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The Lost Book of Elizabeth Barton
A dual-timeline murder mystery set in an English country manor, when an ambitious professor discovers the long-lost manuscript of a Reformation-era prophetess
Historian Alison Sage has made a groundbreaking archival discovery―she found a manuscript containing the prophecies of a 16th century nun, Elizabeth Barton. Barton’s prophecy condemning Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn led to her execution and the destruction of all copies of her prophecies―or so the world believed.
With Alison’s discovery, she is catapulted to academic superstardom and scores an invitation to the exclusive Codex Consortium, a week of research among a select handful of fellow historians at a crumbling manor in England, located next to the ruins of the priory where Elizabeth herself once lived.
What begins as a promising conference turns into a nightmare as the eerie house becomes the site of a murder. Suddenly, everyone is a suspect, and it seems that answers lie at the root of a local legend about centuries-old hidden treasure. Alison’s research makes her best-suited to solve the mystery―but when old feelings resurface for a former colleague, and the stakes of the search skyrocket, everyone's motives become murky.
Alison’s cutthroat world of academia is almost as dangerous as Elizabeth Barton’s sixteenth-century England, where heretics are beheaded, visions can kill, and knowing who to trust is a deadly art. The Lost Book of Elizabeth Barton is a thrilling novel, crackling with the voices of the past and propelled by a mystery that will leave readers in suspense until the very last page.
Historian Alison Sage has made a groundbreaking archival discovery―she found a manuscript containing the prophecies of a 16th century nun, Elizabeth Barton. Barton’s prophecy condemning Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn led to her execution and the destruction of all copies of her prophecies―or so the world believed.
With Alison’s discovery, she is catapulted to academic superstardom and scores an invitation to the exclusive Codex Consortium, a week of research among a select handful of fellow historians at a crumbling manor in England, located next to the ruins of the priory where Elizabeth herself once lived.
What begins as a promising conference turns into a nightmare as the eerie house becomes the site of a murder. Suddenly, everyone is a suspect, and it seems that answers lie at the root of a local legend about centuries-old hidden treasure. Alison’s research makes her best-suited to solve the mystery―but when old feelings resurface for a former colleague, and the stakes of the search skyrocket, everyone's motives become murky.
Alison’s cutthroat world of academia is almost as dangerous as Elizabeth Barton’s sixteenth-century England, where heretics are beheaded, visions can kill, and knowing who to trust is a deadly art. The Lost Book of Elizabeth Barton is a thrilling novel, crackling with the voices of the past and propelled by a mystery that will leave readers in suspense until the very last page.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published April 14, 2026
265 people are currently reading
29516 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 307 reviews
April 21, 2026
I wrote it! I really hope you love reading it as much I as I loved writing it (which was a lot).
October 17, 2025
This dual timeline story brings to light the Holy Maid of Kent, namely Elizabeth Barton. And this is why I was attracted to this story.
The story begins in 1525, with Elizabeth Barton at the age of nineteen. She is placed on a farm where she finds the work very hard and doesn’t like it, but her visions open the door for her. She is taken from the farm and brought to St. Sepulchre’s Priory to become a nun. Her visions are recorded by her spiritual advisor – Edward Bocking. With the help of a local patron, he is able to publish her visions.
Her visions attract many pilgrims and attention of powerful men. She is presented to Cardinal Wolsey and used to fight against a new religious influence which is taking over the country. Her visions are used to keep Henry VIII close to the Church and not divorce his wife Katherine of Aragon.
The story of Elizabeth Barton, who becomes a tool in men’s hands who wanted to stir the country in certain direction, is revealed in a linear way which is well-narrated and making an interesting read.
The modern day timeline involves a professor, Alison, who discovers a lost manuscript of Elizabeth Barton. Her success secures her an invitation to an exclusive consortium to the crumbling English manor located close proximity to where Elizabeth Barton lived. This timeline turns into a behind-door style mystery.
Personally, I don’t like modern timelines woven with period timeline, and even more those trying to solve a mystery from the past while getting consumed with tensions of human interactions.
Overall, the story has a good flow and is well-laced between those two timelines.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The story begins in 1525, with Elizabeth Barton at the age of nineteen. She is placed on a farm where she finds the work very hard and doesn’t like it, but her visions open the door for her. She is taken from the farm and brought to St. Sepulchre’s Priory to become a nun. Her visions are recorded by her spiritual advisor – Edward Bocking. With the help of a local patron, he is able to publish her visions.
Her visions attract many pilgrims and attention of powerful men. She is presented to Cardinal Wolsey and used to fight against a new religious influence which is taking over the country. Her visions are used to keep Henry VIII close to the Church and not divorce his wife Katherine of Aragon.
The story of Elizabeth Barton, who becomes a tool in men’s hands who wanted to stir the country in certain direction, is revealed in a linear way which is well-narrated and making an interesting read.
The modern day timeline involves a professor, Alison, who discovers a lost manuscript of Elizabeth Barton. Her success secures her an invitation to an exclusive consortium to the crumbling English manor located close proximity to where Elizabeth Barton lived. This timeline turns into a behind-door style mystery.
Personally, I don’t like modern timelines woven with period timeline, and even more those trying to solve a mystery from the past while getting consumed with tensions of human interactions.
Overall, the story has a good flow and is well-laced between those two timelines.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 16, 2026
I really enjoyed reading The Lost Book of Elizabeth Barton. The concept of a dual timeline historical murder mystery really drew me in. Around the 25% mark, I was completely hooked and needed to know what would happen next. In the present, I couldn't help but be nervous for our main character. In the past, I felt pity and fear for Elizabeth. The writing is well done and easy to navigate, even in the past timeline. The puzzles are evenly placed throughout and keep you interested in finding out more. I did find it a tad annoying that everyone repeated the names of the person they were speaking to. The gothic atmosphere also felt like it fell off once the story turned to murder mystery.
I received an advance review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 1, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
A dual timeline mystery that stars an academic who discovers the lost book of prophecies of Elizabeth Barton, the Maid of Kent, who was executed during the reign of King Henry VI.
It's only April, but maybe one of my favourite debut novels of 2026. The whole vibe of this book is "down with the patriarchy." Both Alison and Elizabeth find themselves manipulated by the men around them, and both are in danger because of it. Of course, Alison has a lot more power and education than Elizabeth, but she allows her heart to get in the way of some of her decisions. A closed-door mystery ensues, and I found myself quite immersed.
I look forward to whatever Jennifer N.Brown writes us next.
Publication Date 14/04/26
Goodreads Review 19/04/26
A dual timeline mystery that stars an academic who discovers the lost book of prophecies of Elizabeth Barton, the Maid of Kent, who was executed during the reign of King Henry VI.
It's only April, but maybe one of my favourite debut novels of 2026. The whole vibe of this book is "down with the patriarchy." Both Alison and Elizabeth find themselves manipulated by the men around them, and both are in danger because of it. Of course, Alison has a lot more power and education than Elizabeth, but she allows her heart to get in the way of some of her decisions. A closed-door mystery ensues, and I found myself quite immersed.
I look forward to whatever Jennifer N.Brown writes us next.
Publication Date 14/04/26
Goodreads Review 19/04/26
February 23, 2026
The Lost Book of Elizabeth Barton is a dual timeline historical fiction novel with a bit of mystery to it.
The historical timeline is set in England during the Tudor Era, featuring Elizabeth Barton herself. Elizabeth Barton is a real historical figure, also known as the "Holy Maid of Kent," who's popularity is because of her visions and prophesies. Her visions opposing Henry VIII's marriage to Anne Boleyn lead her to a torturous fate.
The present day timeline features Alison, who discovers the long lost book of Elizabeth's prophecies. Her discovery leads to an invitation to an exclusive retreat with a group of academics. They are housed at an English manor close to the church where Elizabeth resided during her popularity. This scholarly group is brought together to share their research, which leads to somewhat of a treasure hunt on the property.
As a historical fiction novel, this book is very heavy on the history aspect. I liked how much I learned about Elizabeth Barton and how I could imagine the religious tension of the time period. Much information is given about the time period both in the historical and present day points of view. I also enjoyed the setting of the consortium. The academics conducted and shared their research in a historical house and location with secrets of it's own. I found that I could picture the location vividly due to Brown's descriptive writing.
My critique would be that the characters lacked depth. The expense of all of the historical tidbits was that the characters in this book were one dimensional. Elizabeth Barton herself is such an interesting character. Her internal conflict could have been further developed. Alison was ok, but for how smart she was I feel like she could have put some pieces together a bit faster. At times the story felt drawn out.
The mystery/thriller part of this book really picks up in the last 30% with the introduction of the murder mystery plot. I found this to be both exciting and confusing. While the historical timeline ending was satisfying, I felt like the present day timeline left me with several questions. I was confused about the intentions of one of the supporting characters, and about the lack of resolution regarding the treasure. It seemed like a lot of time invested in the book for the plot to finally pick up pace and then end abruptly.
Overall I enjoyed this read mostly due to the informational aspects and the neat setting.
The historical timeline is set in England during the Tudor Era, featuring Elizabeth Barton herself. Elizabeth Barton is a real historical figure, also known as the "Holy Maid of Kent," who's popularity is because of her visions and prophesies. Her visions opposing Henry VIII's marriage to Anne Boleyn lead her to a torturous fate.
The present day timeline features Alison, who discovers the long lost book of Elizabeth's prophecies. Her discovery leads to an invitation to an exclusive retreat with a group of academics. They are housed at an English manor close to the church where Elizabeth resided during her popularity. This scholarly group is brought together to share their research, which leads to somewhat of a treasure hunt on the property.
As a historical fiction novel, this book is very heavy on the history aspect. I liked how much I learned about Elizabeth Barton and how I could imagine the religious tension of the time period. Much information is given about the time period both in the historical and present day points of view. I also enjoyed the setting of the consortium. The academics conducted and shared their research in a historical house and location with secrets of it's own. I found that I could picture the location vividly due to Brown's descriptive writing.
My critique would be that the characters lacked depth. The expense of all of the historical tidbits was that the characters in this book were one dimensional. Elizabeth Barton herself is such an interesting character. Her internal conflict could have been further developed. Alison was ok, but for how smart she was I feel like she could have put some pieces together a bit faster. At times the story felt drawn out.
The mystery/thriller part of this book really picks up in the last 30% with the introduction of the murder mystery plot. I found this to be both exciting and confusing. While the historical timeline ending was satisfying, I felt like the present day timeline left me with several questions. I was confused about the intentions of one of the supporting characters, and about the lack of resolution regarding the treasure. It seemed like a lot of time invested in the book for the plot to finally pick up pace and then end abruptly.
Overall I enjoyed this read mostly due to the informational aspects and the neat setting.
July 25, 2025
The Lost Book of Elizabeth Barton by Jennifer N. Brown is an entertaining dual timeline historical fiction that I enjoyed.
When I chose this novel, I did not know that it wasa dual timeline which I have come to try to avoid after reading far too many similar novels in the past, but I still went with it. I could have done without the current day thread, it was fine, but I wanted to get to the history…
That being said, I already knew about Elizabeth Barton from reading a lot on the Tudor era and the monarchy that were associated with said era. It was fascinating to read more about her and have her be the focus of novel. I guess I never really wondered that there could be more going on with the story, and that there could be more strings attached then just a woman who was part of the Holy Order that was a voice that spoke up against the Henry VIII drama that involved Anne Boleyn.
4/5 stars
Thank you NG and St Martins Press for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 4/14/26
When I chose this novel, I did not know that it wasa dual timeline which I have come to try to avoid after reading far too many similar novels in the past, but I still went with it. I could have done without the current day thread, it was fine, but I wanted to get to the history…
That being said, I already knew about Elizabeth Barton from reading a lot on the Tudor era and the monarchy that were associated with said era. It was fascinating to read more about her and have her be the focus of novel. I guess I never really wondered that there could be more going on with the story, and that there could be more strings attached then just a woman who was part of the Holy Order that was a voice that spoke up against the Henry VIII drama that involved Anne Boleyn.
4/5 stars
Thank you NG and St Martins Press for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 4/14/26
April 11, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The author’s note says that The Lost Book of Elizabeth Barton is based on true events and people (not the present day timeline). Having known nothing of this time period, I did feel like I was learning something and I am truly interested to learn more having finished this book.
This book was surprisingly a quite a few things in one: historical fiction (and fact), romance, intrigue, dual timeline, and a who done it, all while embracing a self reinvention arc and taking place in a very old estate.
Alison is a middle aged woman who is strong, smart, and not self deprecating! April Doty’s reading truly brought her to life and made her believable.
The timeline about Elizabeth Barton did feel a bit detached. I don’t feel like I knew enough about her, her feelings, and her visions to care about her the way I was meant to.
For both the audiobook and Jennifer N. Brown could’ve made this a bit more atmospheric. I wanted to feel the eerie, drafty, but significant setting.
The author’s note says that The Lost Book of Elizabeth Barton is based on true events and people (not the present day timeline). Having known nothing of this time period, I did feel like I was learning something and I am truly interested to learn more having finished this book.
This book was surprisingly a quite a few things in one: historical fiction (and fact), romance, intrigue, dual timeline, and a who done it, all while embracing a self reinvention arc and taking place in a very old estate.
Alison is a middle aged woman who is strong, smart, and not self deprecating! April Doty’s reading truly brought her to life and made her believable.
The timeline about Elizabeth Barton did feel a bit detached. I don’t feel like I knew enough about her, her feelings, and her visions to care about her the way I was meant to.
For both the audiobook and Jennifer N. Brown could’ve made this a bit more atmospheric. I wanted to feel the eerie, drafty, but significant setting.
April 20, 2026
Rounded up from 3.75
This was a fun historical mystery book with a dual timeline—1530s and 2023—that involves a historical figure from the earlier time period.
In 2023, Professor Alison Sage, a medieval historian, delivers a paper on a lost manuscript of a historical figure who was executed by King Henry VIII. Alison had discovered the book. She is them invited to a meeting of an elite group collaborating on related work.
She is happy to have the affirmation and begins to develop relationships with the other attendees. But she has a previous relationship with one of them.
In the 1530s, a common girl is believed to have visions that foretell the fates of Protestants and is paraded around Kent to show her off and to display her “gift.” A journal is written to document her so-called visions. Along the way, she meets the likes of Wolsey and Cromwell and even King Henry VIII. Unfortunately, he is one of the Protestants whose dismay she portends, and the rest is history that you can Google.
With my background, this was a good book for me, but it was lighter and breezier than I had expected. And I wasn’t expecting a light romance to dominate so much of the story. (I don’t read romance.)
As someone who is familiar with academic conferences, this book came off as both true to life and not.
The reader is not expected to believe the veracity of Elizabeth Barton’s visions in this book, and for that, I am very grateful.
My criticisms have to do not with the breeziness but the pedantic nature the characters explained religious history and art history to the readers under the guise of explaining these things to other characters, assuming readers come to the book with a blank slate. I have expertise in both these areas, and so would the characters, and they would not have to explain things to each other in actuality they way they do in the book.
Also, while there was zero spice, there was more romance Im the book than I like. It served the plot, but egads, it was schmoopy at times, and I didn’t love that.
Also, the main character with a PhD would not really be as stupid and slow as she is in this narrative. That was truly aggravating.
The Lost Book of Elizabeth Barton was fun, and it would be a more substantial beach read or palate cleanser than what many think of beach reads and palate cleansers.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for and advanced copy of this book.
This was a fun historical mystery book with a dual timeline—1530s and 2023—that involves a historical figure from the earlier time period.
In 2023, Professor Alison Sage, a medieval historian, delivers a paper on a lost manuscript of a historical figure who was executed by King Henry VIII. Alison had discovered the book. She is them invited to a meeting of an elite group collaborating on related work.
She is happy to have the affirmation and begins to develop relationships with the other attendees. But she has a previous relationship with one of them.
In the 1530s, a common girl is believed to have visions that foretell the fates of Protestants and is paraded around Kent to show her off and to display her “gift.” A journal is written to document her so-called visions. Along the way, she meets the likes of Wolsey and Cromwell and even King Henry VIII. Unfortunately, he is one of the Protestants whose dismay she portends, and the rest is history that you can Google.
With my background, this was a good book for me, but it was lighter and breezier than I had expected. And I wasn’t expecting a light romance to dominate so much of the story. (I don’t read romance.)
As someone who is familiar with academic conferences, this book came off as both true to life and not.
The reader is not expected to believe the veracity of Elizabeth Barton’s visions in this book, and for that, I am very grateful.
My criticisms have to do not with the breeziness but the pedantic nature the characters explained religious history and art history to the readers under the guise of explaining these things to other characters, assuming readers come to the book with a blank slate. I have expertise in both these areas, and so would the characters, and they would not have to explain things to each other in actuality they way they do in the book.
Also, while there was zero spice, there was more romance Im the book than I like. It served the plot, but egads, it was schmoopy at times, and I didn’t love that.
Also, the main character with a PhD would not really be as stupid and slow as she is in this narrative. That was truly aggravating.
The Lost Book of Elizabeth Barton was fun, and it would be a more substantial beach read or palate cleanser than what many think of beach reads and palate cleansers.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for and advanced copy of this book.
July 19, 2025
The Lost Book of Elizabeth Barton is a duel time line work of historical fiction . I am interested in any book that takes place during the Tudor era. I especially enjoy stories that are about characters other than the usual suspects. Elizabeth Barton … the maid of Kent… was a young woman who claimed she had visions from God regarding the marriage of Henry the VIII and Anne Boylen. The story portrays a young woman caught up in the frenzy that is both manipulated and used by the clergy trying to stop England’s division from the Catholic Church.
The modern story is about a women Allison, a historian that has found the lost book of Elizabeth Barton. This story becomes a typical English closed door mystery. This part of the story was a little less successful for me.
Thanks to net galley for providing me with the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book was a pleasant surprise.
The modern story is about a women Allison, a historian that has found the lost book of Elizabeth Barton. This story becomes a typical English closed door mystery. This part of the story was a little less successful for me.
Thanks to net galley for providing me with the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book was a pleasant surprise.
August 14, 2025
Told from two perspectives in different parts of time, this book is about Elizabeth Barton - Holy Maid of Kent, and a professor learning about her in the present day, Alison Sage. After Alison discovers a long lost manuscript of Elizabeth's proclamations and prophecies, she starts to work on a paper and study of the life of the ill-fated woman from the Tudor Era. At the same time, we see the life Elizabeth leads, from the first vision she has at the height of a fever to the end, swinging from the end of a rope. For Alison, everything goes awry when she is invited to a writer's consortium in the countryside where Elizabeth once lived and things turn into a fear-inducing murder mystery.
The perspectives of both women in this book are told so incredibly well. Each has their own voice and way of thinking, and life experiences that shape how they react to things around them. I have always loved any books, fiction or non-fiction, that focus on the Tudor period and the happenings of the Reformation. The author of this book has a clear and precise flow to her writing and it makes you want to continue reading to find out each and every detail of both stories. I greatly enjoyed reading this book, and hope to see more from this author. It is such a joy to have a book that twists together fact and history with a mystery and the lives of people in the different periods of time.
Much thanks to NetGalley for this ARC.
The perspectives of both women in this book are told so incredibly well. Each has their own voice and way of thinking, and life experiences that shape how they react to things around them. I have always loved any books, fiction or non-fiction, that focus on the Tudor period and the happenings of the Reformation. The author of this book has a clear and precise flow to her writing and it makes you want to continue reading to find out each and every detail of both stories. I greatly enjoyed reading this book, and hope to see more from this author. It is such a joy to have a book that twists together fact and history with a mystery and the lives of people in the different periods of time.
Much thanks to NetGalley for this ARC.
August 26, 2025
I received this book as a free ARC through netgalley, 3.5 starts rounded to 4. The book is composed of two timelines, a rich historical narrative woven into a modern story of greed, murders, and scholars. To be perfectly honest I was about 25% of the way through and struggling with where it was going and decided to read a few pages from the last present day chapter. I learned there was a new character, a detective, and thus became re-interested to see what mystery was brewing. The pace picked up around 65% of the way through. I found the predictable switching of timelines every chapter interrupted the flow in some places and but helped it in other parts. I felt the book ended without tying up loose ends in the modern timeline —there was a lot left for the reader to assume or determine on their own—but I’ll admit that I prefer to have neat endings that offer closure.
April 28, 2026
This is in my top 5 reads out of 45 titles in 2026 so far, but I love historical fiction set in England! And my husband and I have both worked for English Departments among nerdy and ambitious scholars, so I enjoyed the details in this novel that some might find exasperating.
Brown writes a book that is a mash up of a historical fiction novel set during the reign of Henry the VIII with a contemporary novel set near Canterbury that is a thriller involving a small group of scholars who are experts in Tutor history, literature, religion, and politics.
I enjoyed both time frames: the central figure is Elizabeth Barton, a real person who declared a number of prophecies that got her a lot of attention -- some good attention and some bad. She was nicknamed the Maid of Kent. You can read the Wikipedia entry about her and those who supported her. The contemporary time frame has a small group of scholars gathering at an estate for a week of reading, writing, collaborating, and presenting drafts of scholarly articles about Tutor England. As we get to know the attendees as well as the servants of the house, things grow more and more complex and troubling.
I read it in just a few days--in part because my copy was from Libby, and I could see that 10 other patrons were waiting to download the audiobook. This was not a problem since I found every aspect of the book engaging: characters, plot, setting, and all the historical facts. Granted, Brown made up some of the historical characters, but about a half dozen were based on real people. I learned a little more about the Tutor era (particularly the Dissolution of the Catholic Church in England) and a lot about Elizabeth Barton.
Brown writes a book that is a mash up of a historical fiction novel set during the reign of Henry the VIII with a contemporary novel set near Canterbury that is a thriller involving a small group of scholars who are experts in Tutor history, literature, religion, and politics.
I enjoyed both time frames: the central figure is Elizabeth Barton, a real person who declared a number of prophecies that got her a lot of attention -- some good attention and some bad. She was nicknamed the Maid of Kent. You can read the Wikipedia entry about her and those who supported her. The contemporary time frame has a small group of scholars gathering at an estate for a week of reading, writing, collaborating, and presenting drafts of scholarly articles about Tutor England. As we get to know the attendees as well as the servants of the house, things grow more and more complex and troubling.
I read it in just a few days--in part because my copy was from Libby, and I could see that 10 other patrons were waiting to download the audiobook. This was not a problem since I found every aspect of the book engaging: characters, plot, setting, and all the historical facts. Granted, Brown made up some of the historical characters, but about a half dozen were based on real people. I learned a little more about the Tutor era (particularly the Dissolution of the Catholic Church in England) and a lot about Elizabeth Barton.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
It's a great story when you can't stop wondering what will happen next, and you're keen to jump back into the book as soon as you can. I experienced this with The Lost Book of Elizabeth Barton.
I know very little about the actual history presented in this work of historical fiction, other than tidbits I could recall from movies I've seen, but it was an adventure I enjoyed! Jennifer N. Brown executed this two-timeline story with a steady pace, superb characters - both heros and villains, present and past - and a plot with suspense, humor, romance, intrigue, and tragedy that kept me interested.
I enjoyed this book in audio format, and being super picky about narrators, I can say that the narration performance was excellent. I would totally recommend if audiobooks are your jam.
I appreciated both the vulnerability and intelligence of Allison's character, whom I really enjoyed, along with the strength of many other female characters, though found myself drawn to Allison's storyline more so than Elizabeth's.
I could easily picture myself in both the setting of Elizabeth's timeline, 1500s England, as well as Allison's, present day, England. The authors use of description in her settings left no doubt about the setting i was escaping to.
As someone who is not as familiar as many others with the 1500s Era, I found the author's note at the end of the book exceptionally beneficial for me to understand fact from fiction. Knowing this now, I truly think she's done an exceptional job bringing together an entertaining historical fiction and would recommend this book to others.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this ARC via audio format.
I know very little about the actual history presented in this work of historical fiction, other than tidbits I could recall from movies I've seen, but it was an adventure I enjoyed! Jennifer N. Brown executed this two-timeline story with a steady pace, superb characters - both heros and villains, present and past - and a plot with suspense, humor, romance, intrigue, and tragedy that kept me interested.
I enjoyed this book in audio format, and being super picky about narrators, I can say that the narration performance was excellent. I would totally recommend if audiobooks are your jam.
I appreciated both the vulnerability and intelligence of Allison's character, whom I really enjoyed, along with the strength of many other female characters, though found myself drawn to Allison's storyline more so than Elizabeth's.
I could easily picture myself in both the setting of Elizabeth's timeline, 1500s England, as well as Allison's, present day, England. The authors use of description in her settings left no doubt about the setting i was escaping to.
As someone who is not as familiar as many others with the 1500s Era, I found the author's note at the end of the book exceptionally beneficial for me to understand fact from fiction. Knowing this now, I truly think she's done an exceptional job bringing together an entertaining historical fiction and would recommend this book to others.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this ARC via audio format.
August 14, 2025
4.5 rounded to 5.
The Lost Book of Elizabeth Barton is a captivating dual-timeline historical mystery perfect for fans of Deborah Harkness and historical fiction
The novel weaves together two timelines: one set during the time of Henry VIII, the other in the present day. In the past, we follow Elizabeth Barton, a forgotten nun who dared to prophesy against King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. Her story unfolds as she navigates the perilous consequences of defying the crown, surrounded by powerful men whose influence threatens her autonomy and safety.
In the present, Alison Sage, a Tudor historian, is invited to an elite academic consortium to discuss her groundbreaking discovery of Elizabeth’s long-lost book of prophecies. But what begins as a scholarly opportunity quickly spirals into a dangerous game. As the consortium progresses, she learns that all is not what it seems. She finds herself an unwilling participant in a potential treasure hunt that turns deadly.
I really enjoyed discovering Elizabeth along with Alison, and trying to figure out the mysteries. Who can Alison trust? Are the decisions Elizabeth making hers, or influenced by those meant to protect her?
A compelling blend of historical intrigue and modern suspense, this book kept me guessing until the very end.
Thank you to Netgalley, Jennifer N Brown, and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy. My review is voluntary and honest.
The Lost Book of Elizabeth Barton is a captivating dual-timeline historical mystery perfect for fans of Deborah Harkness and historical fiction
The novel weaves together two timelines: one set during the time of Henry VIII, the other in the present day. In the past, we follow Elizabeth Barton, a forgotten nun who dared to prophesy against King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. Her story unfolds as she navigates the perilous consequences of defying the crown, surrounded by powerful men whose influence threatens her autonomy and safety.
In the present, Alison Sage, a Tudor historian, is invited to an elite academic consortium to discuss her groundbreaking discovery of Elizabeth’s long-lost book of prophecies. But what begins as a scholarly opportunity quickly spirals into a dangerous game. As the consortium progresses, she learns that all is not what it seems. She finds herself an unwilling participant in a potential treasure hunt that turns deadly.
I really enjoyed discovering Elizabeth along with Alison, and trying to figure out the mysteries. Who can Alison trust? Are the decisions Elizabeth making hers, or influenced by those meant to protect her?
A compelling blend of historical intrigue and modern suspense, this book kept me guessing until the very end.
Thank you to Netgalley, Jennifer N Brown, and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy. My review is voluntary and honest.
January 20, 2026
I was fortunate to obtain an advance copy of this book through a giveaway. I found the story to be very enlightening and entertaining. The protagonist, Alison, was very likable and relatable. The dual timeline provided many interesting facts about the Tudor period while setting up a compelling story in the present day.
April 26, 2026
The research and the history were by far the strongests element of this story. I just wish the mystery and the intrigue was given the same effort. Something detailed in the synopsis didn't happen until the very end of the book, resulting in the resolution to be incredibly rushed. There was also so much time spent developing a relationship in the story that from the start was obviously a plot device and nothing more.
Disappointed because this was a book i highly anticipated.
Disappointed because this was a book i highly anticipated.
April 27, 2026
This book took me way too long to read. The subject matter was interesting but the dual timeline style did not add that much to the story. I think it would have been more enjoyable either as pure historical fiction OR a modern day mystery. I think other people will really enjoy it, so don’t let my opinion keep you from picking it up.
April 16, 2026
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for an early copy. All opinions are my own.
My opinions <3
I don't know if I would really call this a murder mystery. I mean, the murder doesn't happen until maybe 75%? And honestly, the murder kindaaaa comes out of left-field. In fact, I forgot that this book was marketed as a murder mystery at that point. I would say, if you're a big fan of murder-mysteries, this probably won't be what you expect.
Overall, I would say this was ok. I don't think the ending quite stuck the landing, but there was definitely some interesting aspects plot-wise.
My opinions <3
I don't know if I would really call this a murder mystery. I mean, the murder doesn't happen until maybe 75%? And honestly, the murder kindaaaa comes out of left-field. In fact, I forgot that this book was marketed as a murder mystery at that point. I would say, if you're a big fan of murder-mysteries, this probably won't be what you expect.
Overall, I would say this was ok. I don't think the ending quite stuck the landing, but there was definitely some interesting aspects plot-wise.
August 11, 2025
I was fortunate to get this as an ARC and I loved it! This book had all the things I love: religious and political intrigue, a murder mystery, a manor house in the English countryside, and a little treasure hunt.
Elizabeth Barton, The Holy Maid, is someone I knew a bit about but I enjoyed the author’s take on how she might have easily been manipulated into faking some of her visions to “save” England from the Lutherans. The modern story follows an historian, Allison Sage, who has discovered the lost book of visions of Barton and becomes drawn into a hunt for some hidden treasures from the Tudor era.
I found the dual timeline past/present easy to follow and I enjoyed how it tied the story together. I felt it was a tad slow at first but picked up steadily. After about the 50% point, I couldn’t put it down!
Thank you, Net Galley, St. Martin’s Press, and author Jennifer L Brown!
Elizabeth Barton, The Holy Maid, is someone I knew a bit about but I enjoyed the author’s take on how she might have easily been manipulated into faking some of her visions to “save” England from the Lutherans. The modern story follows an historian, Allison Sage, who has discovered the lost book of visions of Barton and becomes drawn into a hunt for some hidden treasures from the Tudor era.
I found the dual timeline past/present easy to follow and I enjoyed how it tied the story together. I felt it was a tad slow at first but picked up steadily. After about the 50% point, I couldn’t put it down!
Thank you, Net Galley, St. Martin’s Press, and author Jennifer L Brown!
September 17, 2025
The Lost Book of Elizabeth Barton by Jennifer N. Brown is delightful slowburn read. When I picked this up, I was in the midst of a Wolf Hall binge and was searching for books that took place during the same time period. This was perfect for that purpose. If Wolf Hall is the nexus (of pain), then Elizabeth Barton hovers on the edges of the same world, observing events from afar yet still deeply impacted by them.
The book opens with a timeline of events, and marks the start of each chapter with a date and location-- this is very helpful, even having a huge fascination with this era Elizabeth Barton is a relatively minor actor to center the story on. It follows the story of Claire Sage a 21st century historian studying Elizabeth Barton (our other POV) a prophetess living in 16th century England during the Protestant Reformation. She is more popularly known as the Holy Maid of Kent.
Brown does a fantastic job ensuring that her minor characters are given dedicated backstories that reflect the broader politics of the era, womens issues (and how women navigated them/protected themselves in the midst of the Reformation) take center stage. The question of how Brown's characters (from Elizabeth to Claire to Agnes) navigate power and grasp on to all that they have is complex and reflects the different positions each of them occupy-- prophetess (beholden to patrons), academic (and divorcee), Abbess (in a time of change). Each woman lives in uncertainty and is highly aware of her position.
Yet, Brown doesn't set all of them in opposition to each other. She does something far more interesting-- Brown makes each woman inclined to friendship, but makes clear that their positions in life (whether it be academia, financial, or personal) has forced them to live at odds. One of the first interactions we see is between two women at the top of their careers-- a supermodel and a historian. I felt the sigh building in my chest as Alison Sage (our 21st century protagonist), regarded the other woman. But Marla, a gorgeous historian giving Gail Carriger vibes, is presented as a clear expansion on the supermodel's character-- she is held up as a mirror to contrast with our MC while both continue to find common ground , competition, and admiration in the other.
Beyond the characters, Brown has some zingers to toss off especially from Elizabeth Barton as she grows into a more politically savvy woman. And at the history channel lol.
I would recommend this book to historical fiction fans who want to explore the 16th century away from the Tudor court. All the impact of Henry's Great Matter will be felt by Elizabeth Barton but neither she nor the court will be in any position to stop them-- their role is simply to try to survive.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The book opens with a timeline of events, and marks the start of each chapter with a date and location-- this is very helpful, even having a huge fascination with this era Elizabeth Barton is a relatively minor actor to center the story on. It follows the story of Claire Sage a 21st century historian studying Elizabeth Barton (our other POV) a prophetess living in 16th century England during the Protestant Reformation. She is more popularly known as the Holy Maid of Kent.
Brown does a fantastic job ensuring that her minor characters are given dedicated backstories that reflect the broader politics of the era, womens issues (and how women navigated them/protected themselves in the midst of the Reformation) take center stage. The question of how Brown's characters (from Elizabeth to Claire to Agnes) navigate power and grasp on to all that they have is complex and reflects the different positions each of them occupy-- prophetess (beholden to patrons), academic (and divorcee), Abbess (in a time of change). Each woman lives in uncertainty and is highly aware of her position.
Yet, Brown doesn't set all of them in opposition to each other. She does something far more interesting-- Brown makes each woman inclined to friendship, but makes clear that their positions in life (whether it be academia, financial, or personal) has forced them to live at odds. One of the first interactions we see is between two women at the top of their careers-- a supermodel and a historian. I felt the sigh building in my chest as Alison Sage (our 21st century protagonist), regarded the other woman. But Marla, a gorgeous historian giving Gail Carriger vibes, is presented as a clear expansion on the supermodel's character-- she is held up as a mirror to contrast with our MC while both continue to find common ground , competition, and admiration in the other.
Beyond the characters, Brown has some zingers to toss off especially from Elizabeth Barton as she grows into a more politically savvy woman. And at the history channel lol.
I would recommend this book to historical fiction fans who want to explore the 16th century away from the Tudor court. All the impact of Henry's Great Matter will be felt by Elizabeth Barton but neither she nor the court will be in any position to stop them-- their role is simply to try to survive.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Read
March 17, 2026What buired must be buired
protected from evil shadow
old words float to light
dig betwen new religon
new discition
old words put under feareul hope
as gazal love to run throw hard mountin old word run
slave to thowgh
who make our soul free
brave to dig at past
find rare lili by religon parfan
God for all
make peace over many world
protected from evil shadow
old words float to light
dig betwen new religon
new discition
old words put under feareul hope
as gazal love to run throw hard mountin old word run
slave to thowgh
who make our soul free
brave to dig at past
find rare lili by religon parfan
God for all
make peace over many world
September 12, 2025
I am extremely grateful to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the privilege of reviewing an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.
The Lost Book of Elizabeth Barton is a wonderful combination of historical fiction, dark academia and a locked-room style mystery. All of these elements are layered together to create a story that travels back and forth between Tudor England, before and during the reign of Henry VIII, and a modern-day manse in the English countryside.
FMC Alison Sage is an academic and historical researcher who has recently made a breakthrough in the discovery of a lost text written by 16th century nun, Elizabeth Barton. Barton (a real historical figure) made a series of shocking prophecies condemning Henry VIII, his then consort Anne Boleyn and Henry's break with the Roman Catholic Church. Barton, who famously became known as "The Maid of Kent", took religious vows and joined a Benedictine order as she continued to relate a great number of prophecies. She soon caught the eye of powerful men, in religious and government circles, and became an important pawn that both sides wanted to control.
After Alison uncovers some of Barton's writings, she becomes the latest darling of academia and secures a coveted invitation to the exclusive Codex Consortium - a week of research with fellow historians in an ancient manor house in England. The manor is conveniently located near the grounds of the priory house where Elizabeth Barton once lived. What begins as a lively conference soon turns into a mess of ex-lovers, jealous researchers and murder.
The best parts of the book for me were all of the past perspectives of Elizabeth and those around her. The author clearly took incredible care in her research and I absolutely devoured the Tudor history and its magnificent atmosphere. I learned so much about Barton, Henry VIII and the powerful men who surrounded him. There were many times I had to set the book aside to go look things up and learn more about this remarkable time in history. The voices of the past felt very authentically written and I would have been content to have read only that part of the book.
The modern perspective was only slightly less satisfying. I very much enjoyed having a glimpse into the cutthroat world of high academia. The descriptions of the crumbling mansion and the mysterious characters within felt like I was inside a game of Clue. There are strong gothic undercurrents in both timelines and a hint of the supernatural.
My one deduction would be that the murder mystery felt a bit like an afterthought. It doesn't even start in earnest until about 60 percent into the story and the conclusion felt a bit rushed. Still, it wasn't bad and I was entertained throughout. I learned SO much from this book and it has inspired me to read more history from the period. Great for fans of Philippa Gregory, Wolf Hall, The Tudors or any gothic, Tudor-period historical fiction. 4 stars
The Lost Book of Elizabeth Barton is a wonderful combination of historical fiction, dark academia and a locked-room style mystery. All of these elements are layered together to create a story that travels back and forth between Tudor England, before and during the reign of Henry VIII, and a modern-day manse in the English countryside.
FMC Alison Sage is an academic and historical researcher who has recently made a breakthrough in the discovery of a lost text written by 16th century nun, Elizabeth Barton. Barton (a real historical figure) made a series of shocking prophecies condemning Henry VIII, his then consort Anne Boleyn and Henry's break with the Roman Catholic Church. Barton, who famously became known as "The Maid of Kent", took religious vows and joined a Benedictine order as she continued to relate a great number of prophecies. She soon caught the eye of powerful men, in religious and government circles, and became an important pawn that both sides wanted to control.
After Alison uncovers some of Barton's writings, she becomes the latest darling of academia and secures a coveted invitation to the exclusive Codex Consortium - a week of research with fellow historians in an ancient manor house in England. The manor is conveniently located near the grounds of the priory house where Elizabeth Barton once lived. What begins as a lively conference soon turns into a mess of ex-lovers, jealous researchers and murder.
The best parts of the book for me were all of the past perspectives of Elizabeth and those around her. The author clearly took incredible care in her research and I absolutely devoured the Tudor history and its magnificent atmosphere. I learned so much about Barton, Henry VIII and the powerful men who surrounded him. There were many times I had to set the book aside to go look things up and learn more about this remarkable time in history. The voices of the past felt very authentically written and I would have been content to have read only that part of the book.
The modern perspective was only slightly less satisfying. I very much enjoyed having a glimpse into the cutthroat world of high academia. The descriptions of the crumbling mansion and the mysterious characters within felt like I was inside a game of Clue. There are strong gothic undercurrents in both timelines and a hint of the supernatural.
My one deduction would be that the murder mystery felt a bit like an afterthought. It doesn't even start in earnest until about 60 percent into the story and the conclusion felt a bit rushed. Still, it wasn't bad and I was entertained throughout. I learned SO much from this book and it has inspired me to read more history from the period. Great for fans of Philippa Gregory, Wolf Hall, The Tudors or any gothic, Tudor-period historical fiction. 4 stars
August 3, 2025
I received an ARC on netgalley for an honest review and I am happy to say I really enjoyed this one! I think the dual timeline structure is great because we get to see the impact and parallels to modern life. Even if it’s just treading the in the footsteps of those characters. Just 2 months off a trip to the Tower of London I felt the impact of going through traitor’s gate and how that must have been knowing you may not be coming out again.
July 27, 2025
An absolute marvel of a story. It tells the story of The Maid of Kent (Elizabeth Barton) and with a dual timeline a historian who finds the "lost book" of Elizabeth. The author does a great job in keeping the historical facts about Elizabeth while humanizing the circus of events that surrounded her claims of visions. The more modern story becomes a treasure hunting/murder mystery as only the English can do. Although I had my suspicions of one of the characters very early on (and I was right!) - the story was interesting and exciting from start to finish. The only thing that kept it from being 5 stars for me was the quick conclusion - I would have liked to see how the outcome of the story affected her life. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
April 14, 2026
The best part of this book, for me, was the very last page!...just what I was waiting for! Nope, no spoilers here, but that last page made the book worth the read. Honestly, I found the story a tad tedious, until, finally, the priest hole was used...(not revealing it here, you'll have to read the book), then it was a fast rollercoaster ride to the end. I adore anything about King Henry the Eighth and the story of Elizabeth Barton, the seer and prophet of the time, is fascinating, and true. The authors' notes are fantastic when it comes to her research. She notes "many of the facts related to Elizabeth Barton in this book are true". The chapters on Elizabeth Barton are fascinating, and I loved them! The story I found a bit weak, and I do try to love every single book I read, because writers put so much hard work into their works, yet this story was just a tad weak.
August 4, 2025
This engaging historical fiction read is also great for reminding me why I did not want to go into academia. Ugh.
In this case, murder ugh.
Appreciated all the notes at the end explaining what was real, what was not, and where inspiration for the not came from.
In this case, murder ugh.
Appreciated all the notes at the end explaining what was real, what was not, and where inspiration for the not came from.
April 17, 2026
Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria for an ARC of this novel.
This is a dual timeline novel. Elizabeth Barton’s story unfolds at St. Sepulchre’s Priory in 1527, while the second, contemporary story features a Barton scholar, Dr Alison Sage, who is set to speak at a prestigious conference in Canterbury.
The 16th century Elizabeth Barton is a pious, humble illiterate servant. Through the Bishop’s intervention, she is sent to the priory, where she is tutored in matters of faith and devotion by the Prioress and the kindly and devout Father Bocking. But Elizabeth is no ordinary servant. She has visions of God’s dire warning to Christians about the threat posed by the rising Lutheran sect. Taking her into their protection in the priory, the Prioress and the priest want to make her an instrument for their side against these ‘demons’. Elizabeth understands that their purpose is to preserve their power, and she is adept at telling them what they want to hear to preserve her own status as the Holy Maid. The book that is central to the present-day mystery contains her daily devotions, funded by a wealthy local patron, Agnes Vale, but believed to be mostly Bocking’s work. Also of interest to the Barton scholars assembled in an ancient mansion in Canterbury is a second book transcribed by Bocking.
Meanwhile Alison Sage is invited to the prestigious Codex Consortium taking place in Canterbury in 2023. Recently divorced from another academic, and sharing custody of their young twins, she faces the double stress load of her home life and her work, and is especially conflicted about a conference that includes both her former mentor and her shifty former lover Westley Charley, a last minute inclusion.
Although Alison professes
‘No regrets about falling back into sex with Wes,’ it becomes increasingly clear that he is using her to locate a second, unpublished book by Bocking about Elizabeth’s accusations against King Henry and his campaign to annul his marriage to Katherine of Aragon so that he could marry Anne Boleyn. Suddenly, a series of inexplicable deaths and disappearances among the venue’s staff and the conference attendees makes it clear that this concerns much higher stakes than simply a missing historical artefact. Alison becomes ‘the key to the treasure hunt.’ In the 16th century timeline, the Crown made 700 copies of the contentious book disappear. Elizabeth Barton and four supporters were hanged for treason at Tyburn Tree in April 1534.
Barton and Father Bocking are real historical characters, and the second book that caused all the turmoil then and in the contemporary timeline was never recovered. The author, a specialist in women’s medieval literature, writes well and tells a story that shows, yet again, the erasure, by powerful men, of ‘threatening’ women from the historical record. The subject is interesting, but the historical timeline, in my view, would have made a much better story in itself, without the Alison Sage side. The mystery unfolding in Canterbury just isn’t all that compelling. The conference itself is peopled by annoying academic stereotypes who
will be recognized even by non-academics because their characterization is so familiar. Although I know her life first hand, I couldn’t work up much sympathy for Alison. She seems whiny and preoccupied with the difficulties of being a female scholar in the 21st century, so that somehow her lot, challenging as it undoubtedly is, becomes equivalent to that of Barton—who loses not only her work but her life itself under an unquestioned patriarchal rule. Nonetheless, the book is rich in historical context as well as that of present day academic politics. As a debut novel, it’s a worthwhile read.
This is a dual timeline novel. Elizabeth Barton’s story unfolds at St. Sepulchre’s Priory in 1527, while the second, contemporary story features a Barton scholar, Dr Alison Sage, who is set to speak at a prestigious conference in Canterbury.
The 16th century Elizabeth Barton is a pious, humble illiterate servant. Through the Bishop’s intervention, she is sent to the priory, where she is tutored in matters of faith and devotion by the Prioress and the kindly and devout Father Bocking. But Elizabeth is no ordinary servant. She has visions of God’s dire warning to Christians about the threat posed by the rising Lutheran sect. Taking her into their protection in the priory, the Prioress and the priest want to make her an instrument for their side against these ‘demons’. Elizabeth understands that their purpose is to preserve their power, and she is adept at telling them what they want to hear to preserve her own status as the Holy Maid. The book that is central to the present-day mystery contains her daily devotions, funded by a wealthy local patron, Agnes Vale, but believed to be mostly Bocking’s work. Also of interest to the Barton scholars assembled in an ancient mansion in Canterbury is a second book transcribed by Bocking.
Meanwhile Alison Sage is invited to the prestigious Codex Consortium taking place in Canterbury in 2023. Recently divorced from another academic, and sharing custody of their young twins, she faces the double stress load of her home life and her work, and is especially conflicted about a conference that includes both her former mentor and her shifty former lover Westley Charley, a last minute inclusion.
Although Alison professes
‘No regrets about falling back into sex with Wes,’ it becomes increasingly clear that he is using her to locate a second, unpublished book by Bocking about Elizabeth’s accusations against King Henry and his campaign to annul his marriage to Katherine of Aragon so that he could marry Anne Boleyn. Suddenly, a series of inexplicable deaths and disappearances among the venue’s staff and the conference attendees makes it clear that this concerns much higher stakes than simply a missing historical artefact. Alison becomes ‘the key to the treasure hunt.’ In the 16th century timeline, the Crown made 700 copies of the contentious book disappear. Elizabeth Barton and four supporters were hanged for treason at Tyburn Tree in April 1534.
Barton and Father Bocking are real historical characters, and the second book that caused all the turmoil then and in the contemporary timeline was never recovered. The author, a specialist in women’s medieval literature, writes well and tells a story that shows, yet again, the erasure, by powerful men, of ‘threatening’ women from the historical record. The subject is interesting, but the historical timeline, in my view, would have made a much better story in itself, without the Alison Sage side. The mystery unfolding in Canterbury just isn’t all that compelling. The conference itself is peopled by annoying academic stereotypes who
will be recognized even by non-academics because their characterization is so familiar. Although I know her life first hand, I couldn’t work up much sympathy for Alison. She seems whiny and preoccupied with the difficulties of being a female scholar in the 21st century, so that somehow her lot, challenging as it undoubtedly is, becomes equivalent to that of Barton—who loses not only her work but her life itself under an unquestioned patriarchal rule. Nonetheless, the book is rich in historical context as well as that of present day academic politics. As a debut novel, it’s a worthwhile read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4+
Two fascinating plotlines and equally fascinating history!
I selected this book simply because the dual-plot description sounded intriguing. Both stories are worth reading , and I felt I got two books for the price of one! The modern-day tale of historian Alison Sage and her fellow historians whose conference at a manor in England is sorely disrupted by a murder is well done, with the usual camaraderie and competition among the participants. There is a minor romance subplot at the conference when one of the participants turns out to be a former graduate student with whom Alison was romantically involved; to me this was unnecessary and was the weakest part of the book. The second plotline grows out of Allison’s discovery of a sixteenth-century manuscript by Sister Elizabeth Barton that made a number of prophecies and also condemned King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, which led the Crown to execute her.
Although both of these plots kept my interest, the story of Elizabeth Barton was unusually intriguing. Of course, I knew about Henry VIII and his many wives, but I had never heard of Elizabeth Barton and did not know that she was a real historical figure. I felt I learned a lot of history in addition to being gripped by the story, especially when the intrigue motivated me to look up Elizabeth Barton online!
This is Jennifer Brown’s first work of fiction, but even though she manages to put a lot of interesting historical information into the book, the writing style is quite enjoyable, and my kindle has quite a few ”ha ha”s and comments on the nice writing and well done atmosphere as well as speculation about whodunit!
I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press.
Two fascinating plotlines and equally fascinating history!
I selected this book simply because the dual-plot description sounded intriguing. Both stories are worth reading , and I felt I got two books for the price of one! The modern-day tale of historian Alison Sage and her fellow historians whose conference at a manor in England is sorely disrupted by a murder is well done, with the usual camaraderie and competition among the participants. There is a minor romance subplot at the conference when one of the participants turns out to be a former graduate student with whom Alison was romantically involved; to me this was unnecessary and was the weakest part of the book. The second plotline grows out of Allison’s discovery of a sixteenth-century manuscript by Sister Elizabeth Barton that made a number of prophecies and also condemned King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, which led the Crown to execute her.
Although both of these plots kept my interest, the story of Elizabeth Barton was unusually intriguing. Of course, I knew about Henry VIII and his many wives, but I had never heard of Elizabeth Barton and did not know that she was a real historical figure. I felt I learned a lot of history in addition to being gripped by the story, especially when the intrigue motivated me to look up Elizabeth Barton online!
This is Jennifer Brown’s first work of fiction, but even though she manages to put a lot of interesting historical information into the book, the writing style is quite enjoyable, and my kindle has quite a few ”ha ha”s and comments on the nice writing and well done atmosphere as well as speculation about whodunit!
I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press.
September 8, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC
I would describe this book as simply, wow. The ending page gave me goosebumps! I loved the scholarly setting and characters in the story. They all felt very realistic and the dual-timeline was fascinating. This is an excellent book for those who love history in general. Seeing the two timelines come together was addicting. Once I got to the fifty percent point of the book, I started racing through. So much started happening so fast and I just needed to know. There were quite a few red herrings and twists throughout, but the main culprit was hidden in plain sight.
I loved the anti-patriarchy message. Women are often seen as lesser, even when their efforts are manipulated for men. I love the way the author uses this theme both of the plotpoints. Very well written.
I would describe this book as simply, wow. The ending page gave me goosebumps! I loved the scholarly setting and characters in the story. They all felt very realistic and the dual-timeline was fascinating. This is an excellent book for those who love history in general. Seeing the two timelines come together was addicting. Once I got to the fifty percent point of the book, I started racing through. So much started happening so fast and I just needed to know. There were quite a few red herrings and twists throughout, but the main culprit was hidden in plain sight.
I loved the anti-patriarchy message. Women are often seen as lesser, even when their efforts are manipulated for men. I love the way the author uses this theme both of the plotpoints. Very well written.
August 23, 2025
When I started this book the only knowledge I had on the subject was a brief knowing of Henry VIII and his love of wives and food. I had no idea that there really was a Maid of Kent trying to help keep Catholicism in England during Henry’s reign. This book was a very interesting read knowing that some events were truly based in history and then most of it was the fictional brilliance of the author and historian, Jennifer N. Brown.
We get to experience two timelines in the book, the first follows Elizabeth Barton, a low born maid who one day has a vision while feverish. She is swept up by the Catholic establishment and used as a pawn to try and affect the changes in religion. And then fast forward to present day, when historian Alison Sage has found the previously thought lost writings of the Maid of Kent and is planning on publishing her finds, but first she must navigate some treachery of her own.
This was a very fast paced entertaining read, which gives enough history to make one want to do a little research on one’s own. The author even threw in a bit of mystery and murder! Would highly recommend if you like Tudor history with modern day drama.
The book will debut in April 2026!!
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
We get to experience two timelines in the book, the first follows Elizabeth Barton, a low born maid who one day has a vision while feverish. She is swept up by the Catholic establishment and used as a pawn to try and affect the changes in religion. And then fast forward to present day, when historian Alison Sage has found the previously thought lost writings of the Maid of Kent and is planning on publishing her finds, but first she must navigate some treachery of her own.
This was a very fast paced entertaining read, which gives enough history to make one want to do a little research on one’s own. The author even threw in a bit of mystery and murder! Would highly recommend if you like Tudor history with modern day drama.
The book will debut in April 2026!!
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
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