The concept was very appealing, but I found the pacing overly slow, the action lacking (it was mostly going from conversation to conversation). and the characters felt too distant for me to get attached and care about what happened to them.
Unfortunately, I decided to DNF because I wasn't motivated enough to keep on reading.

Based in the same time period as the Bruno Giordano books but jumping ten years on from Alchemy. This new story features Sophia De Wolfe, alo a spy, who now that Walsingham is dead has to work for Cecil at the Elizabethan court. A young woman has been murdered at the theatre and a coded message has been found in her clothing. The cipher needs to be broken and the killer found. London is having the worst winter for decades, the freezing and starving population are not happy. Elizabeth is under pressure to confirm who her successor will be. I really enjoyed this book, SJ Parris is a terrific writer.

A detailed story of Tudor times that I found hard to get into, probably because I had not read the previous books in the series. Nonetheless there was plenty of action - murder, political intrigue, spies - to keep one wondering what next? Given that the whole story seems to have taken a relatively few days it all seemed rather odd and rushed. I like the period, the inclusion of real people and certainly the details of, especially, London. Unfortunately the story didn't really grab me although, clearly, I'm in the minority. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy

The author has started a series with a new central character: Sophia de Woolfe. She is a previous agent of Francis Walsingham but is now a wealthy widow sponsoring the theatre, partly due to son being one of the players. He son was taken form her when he was born and he doesn’t know their true relationship. When a noble girl called Agnes is found murdered at the theatre, a note is left on the body using Sophia’s previous cipher. She is drawn back into the world of politics and intrigue by Robert Cecil, partly to keep her secret. I found her a likeable central character with determination and charisma, Working alongside her is a devoted Anthony who I felt was a bit of a puppy dog. The story twists and turns and he a satisfying ending, I will read more of the series. Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC.

The setting of this story is 1598, a time of numerous plots and conspiracies. S. J. Parris really brings the period to life. Sophia de Wolfe is a brilliant character and the addition of real characters from the period add to the authenticity. The combination of rich historical detail and a thrilling plot make this a compelling read. A wonderful start to a new series. This is historical fiction at its best.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Oh how delightful to read such a fabulous historical novel which captured my interest and maintained in to the end. Excellently researched, greta plot, beautiful execution. I love the combination of historical menace and a thriller. S J Paris has never let me down. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC. Highly rated 5 star read.

I had a really good time with this book. I did struggle to get into it at first, but I would definitely recommend this book.

I didn’t even read the description, as soon as I saw the author I was sold.

1598 London, Sophia is back, her husband has died and she has inherited almost everything, and lives a happy but lonely life in upper class society. But when a young girl is found murdered with a code only she used back in her spy days she’s dragged back into the world of secrets, lies and twisted motives. Not only that, but Sophia’s most precious secret, her child, is accused of this murder and she must fight to free him and prove his innocence, maternal instinct kicking in and yet he still doesn’t know who she is to him. Young lovers, cruel motives and a smart woman kicking ass in a world where woman are still seen as property and breeding stock, Sophia will find the truth and have her justice.

Thoroughly enjoyed Traitor’s legacy. I’ve read most of S J Parris’ novels and this was as enjoyable as any. Full of secrets and twists the story unfolds from the mysterious death of a young girl found in a London street, and the boy accused of her murder. Would recommend to those who love tales set in Tudor times.

Rating: 3.8/5

Set at the very end of the 16th century under the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, "Traitor's Legacy" is the first book in a new series from S.J. Parris (a pseudonym for Stephanie Merritt). It features the leading protagonist, Sophia de Wolfe, an erstwhile spy with a somewhat spurious background, but who is now a wealthy widow.

I found the first half of the novel dragged a little a times, but this was essentially a consequence of the need for the author to establish the key characters, setting and background for this series opener. The pace is far more engaging in the second half of the story. There is quite an extensive cast list for the reader to cone to terms with, although S.J. Parris does mitigate this to a degree by including a helpful "Dramatis Personae" at the outset. The characters are well-depicted and engaging once the audience has had sufficient opportunity to get to know them and to understand how they interrelate. The setting, too, is well-drawn and paints a convincing backdrop of the period. This is aided by the inclusion of real historical figures from the era being written into the fictional narrative. The mystery hangs together nicely and the author makes good use of politicking and ulterior motives to add to the sense of intrigue.

Overall, there is plenty here to appeal to fans of the genre. Sophia de Wolfe makes for an effective central protagonist as a strong, capable female - though not without her flaws - operating in a world that is heavily dominated by powerful males with their own agendas. This opener successfully sets the scene for further outings by Mistress de Wolfe as the series develops.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.

This was a great historical book which really brought to life the era it was set in. Although things moved very slowly then in the book it doesn't get boring. I shall definitely look out for more from this author in the future. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Step aside Miss Marple! Here comes Sophia De Wolfe in 1598 - she rides, fences and solves clues in a heartbeat!

In December 1598 the Lord Chamberlain's men, a group of playwrights and actors, dismantle a theatre to rebuild it on the other side of the river following a dispute with the landlord. That night, two men visit the scene and leave the body of a well born lady in the foundation holes. Wrapped in a simple blanket and stripped of all jewellery, she is discovered by a street child known as Badger. The only trinket Badger finds is a small brooch bearing a coat of arms and a letter written in code. The body is later identified as that of Agnes Lovell - the ward of Sir Thomas North, a favourite of Queen Elizabeth I.

It isn't long before, Thomas Phellipes is approaching Sophia De Wolfe to come out of her retirement at the express request of Robert Cecil - the man who is investigating the murder. Sophia has multiple secrets that Cecil knows as she used to spy for Cecil's father - and he uses these secrets to force her into re-entering the spy game. Sophia sets about trying to find out why the cipher that was unique to her has been used in the coded letter and what links her dead husband has to the dead girl and her family.

What follows is a story that takes place over a two or three days as Sophia rides all over London trying to piece together the clues to the mystery. Witnesses and evidence seemingly fall into her lap as people just give her information when she talks to them. She spends large swathes of time galloping around London - sometimes with a bodyguard to keep her safe due to the threat against her, and sometimes not, almost like the bodyguard was forgotten about.

Minor characters die, or are threatened or treated with caution because Sophia can't work out who she can trust. Some of the events stretch believability to the limit. One character runs away and is discovered boarding one of the many trade ships leaving London within a matter of a couple of hours, and the sword fight/fencing episode at the end had me laughing out loud. The wrap up of the story happens far too quickly even though it is kind of obvious what has happened from pretty early on.

It's not a bad story - there is something in there that, with better handling, could have been a great story.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Fans of Parris’ previous Elizabethan novels featuring the spy Giordano Bruno will welcome this first in a new series where the protagonist is his former lover Sophia Underhill, now Sophia de Wolfe. When a young girl’s body is found at a theatre with a secret code on her used by Sophia in her days as a spy for Francis Walsingham Robert Cecil, the Queen’s first minister, asks Sophia to investigate. She discovers lies and secrets which lead her in various directions whilst she too has a secret which causes her heartache.
Parris is keen to show that Sophia, a rich widow, is a feminist of her time. Strong, brave and not afraid to treat men as equals, she faces threats and danger.
Factual characters such as Burbage and Shakespeare and members of the Queen’s court are woven into this tapestry of historical fiction which is an intriguing, dramatic murder mystery which I can highly recommend. I look forward to reading Sophia’s next adventures.

Thank you very much to the publishers for the ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for the arc of Traitor’s Legacy I totally loved it the historical fiction and the suspense I was hooked from the get go and it kept me going loved the plot and everything s j Parris has did again 5 star ⭐⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Formerly a spy for Francis Walsingham, Sophia De Wolfe has to bring all her skills into play to discover who murdered heiress Agnes Lovell.
Through the dark streets and alleyways of Elizabethan London, our plucky protagonist encounters plenty of men who would rather silence her than allow the truth to prevail
I loved this novel. There was enough intruige and suspense to keep me reading. I loved the idea of a female spy, especially in historical fiction which is one of my favourite genres.
I will leave my review on Goodreads, Bookmory and Storygraph now and on Amazon and Waterstones on publication day

A wonderfully written, historical mystery that has an array of fascinating characters who really drive this story forward.

i guess i am just tired of the Tudor times historical novels that proliferate! the characters form the opening are almost cartoonish - and the set up is so formulaic - but Parris knows what she's doing, and what her readers like - it just feels a bit tired for me. professional and well constructed despite my disaffection! I think her fans will really go for it.

This is a new series but the heroine, Sophia de Wolfe, we have met before as the beautiful spy and sometimes lover of Bruno in Parris' last series. During the final illness of Walsingham, the Queens spymaster, he arranges for her to marry a rich merchant widower, now passed on, and she is rich and independent. A young heiress is found dead in a public space and Cecil. the new spymaster, asks Sophia to be involved because a coded message in a cipher unique to Sophia was found with the body. There is plenty of intrigue and action laid onto accurate portrayal of the time, including the London theatre scene, with a cameo appearance by Shakespeare himself. I loved all of the Bruno series and this is equally good, I look forward to more.

An exciting and compelling thriller set in the first Elizabethan era, with a strong female protagonist in. Sophia de Wolfe - what’s not to like for fans of historical mysteries? The plot is complex, with a big cast of characters and it is easy to get a little lost at times with who is working for whom and with who the ‘goodies’ and ‘baddies’ are - there are plenty of both! While this could be a drawback of some writing, in this instance it added to the intrigue of the plot, as it gave a strong impression of the way life was lived long before the days of easy communication, well lit streets and well used thoroughfares., when factions and individuals were often plotting and scheming against each other and truth was not easily found. This was an atmospheric read and hopefully we will have more of Sophia de Wolfe’s detective skills and compassion soon.

So lucky to get my hands on one of my most anticipated reads for this year. Sophia de Wolfe is a brilliant character, and her first full outing is such an exciting read, brilliantly plotted with twists and turns right up until its gripping end