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Clarenceux Trilogy #1
Sacred Treason
Your God. Your Country. Your Kin.
Who Do You Betray?
1563: Anyone could be a suspect; any Catholic could be accused of plotting against the throne. Clarenceux keeps his head down and his religion quiet. But when a friend desperately pleads with Clarenceux to hide a manuscript for him, he is drawn into a web of treachery and conspiracy he may never untangle. Is there no refuge if your faith is your enemy?
Bestselling author Dr. Ian Mortimer, writing as James Forrester, has crafted a chilling, brilliant story that re-imagines how the explosive mix of faith and fear can tear a country apart. Sacred Treason tells a thrilling story of murder, betrayal, and loyalty--and the power of the written word.
Who Do You Betray?
1563: Anyone could be a suspect; any Catholic could be accused of plotting against the throne. Clarenceux keeps his head down and his religion quiet. But when a friend desperately pleads with Clarenceux to hide a manuscript for him, he is drawn into a web of treachery and conspiracy he may never untangle. Is there no refuge if your faith is your enemy?
Bestselling author Dr. Ian Mortimer, writing as James Forrester, has crafted a chilling, brilliant story that re-imagines how the explosive mix of faith and fear can tear a country apart. Sacred Treason tells a thrilling story of murder, betrayal, and loyalty--and the power of the written word.
480 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
109 people are currently reading
2471 people want to read
About the author
James Forrester
31 books117 followersJames Forrester is a historian by profession. He has published a few medieval and early modern non-fiction titles under the name Ian Mortimer Ian Mortimer (his full name being Ian James Forrester Mortimer). He lives in Devon with his wife and three children, on the northeast edge of Dartmoor.
The Clarenceux Trilogy was inspired by contemporary documents in the National Archives and the British Library discovered in the course of his scholarly research. The main character is William harley, Clarenceux King of Arms, a herald. It is concerned with loyalty and betrayal - and set in the 1560s, when loyalty to one's spouse, to the state, and to one's religion were exceedingly important - so much so that betrayal of these things could end respectively in flogging, being hanged, drawn and quartered; and being burnt at the stake.
The Clarenceux Trilogy was inspired by contemporary documents in the National Archives and the British Library discovered in the course of his scholarly research. The main character is William harley, Clarenceux King of Arms, a herald. It is concerned with loyalty and betrayal - and set in the 1560s, when loyalty to one's spouse, to the state, and to one's religion were exceedingly important - so much so that betrayal of these things could end respectively in flogging, being hanged, drawn and quartered; and being burnt at the stake.
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August 9, 2016
During the reign of Elizabeth I, religion was a dangerous topic. The country had been jerked violently back and forth between Catholicism and Protestantism during the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI, and Mary, often with highly unpleasant consequences for those who found themselves on the wrong side of the officially authorized faith du jour. Queen Elizabeth was the target of several conspiracies to replace her with a Catholic monarch. She had a spy network, headed by Francis Walsingham, that thwarted conspiracies with ruthless tactics.
It is a dramatic setting for this historical thriller by James Forrester (the pen name of historian Ian Mortimer). Sacred Treason is the first book in a trilogy that follows the royal herald Clarenceux, a secret Catholic who is given a mysterious book that could threaten Elizabeth’s claim to the throne based on information about her mother, Anne Boleyn. (I have some things to say about that in the spoiler at the end of the review). Accompanied by the requisite attractive woman, Clarenceux has to unravel the chronicle’s secrets before Walsingham’s goons catch up with him.
Unfortunately, Forrester’s novel does not live up to its potential. The writing is tedious and gets bogged down in superfluous details. Every action, every location, and every person is described exhaustively, whether or not there is any relevance to the story.
We watch stirring events like this:
“[Francis Walsingham] noticed that the candle was guttering and about to burn itself out. He pulled on a heavy robe, took a wax candle from a small pile in a recess in the wall, and lit it from the old candle before setting it in its place. The new flame flickered and rose into a perfect, small tongue of light” (pg. 263).
Or this:
“Clarenceux entered and waited, scratching his left palm with his right thumbnail” (pg. 102).
Sometimes we get an unhelpful simile:
“And he felt cold in another way, like water splashing on a newly made steel blade” (pg. 150).
Or a lot of setup that goes nowhere:
“The sky was heavy with gray clouds; it was about to rain. A maid reached out of an upstairs window and closed the shutter with a bang. There was a dog barking in a backyard. Two servant women were chatting as they swept the street outside their adjacent houses. A linen-coifed woman with a basket on her arm and a concentrated frown on her face was approaching at a fast pace. When he saw that the basket contained many fish, Clarenceux made a quick assessment. The fish suggested she was catering for a substantial household. Her fast pace told him she was a dutiful servant. It seemed a risk worth taking” (pg. 150).
(Clarenceux asks her if she knows the house he’s looking for, we hold our breath to see if his penetrating deductive skills will save the day and . . . and . . . spoiler alert . . . she’s from another neighborhood and doesn’t know.)
It’s a swirl of meaningless minutiae, perhaps designed to disguise the lack of plot. Clarenceux and his sidekick, the newly widowed Rebecca, wander the streets of London (we follow every turn they take with directions more detailed than any from Google Maps), go some other places, come back to London, encounter the occasional bad guy, and wander around some more. In the tsunami of information, there actually isn’t much to figure out, so it’s easy to be soothed into a stupor before realizing that it took fifty pages for nothing to happen. At times the bland lull is interrupted by really graphic violence - the villain mutilating a corpse, for example - but then we go back to bland.
Speaking of villainous acts, we get a gratuitous and cliched rape that is poorly handled. The Villain sends the pretty woman off with orders to his men to rape her, partially to upset the main character but mostly because he's a violent psychopath who accidentally wandered over from a Thomas Harris novel into the 16th century and that's how he rolls. (We know this because he makes a speech to tell us all about it. We needed the speech because the whole stabbing the eyeballs of a corpse thing might have been too subtle). Then it turns out she isn’t raped, but then maybe she is, and it’s all very coy and treated in an offhand way by everyone involved which seems like exactly the wrong way to handle this topic.
Sacred Treason was disappointing. It had the potential to be decent entertainment and possibly more, given the writer’s background as a historian and writer of well-received popular histories. Unfortunately, the combination of overwriting and a weak story resulted in a missed opportunity.
(While the Author’s Note at the end was actually more interesting than the novel, I had some issues with the historical premise as well. For any other War of the Roses/Tudor nerds, I have written about that in the spoiler below):
It is a dramatic setting for this historical thriller by James Forrester (the pen name of historian Ian Mortimer). Sacred Treason is the first book in a trilogy that follows the royal herald Clarenceux, a secret Catholic who is given a mysterious book that could threaten Elizabeth’s claim to the throne based on information about her mother, Anne Boleyn. (I have some things to say about that in the spoiler at the end of the review). Accompanied by the requisite attractive woman, Clarenceux has to unravel the chronicle’s secrets before Walsingham’s goons catch up with him.
Unfortunately, Forrester’s novel does not live up to its potential. The writing is tedious and gets bogged down in superfluous details. Every action, every location, and every person is described exhaustively, whether or not there is any relevance to the story.
We watch stirring events like this:
“[Francis Walsingham] noticed that the candle was guttering and about to burn itself out. He pulled on a heavy robe, took a wax candle from a small pile in a recess in the wall, and lit it from the old candle before setting it in its place. The new flame flickered and rose into a perfect, small tongue of light” (pg. 263).
Or this:
“Clarenceux entered and waited, scratching his left palm with his right thumbnail” (pg. 102).
Sometimes we get an unhelpful simile:
“And he felt cold in another way, like water splashing on a newly made steel blade” (pg. 150).
Or a lot of setup that goes nowhere:
“The sky was heavy with gray clouds; it was about to rain. A maid reached out of an upstairs window and closed the shutter with a bang. There was a dog barking in a backyard. Two servant women were chatting as they swept the street outside their adjacent houses. A linen-coifed woman with a basket on her arm and a concentrated frown on her face was approaching at a fast pace. When he saw that the basket contained many fish, Clarenceux made a quick assessment. The fish suggested she was catering for a substantial household. Her fast pace told him she was a dutiful servant. It seemed a risk worth taking” (pg. 150).
(Clarenceux asks her if she knows the house he’s looking for, we hold our breath to see if his penetrating deductive skills will save the day and . . . and . . . spoiler alert . . . she’s from another neighborhood and doesn’t know.)
It’s a swirl of meaningless minutiae, perhaps designed to disguise the lack of plot. Clarenceux and his sidekick, the newly widowed Rebecca, wander the streets of London (we follow every turn they take with directions more detailed than any from Google Maps), go some other places, come back to London, encounter the occasional bad guy, and wander around some more. In the tsunami of information, there actually isn’t much to figure out, so it’s easy to be soothed into a stupor before realizing that it took fifty pages for nothing to happen. At times the bland lull is interrupted by really graphic violence - the villain mutilating a corpse, for example - but then we go back to bland.
Speaking of villainous acts, we get a gratuitous and cliched rape that is poorly handled. The Villain sends the pretty woman off with orders to his men to rape her, partially to upset the main character but mostly because he's a violent psychopath who accidentally wandered over from a Thomas Harris novel into the 16th century and that's how he rolls. (We know this because he makes a speech to tell us all about it. We needed the speech because the whole stabbing the eyeballs of a corpse thing might have been too subtle). Then it turns out she isn’t raped, but then maybe she is, and it’s all very coy and treated in an offhand way by everyone involved which seems like exactly the wrong way to handle this topic.
Sacred Treason was disappointing. It had the potential to be decent entertainment and possibly more, given the writer’s background as a historian and writer of well-received popular histories. Unfortunately, the combination of overwriting and a weak story resulted in a missed opportunity.
(While the Author’s Note at the end was actually more interesting than the novel, I had some issues with the historical premise as well. For any other War of the Roses/Tudor nerds, I have written about that in the spoiler below):
December 12, 2021
Read this book in 2012, and its the 1st wonderful volume of the amazing "Clarenceux" rtilogy.
The year is AD 1563, and the Catholic herald, William Harley, known as Clarenceux, King of Arms, fears for his life in the realm of the Protestant Queen Elizabeth.
Catholic plots are developing all over the country against this Protestant Queen Elizabeth, so a visit late at night at your home will make Willam Harley very anxious.
Especially when a fellow Catholic called, Henry Machyn, visits Harley, this Henry is fearing for his life, and he will present Willam Harley with a book containing many serious secrets.
William Harley will get even more anxious, not only for himself but his whole family, when he's visited by Francis Walsingham, Master Spy of England, and his ruthless enforcers, who are looking for that same dangerous book.
If he wants to survive the terror of the Protestant prosecution of Catholics, he must solve the clues very quickly and unlock the dangerous secrets before its too late.
When he does so William Harley realises that not only his life and those who are dear to him, but something within these secrets can bring a nation down.
What is to follow is an intriguing and thrilling encounter, in which William Harley must tread very carefully with these dangerous secrets as a Catholic in a Kingdom now ruled and dominated by a Protestant Queen and her ruthless advisors, and in this world of persecution and death he must somehow seem to survive and live for another day.
Highly recommended, for this is an amazing begin to this wonderful series, and that's why I like to call this first episode: An Awesome Clarenceux Opener"!
The year is AD 1563, and the Catholic herald, William Harley, known as Clarenceux, King of Arms, fears for his life in the realm of the Protestant Queen Elizabeth.
Catholic plots are developing all over the country against this Protestant Queen Elizabeth, so a visit late at night at your home will make Willam Harley very anxious.
Especially when a fellow Catholic called, Henry Machyn, visits Harley, this Henry is fearing for his life, and he will present Willam Harley with a book containing many serious secrets.
William Harley will get even more anxious, not only for himself but his whole family, when he's visited by Francis Walsingham, Master Spy of England, and his ruthless enforcers, who are looking for that same dangerous book.
If he wants to survive the terror of the Protestant prosecution of Catholics, he must solve the clues very quickly and unlock the dangerous secrets before its too late.
When he does so William Harley realises that not only his life and those who are dear to him, but something within these secrets can bring a nation down.
What is to follow is an intriguing and thrilling encounter, in which William Harley must tread very carefully with these dangerous secrets as a Catholic in a Kingdom now ruled and dominated by a Protestant Queen and her ruthless advisors, and in this world of persecution and death he must somehow seem to survive and live for another day.
Highly recommended, for this is an amazing begin to this wonderful series, and that's why I like to call this first episode: An Awesome Clarenceux Opener"!
May 31, 2015
This novel was suggested to me by several people as a good follow up to C J Sansom's Shardlake series. Though this takes place later, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, there are some notable similarities.
Our hero in Sacred Treason is a 40-something herald, William Harley Clarenceux King of Arms. He turns out to be as intelligent and surprisingly adventurous as everyone's favorite hunchback lawyer. Unlike Matthew, Clarenceux has a wife and children that he must concern himself about and does nothing to invite the drama that he finds himself in the middle of.
There are similarities in the writing styles of Sansom and Forrester (who is really historian Ian Mortimer). The Elizabethan age is vividly brought to life, sometimes in excessive detail. His expertise of the era is evident throughout the novel. Both authors bravely take on the religious conflicts of the Tudor dynasty and realistically characterize those who are Catholics and reformers.
Some significant differences also exist. Forrester's story is darker, with several people undergoing torture and abuse by the Queen's men. I didn't mind this because I appreciate a realistic look at Elizabeth's reign. While we are supposed to be convinced that this glorious virgin queen led the country to unprecedented peace, she was simply more subtle than her father in seeking out her enemies and ridding herself of them.
The characters and settings in this novel were excellently done, but the mystery became too convoluted and, in the end, pointless. It is difficult to write about a supposed attempt at revolution and stay within historical fact, which makes it difficult for this story to do anything other than fizzle out.
The plot that Clarenceux falls into may have not been a 5-star adventure, but the writing style and recreation of the 16th century were stunning enough to inspire me to continue with the series' second novel, The Roots of Betrayal.
Our hero in Sacred Treason is a 40-something herald, William Harley Clarenceux King of Arms. He turns out to be as intelligent and surprisingly adventurous as everyone's favorite hunchback lawyer. Unlike Matthew, Clarenceux has a wife and children that he must concern himself about and does nothing to invite the drama that he finds himself in the middle of.
There are similarities in the writing styles of Sansom and Forrester (who is really historian Ian Mortimer). The Elizabethan age is vividly brought to life, sometimes in excessive detail. His expertise of the era is evident throughout the novel. Both authors bravely take on the religious conflicts of the Tudor dynasty and realistically characterize those who are Catholics and reformers.
Some significant differences also exist. Forrester's story is darker, with several people undergoing torture and abuse by the Queen's men. I didn't mind this because I appreciate a realistic look at Elizabeth's reign. While we are supposed to be convinced that this glorious virgin queen led the country to unprecedented peace, she was simply more subtle than her father in seeking out her enemies and ridding herself of them.
The characters and settings in this novel were excellently done, but the mystery became too convoluted and, in the end, pointless. It is difficult to write about a supposed attempt at revolution and stay within historical fact, which makes it difficult for this story to do anything other than fizzle out.
The plot that Clarenceux falls into may have not been a 5-star adventure, but the writing style and recreation of the 16th century were stunning enough to inspire me to continue with the series' second novel, The Roots of Betrayal.
August 16, 2015
For once, the accuracy of the history was not what was pulling a historical novel down. This time, it was too twisty a plot.
January 28, 2013
Sacred Treason, by James Forrester, left me a little conflicted. This is a novel that I felt was well written, with beautifully described scenes and characters. The plot had just the right amount of twists to it, and the resolution was satisfactory. I just felt like it took too long to get there.
Several scenes seemed so similar as to have me doubting whether or not I had doubled back somehow. The main character gets caught up in a plot not of his own doing, and is constantly stymied by the same repetitive obstacles. The number of times he needs to sneak into or around London seems over done and don't really move the story along. The torture/interrogation scenes were well done and not too extreme, which I find commendable. The overall feeling is very much what I envision, but it just took too much time to get there. A few more edits would have seen this story with a higher ranking, as the writing itself is what made me get to the end.
If you like historical fiction and don't mind a story that takes its time getting there, then this is a good read, I enjoyed it, despite what I feel are its shortcomings. Pick it up.
Several scenes seemed so similar as to have me doubting whether or not I had doubled back somehow. The main character gets caught up in a plot not of his own doing, and is constantly stymied by the same repetitive obstacles. The number of times he needs to sneak into or around London seems over done and don't really move the story along. The torture/interrogation scenes were well done and not too extreme, which I find commendable. The overall feeling is very much what I envision, but it just took too much time to get there. A few more edits would have seen this story with a higher ranking, as the writing itself is what made me get to the end.
If you like historical fiction and don't mind a story that takes its time getting there, then this is a good read, I enjoyed it, despite what I feel are its shortcomings. Pick it up.
October 11, 2013
Politics, religion and another man's wife. What a timeless mess of trouble! This is a serious historical fiction based on true and/or disputed facts about the legitimacy of Queen Elizabeth I, daughter of King Henry VIII, of England. The mechanics of good writing are excellent as is the research. The author is a renowned historian, and I should have read his Notes first. The book started slowly for me because of the many names I tried to memorize and my ignorance of the 16th century English legal system. Readers, do not worry about the names or the law because everything unfolds very nicely throughout the book. Reviewers before me have told you what the book is about. I can tell you that the book made me think on the inner man, the outer man, a government with too much power and too few civil liberties, the power of friendship and common beliefs, and how alike are the past and the present.
I could put the book down, but I could not leave it down. I read it at a leisurely pace and spent quite some time doing doing a little research of my own (shoulda' read those notes first).
Thank you, Mr. Forrester, for a good read.
I could put the book down, but I could not leave it down. I read it at a leisurely pace and spent quite some time doing doing a little research of my own (shoulda' read those notes first).
Thank you, Mr. Forrester, for a good read.
November 13, 2010
There's a couple of things I really hate in novels. This one contained a classic - where a character does something stupid (a la Hardy) or out of character in order to move the plot along. I threw this book down up when the hero managed to kill the physcopath's brother - even after he'd been tortured... ridiculous
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 10, 2012
I initially reviewed this book for the blog Passages To The Past and am so glad I did! Here is my review:
1563: William Harley, Clarenceux King of Arms, is content in his life. As a herald of England, he has had the opportunity to travel the continent and has enjoyed the privilege and relative safety of a gentleman. He has a nice home on London's Fleet Street, a loving wife, two beautiful young daughters and a library full of the books he loves. While the current Queen Elizabeth's Protestant beliefs are at odds with his Catholic faith he keeps quiet to avoid the taint of treason that so many Catholics fear. For a charge of treason can mean a ruined reputation, all lands, properties and titles taken and even death, not only for the one accused but their loved ones as well. It seems much safer to practice his faith quietly then bring attention to himself and risk the enmity of the crown.
One cold, rainy December night this cozy life is put to the test when Clarenceux, as Mr. Harley is known to everyone, receives a knock on the door. Henry Machyn, a merchant taylor, funeral arranger and parish clerk acquaintance of Clarenceux's, is distraught, shaken and adamant that his life is in danger and he needs Clarenceux's help. He cryptically asks Clarenceux to keep his chronicle safe when he is gone, a chronicle detailing all that Machyn has witnessed over the last thirteen years. Along with this he gives Clarenceux instructions to visit a man named Lancelot Heath upon Machyn's death and that he will need to give Lancelot a false name and specific date. Terrified that Machyn is involving him in something treasonous Clarenceux presses him further regarding what this chronicle really is. However the more coded information Machyn gives the more questions Clarenceux has, until it becomes evident to him this must be a test of his faith and he has to accept it. Right before leaving Machyn tells him he alone can discover the true secret of the chronicle and that he will need to find and bring together all nine of the "Knights of the Round Table" and discover each of their secret names and specific dates to uncover it. Then he is gone into the night and the real test of Clarenceux's faith begins.
As Clarenceux reads through the chronicle he becomes even more confused. The log appears to be nothing more than an account of Machyn's day to day actions and observances, ones that seem eerily to involve Clarenceux more than any other. When he goes in search of Machyn to figure out what this chronicle and its secret has to do with him he discovers Machyn is missing and his house is under guard. Shortly after he receives a visit from Machyn's wife, Rebecca, and Clarenceux is arrested on suspicion of treason and his house is ransacked by a royal sergeant-at-arms and his men who are looking for the chronicle. Rebecca is able to escape with the chronicle right before the men can find it but Clarenceux's house is destroyed and one of his servants is murdered. He now knows he must discover the secret behind the chronicle to clear his name, revenge the destruction and death brought about under royal instruction and to keep him and those involved alive. What he doesn't at first realize is that two of the most powerful men in England - Sir William Cecil, the Queen's principle secretary and most trusted advisor, and Francis Walsingham, Cecil's Chief Counselor and the Queen's "spymaster" - are determined to find the chronicle and discover its secrets first and they are willing to do anything to make that happen.
So begins the adventure of a lifetime. With Rebecca Machyn's help Clarenceux sets off to find each of the Knights of the Round Table and discover what secrets they hold to help unravel the mystery connected to this seemingly benign chronicle. Through continued attacks, murder, betrayal and utter devastation they must hold on to their faith and the constant hope for the future to persevere even when all seems lost in order to discover the secret that could change the course of history for two queens.
Sacred Treason is a brilliant mystery adventure set in one of my favorite places - Tudor England. James Forrester is able to keep the suspense and tension palpable across the over 450 pages, a feat not easily done. Seamlessly incorporating known facts and people of the time with fictional aspects to progress the story, the many secrets and connections between the various characters are slowly released until the truth literally jumps out at you right towards the end. I was completely surprised with the discovery of the chronicle's ultimate secrets which is quite impressive as so often these sorts of stories are easy to unravel long before the ending. There are just so many twists, hidden truths and character connections that there is nothing to be done but to keep turning the pages. This being the first of a trilogy of stories, I am happy to say that some secrets are still left to be discovered in the subsequent books, such as the identify of one of the Knights of the Round Table, known only as Sir Percival.
Sacred Treason is James Forrester's first novel but many fans of history will know him as bestselling author Dr. Ian Mortimer, historian and author of such celebrated works as The Time Traveler's Guide to Elizabethan England. Even without yet having read one of Dr. Mortimer's historic nonfiction books it is not hard to see that he is an exemplary researcher and skilled writer. The author notes for Sacred Treason go into the research that brought about the idea for the book and the facts contained within. My only complaint at all is that it seems it will take some time for me to get my hands on the next two books in this series - The Roots of Betrayal and The Final Sacrament - as they don't seem readily available here in the US. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for them releasing and will start reading some of his nonfiction in the meantime. A must read for historical fiction lovers and especially for those that devour Tudor stories.
1563: William Harley, Clarenceux King of Arms, is content in his life. As a herald of England, he has had the opportunity to travel the continent and has enjoyed the privilege and relative safety of a gentleman. He has a nice home on London's Fleet Street, a loving wife, two beautiful young daughters and a library full of the books he loves. While the current Queen Elizabeth's Protestant beliefs are at odds with his Catholic faith he keeps quiet to avoid the taint of treason that so many Catholics fear. For a charge of treason can mean a ruined reputation, all lands, properties and titles taken and even death, not only for the one accused but their loved ones as well. It seems much safer to practice his faith quietly then bring attention to himself and risk the enmity of the crown.
One cold, rainy December night this cozy life is put to the test when Clarenceux, as Mr. Harley is known to everyone, receives a knock on the door. Henry Machyn, a merchant taylor, funeral arranger and parish clerk acquaintance of Clarenceux's, is distraught, shaken and adamant that his life is in danger and he needs Clarenceux's help. He cryptically asks Clarenceux to keep his chronicle safe when he is gone, a chronicle detailing all that Machyn has witnessed over the last thirteen years. Along with this he gives Clarenceux instructions to visit a man named Lancelot Heath upon Machyn's death and that he will need to give Lancelot a false name and specific date. Terrified that Machyn is involving him in something treasonous Clarenceux presses him further regarding what this chronicle really is. However the more coded information Machyn gives the more questions Clarenceux has, until it becomes evident to him this must be a test of his faith and he has to accept it. Right before leaving Machyn tells him he alone can discover the true secret of the chronicle and that he will need to find and bring together all nine of the "Knights of the Round Table" and discover each of their secret names and specific dates to uncover it. Then he is gone into the night and the real test of Clarenceux's faith begins.
As Clarenceux reads through the chronicle he becomes even more confused. The log appears to be nothing more than an account of Machyn's day to day actions and observances, ones that seem eerily to involve Clarenceux more than any other. When he goes in search of Machyn to figure out what this chronicle and its secret has to do with him he discovers Machyn is missing and his house is under guard. Shortly after he receives a visit from Machyn's wife, Rebecca, and Clarenceux is arrested on suspicion of treason and his house is ransacked by a royal sergeant-at-arms and his men who are looking for the chronicle. Rebecca is able to escape with the chronicle right before the men can find it but Clarenceux's house is destroyed and one of his servants is murdered. He now knows he must discover the secret behind the chronicle to clear his name, revenge the destruction and death brought about under royal instruction and to keep him and those involved alive. What he doesn't at first realize is that two of the most powerful men in England - Sir William Cecil, the Queen's principle secretary and most trusted advisor, and Francis Walsingham, Cecil's Chief Counselor and the Queen's "spymaster" - are determined to find the chronicle and discover its secrets first and they are willing to do anything to make that happen.
So begins the adventure of a lifetime. With Rebecca Machyn's help Clarenceux sets off to find each of the Knights of the Round Table and discover what secrets they hold to help unravel the mystery connected to this seemingly benign chronicle. Through continued attacks, murder, betrayal and utter devastation they must hold on to their faith and the constant hope for the future to persevere even when all seems lost in order to discover the secret that could change the course of history for two queens.
Sacred Treason is a brilliant mystery adventure set in one of my favorite places - Tudor England. James Forrester is able to keep the suspense and tension palpable across the over 450 pages, a feat not easily done. Seamlessly incorporating known facts and people of the time with fictional aspects to progress the story, the many secrets and connections between the various characters are slowly released until the truth literally jumps out at you right towards the end. I was completely surprised with the discovery of the chronicle's ultimate secrets which is quite impressive as so often these sorts of stories are easy to unravel long before the ending. There are just so many twists, hidden truths and character connections that there is nothing to be done but to keep turning the pages. This being the first of a trilogy of stories, I am happy to say that some secrets are still left to be discovered in the subsequent books, such as the identify of one of the Knights of the Round Table, known only as Sir Percival.
Sacred Treason is James Forrester's first novel but many fans of history will know him as bestselling author Dr. Ian Mortimer, historian and author of such celebrated works as The Time Traveler's Guide to Elizabethan England. Even without yet having read one of Dr. Mortimer's historic nonfiction books it is not hard to see that he is an exemplary researcher and skilled writer. The author notes for Sacred Treason go into the research that brought about the idea for the book and the facts contained within. My only complaint at all is that it seems it will take some time for me to get my hands on the next two books in this series - The Roots of Betrayal and The Final Sacrament - as they don't seem readily available here in the US. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for them releasing and will start reading some of his nonfiction in the meantime. A must read for historical fiction lovers and especially for those that devour Tudor stories.
August 23, 2011
Sacred Treason is the first novel from the acclaimed historian Ian Mortimer and as such it makes an interesting read. I have read a number of Mortimer’s historical texts and these are usually extremely well written and excellently researched, even though in the case of his book on his historical namesake Roger Mortimer he comes to a conclusion that could be described as contentious. However this is not a review of Ian Mortimer’s work, this is a review of his works under his pen name James Forrester.
The novel is a decent debut, which would motivate me to read his follow up book, however this is not in the same league as the works of the author who is in my view the master of the Tudor based historical fiction CJ Samson. The book is easy to read, however the characters are not quite believable such as the fact that William Harley the main protagonist who at the start of the book appears to be happily married and then develops an attraction to Rebecca, the widow of the murdered Henry Machyn, which while plausible is not written in sufficient depth or style to make it believable, and Harley's wife takes on an out of sight out of mind role throughout the book.
The constant wrestling with his conscience by Harley is also a tad grating; as it is mentioned in almost every chapter and as the character appears to have an almost iron like sense of self control it appears to be little more than an attempt to add a more human dimension to the character.
This is however by no means a bad book, it flows well and is pretty gripping without feeling drawn out or dull and the plot and story line are very good. The authors note at the end is also great, stating exactly what details in the book are historically accurate and which are embellished or created new. This is a good debut novel; however it must be hoped that as Forrester gains more experience writing fiction he is able to develop his writing style so that the characters develop the required depth to make them truly believable.
The novel is a decent debut, which would motivate me to read his follow up book, however this is not in the same league as the works of the author who is in my view the master of the Tudor based historical fiction CJ Samson. The book is easy to read, however the characters are not quite believable such as the fact that William Harley the main protagonist who at the start of the book appears to be happily married and then develops an attraction to Rebecca, the widow of the murdered Henry Machyn, which while plausible is not written in sufficient depth or style to make it believable, and Harley's wife takes on an out of sight out of mind role throughout the book.
The constant wrestling with his conscience by Harley is also a tad grating; as it is mentioned in almost every chapter and as the character appears to have an almost iron like sense of self control it appears to be little more than an attempt to add a more human dimension to the character.
This is however by no means a bad book, it flows well and is pretty gripping without feeling drawn out or dull and the plot and story line are very good. The authors note at the end is also great, stating exactly what details in the book are historically accurate and which are embellished or created new. This is a good debut novel; however it must be hoped that as Forrester gains more experience writing fiction he is able to develop his writing style so that the characters develop the required depth to make them truly believable.
August 31, 2013
William Harley, Clarenceux King of Arms, is a man of standing and respect. He is also a Catholic, which is why he is nervous of late night visits. When he is visited by Henry Machyn late one evening, he fears it is to be arrested. However, when the clearly afraid Machyn entrusts him with a chronicle, telling him, "the fate of two queens depends upon that book," he finds himself plunged into a possible Catholic conspiracy. Everything he feared - arrest, possible disgrace and the crumbling of his carefully constructed world comes true. Before long, Clarenceux and Rebecca Machyn, wife (soon to be widow) of Henry Machyn are forced to flee for their life; to protect the chronicle and try to discover the secret it contains.
This historical novel contains both real and fictional characters. Sir William Cecil and Francis Walsingham are in charge of protecting Elizabeth I, while the author has given Walsingham a fictional vicious sidekick in Crackenthorpe, who takes great delight in carrying out his orders. The fact that Clarenceux and Rebecca are both committed Catholics does limit where Forrester can take his characters - they spend much of the novel denying the attraction between them. However, this is the first book in a trilogy, the next title being The Roots of Betrayal (Clarenceux Trilogy 2) and I suspect that this possible love affair may resurface.
This historical novel contains both real and fictional characters. Sir William Cecil and Francis Walsingham are in charge of protecting Elizabeth I, while the author has given Walsingham a fictional vicious sidekick in Crackenthorpe, who takes great delight in carrying out his orders. The fact that Clarenceux and Rebecca are both committed Catholics does limit where Forrester can take his characters - they spend much of the novel denying the attraction between them. However, this is the first book in a trilogy, the next title being The Roots of Betrayal (Clarenceux Trilogy 2) and I suspect that this possible love affair may resurface.
September 16, 2015
For me, the story took a back seat to insight concerning citizen life during the reign of Elizabeth I. It was a time of intolerance, when a difference in religious belief spelled treason, resulting in torture and execution. This novel reminded me why the U.S. founders insisted upon separation between church and state. The belief of any one individual cannot trump the civic rights of others. Anyone who supports views coming from right wing conservatives, or cheer for anarchists such as Kim Davis, should review countries, modern and historical, where religious beliefs are used as the basis of civil law.
January 17, 2018
First 100 pages were class, the rest was absolute stool water.
October 25, 2018
This looked like it might be an entertaining "puzzle book" - a secret society amid the religious wars of the Tudor era, plots against the crown, a mysterious manuscript. Unfortunately, after 230 pages only one action has transpired ... over and over with slight variations.
On top of the glacial pace, at least twice I was jarred right out of the tale by passages that felt wrong in terms of time and place. They could be used as an object lesson in why anachronisms are distracting.
At one point, Francis Walsingham, the Tudor spymaster, compares his efforts to rowing in a mountain river and suddenly realizing "you were in white water ... struggling to stay afloat." Wait, I thought, are there mountains in England? Rapids? Was rowing a common sport at the time? Anyway, you don't "row" in rapids, do you? Isn't that rafting? Maybe in Scotland? But weren't England and Scotland more or less at war? So I had to go look up Francis Walsingham and find that he'd traveled on the continent, so could have been in mountains .... but still, a member of the "gentry" rowing in rapids in the 16th century?
Then, a character refers to herself as of a lower "class" than her companion. This struck my ear as wrong so I had to go look up "class" in the dictionary of etymology and found that the use of "class" to denote station in society only dates to the mid-18th century.
At which point it was just say no, done with this book, on to the next.
On top of the glacial pace, at least twice I was jarred right out of the tale by passages that felt wrong in terms of time and place. They could be used as an object lesson in why anachronisms are distracting.
At one point, Francis Walsingham, the Tudor spymaster, compares his efforts to rowing in a mountain river and suddenly realizing "you were in white water ... struggling to stay afloat." Wait, I thought, are there mountains in England? Rapids? Was rowing a common sport at the time? Anyway, you don't "row" in rapids, do you? Isn't that rafting? Maybe in Scotland? But weren't England and Scotland more or less at war? So I had to go look up Francis Walsingham and find that he'd traveled on the continent, so could have been in mountains .... but still, a member of the "gentry" rowing in rapids in the 16th century?
Then, a character refers to herself as of a lower "class" than her companion. This struck my ear as wrong so I had to go look up "class" in the dictionary of etymology and found that the use of "class" to denote station in society only dates to the mid-18th century.
At which point it was just say no, done with this book, on to the next.
August 12, 2019
This book lost stars the further I got into it. At first the premise seemed solid, of a Catholic conspiracy being ruthlessly investigated by Francis Walsingham, urged on by the wily Cecil. They stand in the story as the "bad guys," while we watch with horror as Clarenceux, Royal Herald (the good guy,) is drawn unwittingly into a kind of treason that he neither sanctioned nor encouraged. At the heart of the issue is a cryptic "chronicle," which leads from one puzzle to another. But this overview quickly disintegrates into a plethora of redundancy amid several implausible plot points. Along the way are many gruesome descriptions of torture and murder that were hard to stomach. What should have been a powerful story ends up in a morass of the most highly improbable set of circumstances ever devised, by turning back on itself time after time. By the end, I was just panting for the relief of a finale! And then, I was struck with the awful realization that just because this volume ends, finally, there are yet two more books because this is a trilogy! Well, thank you Messires Walsingham & Cecil, but you won't have this reader to torment any further!
May 5, 2022
someone call a neurosurgeon!
ό,τι πιο άψυχο έχω διαβάσει ποτέ, θα πήγαινε για 1 αστέρι μα είχε μια δυο σκηνές που κάτι είχανε να πούνε
ανευρο, στεγνο, by the numbers
μακριά
ό,τι πιο άψυχο έχω διαβάσει ποτέ, θα πήγαινε για 1 αστέρι μα είχε μια δυο σκηνές που κάτι είχανε να πούνε
ανευρο, στεγνο, by the numbers
μακριά
August 9, 2019
I liked this book pretty well, but I felt a little out of my depth not knowing loads about QE1. I’m mostly mad that this is the first in a trilogy; I doubt I’ll read the others; it gets stodgy and it’s pretty long. I liked the author’s other books, but this one was a touch weak.
September 19, 2010
Set in 1563, four years into the reign of Elizabeth I (7 September 1533 – 24 March 1603), the last of the Tudor dynasty, Sacred Treason delves deeply into troubled England during times of political and religious unrest.
Written by historian James Forrester [The Pen name of Ian Mortimer], Sacred Treason surprised me. I know it’s an often overused cliché but I couldn’t put the book down. I was instantly transported back to Elizabethan times, deep in the heart of a cold and rain soaked London, I never left until the book’s conclusion – to be honest I’m not sure if I’ve actually left the muddy streets of London such was its mesmerizing hold!
Highly contagious, the book flows from beginning to end, the characters all lending a sense of realism as a battle between right and wrong, good and evil and Catholics v Protestants played out.
At the forefront of the plot is the highly respected William Harley, Clarenceux King of Arms and hero of a fascinating tale of treason, murder and an unrelenting quest for justice. As the rain and snow fell in a bitterly cold December my imagination ran riot making a mockery of my senses. This is what books are all about.
My Full Review here if you want to read more ;-) http://www.milorambles.com/2010/09/02...
Written by historian James Forrester [The Pen name of Ian Mortimer], Sacred Treason surprised me. I know it’s an often overused cliché but I couldn’t put the book down. I was instantly transported back to Elizabethan times, deep in the heart of a cold and rain soaked London, I never left until the book’s conclusion – to be honest I’m not sure if I’ve actually left the muddy streets of London such was its mesmerizing hold!
Highly contagious, the book flows from beginning to end, the characters all lending a sense of realism as a battle between right and wrong, good and evil and Catholics v Protestants played out.
At the forefront of the plot is the highly respected William Harley, Clarenceux King of Arms and hero of a fascinating tale of treason, murder and an unrelenting quest for justice. As the rain and snow fell in a bitterly cold December my imagination ran riot making a mockery of my senses. This is what books are all about.
My Full Review here if you want to read more ;-) http://www.milorambles.com/2010/09/02...
May 5, 2014
Ian Mortimer is well known as a non-fiction author who has written a series of excellent books to help us understand life in the medieval and Tudor times. Here, under another name, he strives to achieve the same in fiction. The result is a medieval adventure story with a protagonist, Clarenceux, who in his values, social relationships, and religiosity is a believable 16th-century character. The effect on the modern reader is often, and no doubt intentionally, a bit alienating. Forrester also goes to great lengths to insert minute details of Tudor life. And his view of the period is grimly pessimistic, violent and dark.
The weakness of the story is the plot, which verges on the absurd and takes enormous detours to reach a less than dramatic, rather unsatisfactory conclusion. The MacGuffin that propels the story forward cannot be discarded, even if the real story is just one about a struggle to survive, but its sudden reappearance rather deflates the complex storyline that was built about it. Forrester does maintain the tension to the end, but fails to hide that weakness. Nevertheless the book is very enjoyable.
The weakness of the story is the plot, which verges on the absurd and takes enormous detours to reach a less than dramatic, rather unsatisfactory conclusion. The MacGuffin that propels the story forward cannot be discarded, even if the real story is just one about a struggle to survive, but its sudden reappearance rather deflates the complex storyline that was built about it. Forrester does maintain the tension to the end, but fails to hide that weakness. Nevertheless the book is very enjoyable.
September 3, 2015
Review - The character background is true: Elizabeth I's reign, people think she's a bastard because her mother, Anne Boleyn, was formerly (allegedly) betrothed to Henry Percy. Clarenceux was also a real person, although it is unlikely that there was a surviving betrothal contract, nevertheless, the characters came across surprisingly well. This is one of the best mystery novels I've ever read. Historical fiction is my favourite book genre and the storyline is very cleverly implemented. It is based around historical truth, but also moderated. The whole story revolves around the alleged marriage contract between the two and stopping the overthrow of the monarch.
Genre? - Historical / Mystery / Drama / Action
Characters? - William Harley Clarenceux King of Arms / Elizabeth I / William Cecil / Francis Walsingham / Mary Percy Countess of Northumberland
Setting? - London (England)
Series? - Clarenceux #1
Recommend? - Yes
Rating - 18/20
Genre? - Historical / Mystery / Drama / Action
Characters? - William Harley Clarenceux King of Arms / Elizabeth I / William Cecil / Francis Walsingham / Mary Percy Countess of Northumberland
Setting? - London (England)
Series? - Clarenceux #1
Recommend? - Yes
Rating - 18/20
February 19, 2013
At least four stars. Historical fiction which, despite its deep roots in reality, grabs the reader and drags him or her into the story. All the while I'm flipping pages thinking "I know enough history to know this can't turn out well. Well, I'm not going to tell, but it does turn out.
Unlike so many romantic historical novelists, "Forrester" is true to the feel of the time. Oh, he makes mistakes but they aren't the sort that makes the reader want to rip the covers off the book. Most important, is he seems to have gotten far enough into the minds of his main characters that they become real, differentiated and true to their time. No small accomplishment.
Maybe 4.5 stars.
Unlike so many romantic historical novelists, "Forrester" is true to the feel of the time. Oh, he makes mistakes but they aren't the sort that makes the reader want to rip the covers off the book. Most important, is he seems to have gotten far enough into the minds of his main characters that they become real, differentiated and true to their time. No small accomplishment.
Maybe 4.5 stars.
June 6, 2015
Very happy to have found this in the new book section at library - enjoyed the book and look forward to reading the next. It is written with quite a different perspective from most of those I have read that included Cecil/Walsingham/Queen Elizabeth as they fought to unearth plots against her sovereignty, real or imagined. There was a touch of disbelief in accepting that a herald would not have been more guarded in the initial receiving of the chronicle at the heart of this book. But I had to buy it, like it or not, to go ahead and read through. Despite that, I'm glad I did.
August 16, 2016
This was a DNF for me sadly. It's well written and well researched, no doubt. And maybe it was just me, but I found it terribly boring.
I wasn't expecting the brilliancy of CJ Sansom, but nevertheless this left me cold. The multiple POVs is a real problem here. It just hampers the mystery if you pretty much know what it going on with each character. Also, the main protagonist was just not that likable or interesting. And some of his foolish actions grated on me right from the start.
Up until the 40% I still had not found anything about that plot that aroused my curiosity.
I wasn't expecting the brilliancy of CJ Sansom, but nevertheless this left me cold. The multiple POVs is a real problem here. It just hampers the mystery if you pretty much know what it going on with each character. Also, the main protagonist was just not that likable or interesting. And some of his foolish actions grated on me right from the start.
Up until the 40% I still had not found anything about that plot that aroused my curiosity.
August 22, 2010
I would rate the book with 3.75 stars which is not possible. So finally I gave four stars.
Splendid depiction of London and surrounding.
ATTENTION: Don't read the author's note at the end of the book before you have finished the novel!! SPOILER!!
Full review needs to be done ....
Splendid depiction of London and surrounding.
ATTENTION: Don't read the author's note at the end of the book before you have finished the novel!! SPOILER!!
Full review needs to be done ....
June 13, 2011
the book got better as it went on as did start off slowly and was a decent historical thriller but not quite in the same league as sansom but full of historic figures from the elizabethan age
lookedinto-decidedagainst
March 6, 2014
February 28, 2013
I'm hooked, can't wait for the next book in this series.
July 25, 2016
I'm not really sure how to feel about this book right now.
December 4, 2017
Nice details about Elizabethan London, but more details than actual interesting plot.
January 31, 2020
I gave up about a third of the way through. A CJ Samson knockoff without the elegant prose.
April 19, 2023
I am trying to branch out a bit in the fiction genres I consume, so I decided to try out this historical fiction / mystery set in the 16th century. I actually found it very interesting. Coincidentally, I was also reading
An Instance of the Fingerpost
by Iain Pears at the same time; despite the fact that they take place over 100 years apart from one another, I think a lot of the themes were very similar, and the two tended to reinforce my immersion into the cultural millieu of 16th and 17th century England.
In the book, Clarenceaux (that is his heraldic title) is given a book by a local undertaker, which essentially inducts him into a conspiracy that he doesn't even know the nature of, which is kind of an interesting twist. Certain (possibly rogue) agents of the crown start hunting him down and killing people involved in the conspiracy, and Clarenceaux reflexively essentially joins the conspiracy — at least for long enough to figure out what's going on with it.
An undercurrent of both this book and An Instance of the Fingerpost is the sectarian schism between Protestants and Catholics that was a big deal around this time — both in Europe in general and especially in England. Clarenceaux is a Catholic, which is apparently tolerated despite the fact that the Queen (Elizabeth I) is Protestant and England is not yet securely Anglican. From the standpoint of the 21st century this doesn't seem important, like, at all, so it's interesting to cast your mind into a time when it was.
That said, even without fully understanding the sectarian motivations, I think the general outline of the conspiracy is still comprehensible. The motivations of some of the players may be sectarian in nature, but overall the conspiracy is about who holds power.
(Very minor spoilers behind spoiler tags) From the point in the book (relatively early on) where you realize that Clarenceaux is , those of us who know history know that the outcome will definitely not be that a conspiracy , and yet the whole time I was thinking, "This doesn't seem like the kind of book where the main character loses or dies in the end..." I like that, despite knowing the actual historical outcome, I was still able to be kept in suspense about the details of how it all played out.
(More major spoilers from here on out) I also really liked the character of Clarenceaux. He is noble and intelligent but definitely not perfect. His struggles with really tend to humanize him even as he goes around undertaking daring-do. It's also interesting how Forrester constructs the whole mystery. In some ways the conspiracy is mostly a bunch of guys half-heartedly doing some amateur cloak-and-dagger stuff, except Henry, who takes it deadly serious.
I also did not realize when I was reading this book that James Forrester is an alias of Ian Mortimer, whose books I've enjoyed before. I imagine I'm missing a lot of the historical references, given that.
Quite enjoyable. I gather this is part of a series, and I look forward to reading the next one.
4 of 5 stars
In the book, Clarenceaux (that is his heraldic title) is given a book by a local undertaker, which essentially inducts him into a conspiracy that he doesn't even know the nature of, which is kind of an interesting twist. Certain (possibly rogue) agents of the crown start hunting him down and killing people involved in the conspiracy, and Clarenceaux reflexively essentially joins the conspiracy — at least for long enough to figure out what's going on with it.
An undercurrent of both this book and An Instance of the Fingerpost is the sectarian schism between Protestants and Catholics that was a big deal around this time — both in Europe in general and especially in England. Clarenceaux is a Catholic, which is apparently tolerated despite the fact that the Queen (Elizabeth I) is Protestant and England is not yet securely Anglican. From the standpoint of the 21st century this doesn't seem important, like, at all, so it's interesting to cast your mind into a time when it was.
That said, even without fully understanding the sectarian motivations, I think the general outline of the conspiracy is still comprehensible. The motivations of some of the players may be sectarian in nature, but overall the conspiracy is about who holds power.
(Very minor spoilers behind spoiler tags) From the point in the book (relatively early on) where you realize that Clarenceaux is , those of us who know history know that the outcome will definitely not be that a conspiracy , and yet the whole time I was thinking, "This doesn't seem like the kind of book where the main character loses or dies in the end..." I like that, despite knowing the actual historical outcome, I was still able to be kept in suspense about the details of how it all played out.
(More major spoilers from here on out) I also really liked the character of Clarenceaux. He is noble and intelligent but definitely not perfect. His struggles with really tend to humanize him even as he goes around undertaking daring-do. It's also interesting how Forrester constructs the whole mystery. In some ways the conspiracy is mostly a bunch of guys half-heartedly doing some amateur cloak-and-dagger stuff, except Henry, who takes it deadly serious.
I also did not realize when I was reading this book that James Forrester is an alias of Ian Mortimer, whose books I've enjoyed before. I imagine I'm missing a lot of the historical references, given that.
Quite enjoyable. I gather this is part of a series, and I look forward to reading the next one.
4 of 5 stars
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