Another historical masterpiece from S. J. Parris set in late-Elizabethan England. Sophia de Wolfe is a great heroine and the story is full of suspense as she investigates the murder of a girl which is somehow connected to her secret past. Highly recommended story!

S J Parris has produced another excellent mystery set in the late days of Elizabeth Tudor’s reign when uncertainty over the future of the throne and fear of Catholic plots was rife.
This time, the main protagonist is Sophia de Wolfe, a widow who obviously has a very unusual past and one that she would rather not be common knowledge. The discovery of a young girl’s body seems to be linked to her past and Robert Cecil, the queen’s spymaster, demands that she investigate who carried out the murder.
I loved the opening of this book with the brazen theft of a theatre building by Richard Burbage and his players who intend to rebuild it elsewhere in London. The theatre link is strong throughout the book with William Shakespeare making a couple of appearances and I really enjoyed the way he got inspiration from events in the novel.
The plot was complex but never too complicated to keep track of and the author did a fantastic job of providing twists and turns so that it was never obvious what was going to happen next. The historical background was detailed and the combination of real characters such as The Earl of Essex and Robert Cecil with the fictional ones worked well. As always with S J Parris, the setting was brilliantly done. It was very easy to visualise London in those turbulent days towards the end of the sixteenth century. I always enjoy historical novels that add to my knowledge of the period and this story was a good example of that.
Sophia was a likeable protagonist who was determined to solve this murder and protect her secrets. She is a capable woman, in fact we first meet her as she is having a lesson in sword fighting and is not afraid to put herself in danger. It was nice to have a woman in this type of role and the constraints put on her because she was a woman and not a member of the aristocracy were well conveyed. The supporting cast were well written too especially Sophia’s fellow spy and her housekeeper.
This is a new series although Sophia has featured in at least one earlier book in the author’s previous series. At first it feels as though there must have been a previous book as there are a lot of references to Sophia’s past. However, we gradually find out some of what her past life involved and what the secrets are that she guards so carefully. One of the things I enjoyed was the tension created by the fact that as the plot unfolded, neither Sophia nor the reader knew who she could trust.
This was a great start to the series and I look forward to reading more of Sophia’s adventures. Thank you as always to Net Galley and the publishers, Harper Collins UK for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

It's December 1598, Queen Elizabeth I is still on the throne, but ageing, with no heir.

Sophia De Wolfe is a widow and former spy. When she retired her former spy-master, Walsingham, brokered a marriage for her with the wealthy merchant Humphrey de Wolfe and they were very happy until his death. When she was nineteen Sophia fell in love with a Jesuit priest and bore a child out of wedlock who was subsequently adopted, she has used her connections to discover the identity of the child, who is now a young man of fifteen and has kept an eye on him ever since. Her son, Tobie, who has no idea she is his birth mother, is an actor in a theatre company and she supports the company with her patronage.

One night, a young woman's body is found in a shallow grave. She is no pauper, instead she is an incredibly wealthy young woman, Agnes, ward to Sir Thomas North, who was intended to be betrothed to Thomas's son Edmund. Pinned to the girl's body is a note in a code created especially for Sophia when she was a spy. She hasn't thought of the code for a decade - who could have got hold of it and why would they use it to write a note and pin it to a body? Has someone discovered Sophia's past? Robert Cecil, the queen's current spymaster instructs Sophia to investigate.

Then disaster strikes. Sir Thomas has found love letters from Tobie to Agnes and has decided that Tobie killed her when she refused to elope with him. Now Sophia will do anything to rescue her son from prison. But as she investigates things become murky, was her death connected to a secret Catholic conspiracy? Why did the Countess of Essex take such an interest in Agnes? Is her murder related to the uprisings in Ireland? Was her murder a direct hit to Sophia?

I requested this book thinking the author was C.J. Sansom or Andrew Taylor (many of whose books I have read and enjoyed) and honestly I was none the wiser at the end that it wasn't one of these authors - I will definitely revisit her Giordano Bruno series - I think I bought the first one and couldn't get into it.

Overall, a fascinating, well-plotted historical detective series and I will definitely request the second book in the series.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

An excellent start to this new series set in Elizabethan times. Full of historical intrigue this suspenseful story reveals the treachery that abounded st the time. The new protagonist Sophie is an interesting choice of character

Intrigue and murder in Elizabethan times - excellent stuff.

Christina de Wolfe, widow and former spy, becomes involved in all sorts of intrigue while trying to solve a murder. Court politics and class differences play a part as do a bevy of interesting characters. The plot moves along a good steady pace and keeps the reader involved and engaged. It's my first book by S J Parris but won't be the last. It's an eye-opener about the times at the end of Elizabeth's reign and I'm sure that it is historically accurate in may places. Well worth a look, especially for lovers of historical fiction and S J Parris fans. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is the first book in a new series by S J Parris, author of the seven-book
Giordano Bruno historical novels. The main protagonist, Sophia de Wolfe, is also a character in the Bruno mysteries, and although those who have read this series will have some idea of her back-story, it is by no means important to have read any of the earlier books. This book stands alone.

The novel is set in Elizabethan London, and is a fast-moving, interesting and intriguing murder mystery. I am already looking forward to the next in this series.

I couldnt wait to get my hands on this new series, starting with Traitor's Legacy, and what a start. Sophia de Wolfe emerges as the investigator of a thirteen-year-old girl's murder... This is the winter of 1598, and Sophia is tested to the limit trying to find the murderer of this girl because her past depends on it... She finds it harder to investigate being a woman in the 1500s than a man would. But she is no novice in spying in this political arena, and boy, does she deliver.

I love love love this, and I did not see the end coming. I wait in anticipation for the next book starring Sophia de Wolfe. But who is she?
It's five stars from me.

When the body of murdered young girl is found at a theatre construction site and it turns out she’s an heiress with a cryptic note in her pocket her death can’t be ignored. Sophia se Wolfe is called in by the son of her old spy master to investigate but things get tricky when Sophia’s own secrets are close to being spilled. This is the follow up series to the Giordano Bruno novels where Sophia was the sort Madame deWinter to Bruno’s muskateers. She was the one that got away. In Traitors Legacy we see when she got away to. She married a rich man who left her all his money when he died. So all good. And also a bitter step son. Not so good. I enjoyed this, the mystery kept me guessing and the characters were interesting. It was a bit soapy in some places and there was couple of anachronistic clunkers which I don’t expect from Paris. I also found the relationship between Sophia and her married friend slightly tiresome. Paris never lets anyone be happy. But all in all it was entertaining stuff.

Another good novel for lovers of historical mysteries. This is the start of a new series following the exploits of Sophia De Wolfe who originally appeared as a character in the authors excellent Giordano Bruno series. A not found on a murdered heiress seems to indicate a connection between Sophia and the girl. Tasked to investigate by Master Secretary Cecil the successor to her former spymaster Francis Walshingham Sophia is drawn deeper into the mystery and its connections to her own family. The story is well plotted and conveys the atmosphere and social norms of the era in a convincing way
A good start to a new series which I will enjoy following.

I loved this book which was richly plotted and full of historical detail. Gripping and at times very moving with a heroine to cheer for. A triumph for the author.

Traitor’s Legacy S J Parris

5 stars

I have read the majority of the Bruno Giordano books and loved them all. When I ordered this book on Netgalley I assumed it was a continuation of the Bruno stories but in fact was delighted to find out that this is the start of a new series featuring Sophia de Wolfe. We have met her before as an on-off lover of Bruno but she is now a wealthy widow and has given up working undercover as a spy once Sir Francis Walsingham passed away.

However when a young girl is found murdered with Sophia's personal cipher on a note attached to the victim's body she is drawn back into her old life. The victim, Agnes Lovell is a ward of Sir Thomas North due to inherit lands and betrothed to Edmund North. Her body is found in a demolished theatre site which had been owned by The Chamberlain's Men. When it is discovered that Agnes was in love with one of the company, Tobie Strange 15, and had planned to elope with him he is arrested for her murder. Tobie does not know that he is the bastard son of Sophia and as a mother she has to try and prove his innocence.

I absolutely loved this book, as always the Elizabethan era is brought to life but this time with a leading character who is a strong female. The author combines fact with fiction so well and I loved the way William Shakespeare is depicted as getting some of his ideas and characters from actual events, eg Lady Macbeth. The intrigues of the court and the worries surrounding the heir to Queen Elizabeth who is nearly 70 are well documented and as always the machinations around the courtiers who are all trying to curry favour is so well described. I cant wait for the next instalment in this series

Karen Deborah
Reviewer for Net galley

Oh my goodness, this story was excellent, Sophia de Wolfe is certainly a force to be reckoned with, I really hope this is the start of a series because I can't wait to read more of this wonderful work, Bravo!

If this is the start of a new historical novel series featuring retired spy Lady Sophie de Wolfe, then I am quite excited.

This story is set in the winter of 1598 and Sophie takes it upon herself to investigate the murder of a 13 year old girl on the site of The Theatre in London, noting that the girl had a note written in Sophie's old spy code tucked in her body.

Plenty of important characters emerge, namely Walsingham, and ,yes William Shakespeare - they all adds to atmosphere.

I am pleased to have moved on from Bruno as I felt that Ms Parris needed another main character but still in Tudor times.

However, I really enjoyed the book with a slow start but that was surely down to it being the first (of many?).

Thanks to Net Galley and Harper Collins UK for the chance to read and review.

Traitor’s Legacy is the first book in a new historical crime fiction series from S.J. Parris featuring Sophia de Wolfe. Her investigation into the murder of a young heiress during the turbulent reign of Elizabeth I was a thrilling read brimming with political intrigue. I found it hard to put down!

Sophia is an unusual woman for her time. She’s financially independent, unafraid to speak her mind to powerful people and she defies social convention by employing a female steward. Her unofficial partnership with Anthony Munday allowed the plot to develop at pace as they each pursued separate lines of enquiry and speculated upon theories. Although there were many characters in this novel, the pacing of their introductions was excellent and this allowed me to immerse myself more deeply in the plot, assess possible murder suspects and judge whether they were concealing the truth.

S.J. Parris cleverly linked motives for the murder to events considered threats to national security towards the end of Elizabeth I’s reign, notably the suppression of Irish rebellion and the zeal of Catholics devoted to bringing England back to Rome. This made for excellent historical fiction with a political slant.

Traitor’s Legacy would be a great book for anyone who enjoys historical crime thrillers, especially if they have an interest in Tudor history. Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for sharing this eARC with me in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to HarperCollins publisher and NetGalley for the advance digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is really well researched historical fiction, one of my favourite genres, it’s also a great whodunnit with some well written characters, our understanding of whom develops over time. I have to admit that a few less characters would be preferable to me, as I find it difficult to follow too many, but that’s obviously a personal bias. I liked that factual people such as Burbage and Shakespeare and members of the Queen’s court are woven into this story, and I always appreciate learning a little more history from a good novel. It is another of those books where the ending seems to be dealt with too quickly, but perhaps that’s partly because it will continue. This is the first in a series featuring Sophia De Wolfe and I look forward to reading Sophia’s next adventures. I recommend this read

This is a beautifully written piece of historical fiction, set in Elizabethan England in the latter days of Elizabeth’s reign, featuring Will Shakespeare himself (as a minor side character).
Sophia is a widow with a past; a spy for the Elizabethan Court, who’s tempted out of retirement by Robert Cecil, Elizabeth’s spy master. But there’s a stronger motivation to tempt Sophia; her son, Tobie, has been arrested for the murder of a young heiress with powerful connections.
Convinced of his innocence, Sophia will do everything in her power to find the real perpetrator of the crime, all the while having to keep her true identity secret, as Tobie (and most of London), have no idea she is his mother.
There are twists and turns a plenty to keep you guessing, while the machinations of the Elizabethan court turn ominously in the background.
A solid five-star read, which I’m sure you’ll enjoy if you’re an historical thriller fan.
With thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins UK for an advance copy. Traitor’s Legacy releases on 8 May.

I am new to S J Parris's books and didn't realise that this one, although described as the first in a new series, is in fact a follow on with charatcers from previous series. I felt it would have helped to be more familiar with those characters. I kept the list of people open on the kindle app on my phone so that I could refer to it - many times. I found the plot complicated and quite boring. A very repetitive story too. But the ending set the scene for future books in the series without leaving a cliffhanger. With thanks for the e-ARC to read and review.

Set in the winter of 1598 our heroine is retired spy Sophie de Wolfe who gets dragged into the investigation of the murder of a 13 year old girl on the site of The Theatre as the girl had a note written in Sophie's old code tucked in her bodice.
This is a first SJ Parris novel for me and I chose it as I like historical novels set in the 16th century and was intrigued with the idea of a woman as a spy/investigator in this period. The book contains a mixture of real and imaginary characters which are combined in a very convincing manner. I always look up unfamiliar names and was surprised when some didn't actually exist! They felt so real! Although this book is the first in its own series and as such can be read as stand alone, I definitely think I'm going to have to read the Giordano Bruno series if only to get the full story on the characters and players. A great story well researched and definitely recommended for historical fiction fans.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

Once a spy always a spy. In 1598, Sophia de Wolfe (née Underhill) is a rich widow, but she has been Kate Kingsley, or Mary Gifford, or Kit, or ….? She went by those names when she worked undercover for Sir Francis Walsingham, Queen Elzabeth’s Spy Master, which she did until he retired her and married the rich merchant, Humphrey de Wolfe, a Gentleman but not a member of the aristocracy. As a spy she had used a personal cipher, known only to her, Walsingham and his cryptographer. The cipher was retired when she was. Except, it has just been found on a note attached to the body of a young girl, Agne Lovell, ward of Sir Thomas North. The body was dumped on a demolition site from which the “Lord Chamberlain’s Men” had just removed their old theatre prior to rebuilding it on the Southbank of the Thames (when it will be known as “The Globe” home of William Shakespeare). What is the connection, if any, between the dead girl, an heiress of noble birth promised in marriage to Edmund North, the theatrical company, and the former spy? For the security of England, Sir Robert Cecil, Walsingham’s successor in the Spy Master rôle, must be certain this is not part of a Catholic conspiracy, so recalls Sophia to clarify the source of the enciphered note. But things take a turn for the worse when young actor, Tobie Strange, (Sophia’s unknowing bastard son) is arrested for the murder. She now must resolve this tangled web by activating all of her old skills, and the clock is ticking.
In Parris’s novel “Sacrilege “, Sophia Underhill had a relationship with Giordano Bruno and she has been resurrected for this new series. She is an interesting and well developed character, and brings a change of emphasis from the Bruno series, especially in providing a much deeper look at the position and travails of women in the late Elizabethan period. The plot is not complex per se but it does have a good many turns of the ‘I know whodunnit – oh no he didn’t’ variety. It’s a bit slow going to begin with, a consequence of having to build a new cast of characters working in a new environment, and I think it could have been tighter. However, the detail does help with the realism, the feel of London, the political machinations, the social structure, so swings and roundabouts perhaps – the mystery needs the history and vice versa . The second part has more of a thriller structure. It’s better than a 4 not quite good enough to be a 5 but I can’t give 4.5 in the star rating so 5.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.

Another great book from S J Parris - perfect for the fans of her Giordano Bruno series. This time, our chief protagonist/spy is the recently widowed Sophia de Wolfe.

The book opens in London during the winter of 1598, with the body of a 13 year old heiress (found in a theatre). There is a mysterious note attached to her body, written using the cipher Sophia herself used during her days as one of the great Sir Frances Walsingham’s spies. In the ‘now’ of the novel, Sir Francis is dead and Sophia is called to the presence of Robert Cecil - the next spymaster of Elizabeth I. This brings Sophia out of retirement and back into the world of murder, plotting and intrigue that Parris describes so well.

The introduction of a female spy adds a different spin on this popular genre of novel. Great for fans of CJ Samson’s Shardlake series, as well as Rory Clements’ John Shakespeare narratives too. I am looking forward to more (hopefully) books in this series!