I loved the first three books in this series, and this one didn't disappoint either. It grips you right from the start, our hero Nicholas Shelby, is arrested.... for plotting to poison the queen (Elizabeth the first- it's set in 1594) It seems he's been denounced by a former medical colleague that's he's had run ins with before, in fact Nicholas caused his downfall, so this is a revenge tactic.
Rather than stay around and face the gallows, Nicholas is advised to leave the country for a while until his friends in high places can prove his innocence. So he and wife Bianca lay a false trail- in case of spies- telling everyone that they're going to France. In fact they head to the low countries, modern day Holland, where they enounter religious fanatic Hella Maas, at the scene of a double murder. So, swiftly leaving Den Bosch, Nicholas and Bianca take the pilgrim trail to Rome, although they will be stopping at Padua, Bianca's home town. They agree to take Hella with them, as she seems to be in great danger. This proves to be a bad move on their part, as she spends the entire journey trying to come between them.
Arriving in Padua they stay with Bianca's cousin Bruno, and get sucked into his latest moneymaking scheme. Then Bianca discovers she's pregnant, but that happiness doesn't last.... Hella Maas reappears, bringing her portents of doom and gloom with her, still hell bent on tearing the couple apart. And who is this strange man who has followed her all the way from den Bosch?
Gripping stuff! I really hope there will be another in the series.
Rather than stay around and face the gallows, Nicholas is advised to leave the country for a while until his friends in high places can prove his innocence. So he and wife Bianca lay a false trail- in case of spies- telling everyone that they're going to France. In fact they head to the low countries, modern day Holland, where they enounter religious fanatic Hella Maas, at the scene of a double murder. So, swiftly leaving Den Bosch, Nicholas and Bianca take the pilgrim trail to Rome, although they will be stopping at Padua, Bianca's home town. They agree to take Hella with them, as she seems to be in great danger. This proves to be a bad move on their part, as she spends the entire journey trying to come between them.
Arriving in Padua they stay with Bianca's cousin Bruno, and get sucked into his latest moneymaking scheme. Then Bianca discovers she's pregnant, but that happiness doesn't last.... Hella Maas reappears, bringing her portents of doom and gloom with her, still hell bent on tearing the couple apart. And who is this strange man who has followed her all the way from den Bosch?
Gripping stuff! I really hope there will be another in the series.