Publication Date: January 22, 2013
Thomas & Mercer Publishing
Paperback; 390p
ISBN-10: 1611099331

To escape a lifetime of poverty, mercenary Sir Benedict Palmer agrees to one final, lucrative job: help King Henry II’s knights seize the traitor Archbishop Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral. But what begins as a clandestine arrest ends in cold-blooded murder. And when Fitzurse, the knights’ ringleader, kidnaps Theodosia, a beautiful young nun who witnessed the crime, Palmer can sit silently by no longer. For not only is Theodosia’s virtue at stake, so too is the secret she unknowingly carries—a secret he knows Fitzurse will torture out of her. Now Palmer and Theodosia are on the run, strangers from different worlds forced to rely only on each other as they race to uncover the hidden motive behind Becket’s grisly murder—and the shocking truth that could destroy a kingdom.

My review:

To be honest I didn’t expect to enjoy this story as much as I did. This story is definitely what I call a suspenseful thriller. This was a page turner from beginning to end. I know a little of the history that the author writes in this story and I was curious about it when she added a fifth knight. I thought, “How interesting and did she pull this off?” Well, she certainly does, so well in fact that it is believable and intriguing. Everything about this story draws you in. The characters, plot and the beautifully blended historical aspects to the fiction and when you thought you knew the secret that was unfolding, there is a twist you don’t see coming. The author attention to detail is impeccable and realistic that a few of the murder scenes were very dramatic and a bit graphic for my taste. The time period that this story is set in is one of my favorites and I enjoyed the Powell’s rendering of it. She sets the tone for what true historical fiction should read like.

About the Author

E. M. Powell was born and raised in Ireland, a descendant of Irish revolutionary Michael Collins. At University College, Cork, she discovered a love of Anglo-Saxon and medieval English during her study of literature and geography. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, the Manchester Irish Writers, the Historical Novel Society, and International Thriller Writers. A reviewer for the Historical Novel Society, she lives today in Manchester, England, with her husband and daughter.

For more information, please visit E.M. Powell’s website and blog.  You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads.

Virtual Book Tour Schedule

Tuesday, April 16 Review at Confessions of an Avid Reader

Wednesday, April 17 Review at Sir Read-a-Lot

Thursday, April 18 Review at Turning the Pages

Friday, April 19 Interview & Giveaway at Sir Read-a-Lot

Monday, April 22 Review & Giveaway at Flashlight Commentary

Tuesday, April 23 Review at Oh, For the Hook of a Book!

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Thursday, April 25 Review at The Lit Bitch Interview at Bibliophilic Book Blog

Friday, April 26 Guest Post at Historical Fiction Connection

Monday, April 29 Review at A Book Geek

Tuesday, April 30 Guest Post at Kinx’s Book Nook

Wednesday, May 1 Review & Giveaway at Book Addict Katie

Thursday, May 2 Review & Giveaway at Just One More Chapter

Friday, May 3 Review at The Musings of a Book Junkie

Monday, May 6 Review at Layered Pages Review at Overflowing Bookshelves

Tuesday, May 7 Review at Raging Bibliomania

Wednesday, May 8 Review at West Metro Mommy

Thursday, May 9 Review at So Many Books, So Little Time

Friday, May 10 Review & Giveaway at Broken Teepee