S. J. Parris – författare

The No. 1 Sunday Times bestselling seriesThe third book in S. J. Parris’s bestselling, critically acclaimed series following Giordano Bruno, set at the time of Queen Elizabeth I London, 1584. Giordano Bruno travels to Canterbury for love. But finds only murder … Giordano Bruno is being followed by the woman he once loved – Sophia Underhill, accused of murder and on the run. With the leave of the Queen’s spymaster, he sets out to clear Sophia’s name. But when more brutal killings occur a far deadlier plot emerges. A city rife with treachery. A relic steeped in blood. His hunt for the real killer leads to the shadows of the Cathedral – England’s holiest shrine – and the heart of a sinister and powerful conspiracy …Heretic, maverick, charmer: Giordano Bruno is always on his guard. Never more so than when working for Queen Elizabeth and her spymaster – for this man of letters is now an agent of intrigue and danger …Perfect for fans of C. J. Sansom and Hilary Mantel 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

The second book in the No.1 Sunday Times bestselling series set at the time of Queen Elizabeth I Autumn, 1583. Under Elizabeth’s rule, loyalty is bought with blood… An astrological phenomenon heralds the dawn of a new age and Queen Elizabeth’s throne is in peril. As Mary Stuart’s supporters scheme to usurp the rightful monarch, a young maid of honour is murdered, occult symbols carved into her flesh.The Queen’s spymaster, Francis Walsingham, calls on maverick agent Giordano Bruno to infiltrate the plotters and secure the evidence that will condemn them to death.Bruno is cunning, but so are his enemies. His identity could be exposed at any moment. The proof he seeks is within his grasp. But the young woman’s murder could point to an even more sinister truth…Perfect for fans of C. J. Sansom and Hilary Mantel 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“Rich in both historical detail and ingenious twists’ Sam Bourne (bestselling author of The Righteous Men)Perfect for fans of A D Swanston, Paul Walker and E.M. Powell.

The new historical crime thriller, a Sunday Times bestseller, perfect for fans of C. J. Sansom and Hilary Mantel Prague, 1588. A COURT IN TURMOILThe court of the Holy Roman Emperor, Rudolf II, is a haven for scientists, astrologers and alchemists. The dream – to discover the philosopher’s stone and attain immortality. But now there are rumours of heresy.A MURDERED ALCHEMISTGiordano Bruno is sent to Prague as a spy for Elizabeth I. He arrives to find the palace in uproar – an alchemist has been murdered.AN UNFORGIVING ENEMYOrdered by the emperor to uncover the killer, Bruno must negotiate the jostling factions at court, as well as the religious tensions brewing in the city. And his hunt to track down a murderer soon proves as elusive as the elixir of life itself…Praise for Alchemy‘The clever twists and turns of Alchemy are assuredly plotted and Prague, a city in religious and political turmoil, makes for a powerful setting’ The Times‘Over the past dozen years, S. J. Parris’s novels… have been among the most enjoyable of all historical thrillers’ Sunday Times‘Breathless pace and acutely observed detail make for a story that confounds and surprises’ ObserverS. J. Parris's book Alchemy was a Sunday Times bestseller w/c 03-07-2023

The first book in the No. 1 Sunday Times bestselling series set at the time of Queen Elizabeth I In Elizabeth’s England, true faith can mean bloody murder… Oxford, 1583. A place of learning. And murderous schemes. The country is rife with plots to assassinate Queen Elizabeth and return the realm to the Catholic faith. Giordano Bruno is recruited by the queen’s spymaster and sent undercover to expose a treacherous conspiracy in Oxford – but his own secret mission must remain hidden at all costs. A spy under orders. A coveted throne under threat. When a series of hideous murders ruptures close-knit college life, Bruno is compelled to investigate. And what he finds makes it brutally clear that the Tudor throne itself is at stake…Perfect for fans of C. J. Sansom and Hilary Mantel Praise for the Giordano Bruno series ‘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'An atmospheric and well-written historical thriller' Guardian‘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“Rich in both historical detail and ingenious twists” Sam Bourne (bestselling author of The Righteous Men)

A vivid and gripping historical thriller set in Elizabethan England introducing Giordano Bruno - philosopher, spy and hero of the stunning new novel SACRILEGE - for all fans of C.J.Sansom and The Name of the Rose.In Elizabeth’s England, true faith can mean bloody murder…OXFORD, 1583. A PLACE OF LEARNING.AND MURDEROUS SCHEMES.England is rife with plots to assassinate Queen Elizabeth and return the country to the Catholic faith. Defending the realm through his network of agents, the Queen’s spymaster Sir Francis Walsingham works tirelessly to hunt down all traitors.His latest recruit is Giordano Bruno, a radical thinker fleeing the Inquisition, who is sent undercover to Oxford to expose a Catholic conspiracy. But he has his own secret mission at the University – one that must remain hidden at all costs.When a series of hideous murders ruptures close-knit college life, Bruno is compelled to investigate. And what he finds makes it brutally clear that the Tudor throne itself is at stake…

A Tudor thriller featuring Giordano Bruno, renegade monk, philosopher and heretic, for fans of C. J. Sansom and The Name of the RoseAutumn, 1583. Under Elizabeth’s rule, loyalty is bought with blood…An astrological phenomenon heralds the dawn of a new age and Queen Elizabeth’s throne is in peril. As Mary Stuart’s supporters scheme to usurp the rightful monarch, a young maid of honour is murdered, occult symbols carved into her flesh.The Queen’s spymaster, Francis Walsingham, calls on maverick agent Giordano Bruno to infiltrate the plotters and secure the evidence that will condemn them to death.Bruno is cunning, but so are his enemies. His identity could be exposed at any moment. The proof he seeks is within his grasp. But the young woman’s murder could point to an even more sinister truth…

Perfect for fans of C.J. Sansom and The Name of the Rose, the third historical thriller featuring Giordano Bruno, heretic, philosopher and spy.In the pursuit of power, nothing is sacred…Summer, 1584. The Protestant Prince William of Orange has been assassinated by a fanatical Catholic, and there are whispers that Queen Elizabeth will be next. Fear haunts the streets of London, and plague is driving many citizens away.Giordano Bruno, radical philosopher and spy, chooses to remain, only to find that someone is following him through the city. Confronting his stalker, he realizes it is the woman he once loved – she is on the run, having been accused of murder.Bruno travels to Canterbury to help clear her name, and also on behalf of Sir Francis Walsingham. The Queen’s spymaster has long suspected Catholic influence in the ancient centre of pilgrimage, and instructs Bruno to work to expose any enemy plots.As Bruno begins his hunt for the real killer, he is drawn into the heart of a sinister conspiracy hiding in the shadow of England’s holiest shrine…

A short story featuring Giordano Bruno: heretic, philosopher and spy. Perfect for fans of C.J. Sansom.Even the dead have a story to tell…Naples, 1566. During a sweltering summer, eighteen-year-old Giordano Bruno takes his final vows at San Domenico Maggiore and is admitted to the Dominican Order – despite doubts over his tendency to ask difficult questions.Assisting in the infirmary, Bruno witnesses an illicit autopsy performed on the body of a young woman. Her corpse reveals a dark secret, and Bruno suspects that hers may not have been an accidental death.His investigation leads him to a powerful figure who wants to keep the truth buried – and Bruno is forced to make a choice between his future in the Order, and justice for an innocent victim and her grieving family…

Perfect for fans of C.J. Sansom and The Name of the Rose, the fourth historical thriller featuring Giordano Bruno, heretic, philosopher and spy.August, 1583. Giordano Bruno, a heretic fleeing the Inquisition, finds a new life working as a spy for Sir Francis Walsingham.Along with his friend, Sir Philip Sidney, Bruno travels to Plymouth on the Queen’s behalf. There, they meet Sir Francis Drake, who is preparing to launch a daring expedition against the Spanish, which could turn the tide of war.Unbeknownst to Bruno, however, Sidney plans to stowaway with Drake’s fleet and return a hero – dragging Bruno with him to the New World. But when a murder occurs aboard Drake’s own ship, fear and suspicion grip the fleet and threaten to abort the expedition before it begins.Navigating the jealousies and loyalties of the crew, Bruno learns that someone with a deadly grudge is shadowing his investigation.Tracking the killer through Plymouth’s menacing backstreets, he uncovers some of the darkest secrets the city is harbouring. Failure will come at the highest cost – not just for Bruno, but all of England…

The No. 1 Sunday Times bestselling seriesThe fourth book in S. J. Parris’s bestselling, critically acclaimed series following Giordano Bruno, set at the time of Queen Elizabeth I August, 1585. England is on the brink of war… Sir Francis Drake is preparing to launch a daring expedition against the Spanish when a murder aboard his ship changes everything. A relentless enemy. A treacherous conspiracy. Giordano Bruno agrees to hunt the killer down, only to find that more than one deadly plot is brewing in Plymouth’s murky underworld. And as he tracks a murderer through its dangerous streets, he uncovers a conspiracy that threatens the future of England itself.Perfect for fans of C. J. Sansom and Hilary Mantel Praise for S. J. Parris ‘S. J. Parris is one of my favourite authors – and unquestionably our greatest living writer of historical thrillers.’ A.J. Finn, No. 1 bestselling author of The Woman in the Window“Hugely enjoyable” Guardian‘This is historical mystery fiction at its finest’ Publishers Weekly‘Her prose is taut and compelling. Her wielding of the historical material is always convincing but never overwhelming’ The Times‘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

A thrilling novella following a young Giordano Bruno, set in the time of Elizabeth I, from the No. 1 Sunday Times bestselling author Naples, 1568 A rebellious young monk…Novice monk Giordano Bruno struggles to follow the strict rules of religious life. He has questions – about God, life, the universe – which could prove deadly… especially at a time when the Inquisition is gaining power and influence.A secret society…One night, Bruno’s mentor invites him to a hidden location outside the city where a group of like-minded men meet to discuss forbidden subjects – a secret society. Bruno is captivated – even more so when he meets Fiammetta della Porta, the niece of the society’s wealthy leader, who initiates him into the ways of love.An enemy who could destroy everything…But Bruno has enemies, and he has been followed to his assignations. Not only is the heretical society at risk of exposure, but Bruno and his new lover are in grave danger. Keeping his secrets has become a matter of life or death… Please note that this story, along with two other Giordano Bruno novellas, will be published as a 3-in-1 collection called The Dead of Winter, coming out in Hardback, ebook and audio in November 2020. 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… Full of historical detail and rich with atmosphere’ Observer‘Twists and turns like a corkscrew of venomous snakes’ Stuart MacBride‘Impossible to resist’ Daily Telegraph‘It has everything – intrigue, mystery and excellent history’ Kate Mosse‘Parris writes with confident ease of Tudor London’ The Times‘Full of surprises’ TLS

Perfect for fans of C.J. Sansom and The Name of the Rose, the fifth historical thriller featuring Giordano Bruno, heretic, philosopher and spy.Paris, 1585.Giordano Bruno, heretic, philosopher and spy for Elizabeth’s minister Sir Francis Walsingham, has come to Paris, a city on the edge of catastrophe. King Henri III is surrounded by enemies: the Duke of Guise’s Catholic League; Henri of Navarre’s Protestant army; and from within his own court, where his mother Catherine of Medici wields immense influence.Bruno, alone and near destitute, turns to old friend and zealous preacher, Paul Lefevre. But when the priest is murdered, uttering the single word `Circe’ with his dying breath, Bruno is pulled into a dangerous world. The King needs him to prove the killer wasn’t acting for the Crown; Guise wants him to clear the Catholic League of involvement; and Walsingham has contacted Bruno, asking him to continue his covert services for Elizabeth I.A second murder brings Paris to boiling point. Is there one killer or two? And in whose interests are these murders committed?If Bruno can’t uncover the truth, not only is the future of the de Valois monarchy threatened – but his own life will be forfeit.

The No. 1 Sunday Times bestselling seriesThe fifth book in S. J. Parris’s bestselling, critically acclaimed series following Giordano Bruno, set at the time of Queen Elizabeth IPerfect 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 Lefèvre 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

A thrilling new historical crime novella from #1 bestseller S. J. Parris, perfect for fans of C. J. Sansom and Hilary MantelVenice, 1576. A spy fleeing the Inquisition Giordano Bruno – heretic, philosopher and spy – is on the run from the Inquisition. He escapes to Venice, but it proves no safe haven. A murder that shakes a city When an aristocrat is found dead and his wife arrested, unrest ripples through Venice. An anonymous letter, written in code, is sent proclaiming the woman’s innocence, and Bruno is takes with finding the writer. A web of secrets that could prove deadly The murder is mired in a tangle of dangerous secrets, and Bruno soon learns there are some very powerful people who will stop at nothing to suppress the truth…READERS LOVE S. J. PARRIS… ‘Top class historical crime’ ★★★★★ ‘Another fantastic historical thriller from master of the Elizabethan mystery’ ★★★★★ ‘A straight 5* for me! A very compelling novel I highly recommend’ ★★★★★ ‘I loved the characters. The only bad thing I have to say about this book is that it kept me reading way past midnight’ ★★★★★ ‘The richly detailed Elizabethan setting and clever twists kept me hooked from start to finish’ ★★★★★ ‘The murder mystery is layered with political intrigue, keeping you second-guessing every revelation’ ★★★★★ ‘Excellently researched, great plot, beautiful execution. I love the combination of historical menace and a thriller’ ★★★★★ ‘SJ Parris does it again’ ★★★★★ ‘I didn't know who to trust or who to believe the whole way along’ ★★★★★ ‘Another glorious dive into the murky world of Elizabethan spies and lies’ ★★★★★ S. J. Parris's book 'Traitor’s Legacy' was a Sunday Times bestseller w/c 2025-05-12.

The No. 1 Sunday Times bestselling series set during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, perfect for fans of Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall trilogy and Netflix’s The Crown ‘Gripping’ Sunday Times‘Fast-paced and entertaining’ Mail on SundayA TREASONOUS PLOTEngland, 1586. Giordano Bruno, heretic turned spy, passes on vital information to spymaster Sir Francis Walsingham. A band of Catholic Englishmen are plotting to kill Queen Elizabeth and install Mary, Queen of Scots, on the English throne.A DEADLY TRAPWalsingham, already aware of the plot, is allowing it to progress. He hopes that Mary will put her support in writing – and condemn herself to a traitor's death.A QUEEN IN DANGER Bruno must go undercover, join the conspirators and stop them. A queen is destined to die; Bruno must make sure it is the right one…Praise for Execution‘A brilliantly realised fictionalisation of the Babington plot against Elizabeth 1’ Observer‘Execution has an atmospheric sense of place. The plot twists and turns’ The Times‘Immaculate… the depth of period detail, the all-enveloping sense of time and place, and the sheer gory drama’ Metro‘Sumptuous’ New York Times‘Parris’s attention to the details of Elizabethan life and her ability to create characters of depth are again on display in a gripping narrative’ The Sunday Times‘Fast-paced and entertaining’ Mail on Sunday‘Parris is one of the stars of historical crime fiction and this, her sixth Giordano Bruno novel, is among her best’i‘Superbly plotted, shimmeringly written, it will have you on the edge of your seat’ Kate Williams, author of The Storms of War‘An impressive feat’ Marisa Haetzman, also writes as Ambrose Parry

The No. 1 Sunday Times bestselling series set during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, perfect for fans of Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall trilogy and Netflix’s The Crown ‘Gripping’ Sunday Times‘Fast-paced and entertaining’ Mail on SundayA TREASONOUS PLOTEngland, 1586. Giordano Bruno, heretic turned spy, passes on vital information to spymaster Sir Francis Walsingham. A band of Catholic Englishmen are plotting to kill Queen Elizabeth and install Mary, Queen of Scots, on the English throne.A DEADLY TRAPWalsingham, already aware of the plot, is allowing it to progress. He hopes that Mary will put her support in writing – and condemn herself to a traitor's death.A QUEEN IN DANGER Bruno must go undercover, join the conspirators and stop them. A queen is destined to die; Bruno must make sure it is the right one…Praise for Execution‘A brilliantly realised fictionalisation of the Babington plot against Elizabeth 1’ Observer‘Execution has an atmospheric sense of place. The plot twists and turns’ The Times‘Immaculate… the depth of period detail, the all-enveloping sense of time and place, and the sheer gory drama’ Metro‘Sumptuous’ New York Times‘Parris’s attention to the details of Elizabethan life and her ability to create characters of depth are again on display in a gripping narrative’ The Sunday Times‘Fast-paced and entertaining’ Mail on Sunday‘Parris is one of the stars of historical crime fiction and this, her sixth Giordano Bruno novel, is among her best’i‘Superbly plotted, shimmeringly written, it will have you on the edge of your seat’ Kate Williams, author of The Storms of War‘An impressive feat’ Marisa Haetzman, also writes as Ambrose Parry

Perfect for fans of C.J. Sansom and The Name of the Rose, three Sunday Times bestselling historical thrillers featuring Giordano Bruno, heretic, philosopher and spy.HERESY: Oxford, 1583. A place of learning, and of murderous schemes. The Queen’s spymaster, Sir Francis Walsingham, recruits Giordano Bruno, a radical thinker fleeing the Inquisition, to expose a Catholic conspiracy at Oxford University. When a series of brutal murders ruptures close-knit college life, Bruno realizes that the Tudor throne itself is at stake…PROPHECY: London, 1583. As Mary Stuart’s supporters scheme to usurp the rightful monarch, a young maid of honour is murdered in Queen Elizabeth’s court, occult symbols carved into her flesh. When maverick agent Giordano Bruno is instructed to infiltrate the plotters, he must use all his cunning to secure evidence against them before his true identity is exposed…SACRILEGE: Canterbury, 1584. Heretic-turned-spy Giordano Bruno travels to Canterbury to clear the name of the woman he once loved. But when a series of mysterious crimes strike the city, a far bigger puzzle emerges. Bruno’s investigation leads him deep into the shadows of the Cathedral, and to the heart of a sinister and powerful conspiracy…

The new historical crime thriller, a Sunday Times bestseller, perfect for fans of C. J. Sansom and Hilary Mantel Prague, 1588. A COURT IN TURMOILThe court of the Holy Roman Emperor, Rudolf II, is a haven for scientists, astrologers and alchemists. The dream – to discover the philosopher’s stone and attain immortality. But now there are rumours of heresy.A MURDERED ALCHEMISTGiordano Bruno is sent to Prague as a spy for Elizabeth I. He arrives to find the palace in uproar – an alchemist has been murdered.AN UNFORGIVING ENEMYOrdered by the emperor to uncover the killer, Bruno must negotiate the jostling factions at court, as well as the religious tensions brewing in the city. And his hunt to track down a murderer soon proves as elusive as the elixir of life itself…Praise for Alchemy‘The clever twists and turns of Alchemy are assuredly plotted and Prague, a city in religious and political turmoil, makes for a powerful setting’ The Times‘Over the past dozen years, S. J. Parris’s novels… have been among the most enjoyable of all historical thrillers’ Sunday Times‘Breathless pace and acutely observed detail make for a story that confounds and surprises’ ObserverS. J. Parris's book Alchemy was a Sunday Times bestseller w/c 03-07-2023

The new historical crime thriller, a Sunday Times bestseller, perfect for fans of C. J. Sansom and Hilary MantelPrague, 1588.A COURT IN TURMOILThe court of the Holy Roman Emperor, Rudolf II, is a haven for scientists, astrologers and alchemists. The dream – to discover the philosopher’s stone and attain immortality. But now there are rumours of heresy.A MURDERED ALCHEMISTGiordano Bruno is sent to Prague as a spy for Elizabeth I. He arrives to find the palace in uproar – an alchemist has been murdered.AN UNFORGIVING ENEMYOrdered by the emperor to uncover the killer, Bruno must negotiate the jostling factions at court, as well as the religious tensions brewing in the city. And his hunt to track down a murderer soon proves as elusive as the elixir of life itself…Praise for Alchemy‘The clever twists and turns of Alchemy are assuredly plotted and Prague, a city in religious and political turmoil, makes for a powerful setting’ The Times‘Over the past dozen years, S. J. Parris’s novels… have been among the most enjoyable of all historical thrillers’ Sunday Times‘Breathless pace and acutely observed detail make for a story that confounds and surprises’ ObserverS. J. Parris''s book Alchemy was a Sunday Times bestseller w/c 03-07-2023

The perfect historical crime novella to curl up with this Christmas! From a No. 1 Sunday Times bestselling author.Not to be missed!

Three gripping tales from No.1 Sunday Times bestseller S. J. Parris.The Secret DeadSummer 1556. A girl’s body is found in a Neapolitan monastery. Novice monk Giordano Bruno is determined to uncover what happened, but his investigation could deliver him into the hands of the Inquisition.The Academy of SecretsAutumn 1568. An invitation arrives for Giordano Bruno from a secret society of philosophers. Bruno is delighted, but keeping their heretical secrets soon becomes a matter of life or death.A Christmas RequiemWinter 1569. Giordano Bruno is summoned by the Pope, who is intrigued by his talent for memory games. But Rome is a den of iniquity, and Bruno will be lucky to escape the Eternal City alive. *Please note these three novellas are also published as individual stories in ebook.* ‘S. J. Parris gives us a glimpse into the younger years of Giordano Bruno, her 16th-century heretic and spy, in this collection of three beguiling novellas’ Observer What readers are saying about The Dead of Winter ‘Superb story-telling’ ★★★★★‘Such a treat’ ★★★★★‘Beautifully written’ ★★★★★‘Gripping’ ★★★★★‘Compulsive reading’ ★★★★★‘Full of energy and excitement’ ★★★★★‘Superb’ ★★★★★

Three gripping tales from No.1 Sunday Times bestseller S. J. Parris.The Secret DeadSummer 1556. A girl’s body is found in a Neapolitan monastery. Novice monk Giordano Bruno is determined to uncover what happened, but his investigation could deliver him into the hands of the Inquisition.The Academy of SecretsAutumn 1568. An invitation arrives for Giordano Bruno from a secret society of philosophers. Bruno is delighted, but keeping their heretical secrets soon becomes a matter of life or death.A Christmas RequiemWinter 1569. Giordano Bruno is summoned by the Pope, who is intrigued by his talent for memory games. But Rome is a den of iniquity, and Bruno will be lucky to escape the Eternal City alive.*Please note these three novellas are also published as individual stories in ebook.*‘S. J. Parris gives us a glimpse into the younger years of Giordano Bruno, her 16th-century heretic and spy, in this collection of three beguiling novellas’ ObserverWhat readers are saying about The Dead of Winter‘Superb story-telling’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Such a treat’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Beautifully written’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Gripping’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Compulsive reading’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Full of energy and excitement’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Superb’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Three gripping tales from No.1 Sunday Times bestseller S. J. Parris.The Secret DeadSummer 1556. A girl’s body is found in a Neapolitan monastery. Novice monk Giordano Bruno is determined to uncover what happened, but his investigation could deliver him into the hands of the Inquisition.The Academy of SecretsAutumn 1568. An invitation arrives for Giordano Bruno from a secret society of philosophers. Bruno is delighted, but keeping their heretical secrets soon becomes a matter of life or death.A Christmas RequiemWinter 1569. Giordano Bruno is summoned by the Pope, who is intrigued by his talent for memory games. But Rome is a den of iniquity, and Bruno will be lucky to escape the Eternal City alive. *Please note these three novellas are also published as individual stories in ebook.* ‘S. J. Parris gives us a glimpse into the younger years of Giordano Bruno, her 16th-century heretic and spy, in this collection of three beguiling novellas’ Observer What readers are saying about The Dead of Winter ‘Superb story-telling’ ★★★★★‘Such a treat’ ★★★★★‘Beautifully written’ ★★★★★‘Gripping’ ★★★★★‘Compulsive reading’ ★★★★★‘Full of energy and excitement’ ★★★★★‘Superb’ ★★★★★

The perfect historical crime novella to curl up with this Christmas! From a No. 1 Sunday Times bestselling author. At the heart of the Eternal City, danger hides around every corner… Rome, 1569. When novice monk Giordano Bruno is told the pope wants to see him, his first thought is that it must be a joke. The second is that it must be a trap.Young Bruno’s talent for complex memory games has caught the attention of the Lord’s Vicar. Summoned to Rome, the city captures Bruno’s imagination, and he soon slips away from his suspicious, austere host Fra Agostino da Montalcino, drawn instead to more glamorous, sophisticated companions.But accusations of heresy are only ever a whisper away, and Rome is a city of intrigue, trickery and blood. Bruno soon realises he will be lucky to escape the Eternal City alive. Please note that this story, along with two other Giordano Bruno novellas, will be published as a 3-in-1 collection called The Dead of Winter, coming out in Hardback, ebook and audio in November 2020. 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… Full of historical detail and rich with atmosphere’ Observer‘Twists and turns like a corkscrew of venomous snakes’ Stuart MacBride‘Impossible to resist’ Daily Telegraph‘It has everything – intrigue, mystery and excellent history’ Kate Mosse‘Parris writes with confident ease of Tudor London’ The Times‘Full of surprises’ TLS

THE NEW BESTSELLING SERIES FROM THE MASTER OF HISTORICAL CRIME FICTION, S. J. PARRIS England, 1601. Treason threatens the realm. When the body of a Scottish envoy washes up on the banks of the Thames, the Queen’s most powerful spymaster, Robert Cecil, is accused of arranging the murder.Cecil turns to his covert intelligencer Sophia de Wolfe to discreetly discover what the dead man was doing in London, and why he was killed. But this murder is borne of treacherous political currents.As loyalties shift and rebellion foments, and the Earl of Essex makes a dangerous play for power, Sophia is fast drawn into perilous waters.Everyone wants the Queen’s hard-won favour, even as tensions rise and the country begins to look for new answers. And Sophia has her own secrets to hide…Praise for S. J. Parris's bestselling Sophia de Wolfe series…'Sophia is a dazzling heroine, and the world of late Elizabethan England brimful of plot and conspiracy, is vividly and thrillingly brought to life' LAURA SHEPHERD-ROBINSON'Right from the intriguing opening pages everything Parris layers into this Elizabethan crime drama screams bestselling series' OBSERVER'A new historical crime from S. J. Parris is always cause for celebration but she really has excelled herself with Traitor's Legacy' ANDREW TAYLOR'S. J. Parris begins what promises to be an equally entertaining new series with this novel set in late Elizabethan England' THE TIMES'A writer who repeatedly proves that she is one of the most stylish of historical crime practitioners' FINANCIAL TIMES Readers love Sophia de Wolfe… ‘Top class historical crime’ 5 stars‘Another fantastic historical thriller from master of the Elizabethan mystery’ 5 stars‘A straight 5* for me! A very compelling novel I highly recommend’ 5 stars‘I loved the characters. The only bad thing I have to say about this book is that it kept me reading way past midnight’ 5 stars‘Sophia De Wolfe is a truly epic character’ 5 stars‘I had very high expectations for this novel. It is excellent. And the even better news it is that this is the first of a new series’ 5 stars‘The richly detailed Elizabethan setting and clever twists kept me hooked from start to finish’ 5 stars‘The murder mystery is layered with political intrigue, keeping you second-guessing every revelation’ 5 stars‘Excellently researched, great plot, beautiful execution. I love the combination of historical menace and a thriller’ 5 stars‘S. J. Parris does it again’ 5 stars‘I didn't know who to trust or who to believe the whole way along’ 5 stars‘Another glorious dive into the murky world of Elizabethan spies and lies’ 5 stars‘Loved every minute of this book. More please featuring Sophia!’ 5 stars‘I'm already looking forward to book two’ 5 stars‘You know what you’re getting with Parris; a stunning mix of fact and fiction with a clever plot woven around real people’ 5 stars

THE NEW BESTSELLING SERIES FROM THE MASTER OF HISTORICAL CRIME FICTION, S. J. PARRIS England, 1601. Treason threatens the realm. When the body of a Scottish envoy washes up on the banks of the Thames, the Queen’s most powerful spymaster, Robert Cecil, is accused of arranging the murder.Cecil turns to his covert intelligencer Sophia de Wolfe to discreetly discover what the dead man was doing in London, and why he was killed. But this murder is borne of treacherous political currents.As loyalties shift and rebellion foments, and the Earl of Essex makes a dangerous play for power, Sophia is fast drawn into perilous waters.Everyone wants the Queen’s hard-won favour, even as tensions rise and the country begins to look for new answers. And Sophia has her own secrets to hide…Praise for S. J. Parris's bestselling Sophia de Wolfe series…'Sophia is a dazzling heroine, and the world of late Elizabethan England brimful of plot and conspiracy, is vividly and thrillingly brought to life' LAURA SHEPHERD-ROBINSON'Right from the intriguing opening pages everything Parris layers into this Elizabethan crime drama screams bestselling series' OBSERVER'A new historical crime from S. J. Parris is always cause for celebration but she really has excelled herself with Traitor's Legacy' ANDREW TAYLOR'S. J. Parris begins what promises to be an equally entertaining new series with this novel set in late Elizabethan England' THE TIMES'A writer who repeatedly proves that she is one of the most stylish of historical crime practitioners' FINANCIAL TIMES Readers love Sophia de Wolfe… ‘Top class historical crime’ 5 stars‘Another fantastic historical thriller from master of the Elizabethan mystery’ 5 stars‘A straight 5* for me! A very compelling novel I highly recommend’ 5 stars‘I loved the characters. The only bad thing I have to say about this book is that it kept me reading way past midnight’ 5 stars‘Sophia De Wolfe is a truly epic character’ 5 stars‘I had very high expectations for this novel. It is excellent. And the even better news it is that this is the first of a new series’ 5 stars‘The richly detailed Elizabethan setting and clever twists kept me hooked from start to finish’ 5 stars‘The murder mystery is layered with political intrigue, keeping you second-guessing every revelation’ 5 stars‘Excellently researched, great plot, beautiful execution. I love the combination of historical menace and a thriller’ 5 stars‘S. J. Parris does it again’ 5 stars‘I didn't know who to trust or who to believe the whole way along’ 5 stars‘Another glorious dive into the murky world of Elizabethan spies and lies’ 5 stars‘Loved every minute of this book. More please featuring Sophia!’ 5 stars‘I'm already looking forward to book two’ 5 stars‘You know what you’re getting with Parris; a stunning mix of fact and fiction with a clever plot woven around real people’ 5 stars

THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER INTRODUCING AN INCREDIBLE NEW SERIES FROM THE NO.1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING MASTER OF HISTORICAL CRIME, S. J. PARRIS –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––'Sophia is a dazzling heroine, and the world of late Elizabethan England brimful of plot and conspiracy, is vividly and thrillingly brought to life' LAURA SHEPHERD-ROBINSON'Right from the intriguing opening pages everything Parris layers into this Elizabethan crime drama screams bestselling series' OBSERVER'A new historical crime from S. J. Parris is always cause for celebration but she really has excelled herself with Traitor's Legacy' ANDREW TAYLOR'A writer who repeatedly proves that she is one of the most stylish of historical crime practitioners' FINANCIAL TIMES––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– England, 1598. Queen Elizabeth’s successor remains unnamed. The country teeters on a knife edge. When a young heiress is found murdered at the theatre, the Queen’s spymaster Robert Cecil calls upon former agent Sophia de Wolfe to investigate.A cryptic note found on the dead girl’s body connects to Sophia’s previous life as a spy, and her quest soon takes her into dangerous waters. Powerful enemies emerge, among them the Earl of Essex: the Queen’s favourite courtier and a man of ruthless ambition.This is a murder that reaches directly into the heart of the court. And Sophia is concealing a deep-buried secret of her own. She must uncover the truth before her past threatens to destroy her.Traitor's Legacy was a Sunday Times bestseller w/c 12-05-2025 READERS LOVE TRAITOR’S LEGACY… ‘Top class historical crime’ 5 STARS‘Another fantastic historical thriller from master of the Elizabethan mystery’ 5 STARS‘A straight 5* for me! A very compelling novel I highly recommend’ 5 STARS‘The only bad thing I have to say about this book is that it kept me reading way past midnight’ 5 STARS‘Sophia De Wolfe is a truly epic character’ 5 STARS‘I had very high expectations for this novel. It is excellent. And the even better news it is that this is the first of a new series’ 5 STARS‘The richly detailed Elizabethan setting and clever twists kept me hooked from start to finish’ 5 STARS‘The murder mystery is layered with political intrigue, keeping you second-guessing every revelation’ 5 STARS‘Excellently researched, great plot, beautiful execution. I love the combination of historical menace and a thriller’ 5 STARS‘S. J. Parris does it again’ 5 STARS‘I didn't know who to trust or who to believe the whole way along’ 5 STARS‘Another glorious dive into the murky world of Elizabethan spies and lies’ 5 STARS‘Loved every minute of this book. More please featuring Sophia!’ 5 STARS‘I'm already looking forward to book two’ 5 STARS‘Tense, well-paced, twists that feel real and it’s easy to become immersed in a different world’ 5 STARS

THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER INTRODUCING AN INCREDIBLE NEW SERIES FROM THE NO.1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING MASTER OF HISTORICAL CRIME, S. J. PARRIS –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––'Sophia is a dazzling heroine, and the world of late Elizabethan England brimful of plot and conspiracy, is vividly and thrillingly brought to life' LAURA SHEPHERD-ROBINSON'Right from the intriguing opening pages everything Parris layers into this Elizabethan crime drama screams bestselling series' OBSERVER'A new historical crime from S. J. Parris is always cause for celebration but she really has excelled herself with Traitor's Legacy' ANDREW TAYLOR'A writer who repeatedly proves that she is one of the most stylish of historical crime practitioners' FINANCIAL TIMES––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– England, 1598. A COUNTRY ON A KNIFE EDGE Queen Elizabeth is ageing, but her successor remains unnamed. Conspiracies, deception and betrayal lie around every corner. A MURDERED HEIRESS Undercover agent Sophia de Wolfe is thrust into this nest of vipers when she investigates the terrible murder of a young heiress at the theatre. ENEMIES AT EVERY TURN The killing reaches into the heart of the court, and Sophia soon makes powerful enemies. But she has a secret of her own. Can she uncover the truth before her past destroys her? READERS LOVE TRAITOR’S LEGACY… ‘Top class historical crime’ 5 STARS‘Another fantastic historical thriller from master of the Elizabethan mystery’ 5 STARS‘A straight 5* for me! A very compelling novel I highly recommend’ 5 STARS‘The only bad thing I have to say about this book is that it kept me reading way past midnight’ 5 STARS‘Sophia De Wolfe is a truly epic character’ 5 STARS‘I had very high expectations for this novel. It is excellent. And the even better news it is that this is the first of a new series’ 5 STARS‘The richly detailed Elizabethan setting and clever twists kept me hooked from start to finish’ 5 STARS‘The murder mystery is layered with political intrigue, keeping you second-guessing every revelation’ 5 STARS‘Excellently researched, great plot, beautiful execution. I love the combination of historical menace and a thriller’ 5 STARS‘S. J. Parris does it again’ 5 STARS‘I didn't know who to trust or who to believe the whole way along’ 5 STARS‘Another glorious dive into the murky world of Elizabethan spies and lies’ 5 STARS‘Loved every minute of this book. More please featuring Sophia!’ 5 STARS‘I'm already looking forward to book two’ 5 STARS‘Tense, well-paced, twists that feel real and it’s easy to become immersed in a different world’ 5 STARS

THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER INTRODUCING AN INCREDIBLE NEW SERIES FROM THE NO.1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING MASTER OF HISTORICAL CRIME, S. J. PARRIS –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––'Sophia is a dazzling heroine, and the world of late Elizabethan England brimful of plot and conspiracy, is vividly and thrillingly brought to life' LAURA SHEPHERD-ROBINSON'Right from the intriguing opening pages everything Parris layers into this Elizabethan crime drama screams bestselling series' OBSERVER'A new historical crime from S. J. Parris is always cause for celebration but she really has excelled herself with Traitor's Legacy' ANDREW TAYLOR'A writer who repeatedly proves that she is one of the most stylish of historical crime practitioners' FINANCIAL TIMES––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– England, 1598. A COUNTRY ON A KNIFE EDGE Queen Elizabeth is ageing, but her successor remains unnamed. Conspiracies, deception and betrayal lie around every corner. A MURDERED HEIRESS Undercover agent Sophia de Wolfe is thrust into this nest of vipers when she investigates the terrible murder of a young heiress at the theatre. ENEMIES AT EVERY TURN The killing reaches into the heart of the court, and Sophia soon makes powerful enemies. But she has a secret of her own. Can she uncover the truth before her past destroys her? READERS LOVE TRAITOR’S LEGACY… ‘Top class historical crime’ 5 STARS‘Another fantastic historical thriller from master of the Elizabethan mystery’ 5 STARS‘A straight 5* for me! A very compelling novel I highly recommend’ 5 STARS‘The only bad thing I have to say about this book is that it kept me reading way past midnight’ 5 STARS‘Sophia De Wolfe is a truly epic character’ 5 STARS‘I had very high expectations for this novel. It is excellent. And the even better news it is that this is the first of a new series’ 5 STARS‘The richly detailed Elizabethan setting and clever twists kept me hooked from start to finish’ 5 STARS‘The murder mystery is layered with political intrigue, keeping you second-guessing every revelation’ 5 STARS‘Excellently researched, great plot, beautiful execution. I love the combination of historical menace and a thriller’ 5 STARS‘S. J. Parris does it again’ 5 STARS‘I didn't know who to trust or who to believe the whole way along’ 5 STARS‘Another glorious dive into the murky world of Elizabethan spies and lies’ 5 STARS‘Loved every minute of this book. More please featuring Sophia!’ 5 STARS‘I'm already looking forward to book two’ 5 STARS‘Tense, well-paced, twists that feel real and it’s easy to become immersed in a different world’ 5 STARS