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!
Wednesday, April 24 Interview & Giveaway at Oh, For the Hook of a Book!
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
