As with the previous book in this series, this one draws you in with fantastic descriptions of London in the 16th century. The pages are alive with detail and I felt completely immersed in the time period, experiencing the same anxieties and concerns of the characters themselves. In this book, Nicholas travels north so we get to experience the country outside London and see how the religious and political issues that were such a big part of that time period, impacted people outwith the capital. 

There is a lot of mention of religion in this book and the previous one, and a lot of political posturing and deviousness in both, but that fits perfectly with that time period. From what I know from books and TV, religion and concerns about the Queen's security and safety were constant. Add to that the change of religion which happened when she ascended the throne and you have a potent mix which people took advantage of. 

So, on top of that heady combination, in this book we have a mysterious doctor with a hidden agenda, Nicholas's own problems regarding his medical career and potential trouble for Bianca when one of her kin arrives in London by boat. There's a lot going on this story but don't let that put you off, it's skilfully written and weaves a tale that keeps you hooked till the last page. 

I loved the character development of Nicholas and Bianca in this book but it's Nicholas who has the most development and it is a joy to watch, given what happened to him in the first book. I have seen, from the authors twitter, that there is a third book out next year and I cannot wait to read it. This has been added to my list of favourite series, you know the ones I mean, those that you wait for with huge anticipation and read when you have time free to be able to relish and savour it. Yep, this series is on that list, which is, for me, where it deserves to be.

My thanks to Atlantic Books Corvus for an eARC via NetGalley of S.J. Perry’s ‘The Serpent’s Mark’ in exchange for an honest review. It was published on the 6th June and after starting I was enjoying it very much and elected to purchase the ebook and audiobook combination.

This was the second in Perry’s Jackdaw Mysteries, a series of historical thrillers set in Elizabethan England. Although I hadn’t read the first book, ‘The Angel’s Mark’, this proved no barrier to my enjoyment as enough background was given.

The focus of the series is on continuing tensions between the Catholic and Protestant faiths. The year is 1591, Nicholas Shelby is a physician and reluctant spy for Robert Cecil. He is tasked by Cecil into looking into the practices of a mysterious doctor from Switzerland. This ultimately involves him and his friend, Bianca Merton, mistress of the Jackdaw tavern becoming deeply embroiled in a deadly plot.

Perry provides a strong sense of the period setting with emphasis upon the medical practices of the time.

This proved to be a very enjoyable read and I plan to read the first in the series and be on the lookout for future books. Just loved it!

It was a real pleasure to be reunited with Nicholas and Bianca whom readers were introduced to in the first book in the series, The Angel's Mark (which I absolutely loved). Although there are references to events in the earlier book, The Serpent's Mark works perfectly as a standalone although I would personally recommend reading the series from the beginning.

Like the first book, The Serpent's Mark features both imagined and real characters from the Elizabethan period. Amongst the latter is a famous playwright. And, as before, it's set in that febrile period towards the end of the reign of Elizabeth I when plots abounded amid concerns over the succession and the risk of invasion, as well as fervent disputes over religious dogma.

The author conjures up the London of the period in lively and colourful passages, such as this description of those plying their trade to citizens of Southwark celebrating the end of Lent. 'Waiting for them are the fakers, the dancers, the tumblers, the swordsman, the dice-kings, the card-sharps, the whole purse-diving, eye-for-an-opportunity crew. Fire-jugglers light their way. Street musicians serenaded them with sackbut and tambour.'

Nicholas and Bianca combined are a force to be reckoned with, which is just as well because they soon find themselves by different routes uncovering what looks like a conspiracy with potentially far-reaching consequences. Once more, they find themselves battling the madness and cruelty of zealots who will stop at nothing to achieve their objectives whether out of 'twisted piety', 'monstrous ambition' or unquenchable passion. Bianca and Nicholas also find themselves pondering the future direction of their own relationship. If it has a future, that is, given the ghosts of the past that haunt at least one of them.

From the moment a gruesome discovery is made in the opening chapter I was well and truly hooked and the twists and turns of the plot with its intriguing premise kept me turning the pages right to the dramatic events of the final chapters. If you love historical crime mysteries by the likes of C J Sansom, S J Parris or Rory Clements, then this is a series I can highly recommend.

A fast paced book, full of twists and turns, engaging and entertaining.
I liked the first book in this series and I liked this one.
The vivid historical background is well researched and the style of writing make you feel how people lived and the historical tensions.
I look forward to read the next book by this author.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Having read The Angel’s Mark by Perry, I was both looking forward to this book and having high expectations. I needn’t have worried. Within the first few sentences I slipped back comfortably into the rich, all-senses-enveloping world of 16th century London. Nicholas Shelby, physician returned from the battlefields in Holland where he fled to after having been unable to save neither his wife in childbirth nor his baby, is once again the central character of this story. Together with his foil, inn keeper Bianca Merton, they uncover a plan that would threaten England’s throne and throw the country into complete turmoil. But who are the puppet masters of this endeavour and what is their motivation? Can Bianca and Nicholas prevent the atrocities or have they become just another expendable cog in the mechanism?
A plot brimful with intrigues, plotters, imposters, zealots, heretics and poor souls caught up amongst the war of faiths. A plot that will give you a sick churn in your stomach, make you pause for breath and terrified to read on - another cracking read!

Doctor Nicholas Shelby returns in S W Perry's The Serpent's Mark and is a very enjoyable historical crime and spy thriller.

In The Serpent's Mark Shelby is once again recruited by Robert Cecil to spy on a Swiss doctor who isn't exactly what he claims to be.

As Shelby uncovers the secrets he realises that there may be a serious threat to the Queen and to the country.

Shelby and his close friend Bianca Merton then face a race against time to uncover the truth and to prevent a potential overthrow of the Crown.

The book is set in Elizabethan England and the author cleverly uses his knowledge and research to give the book a feeling of authenticity whilst managing to avoid becoming bogged down.

Overall this is becoming an excellent series and one I thoroughly enjoy

This book explores the conflict between Catholics and Protestants during Elizabethan times. Dr Nicholas Shelby is drawn into a web of conspiracy and extreme medical practices when asked to investigate the care of the child, Samuel, a relative of the Queen's spymaster Cecil. There are some gruesome parts describing a medical procedure and torture.


Although an enjoyable read, the plot is hard to believe.

This is book 2 in the Nicholas Shelby mystery series, set in Elizabethan England. I adored the first book and although this book does not quite live up to the first one, I still enjoyed it a lot. A gripping read for all fans of Tudor fiction. A historical mystery, spies, religious plots, religious maniacs, horrid medical procedures (not a book to read in your lunch break I found). Read it in order as otherwise, you are missing out on the excellent character development.

It took me a couple of chapters to get into this book, but once I did I raced through it and at times found it very difficult to put down. Set in the Elizabethan period there is plenty of intrigue and mystery, characters you love and characters you hate. In the former category are the two main characters in the novel, Nicholas, the physician who lost his wife and child and as a result turned to drink and almost lost everything, and Bianca, the inn keeper and healer who saved Nicholas. Together these two make a very good team. Both are clever and sensible and think about their actions, yet both can act impetuously and get themselves into situations that they need the other to rescue them from! I liked the first book in this series but I liked this one even more and will eagerly await the next one.

Book 2 featuring the very likeable characters of Dr Nicholas Shelby and Bianca Merton. Set in Tudor times, there is a very real sense of the religious tensions of the time.
The story is fast paced with an excellent plot providing unexpected twists. Well-written and well-researched, an excellent book and I can't wait to read more in the series.

Im so glad i decided to pick up Perry's first book the other week on a whim, as i quickly fell in love with his style, his characters and his wonderfully evocative Elizabethan London.

Book 2 picks up from where book 1 left off, with Nicholas and Bianca still struggling over their feeling for eachother, set against the backdrop of Bankside in the late 16th century. What follows isnt your typical Tudor murder mystery. The plot is complex and clever, without trying to hard to impress the reader. It flows quickly from scene to scene, and leads to a surprising twist that i really didnt see coming.

It was such a joy to spend a day with these characters again, and i know for certain the from now on, SW Perry's books will jump straight to the top of my ever growing TBR pile.

Brilliant stuff.

In this sequel to Angel’s Mark in Elizabethan England Nicholas Shelby physician has lost his faith in his medical abilities after he is unable to save the life of his wife and child. He is brought back to bankside in London a dockside lawless area where he resides in the tavern of Bianca Merton. This is a time of religious zealots and fanatics at the end of Elizabeth’s reign who would stop at nothing to put a possible heir to late Queen Mary back on the throne. Nicholas falls foul of these fanatics and Bianca must use all her resources to save him. There is heart stopping moments a plenty throughout this story and you will not want to put the book down. I would recommend reading The Angel’s Mark to see the start of Nicholas’s story.
I was given an ARC of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I fantastic read pitting one religion against another. Queen Mary is dead and Queen Elizabeth has brought the protestant religion, started by her father, back to England. But plots abound to resurrect the old faith of Rome and replace Elizabeth on the throne with a catholic king. The story follows such a plot with twists and turns. I loved being part of the story and sharing the lives almost of Nicholas and Bianca. I could barely put it down. I was sent this for review.

Another excellent atmospheric story set in Elizabethan London by this Author .

Nicholas Shelby , Physician and reluctant Spy, has returned to familiar territory in Bankside .
When he receives a request from Sir Robert Cecil , the Queen's spymaster , asking him to investigate a doctor from Switzerland he knows he that he will be drawn back into perilous times.
With the help of his friend Bianca Merton , owner of the Jackdaw tavern , and fellow physician , they are drawn into a dangerous world full of twists and turns .

This is a book that gives you a detailed view of the world of medicine , warts and all , at this time . The role of Faith and the Monarchy in everyday lives and the impact of any dissension . It draws you in giving more than a glimpse of the lives of the people at this time .

This is a really enjoyable book and I look forward to reading more from this Author
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

This is the second novel I have read by this author. The first novel, The Angel’s Mark, introduced the characters of Nicholas Shelby and Bianca Merton and their relationship is developed in this second novel. I am very interested in the Tudor period and was impressed by the depth of the author’s research into the life of a physician and also the religion and politics of the time. It was refreshing to read a novel set in this period with a strong and independent woman as one of the main characters.
I have read and loved the novels of C J Sansom and S J Parris and this author provides a welcome addition to my list of ‘must read’ authors. The novel revolves around treatment for ‘the falling sickness’, or epilepsy as we would now call it, and the religious intrigues which abounded as Elizabeth neared the end of the reign without providing an heir to the throne.
There are good themes here – the nature of Tudor medicine and surgery, the role of women in business, the place of Catholicism in Elizabethan society. Some readers, however, may find the descriptions of Tudor medicine and torture a little too gruesome but it provided an excellent insight into this fascinating period.