What do you think?
Rate this book
Joan & Matthew Stock #2
Low Treason
The wealthy jeweler to the nobility plots to betray the crown to Spain.
Matthew Stock’s young relation, Thomas, leaves home to apprentice himself to Castell, a jeweler in London. Then he disappears. Castell writes to say Thomas has gone to sea, but Stock decides he must investigate: such a move is unlike the boy, indeed. While Stock is away, Thomas returns and tells Matthew’s wife Joan how the jeweler is trying to have him killed. He has discovered that Castell is blackmailing high-ranking members of Elizabeth’s court. Joan must rush to London to warn her husband. For Matthew has no idea of the danger he is in, asking the ruthless Castell about Thomas…
Matthew Stock’s young relation, Thomas, leaves home to apprentice himself to Castell, a jeweler in London. Then he disappears. Castell writes to say Thomas has gone to sea, but Stock decides he must investigate: such a move is unlike the boy, indeed. While Stock is away, Thomas returns and tells Matthew’s wife Joan how the jeweler is trying to have him killed. He has discovered that Castell is blackmailing high-ranking members of Elizabeth’s court. Joan must rush to London to warn her husband. For Matthew has no idea of the danger he is in, asking the ruthless Castell about Thomas…
Hardcover
First published January 18, 1983
45 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
Leonard Tourney
23 books25 followersLeonard Tourney came to BYU in 2006 after teaching at Western Illinois University, the University of Tulsa, and the University of California at Santa Barbara. A specialist in composition pedagogy and creative writing, Professor Tourney has authored scholarly articles in l7th century British literature, a critical biography of Joseph Hall, short fiction, and nine historical novels, the most recent a fictional memoir of William Shakespeare.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 9, 2017
Quick reading but no shortage of a good story; in fact, as I got closer to the end, I grew concerned for the main characters ... even though I knew they would survive and succeed in their trials and tribulations.
That's an example of how well Leonard Tourney has written this book that starts with a young man trying to get home. When he doesn't arrive, and no further word is heard, his brother comes to Matthew Stock and Stock travels to London to try and solve the disappearance, or at least find the boy alive.
While he struggles against different stories and opinions, the young Thomas comes home and pours out his misadventure to Stock's wife, Joan. Concerned for her husband's safety, she then travels herself to London. While its a bit unrealistic that a wife would do this during Elizabethan times, in fact, it would be dangerous for her to do so ... Joan's travel is the beginning of the real drama of this story and soon I found myself wrapped up in this mystery of murder and intrigue.
Remember this is Elizabethan times, when many people disappeared never to be found. It was very easy in those days and that expectation that they could locate a young man in the teeming narrow, convoluted roadways of London. So many things could have happened and did to many, from being robbed and killed and the body never to be discovered, to an individual thrown into prison for nothing more serious than not having money.
And then there is the intrigue that Stock soon uncovers ... a little too easily for reality but none the less, that is what ultimately makes the story interesting because indeed the "low treason" referenced in the title is nothing less than turning England and its monarchy on its ear. It seemed so fantastic that I turned to Wikipedia and learned that such an incidence (instances, would probably be more accurate) did indeed happen during this period. That also drove me to read and not stop reading this until I was finished.
So while I wouldn't say this was AMAZING (which would certainly earn a five star rating from me), I will say it is darn good reading. I look forward to reading more about the good Stocks and their investigations.
That's an example of how well Leonard Tourney has written this book that starts with a young man trying to get home. When he doesn't arrive, and no further word is heard, his brother comes to Matthew Stock and Stock travels to London to try and solve the disappearance, or at least find the boy alive.
While he struggles against different stories and opinions, the young Thomas comes home and pours out his misadventure to Stock's wife, Joan. Concerned for her husband's safety, she then travels herself to London. While its a bit unrealistic that a wife would do this during Elizabethan times, in fact, it would be dangerous for her to do so ... Joan's travel is the beginning of the real drama of this story and soon I found myself wrapped up in this mystery of murder and intrigue.
Remember this is Elizabethan times, when many people disappeared never to be found. It was very easy in those days and that expectation that they could locate a young man in the teeming narrow, convoluted roadways of London. So many things could have happened and did to many, from being robbed and killed and the body never to be discovered, to an individual thrown into prison for nothing more serious than not having money.
And then there is the intrigue that Stock soon uncovers ... a little too easily for reality but none the less, that is what ultimately makes the story interesting because indeed the "low treason" referenced in the title is nothing less than turning England and its monarchy on its ear. It seemed so fantastic that I turned to Wikipedia and learned that such an incidence (instances, would probably be more accurate) did indeed happen during this period. That also drove me to read and not stop reading this until I was finished.
So while I wouldn't say this was AMAZING (which would certainly earn a five star rating from me), I will say it is darn good reading. I look forward to reading more about the good Stocks and their investigations.
August 29, 2022
This was a good book. It was much better than the first book of the series. The vocabulary was easier and the story had a better flow. I am not thrilled with all the senseless killing of innocent people, most of it added nothing to the story. I will read another book in the series.
September 6, 2025
Slow
Slow starting. But, it grew on me as I read. Turned out to have historical characters who acted as I would have expected from the history I know. Really worked out well. I enjoyed it a lot.
Slow starting. But, it grew on me as I read. Turned out to have historical characters who acted as I would have expected from the history I know. Really worked out well. I enjoyed it a lot.
January 10, 2021
Great historical novel
This book was filled with great imagery of the time period. It was very descriptive. I couldn't put the book down until I was finished.
This book was filled with great imagery of the time period. It was very descriptive. I couldn't put the book down until I was finished.
June 30, 2022
Late Tudor England. Thomas Ingram brother to their daughters husband has gone missing. So Matthew Stock decides to travel to London to find answers. But life becomes complicated when he gets entangled with criminals.
An entertaining historical mystery with its likeable characters.
An entertaining historical mystery with its likeable characters.
January 30, 2009
From my original reading journal:
While this wasn't a bad way to kill a day, this book had a lot of faults and I don't think that I've found a new series to add to my collection. This was not a who-dunit, but a question of proving guilt. The character portrayals were good, although somewhat caricatured; the plot was somewhat melodramatic. What bothered me the most, however, was the overdoing of the setting. The story takes place near the end of Queen Elizabeth's reign, and every barbic practice, or unhygenic one, or mistreatment of the lower classes, is pointed out. I'm not doubting Mr. Tourney's historical accuracy, but if he must go on and on about it, why doesn't he write non-fiction?? Our hero, a small town constable, visits Newgate Prison, and it is described in detail. A few days later he is himself imprisoned there on charges invented by the man whom he is investigating. Do I really need another complete description? Is Mr. Tourney afraid that in less than a hundred pages I will have forgotten the inhuman squalor of the prison or the outrageously unjust system on which the prison runs?
Not the worst book I ever read, but I won't bother with any of his others, either.
While this wasn't a bad way to kill a day, this book had a lot of faults and I don't think that I've found a new series to add to my collection. This was not a who-dunit, but a question of proving guilt. The character portrayals were good, although somewhat caricatured; the plot was somewhat melodramatic. What bothered me the most, however, was the overdoing of the setting. The story takes place near the end of Queen Elizabeth's reign, and every barbic practice, or unhygenic one, or mistreatment of the lower classes, is pointed out. I'm not doubting Mr. Tourney's historical accuracy, but if he must go on and on about it, why doesn't he write non-fiction?? Our hero, a small town constable, visits Newgate Prison, and it is described in detail. A few days later he is himself imprisoned there on charges invented by the man whom he is investigating. Do I really need another complete description? Is Mr. Tourney afraid that in less than a hundred pages I will have forgotten the inhuman squalor of the prison or the outrageously unjust system on which the prison runs?
Not the worst book I ever read, but I won't bother with any of his others, either.
March 7, 2016
The protagonist was too much "the common man" cliché for my personal interest. Also, it seems the author was purposely dumbing him down to remain so. Given a proper chance Mr. Stock, protagonist, might have been more interesting.
April 27, 2012
Always like his little mysteries. This is one of the earlier ones about Matthew and Joan Stock. Gotta get more of these !! Thanks, Barts Books in Ojai !
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews