Lendle

An Elizabethan Spy Thriller Series - Book Three 'A nail-biting quest.' Peter Tonkin, A Stage for Murder Summer. 1606. England still reels from the narrow escape of the Gunpowder Plot. Jubilation and fear compete for dominance in London as the queen’s brother, King Christian of Denmark, arrives for the first state visit seen in decades. Ned Savage, thief and spy, is summoned by Robert Cecil and the bookish Francis Bacon. Intelligence has come in concerning the arrival of a female assassin, code-named Locusta. Savage soon discovers that the agent is in the employ of a secret society called the Brotherhood of Augustus. Their mission is one of terror and revenge. But who are they? And who is their target? Savage’s search takes him into the Tower of London to interrogate the last remaining member of the Gunpowder Plotters - and an old foe, Walter Raleigh. He is also on the trail of the disgraced Penelope Devereux, sister to the late earl of Essex. Savage gradually uncovers a plan to assassinate a king during the premiere performance of Macbeth at Hampton Court. But which king’s life is in peril - and how will the Brotherhood achieve their aim? The spy must discover the truth behind Locusta and the Augustans and foil their assassination plot before the curtain falls. Steven Veerapen was born in Glasgow and raised in Paisley. Pursuing an interest in the sixteenth century, he was awarded a first-class Honours degree in English, focussing his dissertation on representations of Henry VIII’s six wives. He then received a Masters in Renaissance studies, and a Ph.D. investigating Elizabethan slander. Steven is fascinated by the glamour and ghastliness of life in the 1500s. He is the author of the Simon Danforth Mysteries. Praise for Steven Veerapen: A Dangerous Trade 'A slow-burn character driven spy story that grips like a thumbscrew tightened by twist after twist towards the end - Le Carre transported to the 1560’s. Brilliant work, based in impressively wide research and the kind of competition that I and a good number of others could well do without!' Peter Tonkin The Abbey Close (Book One of the Simon Danforth Mysteries) 'The author balances gimlet-eyed research with narrative drive and clever reveals... Danforth is a strong yet torn central character... I look forward to reading the second book in the series.' Richard Foreman Blood Feud: Mary Queen of Scots and The Earl of Moray 'Much-needed analysis of a sinister sibling rivalry.' Marie Macpherson Elizabeth and Essex: Power, Passion and Politics 'A sensitive and lively account of one of the most politically significant relationships of the Elizabethan age.' Lisa Hopkins Assassination 'Both a crime and spy thriller.' Richard Foreman, Crusaders ‘From its tense beginning to satisfying end, Steven Veerapen skilfully weaves historical fact into a gripping tale, making a superb contribution to 17th century fiction.’ John Pilkington