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Thomas Treviot #1
The First Horseman
1536. In the corrupt heart of Tudor London a killer waits in the shadows...
The Real Crime
Before dawn on a misty November morning in 1536, prominent mercer Robert Packington was gunned down as he crossed Cheapside on his way to early morning mass. It was the first assassination by handgun in the history of the capital and subsequently shook the city to its core.
The identity of his assassin has remained a mystery.
Our Story
Thomas Treviot is a young London goldsmith and a close family friend of Robert Packington. Through his own upstanding social connections - and some less upstanding acquaintances he has made along the way - Thomas launches a dramatic investigation into Packington's death.
As Thomas searches for revenge, he must travel from the golden heart of merchant London, to the straw-covered backstreets of London's poorest districts before reaching the country's seat of power: the court of King Henry VIII. Before long he is drawn into a dark conspiracy beyond his wildest imaginings and claiming justice for his friend starts to look impossible. Especially when Thomas realises that Robert wasn't the man he thought he knew...
In the first of a new series investigating real unsolved Tudor crimes, D.K. Wilson brings the streets of Tudor London to spectacular life as Thomas Treviot faces a fight to bring the truth to light in the corrupt world of Anne Boleyn, Thomas Cromwell and Henry VIII.
The Real Crime
Before dawn on a misty November morning in 1536, prominent mercer Robert Packington was gunned down as he crossed Cheapside on his way to early morning mass. It was the first assassination by handgun in the history of the capital and subsequently shook the city to its core.
The identity of his assassin has remained a mystery.
Our Story
Thomas Treviot is a young London goldsmith and a close family friend of Robert Packington. Through his own upstanding social connections - and some less upstanding acquaintances he has made along the way - Thomas launches a dramatic investigation into Packington's death.
As Thomas searches for revenge, he must travel from the golden heart of merchant London, to the straw-covered backstreets of London's poorest districts before reaching the country's seat of power: the court of King Henry VIII. Before long he is drawn into a dark conspiracy beyond his wildest imaginings and claiming justice for his friend starts to look impossible. Especially when Thomas realises that Robert wasn't the man he thought he knew...
In the first of a new series investigating real unsolved Tudor crimes, D.K. Wilson brings the streets of Tudor London to spectacular life as Thomas Treviot faces a fight to bring the truth to light in the corrupt world of Anne Boleyn, Thomas Cromwell and Henry VIII.
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 8, 2013
26 people are currently reading
392 people want to read
About the author
D.K. Wilson
3 books13 followersD.K. Wilson is an historian and expert on the Tudor period, having already published acclaimed non-fiction books on Tudor England and Henry VIII.
Pseudonym of author Derek Wilson.
Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Pseudonym of author Derek Wilson.
Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
March 3, 2019
This is the first in a series by historian, D.K.Wilson, based on real unsolved Tudor mysteries.
In 1536, a prominent mercer named Robert Packington, is assassinated during the foggy, early morning hours of a November day as he makes his way to mass. It is the first recorded murder in London by gun.
Enter fictional protagonist, Thomas Treviot, a young goldsmith and friend of Packington. Treviot is reeling from the recent loss of his wife and father when he learns of his friend's murder. What follows is a serpentine journey through Southwark, the mercantile districts, Austin Friars, Greenwich, and St. Paul's to uncover the motivation and possible culprit responsible for the crime.
London, 1536 was a tumultuous time where King Henry has executed Anne Boleyn and is wrangling over the politics and definitions of his 'reformed' church. Heretics are being burned, Tynsdale's translated bible is being smuggled into port, Lutherans, or rather, their ideas of reform, fall in and out of favor. Clerics are seeing their entire way of life, indeed their faith, turned upside down.
The writing gives a flavor of Tudor life, though at times lengthy explanatory passages might have been more effective if they had been shortened or omitted. I did find the pace slowing toward the end, but if you stay with it, you will be rewarded with a satisfactory ending which leaves room for some thought.
All told, Wilson weaves a plausible explanation for Packington's death based on the interrelationships of clerics, bishops, reformists, and the complex machinations of politics and religion.
In 1536, a prominent mercer named Robert Packington, is assassinated during the foggy, early morning hours of a November day as he makes his way to mass. It is the first recorded murder in London by gun.
Enter fictional protagonist, Thomas Treviot, a young goldsmith and friend of Packington. Treviot is reeling from the recent loss of his wife and father when he learns of his friend's murder. What follows is a serpentine journey through Southwark, the mercantile districts, Austin Friars, Greenwich, and St. Paul's to uncover the motivation and possible culprit responsible for the crime.
London, 1536 was a tumultuous time where King Henry has executed Anne Boleyn and is wrangling over the politics and definitions of his 'reformed' church. Heretics are being burned, Tynsdale's translated bible is being smuggled into port, Lutherans, or rather, their ideas of reform, fall in and out of favor. Clerics are seeing their entire way of life, indeed their faith, turned upside down.
The writing gives a flavor of Tudor life, though at times lengthy explanatory passages might have been more effective if they had been shortened or omitted. I did find the pace slowing toward the end, but if you stay with it, you will be rewarded with a satisfactory ending which leaves room for some thought.
All told, Wilson weaves a plausible explanation for Packington's death based on the interrelationships of clerics, bishops, reformists, and the complex machinations of politics and religion.
April 21, 2022
I like Tudor period stories. Fast paced believable and felt accurate.
February 7, 2017
Very good historical fiction
Very interesting book that portrays what it was like to be an average citizen while Henry reigned. Wonderful insight to problems created by Henry as he tried to remove the Catholic Church and dilutes its power in England 1536
Very interesting book that portrays what it was like to be an average citizen while Henry reigned. Wonderful insight to problems created by Henry as he tried to remove the Catholic Church and dilutes its power in England 1536
February 3, 2016
I bought this and its sequel on the strength of a review by Alison Weir when she quote 'If you liked Shardlake you will love this series' unquote. I'm sorry but I can't believe that Alison Weir read the same C J Sansom books that I did. I persevered and read two thirds of this novel. Parts of it were good and possibly believable but I gave up when I arrived at the part where a couple of runaway indentured apprentices sat down to dinner with a prominent, very wealthy goldsmith in his own home. Sorry but the goldsmith what not even have talked with the apprentices let alone invited them into his home. Unbelievable!
October 25, 2016
Quite boring really. Didn't really take to the main character.
June 26, 2022
This story begins on the fateful day of May 19th, 1536. Thomas Treviot is a young master goldsmith who was taught his trade by his father, a highly respected and successful goldsmith. But his world has collapsed with the loss of first his father by fever, then his beloved wife in childbirth. He can't even bear to look at his son and he spends his time in drink and at the stews. On this particular morning he is awakened by his servant Will, and best friend and surrogate father Robert Packington, a mercer, because they have been chosen by their guilds to witness the beheading of Anne Boleyn. It is so traumatic for Thomas that he gets sick at the sight of it.
A short time later Thomas encounters two men on a forest road, takes them for cutthroats, and while trying to escape gets knocked off his horse and breaks his collarbone. When he awakens he is in the care of a young prostitute, Lizzie. He discovers the man he took for the cutthroat is, in fact, a former monk and infirmarian, Edward Longbourn, from the newly dissolved monastery at Farnfield. Ned, and friend Jed quickly try to help Thomas get himself back in order.
Thomas returns home and takes his family business back in hand, trying his best to overcome his traumas. He agrees to meet friend Robert at church for mass, but as he nears the church he finds a crowd surrounding a body on the ground. It is Robert, he has been shot to death, and all the witnesses can tell him is that a hooded man approached him and lightning and thunder came out of his hand and struck Robert dead!
Thomas now makes it his mission to find the killer and bring justice to Robert's widow. However this is not going to be easy because while he knows Robert has been killed by a gun, it takes time, a stand, and an arquebus to do the job. How could that go unnoticed? And who could want to kill such a good, prominent man as Robert Packington? Thomas now enlists the help of his new friends Ed, Ned, and Lizzie to help him. It's going to be a dangerous journey that takes him from the depths of the Tudor underworld, to the heights of the Tudor court and ecclesiastics, both Catholic and reform. And all seem hell bent on silencing Thomas once and for all.
This book is based on a true unsolved murder that takes place during the fateful year of 1536, when the Tudor world was once again turned upside-down by Henry VIII and his quest for a male heir. It was the first murder in England by the newly developed wheel-lock handgun, the first to be abled to shoot one-handed. Robert Packington, well respected member of the Mercer's guild was gunned down on the street, on his way to mass. His murderer was never captured. D.K. Wilson certainly captures the danger and uncertainty of the time, in this first of his series based on unsolved Tudor murders, and many of the characters in the book are real people of the time. There is an historical note at the end of the book that identifies them.
All in all I found it very interesting. I know quite a lot about Tudor history so I had no problem following the story and people. I don't think one needs to know it to enjoy the story though. There is plenty of action, tension, and twists in the plot to keep you guessing. I will be reading the next one in the series, The Traitor's Mark.
A short time later Thomas encounters two men on a forest road, takes them for cutthroats, and while trying to escape gets knocked off his horse and breaks his collarbone. When he awakens he is in the care of a young prostitute, Lizzie. He discovers the man he took for the cutthroat is, in fact, a former monk and infirmarian, Edward Longbourn, from the newly dissolved monastery at Farnfield. Ned, and friend Jed quickly try to help Thomas get himself back in order.
Thomas returns home and takes his family business back in hand, trying his best to overcome his traumas. He agrees to meet friend Robert at church for mass, but as he nears the church he finds a crowd surrounding a body on the ground. It is Robert, he has been shot to death, and all the witnesses can tell him is that a hooded man approached him and lightning and thunder came out of his hand and struck Robert dead!
Thomas now makes it his mission to find the killer and bring justice to Robert's widow. However this is not going to be easy because while he knows Robert has been killed by a gun, it takes time, a stand, and an arquebus to do the job. How could that go unnoticed? And who could want to kill such a good, prominent man as Robert Packington? Thomas now enlists the help of his new friends Ed, Ned, and Lizzie to help him. It's going to be a dangerous journey that takes him from the depths of the Tudor underworld, to the heights of the Tudor court and ecclesiastics, both Catholic and reform. And all seem hell bent on silencing Thomas once and for all.
This book is based on a true unsolved murder that takes place during the fateful year of 1536, when the Tudor world was once again turned upside-down by Henry VIII and his quest for a male heir. It was the first murder in England by the newly developed wheel-lock handgun, the first to be abled to shoot one-handed. Robert Packington, well respected member of the Mercer's guild was gunned down on the street, on his way to mass. His murderer was never captured. D.K. Wilson certainly captures the danger and uncertainty of the time, in this first of his series based on unsolved Tudor murders, and many of the characters in the book are real people of the time. There is an historical note at the end of the book that identifies them.
All in all I found it very interesting. I know quite a lot about Tudor history so I had no problem following the story and people. I don't think one needs to know it to enjoy the story though. There is plenty of action, tension, and twists in the plot to keep you guessing. I will be reading the next one in the series, The Traitor's Mark.
September 25, 2023
This book is steeped in historical detail and accuracy. The author is quite obviously a well researched, first-class historian. His idea to build out the story around actual real-life events is an interesting one, and it contains plenty of religious tensions and political intrigue wrapped around the whodunnit aspect of the tale. The writing is clever, the descriptions of Tudor life are vivid and bring the era to life, and there's a good flow to the narrative. The characterisation isn't bad, but there's some cliche'd characters in the mix, and overall, I felt they could have done with more development to add more to the story.
However, for me, there was something missing, and that something is difficult to put my finger on. The First Horseman doesn't really fulfil its true potential. It is not as gripping as a C J Sansom or a S J Parris, and I think it misses the imagination and creativity that these authors have. This could be due to the real-life unsolved mystery, and the author is trying to tie in his plot as closely as possible to this. I felt a bit deflated by the ending. It didn't have the punch that I felt a lot of the build-up deserved. It was almost as though Wilson was trying to be too clever with the reveal of his evil villain, and as such, it left the conclusion of the book feeling a little flat and slightly disappointing.
As with a lot of books, there's positives and negatives. With this one, I definitely found more positives than negatives on what was, in the main, an enjoyable read.
Oh, and if anyone knows why the book is called the First Horseman, I'd be interested to know as I can't see any connection to the story, or reason for the title!
However, for me, there was something missing, and that something is difficult to put my finger on. The First Horseman doesn't really fulfil its true potential. It is not as gripping as a C J Sansom or a S J Parris, and I think it misses the imagination and creativity that these authors have. This could be due to the real-life unsolved mystery, and the author is trying to tie in his plot as closely as possible to this. I felt a bit deflated by the ending. It didn't have the punch that I felt a lot of the build-up deserved. It was almost as though Wilson was trying to be too clever with the reveal of his evil villain, and as such, it left the conclusion of the book feeling a little flat and slightly disappointing.
As with a lot of books, there's positives and negatives. With this one, I definitely found more positives than negatives on what was, in the main, an enjoyable read.
Oh, and if anyone knows why the book is called the First Horseman, I'd be interested to know as I can't see any connection to the story, or reason for the title!
January 27, 2018
The first of this series which, although fiction, focussed on real unsolved Tudor Crimes, with Thomas Treviot, a goldsmith trying to solve them. Thomas and his friends get caught up in a world of intrigue, corruption and drama in an attempt to solve the mystery behind the death of his friend Robert Packingham. A really good and enjoyable read which was well researched with interesting and likeable main characters.
September 6, 2018
Another Tudor Faction series writer I discovered on Amazon is DK Wilson. So I decided to give his first book a go.
Although it's similar to CJ Sansom et al in my opinion it's nowhere near as well written.
It's billed as being based on a true crime in 1536; which our author goes on to dig into as the mainstay of the story; but the story is less enjoyable & the characters less rounded & believable than other Tudor novels I've read recently.
Although it's similar to CJ Sansom et al in my opinion it's nowhere near as well written.
It's billed as being based on a true crime in 1536; which our author goes on to dig into as the mainstay of the story; but the story is less enjoyable & the characters less rounded & believable than other Tudor novels I've read recently.
July 10, 2023
A very good fast paced read; written about the often forgotten turbulent time between the king's (Henry VIII) leaving the catholic faith and writing his book of common prayer.
The shooting of a friend and mentor, merchant Robert Packington leaves Thomas Treviot the lead character, a gold merchant and recent widower, looking for answers about why this had happened, lots of twists and turns keep the reader guessing - who ordered this 'Hit' and why?
The shooting of a friend and mentor, merchant Robert Packington leaves Thomas Treviot the lead character, a gold merchant and recent widower, looking for answers about why this had happened, lots of twists and turns keep the reader guessing - who ordered this 'Hit' and why?
November 5, 2021
I gave this a three star just. I’m afraid I found it too easier book to put down. I found it more related to the religion of the time rather than who done it. I found it hard work and certainly not as good as other historical fiction reads. I am trying a sample of the second book to see if it starts better!
January 19, 2026
A very informative, interesting suspenseful and entertaining novel! Weaving fictional characters with real ones, this novel is a brilliant history lesson! I enjoyed the characters very much and I intend to read the other books in this series. I loved the plot brimming with action, which let me guess till the very end of the book!
March 20, 2017
I, perhaps unfairly, gave this 1 star as, firstly i only got half way through & secondly thought this a direct copy of C.J.Sansom's Shardlake series. The sub stories of other characters were mirrored in slightly different ways to Sansome's characters with the main character's enemies in the business world mirroring Sansom's also. The historical detail good but i certainly didn't get the 'feel' i get in the Shardlake books of Tudor times. For these reasons i just couldn't carry on reading, what a shame i was looking forward to a Tudor mystery too.
July 16, 2020
Really loved this book! A 'real' whodunit. The author has a real gift for wrapping a tale around a real event. I will be reading other titles as I enjoyed the two I've read so far. You can almost smell 1536 through the imagery created in this novel.
July 22, 2017
Really easy to read. A good book depicting the life of the average citizen under Henry's reign.
September 3, 2017
this was an okay read. I enjoyed the overall story, but it's very forgettable. I didn't really retain much, so i can't really do an in depth review... i just remember liking it a lot....
July 13, 2024
A very clever and fascinating story weaved around true events in London in 1536 - 7
August 29, 2025
Good book, nice read, but nothing special
March 11, 2017
Not a horrible book, but compared to the craft of a Shardlake story, not a patch, and I am afraid I could not help comparing it to Sansom's tomes. This one was shorter, but tiresome, and while Sansom's are far larger and more complicated, they are far more enjoyable and plausible.
January 10, 2017
Read this on hols ,a good book about Tudor England
February 13, 2019
Review - I really enjoyed this book. It did remind me of the Shardlake books by C.J. Sansom, but the characters weren't as memorable as in the Shardlake books. Thomas Treviot seemed to pale into insignificance beside the likes of Cromwell, Incent and Packington. However, basing a novel on a real Tudor mystery is an interesting place to start, and trying to solve it, suggesting that the culprit of the murder was in fact known but couldn't be punished.
Genre? - Historical / Crime / Mystery
Characters? - Thomas Treviot / Thomas Cromwell / Roger Packington / John Incent / William Tyndale / John Stokesley / Thomas Poyntz / Gabriel Donne / Augustine Packington / Robert Aske / Thomas Theobald
Setting? - London (England) & Antwerp (Low Countries)
Series? - Thomas Treviot #1
Recommend? – Yes
Rating - 18/20
For full review see my blog https://bookbloggerish.wordpress.com/...
Genre? - Historical / Crime / Mystery
Characters? - Thomas Treviot / Thomas Cromwell / Roger Packington / John Incent / William Tyndale / John Stokesley / Thomas Poyntz / Gabriel Donne / Augustine Packington / Robert Aske / Thomas Theobald
Setting? - London (England) & Antwerp (Low Countries)
Series? - Thomas Treviot #1
Recommend? – Yes
Rating - 18/20
For full review see my blog https://bookbloggerish.wordpress.com/...
March 27, 2017
An enjoyable murder mystery set in Tudor times. The story is based on a real life unsolved murder, the shooting of Robert Packington. In this version, Robert's friend Thomas Treviot investigates his murder. He becomes entangled in the religious turmoil of the time, and finds himself on a path which leads to Thomas Cromwell and the King's court.
The book is easy to read, and there is a wealth of interesting detail of life inTudor times. Thomas is a likeable protagonist and his growing realisation of the deceit and cynicism that surrounds him is well described. The plot is a little slow to start, and there are a few loose ends that don't really get resolved, but it is an interesting and believable take on a real crime.
The book is easy to read, and there is a wealth of interesting detail of life inTudor times. Thomas is a likeable protagonist and his growing realisation of the deceit and cynicism that surrounds him is well described. The plot is a little slow to start, and there are a few loose ends that don't really get resolved, but it is an interesting and believable take on a real crime.
December 6, 2014
I received this book from a Goodreads Giveaway - and I am glad that I did!
I do enjoy the occasional murder-mystery, although usually not enough to pick up books ike this on a whim. However, this book changed my mind, and I will be picking up the sequel, The Traitor's Mark, as soon as I can. The murder itself is interesting enough - the first handgun murder in English history? - but the atmosphere of the novel, and the detailed historical backdrop, is much more of a draw.You can get an unerring sense of the religious and civil turbulence that 16th Century England was experiencing, and made me want to read up more on the era itself.
I do enjoy the occasional murder-mystery, although usually not enough to pick up books ike this on a whim. However, this book changed my mind, and I will be picking up the sequel, The Traitor's Mark, as soon as I can. The murder itself is interesting enough - the first handgun murder in English history? - but the atmosphere of the novel, and the detailed historical backdrop, is much more of a draw.You can get an unerring sense of the religious and civil turbulence that 16th Century England was experiencing, and made me want to read up more on the era itself.
March 1, 2016
I didn't really enjoy this book. It was well written but just not particularly engaging unfortunately. I didn't feel any particular connection to the main character and by the end of the book I wasn't all that interested in who had committed the crime at the centre of the story.
The satellite characters seemed a bit pointless - Lizzie for example simply seemed to be the obligatory fallen woman character. And we never really get a feel for who she actually is.
I give it three stars because it is well written and the period is well researched but the characters and storyline do let the novel down.
The satellite characters seemed a bit pointless - Lizzie for example simply seemed to be the obligatory fallen woman character. And we never really get a feel for who she actually is.
I give it three stars because it is well written and the period is well researched but the characters and storyline do let the novel down.
August 26, 2016
Really enjoyed this first adventure of Thomas Treviot. It's 1536, Thomas's friend and mentor Robert Packington dies thanks to a bullet from one of the first handguns in London. Thomas tries to find out who killed Robert and why, this brings him into contact with not only the lowlife of London but also with Thomas Cromwell. All was not what it seemed in Robert's life and it comes as a shock to Thomas. Along the way though he makes new friends, works through the grief of his wife dying and finds out finally who ordered the death of his friend.
August 10, 2015
I am not one for reading crime novels., however as this was recommended to me I thought I would give it ago, particularly as I enjoy historical fiction. This was a well written book about the murder of Roger Packington, the first man to be murdered by a handgun in England, and blends in historical fact perfectly with fiction. It moved along at a comfortable speed and a satifying conclusion. I look forward to reading the next Thomas Treviot book.
July 11, 2015
Tudor mysteries sure seem to be popular right now. My favorite is still the Matthew Shardlake series. However, I did find this interesting and a good read and I plan on reading the next book in the series. Would recommend it to anyone wanting one more perspective of Thomas Cromwell and Tudor England.
May 29, 2015
The appeal of this book is that a real unsolved Tudor crime lies at its heart. The protagonist, Thomas Teviot must find a murderer and instead finds himself up to his neck with Tudor intrigue. My problem is that I've been spoiled by Sansom and perhaps I'm not that keen on the jolt from the third person prologue into the first person narrative.
April 20, 2016
First Rate
If you enjoy learning about how the Bible was translated into English so the populace did not have to rely on interpretations from the Catholic Priests, Bishops etc. Also the intrigue and underhanded means used by Cromwell et al. to achieve those ends. The story of Thomas Trevoit is a good guide.
If you enjoy learning about how the Bible was translated into English so the populace did not have to rely on interpretations from the Catholic Priests, Bishops etc. Also the intrigue and underhanded means used by Cromwell et al. to achieve those ends. The story of Thomas Trevoit is a good guide.
December 6, 2014
This book was tedious. Whilst the ending provided an interesting and plausible twist, the story was plain boring.
There was way too much filler in this book. I enjoy Tudor history but this did nothing for me.
There was way too much filler in this book. I enjoy Tudor history but this did nothing for me.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews