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Thomas Treviot #2
The Traitor's Mark
Based on the true story of the unsolved disappearance of Hans Holbein—famed portrait-painter of Henry VIII—this atmospheric historical novel plunges into an underworld of Tudor politics and intrigue.
The Real Crime: Hans Holbein, King Henry VIII's portrait painter, died in the autumn of 1543. A century later a chronicler reported that the artist had succumbed to plague, yet there is no contemporary evidence to support this. Suspicions have been raised over the centuries, but the mystery of what actually happened remains unsolved to this day.
Our Story: Young London goldsmith Thomas Treviot is awaiting a design for a very important jewelry commission from Hans Holbein. When the design fails to turn up, Thomas sends a servant to track Holbein down, only to discover that the painter has disappeared. In his hunt for Holbein and the lost design, Thomas is led into a morass of dangerous political intrigue, Spanish spies and courtiers that is more treacherous than he could ever have anticipated . . .
465 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2014
12 people are currently reading
1079 people want to read
About the author
D.K. Wilson
3 books13 followersD.K. Wilson is an historian and expert on the Tudor period, having already published acclaimed non-fiction books on Tudor England and Henry VIII.
Pseudonym of author Derek Wilson.
Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Pseudonym of author Derek Wilson.
Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
August 7, 2015
The cover of my copy stated that fans of C.J. Sansom would love this book. Maybe I should pay less attention to these kind of remarks on covers. Yes, there was at least one character which reminded me of the Shardlake books (a former monk as a apothecary???). But I think the Shardlake books are much, much better.
All in all it was a nice read. Sometimes a bit too much detail on the religious differences in the period during conversation. Yes, I know that was a big topic. But the way it was written was more like a schoolteacher. Kind of annoyed me.
All in all it was a nice read. Sometimes a bit too much detail on the religious differences in the period during conversation. Yes, I know that was a big topic. But the way it was written was more like a schoolteacher. Kind of annoyed me.
January 2, 2016
Well researched but personally found the story dragged. As other have said here the characters also felt clunky which didn't help the story to flow very well.
December 28, 2015
Boring. Didn't Finish. Characters were flat
December 19, 2017
An interesting, historical mystery set in the latter days on Henry VIIi's reign and focussing on Thomas Cranmer's determination to cling to power and carry on with the reformation of the Church. Thomas Treviot, a London goldsmith, is the main character and the story is very loosely based on the mystery surrounding the death of Hans Holbein, the court artist. It is well researched and the second book of the series but can be read as a standalone book.
May 5, 2023
An enjoyable read - not as good as the shardlake series but enjoyable nevertheless
September 23, 2018
This story seemed to drag and although it was historically interesting for a while, about half way through it became very apparent that the plot wasn't really going anywhere. I know the speed at which events and messages can be relayed at this time period is so much slower than nowadays but I'm sure there are plot devices which could have been used. The characters seemed poorly developed you didn't really get a feel for any of them and definitely didn't feel for their plight or their successes.
March 14, 2016
The endorsement by Alison Weir motivated me to read this book. It was well written, however, I found the story lacked humanity and passion. The main characters seemed flat and the plot involving Holbein seemed contrived and a little beyond the realm of possibility. If you need a quick read, it's not bad but certainly not electrifying.
April 16, 2016
I really didn't enjoy this novel as I normally would as I found it long and boring. Some details were interesting and the characters were okay but the plot just seemed to take forever to reveal itself.
June 19, 2016
This was a fairly standard historical crime novel. There were twists and turns and some interesting characters. It isn't to the same standard as the Shardlake novels by C.J Sansom.
April 21, 2023
The Traitor's Mark is the second in D.K. Wilson's Tudor Mystery Series. I've reviewed the first book, The First Horseman, here on 7/26/2022. Wilson is first and foremost a well published and respected historian, so be assured the history is correct. His fiction has a fair smattering of historical people in them, but the lion's share are also fictional. I know a good bit about Tudor history having read extensively on it. That being said, I will now give my review.
Here, we again meet the character Thomas Treviot, master goldsmith and his man and friend, Bart Miller. If you remember, Thomas is a widower with a small son and a very lucrative business. The Prologue opens with Thomas Cromwell's arrest in 1540, then hops to 1543 when Treviot sends Bart to Hans Holbein's house to inquire about a design he ordered for a silver cup to be given to the King by the Lord Mayor of London.
Miller sends a hastily scribbled note back asking for urgent help. When Thomas arrives at the Holbein house he finds Bart severely beaten and in the hands of the brutal Constable Peter Peet, the house in a wreck, the bloody body of Holbein's servant, the sexually assaulted and beaten nanny, and Holbein himself disappeared. Thomas is astounded to find out Peet has not sent out the Hue and Cry, because he has already decided Bart is the killer, regardless of the obvious fact that he only has one arm and would have been hard-pressed to accomplish the level havoc in the house alone.
When the coroner arrives, the nanny Adie tells him it was a gang who committed the murder. The coroner decides to hold Bart until more evidence can be sorted, but as Peet marches Bart out, he makes a break, jumps on Thomas's best horse, and speeds away. While Thomas is glad for Bart's escape, he still has to get the design to make the cup and decides he must find Holbein. But where to start and how?
First, he takes nanny Adie and Holbein's young son's to his house. Adie has fallen into a deep depression and cannot tend to the boys, so they join Thomas's son under the care of Bart's wife Lizzie and the tutor. Then he worries that Holbein may be dead until a package arrives with the design for the cup and a short note from the artist. Holbein tells him he must remain in hiding and thanks him for tending to his boys and household.
Thomas thinks he is done with the business when he is summoned to attend Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury. Cranmer tells Thomas that he will now be a help to him if he becomes his spy, as it appears Bishop Gardiner and Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk, both ardent Catholics, are plotting to destroy him like they did Cromwell three years ago.
How is Treviot going to survive this deadly game that has no real winners? How is he going to find the real killer and save Bart, find Holbein, spy on two of the most prominent men at Court, protect his family and business, and most importantly live through the ordeal? You are going to have to read the book and enjoy the many plot twists.
Here, we again meet the character Thomas Treviot, master goldsmith and his man and friend, Bart Miller. If you remember, Thomas is a widower with a small son and a very lucrative business. The Prologue opens with Thomas Cromwell's arrest in 1540, then hops to 1543 when Treviot sends Bart to Hans Holbein's house to inquire about a design he ordered for a silver cup to be given to the King by the Lord Mayor of London.
Miller sends a hastily scribbled note back asking for urgent help. When Thomas arrives at the Holbein house he finds Bart severely beaten and in the hands of the brutal Constable Peter Peet, the house in a wreck, the bloody body of Holbein's servant, the sexually assaulted and beaten nanny, and Holbein himself disappeared. Thomas is astounded to find out Peet has not sent out the Hue and Cry, because he has already decided Bart is the killer, regardless of the obvious fact that he only has one arm and would have been hard-pressed to accomplish the level havoc in the house alone.
When the coroner arrives, the nanny Adie tells him it was a gang who committed the murder. The coroner decides to hold Bart until more evidence can be sorted, but as Peet marches Bart out, he makes a break, jumps on Thomas's best horse, and speeds away. While Thomas is glad for Bart's escape, he still has to get the design to make the cup and decides he must find Holbein. But where to start and how?
First, he takes nanny Adie and Holbein's young son's to his house. Adie has fallen into a deep depression and cannot tend to the boys, so they join Thomas's son under the care of Bart's wife Lizzie and the tutor. Then he worries that Holbein may be dead until a package arrives with the design for the cup and a short note from the artist. Holbein tells him he must remain in hiding and thanks him for tending to his boys and household.
Thomas thinks he is done with the business when he is summoned to attend Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury. Cranmer tells Thomas that he will now be a help to him if he becomes his spy, as it appears Bishop Gardiner and Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk, both ardent Catholics, are plotting to destroy him like they did Cromwell three years ago.
How is Treviot going to survive this deadly game that has no real winners? How is he going to find the real killer and save Bart, find Holbein, spy on two of the most prominent men at Court, protect his family and business, and most importantly live through the ordeal? You are going to have to read the book and enjoy the many plot twists.
August 1, 2021
The Traitor's Mark by D. K. Wilson was a gift to me from Jennifer. It is an interesting book in a series based on real unsolved Tutor mysteries. The protagonist, Thomas Treviot, is a goldsmith who was a friend of Hans Holbein the portrait painter, who died in 1543. Although an author wrote that he died from the plague, there is no evidence to support this. Thus, D. K. Wilson, a historian of the Tutor period, has written this novel to posit another possibility, that he was a victim in the continual battle between Protestant and Catholic nobles trying to influence King Henry VIII. A strong background in the religious situation of the time would make much of the story clearer. Many of the characters are real historical figures, but alas, even people with backgrounds in English history can forget who was supporting which cause.
The novel has a fairly interesting plot; it does set up an interesting and detailed background for the period; but many of the characters are weak--not all, but many. I certainly read it straight through, but I am unlikely to pick up any other novels in the series. However, I thank my daughter for her thoughtfulness in giving me this book. Perhaps she thinks my historical knowledge is better than it is--at least for this period.
The novel has a fairly interesting plot; it does set up an interesting and detailed background for the period; but many of the characters are weak--not all, but many. I certainly read it straight through, but I am unlikely to pick up any other novels in the series. However, I thank my daughter for her thoughtfulness in giving me this book. Perhaps she thinks my historical knowledge is better than it is--at least for this period.
January 31, 2022
I think what really attracted me to this book is that it's based on a real historical mystery, not something completely made up and inserted into the historical context. The Prebendaries Plot was real and Holbein did die at the time the story is set. But combining the two is really clever, especially given that we don't know exactly how Holbein died.
It's a gripping mystery with so many different strands that all come together. There are plenty of twists, turns, and red herrings to contend with which keep you gripped to the end, until the mystery is resolved. The cover says that you'll love this series if you love the Shardlake books, but I do think the Shardlake books are actually slightly better because Shardlake is a more interesting character I've found. But that doesn't deduct from the genius of this mystery.
The 4 stars rather than 5 was because the writing in parts felt clunky and didn't flow as well as it could have, but the engaging mystery rescued it. It's good that, at the end, there is an explanation from the author of what is actually history and what is fiction, it helps to keep it clear for those looking to research further.
It's a gripping mystery with so many different strands that all come together. There are plenty of twists, turns, and red herrings to contend with which keep you gripped to the end, until the mystery is resolved. The cover says that you'll love this series if you love the Shardlake books, but I do think the Shardlake books are actually slightly better because Shardlake is a more interesting character I've found. But that doesn't deduct from the genius of this mystery.
The 4 stars rather than 5 was because the writing in parts felt clunky and didn't flow as well as it could have, but the engaging mystery rescued it. It's good that, at the end, there is an explanation from the author of what is actually history and what is fiction, it helps to keep it clear for those looking to research further.
May 29, 2019
Too long, too redundant, too contradictory and not nearly enough substance to sustain over 400 pages! This book could have benefited tremendously from some deep editing; at least 150 pages could have been whittled away to create a more streamlined, coherent story.
The Tudor era had a wealth of historical events which included a world-view change of religion and politics. That it is a fertile time period for novels is clear from the sheer number of books, series and TV shows that continue to thrive on the complicated alliances that prevailed during the 16th century. The reason I chose to read this book in the first place was because I was intrigued by the "mystery" of what happened to the famous painter, Han Holbein. I was deeply disappointed by the book's treatment of it. True, there is a vague explanation of sorts given, but it is in no way backed up by any research and I found it a flimsy solution to a real-life disappearance.
But most dismaying of all is the weak and facile writing. I was never engaged by the plot or any of the characters. A waste of time.
The Tudor era had a wealth of historical events which included a world-view change of religion and politics. That it is a fertile time period for novels is clear from the sheer number of books, series and TV shows that continue to thrive on the complicated alliances that prevailed during the 16th century. The reason I chose to read this book in the first place was because I was intrigued by the "mystery" of what happened to the famous painter, Han Holbein. I was deeply disappointed by the book's treatment of it. True, there is a vague explanation of sorts given, but it is in no way backed up by any research and I found it a flimsy solution to a real-life disappearance.
But most dismaying of all is the weak and facile writing. I was never engaged by the plot or any of the characters. A waste of time.
August 25, 2018
A lightweight but quite enjoyable read, with a fictional story wrapped around a kernel of truth, and with a pace that provides for rapid page turning. The atmosphere of Tudor England is wonderfully evoked, the dangerous political intrigues, the plagues and social uncertainty of the time is made authentic and natural as a very skillfully written story, by an accomplished author .
My only complaint, and not of the author is a publisher which has padded out a fairly slim novel into one of 465 pages. I dislike a book that has been produced using a large typeface and lots of leading !
However, books often sell by the width of their spines, and consequently I am relieved that this particular book came through a library, and not out of my pocket !!
My only complaint, and not of the author is a publisher which has padded out a fairly slim novel into one of 465 pages. I dislike a book that has been produced using a large typeface and lots of leading !
However, books often sell by the width of their spines, and consequently I am relieved that this particular book came through a library, and not out of my pocket !!
May 28, 2019
This book fell short of great for me, which was disappointing. It's just the kind of historical fiction I like: based on historical events where details are missing and the author comes up with a plausible story line. In this case, the plot of the book was engaging, just not expertly told. I never really felt connected to the main character and had trouble keeping his friends straight. But the worst offense was that much of the most dramatic events or plot reveals happened off stage. When the identity of the master plotter is revealed, it's off stage by some minor characters. The main antagonist's death happens off stage as an afterthought. All of this resulted in a book whose pacing was flat.
dnf
December 16, 2019Temporary (?) DNF- When I started this I didn't realize it was the second book of a series. I have higher priority books to finish at the moment and I'm honestly conflicted about going back and reading the first book- The First Horseman, I think it was? The Traitor's Mark wasn't grabbing me the way that I hoped it would and I'm 50/50 on whether reading its predecessor will help, or whether this author's style just isn't for me. We'll see. If someone reads this review years from now and I haven't updated it, you'll know I lost interest in going back. In the meantime I'm going to decline to rate it, as that wouldn't be fair.
August 16, 2020
I read this alongside Dr David Starkey book, but unfortunately the time periods were slightly different and certain characters had different allegiances. This caused a little confusion but that was quickly dispelled.
I loved the real historical content and the fictionalised narrative was equally as gripping.
I understand so much more about the violence surrounding the death of Catholicism in much of Northern Europe. I have new found admiration for the intellect and character of the Tudor Court. Likewise, I see that the worst of humanity is no modern thing.
English history brought to life and I’m only sad that I started this series on the second instalment.
I loved the real historical content and the fictionalised narrative was equally as gripping.
I understand so much more about the violence surrounding the death of Catholicism in much of Northern Europe. I have new found admiration for the intellect and character of the Tudor Court. Likewise, I see that the worst of humanity is no modern thing.
English history brought to life and I’m only sad that I started this series on the second instalment.
September 24, 2018
Very good historical mystery. I enjoyed the locale placements, and the characters were well done if perhaps not exactly historically accurate. I wish the author had been more explicit about which "queen" Henry VIII was entertaining at the time of the story, it would have helped place the date. I will be on the look out for others in the series!
February 26, 2019
3.5 actual. The story was engaging and fun to read, but the author needed a better proofreader (so many missing commas!) and some of the dialogue was terribly anachronistic. It would go from “‘Tis strange, forsooth,” to “Let’s take a break and grab a beer” within a page or two. It was a bit jarring. And he spelled “bairns” “bearns!” Ahh!
July 31, 2018
First 30 or so pages are really good, the middle kind of dies does, but picks back up from page 300 on. Provides good insight to religious politics of the time. Good to read once, but no more than that.
August 31, 2020
This book is based on a true story of a famous portrait painter, who died in 1543. Hans Holbein was that painter of King Henry VIII. A century a chronicler reported that the artist had succumbed to the plague, yet there is no evidence to support this. Suspicions have been raised over the centuries, but the mystery of what actually happened remains a mystery to this day.
The author is one of Britain's leading historians and a highly regarded expert on the Tudor period. This was his first novel to be published in the U.S. He lives in England.
Very interesting plot and genuine suspense. You'll love this book with all the characters in this turbulent age of Henry VIII.
The author is one of Britain's leading historians and a highly regarded expert on the Tudor period. This was his first novel to be published in the U.S. He lives in England.
Very interesting plot and genuine suspense. You'll love this book with all the characters in this turbulent age of Henry VIII.
February 16, 2021
I enjoyed this book immensely! The characters are great and he makes you feel as if you are in London with Treviot, solving a mystery. Lots of twists and turns as the story develops and unfolds into it's finale.
July 11, 2023
An interesting novel based around the religious changes during the reign of Henry VIII. Whilst factual characters are featured and actual events are portrayed it is possibly a bit far fetched in weaving a mystery into those events.
October 9, 2023
Straight out, I'll admit that I didn't enjoy this book as much as I did the first in the series.
There's no doubt that this is a thoroughly well researched book, and it's interesting to take a real-life situation and use it to spin a story around it. It has a strong sense of time and place and a good mystery at its heart.
However, I was disappointed as a number of the events and the characters were just unbelievable and too far-fetched to really immerse myself and enjoy the book fully.
There's a lot of moving parts in this story, and I felt it became a little unwieldy in the middle, getting tied up in a lot of politics.
The characterisation is clumsy, particularly the supporting cast, and the dialogue is laughable at times.
Not a bad book, but too many issues for me to give it a glowing recommendation.
There's no doubt that this is a thoroughly well researched book, and it's interesting to take a real-life situation and use it to spin a story around it. It has a strong sense of time and place and a good mystery at its heart.
However, I was disappointed as a number of the events and the characters were just unbelievable and too far-fetched to really immerse myself and enjoy the book fully.
There's a lot of moving parts in this story, and I felt it became a little unwieldy in the middle, getting tied up in a lot of politics.
The characterisation is clumsy, particularly the supporting cast, and the dialogue is laughable at times.
Not a bad book, but too many issues for me to give it a glowing recommendation.
January 15, 2026
I enjoyed the historical fiction of the Tudor era, but there are other books that I found more fun. That said, it was a quick read and I understand the history underneath the fiction was well-researched and faithful.
June 11, 2017
Gave up on page 158. Doesn't come close to the Shardlake novels.
November 18, 2018
...in the last days shall come parlous times. For the men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, cursed speakers, disobedient to father and mother, unthankful, unholy, unkind, truce-breakers, stubbprn, false accusers, rioters, fierce despisers of them which are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, greedy upon voluptuouseness more than the lovers of God, having a similitude of godly living, but have denied the power thereof... - The Second Epistle of St Paul to Timothy, in the 1534 translation by William Tyndale - Pg. Epigraph
“It is essier to be a spectator but the game must be played and sometimes reluctant participants have to give up the luxury of merely looking on.” - Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, Pg. 73-4
“He who hates deceives with his lips; when he speaks graciously believe him not.” - Pg. 172
Proverbs 26:24-25
“24
Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips
and harbors deceit in his heart;
25
when he speaks graciously, believe him not,
for there are seven abominations in his heart;”
“It always helps to know your enemy, especially hos weaknesses.” - Ned Longbourne, Pg. 210
“It is essier to be a spectator but the game must be played and sometimes reluctant participants have to give up the luxury of merely looking on.” - Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, Pg. 73-4
“He who hates deceives with his lips; when he speaks graciously believe him not.” - Pg. 172
Proverbs 26:24-25
“24
Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips
and harbors deceit in his heart;
25
when he speaks graciously, believe him not,
for there are seven abominations in his heart;”
“It always helps to know your enemy, especially hos weaknesses.” - Ned Longbourne, Pg. 210
December 22, 2016
(Apparently this book is listed twice? I'm copy-pasting my review from the other edition to this one, since this seems to be the one people are actually looking at and reviewing.)
I understand that historical novels are going to showcase some views that aren't thought highly of today, especially when it comes to women. And I can usually get past that, if the book is written well. But The Traitor's Mark had one really awful plot device that I can't brush off as just "being historically accurate". That plot device was
Other than that, the book was alright. The writing style was decent, the mystery was suspenseful, and I liked the side plot of the main character dealing with his feelings about the state's interference in religion. I found the pacing to be frustratingly slow, but I guess that's to be expected when the characters have to communicate by mail instead of telephone and email. Over all, it wasn't bad. Nothing special, but not awful either. If it hadn't been for the thing I mentioned in the spoiler tags, I'd probably have rated the book 3 stars. But that whole plotline just killed most of the enjoyment I had for the book. I really think it would have been better without it.
October 10, 2021
Very basic book about a conspiracy of papal supporters against Protestant Anglican supporters in 1530 England. The plot was thin the action minimal and the dialogue weak. It was a pretty bland book .
May 16, 2015
Based on the true, and rather bizarre, story which surrounds the supposed death of the Tudor court painter, Hans Holbein, who purportedly died from the effects of plague in the autumn of 1543, and yet, there is no evidence to support this theory. This second book in the Thomas Treviot series of Tudor mysteries takes Holbein's mysterious disappearance as its starting point and develops a well thought out historical whodunit set around a series of clues which take the reader on an historical adventure through Tudor London.
Thomas Treviot is a young London goldsmith, who inadvertently, whilst awaiting an important jewellery commission from Holbein, gets drawn into a world of intrigues, danger and deceit.. Holbein's disappearance on the eve of Treviot's commission unleashes a whole series of catastrophic events, which lead Treviot inexorably into the dark and dangerous world of the Spanish spy master, those deadly figures who control the puppet strings of some of the greatest names at the Tudor court of Henry VIII.
I thought that, overall, this was good historical mystery, the sights sounds and smells of Tudor England come alive in the imagination and the reader embarks on a journey into the past, a place where political intrigue at the highest level, had repercussions on those who were trying to live an ordinary life.
I enjoyed getting to know Thomas Treviot and his companions, and even though this is book two in the series, it doesn't detract from the story by reading the series out of order, as this book sits comfortably on its own.
Well worth a read if you enjoy the Shardlake mysteries by C J Sansom as this author bears favourable comparison and The Traitor's Mark sits comfortably within the historical mystery genre.
Thomas Treviot is a young London goldsmith, who inadvertently, whilst awaiting an important jewellery commission from Holbein, gets drawn into a world of intrigues, danger and deceit.. Holbein's disappearance on the eve of Treviot's commission unleashes a whole series of catastrophic events, which lead Treviot inexorably into the dark and dangerous world of the Spanish spy master, those deadly figures who control the puppet strings of some of the greatest names at the Tudor court of Henry VIII.
I thought that, overall, this was good historical mystery, the sights sounds and smells of Tudor England come alive in the imagination and the reader embarks on a journey into the past, a place where political intrigue at the highest level, had repercussions on those who were trying to live an ordinary life.
I enjoyed getting to know Thomas Treviot and his companions, and even though this is book two in the series, it doesn't detract from the story by reading the series out of order, as this book sits comfortably on its own.
Well worth a read if you enjoy the Shardlake mysteries by C J Sansom as this author bears favourable comparison and The Traitor's Mark sits comfortably within the historical mystery genre.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews