The Assassination Players

Bailiff Mountsorrel Tudor Mysteries #2

by David Field

Nottinghamshire, England, 1591

Two of Queen Elizabeth I’s justices have been murdered within a week of each other, along with a woman who was involved with one of them and a man who had been awaiting trial by the other.

County Bailiff Edward Mountsorrel and Town Bailiff Francis Barton are tasked with investigating the deaths, but they are thrown off course by a visit from the queen’s secretary, Baron Burghley.

Burghley has discovered a plot to kill the Protestant queen and replace her with a Catholic alternative.

He tasks the bailiffs with journeying into a neighbouring county to infiltrate the gang of suspected traitors.

Time is of the essence as the threat already seems to have infiltrated Elizabeth’s court.

But the men behind the plot are ruthless and the path to discover them is fraught with danger.

Will Mountsorrel and Barton unmask the traitors? Who is behind the plot to kill the queen?

Can the bailiffs stop them before they change the course of history forever…?

Genres: Historical, Crime, Tudor Period

197 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 8, 2024

About the author

David was born in post-war Nottingham, and educated at Nottingham High School. After obtaining a Law degree he became a career-long criminal law practitioner and academic, emigrating in 1989 to Australia, where he still lives.

Combining his two great loves of History and the English language he began writing historical novels as an escape from the realities of life in the criminal law, but did not begin to publish them until close to fulltime retirement, when digital publishing offered a viable alternative to literary agencies, print publishers and rejection slips.

Now blessed with all the time in the world, his former hobby has become a fulltime occupation as he enjoys life in rural New South Wales with his wife, sons and grandchildren to keep him firmly grounded in the reality of the contemporary world.

David Field is published by Sapere Books.

Reviews

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tudor times with sufficient action and complex situations for interesting, strong characters. I enjoyed this second of a series without having read the first.
There seem to be five books in this series so I will look forward to more Tudor action. This author was new to me and I look forward to reading more of his writing.

Kindle Unlimited

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you enjoyed the first book in the series, wait until you read this one! Our favorite characters are back together and better than ever. This book is set in 1591, and the pressing political issue is who will sit on the throne after Elizabeth I and will they be Protestant or Catholic. Our hero Edward is drawn into this political intrigue because of murders committed in his territory. There are unexpected twists and outcomes with historical figures playing essential roles in the plot. I loved that the author reveals a side of Edward we've not seen before as well as giving his wife a strong personality of her own. If you are a Tudor/Elizabethan Era fan, you'll love this series.

[Colin Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edward Mountsorrell and his Baliff friend Francis Barton are caught up in a religious intrigue when two Justices are murdered while travelling to the Nottingham Assizes. The pair and Edward's new wife Elizabeth journey south into Leicestershire as undercover agents for the Queen. This good paced story follows the action, which is described well and they look to escape and return to find Edward's new house near completion. There is enough of a trail to take readers onto the next episode.

4 stars.

[Christopher Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second in the series, following the career of two bailiffs in Nottingham during Elizabeth I's reign. One is bailiff of the surrounding area of Nottingham, one is bailiff of the city its self due to an odd legal structure with two sheriffs.

A judge and his escort are killed in an ambush, so the country bailiff investigates, leading to more and more bodies, including another judge. A larger conspiracy unfolds designed to control who whill be Elizabeth's heir.

This book is a bit more historically grounded than the previous in terms of language and attitudes, although still too modern and egalitarian. Its a decent plot and investigation which comes unhinged near the end and chaos ensues, which somehow manages to also reveal the entire plot and players in a matter of hours.

[Maya Ch · Rating 4 out of 5]

after first book in Tudor Mystery series the second one comes surprisingly better. Edward with Elizabeth and Francis are traveling to Leicestershire following crimes in their areas of responsibility. Edward and Elizabeth find their roots in places where they grew up.
Nice to meet more historical characters, as Lord Burghley, Christopher Marlowe.

Still, my favorite book from the author is “the king’s commoner” from Tudor Saga series, picturing the life of Cardinal Wolsey.

[William N. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite good

Enjoyed the interplay between the characters. Well developed relationships and dialog. Looking forward to the next several volumes and to seeing how things develop over time.

[Rhonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful read! This is the second book inthe series and is even more engaging than the first. Handsome heros and heroines, wicken villains, a well-paced plot and beautiful descriptions. I enjoyed this bookvery much.

[Cheryl Kleinjam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Enjoyable!

The history in this series is very interesting as are the plots. The characters are great and much pleasure to the reading of the series of which this book is a part.

[Phillip Mclaughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

more adventure in Tudor England

A second story of Elizabethan England. Papist plots to bring down the government begins with the assassination of a chief justice and his party.
Most enjoyable

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

1591 Nottingham. Two Justices have been murdered and so Bailiffs Edward Mountsorrel and Francis Barton investigate. But other deaths occur. Is there a possibility of treason involved as Baron Burghley sends them on a mission.
An entertaining and well-written historical mysery with its likeable main characters

[wally walter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bit implausible