About the Book
Treason, heresy and revolt in Queen Elizabeth’s England . . .
The year is 1600. With a dying queen on the throne, war raging on the high seas and famine on the rise, England is on the brink of chaos. And in London’s dark alleyways, a conspiracy is brewing. In the court’s desperate bid to silence it, an innocent man is found guilty – the father of Nicholas Shelby, physician and spy. As Nicholas races against time to save his father, he and his wife Bianca are drawn into the centre of a treacherous plot against the queen.
When one of Shakespeare’s boy actors goes missing, and Bianca discovers a disturbing painting that could be a clue, she embarks on her own investigation. Meanwhile, as Nicholas comes closer to unveiling the real conspirator, the men who wish to silence him are multiplying. When he stumbles on a plan to overthrow the state and replace it with a terrifying new order, he may be forced to make a decision between his country and his heart . . .
Format: eARC (432 pages) Publisher: Corvus
Publication date: 6th April 2023 Genre: Historical Fiction
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My Review
I’ve become a great fan of this series set in late Elizabethan London. I’ve read the first four books in the series – The Angel’s Mark, The Serpent’s Mark, The Saracen’s Mark and The Heretic’s Mark – but, strangely enough, not this book’s predecessor, The Rebel’s Mark, despite having a copy on my bookshelf. Unfortunately, by the time I realised, I didn’t have time to go back and read that before reading this latest instalment. But I definitely will. Although The Sinner’s Mark can be read as a standalone reading the series from the beginning will allow you to witness the progress of the relationship between physician and reluctant spy, Nicholas Shelby, and Bianca Merton, owner of the Jackdaw tavern. Also making a return appearance from previous books are Rose and Ned Monckton, now charged with overseeing the Jackdaw whilst Bianca pursues her apothecary business.
More significant is the arrival of a figure from Nicholas’s past, a strange and rather macabre individual who appears to want simply to renew their friendship but whom Bianca instinctively suspects may not be exactly what he seems. It creates an unaccustomed tension in Nicholas and Bianca’s relationship. What I particularly like is the way Nicholas’s and Bianca’s previous experiences have informed the development of their characters over the course of the series. Bianca retains the quick-wittedness gained from the adventures of her youth. However, her eagerness to see the wicked brought to justice means she sometimes places herself in risky situations. She is fiercely protective of Nicholas, conscious that his inability to save loved ones many years before has left him with feelings of guilt and a desire to make amends. Bianca warns, ‘Be careful, Nicholas. There’s nothing wrong with compassion, provided it doesn’t leave you blind to danger’.
Once again, the backdrop to the story is the turbulent period towards the end of Elizabeth I’s reign. As Robert Cecil warns, ‘There is a cold current running beneath the surface of this realm, Nicholas… a current I don’t much care for. People have come to the realization that the queen cannot live for ever. They can smell change coming. And change can be fertile ground for trouble’. Ah, yes, Robert Cecil. As I’ve noted in previous reviews, no historical mystery set in the reign of Elizabeth I would be complete without a member of the Cecil family. Having thought he’d successfully extricated himself from Cecil’s spy network, Nicholas finds himself having to call on Cecil’s help when his father is arrested for possessing a seditious tract. Owing Cecil a favour is a distinctly uncomfortable position to be in and it results in Nicholas being unwillingly drawn into investigating a plot that aims to create mayhem.
One of the things I’ve loved about the previous books is the way the author conjures up the sights, sounds and smells of Elizabethan London and he does it again here, this time adding a theatrical flourish with a famous playwright being amongst the actual historical figures to feature in the book.
Ending with fireworks, The Sinner’s Mark is a thrilling addition to a wonderful series. If you’re a fan of historical mysteries and haven’t discovered the series yet, then you’re in for a treat.
I received an advance review copy courtesy of Corvus via NetGalley.
In three words: Intriguing, atmospheric, suspenseful
Try something similar: The Drowned City by K. J. Maitland
About the Author
S. W. Perry was a journalist and broadcaster before retraining as an airline pilot. He lives in Worcestershire with his wife.
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