The Enterprise of England

The Chronicles of Christoval Alvarez #2

by Ann Swinfen

Facing the threat of King Philip’s Enterprise of England – Spanish invasion and annexation of the country – Sir Francis Walsingham’s secret service spreads a network of agents across Europe. After caring for hundreds of maimed and wounded soldiers returning from the fall of Sluys, young physician and code-breaker Christoval Alvarez is sent on two dangerous missions to Amsterdam, where, amongst the friendly Hollanders, treason and treachery lurks. Christoval’s ship, sailing home, plays its part in the great sea battle in which the small and inexperienced English navy must confront the most powerful sea force in the world.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Mystery, Fiction, Medieval, Historical Mystery

313 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 26, 2014

About the author

Ann Swinfen spent her childhood partly in England and partly on the east coast of America. She read Classics and Mathematics at Oxford, where she married a fellow undergraduate, the historian David Swinfen. While bringing up their five children and studying for an MSc in Mathematics and a BA and PhD in English Literature, she had a variety of jobs, including university lecturer, translator, freelance journalist and software designer.

She served for nine years on the governing council of the Open University and for five years worked as a manager and editor in the technical author division of an international computer company, but gave up her full-time job to concentrate on her writing, while continuing part-time university teaching. In 1995 she founded Dundee Book Events, a voluntary organisation promoting books and authors to the general public.

Her first three novels, The Anniversary, The Travellers, and A Running Tide, all with a contemporary setting but also an historical resonance, were published by Random House, with translations into Dutch and German. Her fourth novel, The Testament of Mariam, marked something of a departure. Set in the first century, it recounts, from an unusual perspective, one of the most famous and yet ambiguous stories in human history. At the same time it explores life under a foreign occupying force, in lands still torn by conflict to this day. Her latest novel, Flood, is set in the fenlands of East Anglia during the seventeenth century, where the local people fought desperately to save their land from greedy and unscrupulous speculators.

She now lives on the northeast coast of Scotland, with her husband (formerly vice-principal of the University of Dundee), a cocker spaniel and two Maine Coon cats.

Reviews

[AdiTurbo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect historical fiction - great characters, none all-bad or all-good, well-researched, but not over-detailed - just the right amount to give you a real sense of place and time, wonderful story. Engaging, suspenseful, really all you can hope for in historical fiction writing. Moving on to the next one in the series.

[Vivienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

TThis series continues to impress as Kit is once more drawn into the service of Walsingham. Here the main issue is the attempted invasion by the Spanish. Kit's medical duties are also quite central to the story and the descriptions can be quite disturbing making me glad to be living today. An excellent series.

[Mercedes Rochelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our intrepid cross-dresser Christoval Alvarez has been called back to help save England from another catastrophe; this time the threat is no less than the Spanish Armada, and it looks very bleak indeed. How can a country with practically no navy, no army, and incompetent generals stand a chance against the formidable Spanish empire? Well, it doesn’t hurt that Thomas Walsingham—the most efficient spy-master the world has ever known—is working for the Queen Elizabeth. But even his energies pale in the face of this great threat. Nonetheless, the English keep on trying, and Christoval reluctantly agrees to sail to Amsterdam, where she finds that her skills of observation are enough to make a difference in the shadow world of treason and treachery. In fact, she is sent back to the continent a second time, lucky enough to be alert to the prime villains of the piece before it’s her turn to end up a victim. Try as she will, Christoval can’t seem to avoid the most dangerous situations, and we witness the ruination of the great Armada through her eyes, as the ship carrying her home jumps into the action. The book is an entertaining read, though for my taste there was just a little too much attention paid to the everyday details (what she had for breakfast, feeding the horse, etc.) which slowed the action down a bit. Regardless, it was a good glimpse of the 16th century through the eyes of a character who had seen the darker side of religious persecution and, of course, the disadvantage of being a woman in a man’s world.

[Ian Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Read

I’m a fussy reader, and am not easily impressed. I stick to mainstream writers like Lee Child, Michael Connelly etc. I subscribed to Amazon Kindle because I’ve run out of things to read. I’ve read a lot of dross over the past few months. However this is the first gold nugget that I’ve come across. I really don’t know why Anne isn’t better know. Excellent plot, grounded writing style and the ability to make characters and scenes come to life. I’m a true convert!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christoval Alvarez has a knack for being in the right place – historically speaking. After trying to retire from Walsingham’s spy service, the young physician is drawn back into code breaking because of the dire threat of a Spanish invasion. As Spain inexorably builds up the Great Armada, Kit is inevitably drawn back into spying and into peril on both land and sea. By the end one more person suspects her hidden identity.

[Cindy Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

This author makes you feel as though you are there taking part in Kit's life. What life!!! Interwoven into the plot are historical events.....this one involving the destruction of the Spanish Armada and Queen Elizabeth, the 16th century.

I very much want to get onto reading book III of this spectacularly written series. I highly recommend!

[Kathie Frobe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore this series

Kit Alvarez is a keeper of secrets, family secrets, community secrets, government secrets, all of which could result in torture or death if exposed.
Beautifully written, rich with Elizabethan culture and the drama of humanity. I highly recommend submerging yourself. And then, read The Oxford Medieval Mysteries series.

[Alison Pilkington · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am enjoying this series very much. They are very easy to read and hard to put down. The author paints a very realistic picture of the places, events and especially the people she describes. I feel close to the characters and feel involved with their lives. Will be reading the next one in the series very soon

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another eventful adventure in Elizabeth England. Ann Swinfen describes the world of spycraft and medicine in the 16th century England come to life again. I'm very invested in Christoval and I can't wait to see what awaits them in the rest of the books. I'd write more, but I'm behind on my reading!

[Hebby Roman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this second book from the "Chronicles" series. The book contains just the right amount of detail with lots of suspense and action, along with the lovely characterization of Christoval, the first-person narrator.

[Pat Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable, but too much like the first book in the series. The 'secret' was interesting at first but is getting tiresome. I much prefer her other books - the Oxford series -- where there is more warmth and character development.

[William N. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing short of frightening . . .

Perhaps shocking would be a better word. So much of the dry history we were taught, brought to stunning, unbelievable real life. Such a rough, tragic, hard, but worthwhile life.

[Jane Gibbens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining fast read, good historical detail

Well written story though quite light and at times not entirely believable but kept me interested to the end with good historical detail, would be a good aeroplane book. Probably more like 3.5 stars.

[Carolyn Dell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite the Adventure!

This second book of the series did not disappoint, and was every bit as exciting as the first. I’m eager to continue reading the adventures of this superb Elizabethan character!

[Colette Grower · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent stories

I love this character

The historical details are wonderfully clear


I would recommend this wonderful series
Please enjoy this Ugbor

[Morris-Ken Hines · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detailed writing

I really enjoyed the history and detailed writing of this story. The fast pace and travels of the characters was fun and exciting.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Such an enjoyable series, this! Being a total Armada-phile, the second in Swinfen's series was pure catnip - but the third is even better!

[Nat · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great continuation of this series and once again the author makes you feel as though you are right there with the main character, experiencing everything they are. An exciting, envolving story.

[PRK Oregon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional writing and historically accurate

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging characters, fascinating history - well told!

[doug simmoms · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good novel


A good historical novel. Very good plot and believable characters, from an interesting period of English history. Want to continue the series.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked this book as much as the first in the series. Will read more!

[Raymond Frost · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another amazing but frightening adventure for Christoval Alvarez where new experiences of secrecy, war, death and wellbeing come together. Kit’s return to England on a pinnace takes an unexpected course as the captain engages in war with a nearby ship of the Spanish fleet - I felt as if I was there with Kit but we just knew they would make if back. The a real surprise encounter for Kit at the very end.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second in this series found Kit facing down the Spanish Armada. I continue to enjoy this outsider's perspective of Tudor England. The history is interesting and the characters feel genuine. Currently onto the third.

[Paul Burnette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Caterina-Christoval-Kit continues her cloak and daggering, concealing herself from the eyes of males as she changes costumes, carrying out Sir Francis Walsingham’s undercover assignments in the Low Countries as the Spanish Armada gathers itself for the assault the Spanish monarch hopes will put him on the throne of England, depose Elizabeth I, and restore Catholicism to the English. As Kit, she works with Walsingham’s and his code-breaker Phelippes’ plans to investigate the state of affairs in the English and Dutch ranks near Amsterdam, between times as Dr. Christoval Alvarez serving the sick and wounded of London alongside her father in the months preceding the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588. As Caterina, she must camouflage the stirrings of young womanhood that must eventually lead her closer to acknowledging her a-little-more-than-friendship feelings for Simon Hetherington, an actor with James Burbage’s troop just producing Christopher Marlowe’s Tamburlaine. This is the second book of The Chronicles of Christoval Alvarez.

[Paul Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Against the backdrop of Spain's designs to conquer England, Kit Alvarez is once again called upon to assist Queen Elizabeth's spymaster, Sir Francis Walsingham. The Spanish are building an enormous navy and are positioning troops across the channel in The Netherlands. A mission to Amsterdam to gather intelligence for Sir Francis finds Kit becoming ever more resourceful in this rather new and dangerous occupation. Kit's main occupation as a healer is also wonderfully depicted, from the everyday ills to the horrors of war made injuries, the author's research shines through. What I find so intriguing is the ability of the author to reel me into the story in such a way that any interruption of my reading is met with much wailing and gnashing of teeth on my part. Another intriguing facet is that Kit's two life secrets remain intact, although one of them may be known to someone...someone with a lot of power. 4.7 stars Oh yeah, I see a pattern developing as this second book in the series ends like the first; with a tantalizing last sentence. :-)

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kit continues to be called on by Walsingham to serve as code breaker as well as working at St Bartholomew's as doctor. This installment she is pitted against some strong and powerful enemies but she somehow wins the day against all odds on yet another venture into Amsterdam to stop arms transport to the Spanish to use against England. I appreciate the detailed descriptions of what the English soldier had to endure during Elizabeth's reign. The end of the book brings a face to face meeting with the queen.

[Liz C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining read

The second book in the series, is just as good as the first. I really enjoyed this story. She has created a well rounded character in Kit and her knowledge of the Elizabethan period is excellent. I'm downloading the next one soon.

[C.P. Lesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every bit as much fun as the first book in the series, as Kit helps England cope with the approaching Spanish Armada. Full review when I finish all five books.

[Barbara Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am enjoying this series immensely, well written and fascinating insights into life in Elizabethan England. I am currently on book #6!