlikely alliance with the pirate Raw Carew, who is also chasing the same piece of ‘treasure’, the scene is set for some explosive action.' The Daily Mail, 30 September 2011 (Kathy Stevenson)