The No. 1 Sunday Timesbestselling series
The fifth book in S. J. Parris's bestselling, critically acclaimed series following Giordano Bruno, set at the time of Queen Elizabeth I
Perfect for fans of C. J. Sansom and Hilary Mantel
PARIS, 1585
A KING WITHOUT AN HEIR
Heretic-turned-spy Giordano Bruno arrives in Paris to find a city on the edge of catastrophe. King Henri III lives in fear of a coup by the Duke of Guise and his fanatical Catholic League, and another massacre on the streets.
A COURT AT WAR WITH GOD
When Bruno's old rival, Father Paul Lefevre is found murdered, Bruno is drawn into a dangerous web of religious politics and court intrigue. And watching over his shoulder is the King's mother, Catherine de Medici, with her harem of beautiful spies.
A DEADLY CONSPIRACY IN PLAY
When murder strikes at the heart of the Palace, Bruno finds himself on the trail of a killer who is protecting a terrible secret. With the royal houses of France and England under threat, Bruno must expose the truth - or be silenced for good...
Praise for S. J. Parris
'A delicious blend of history and thriller' The Times
'An omnipresent sense of danger' 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
'Pacy, intricate, and thrilling' Observer
'Vivid, sprawling ... Well-crafted, exuberant' Financial Times
'Impossible to resist' Daily Telegraph
'Twists and turns like a corkscrew of venomous snakes' Stuart MacBride
'It has everything - intrigue, mystery and excellent history' Kate Mosse
'The period is incredibly vivid and the story utterly gripping' Conn Iggulden
'A brilliantly unusual glimpse at the intrigues surrounding Queen Elizabeth I'Andrew Taylor