The Locksmith's Daughter

by Karen Brooks

From acclaimed author Karen Brooks comes this intriguing novel rich in historical detail and drama as it tells the unforgettable story of Queen Elizabeth's daring, ruthless spymaster and his female protégée.

In Queen Elizabeth's England, where no one can be trusted and secrets are currency, one woman stands without fear.

Mallory Bright is the only daughter of London's most ingenious locksmith. She has apprenticed with her father since childhood, and there is no lock too elaborate for her to crack. After scandal destroys her reputation, Mallory has returned to her father's home and lives almost as a recluse, ignoring the whispers and gossip of their neighbors. But Sir Francis Walsingham, Queen Elizabeth's spymaster and a frequent client of Mallory's father, draws her into his world of danger and deception. For the locksmith's daughter is not only good at cracking locks, she also has a talent for codes, spycraft, and intrigue. With Mallory by Sir Francis’s side, no scheme in England or abroad is safe from discovery.

But Mallory's loyalty wavers when she witnesses the brutal and bloody public execution of three Jesuit priests and realizes the human cost of her espionage. And later, when she discovers the identity of a Catholic spy and a conspiracy that threatens the kingdom, she is forced to choose between her country and her heart.

Once Sir Francis's greatest asset, Mallory is fast becoming his worst threat—and there is only one way the Queen’s master spy deals with his enemies…

 

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, British Literature, Mystery, Romance, Book Club

566 pages, Paperback

First published September 19, 2016

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Locksmith’s Daughter by Karen Brooks is a 2018 William Morrow publication.
A skillfully crafted novel of historical fiction-

Mallory Bright’s unorthodox upbringing paves the way for her in unexpected ways when she makes a grave error in judgement and finds her reputation in ruins.

As the daughter of a locksmith, Mallory was taught the trade by her father, much to her mother’s intense dismay. But Mallory would never have guessed that her talents would lead her to the queen’s personal spymaster or that she’d become his protégé and most valued asset.

This Elizabethan historical drama is chock full of intrigue, vivid, authentic settings and details, heartbreak, and heart pounding suspense, with an unconventional love story capping it off.
This book was much more than I anticipated. The acute religious strife regarding Catholics and Protestants is at the center of the story. Sir Francis Walsingham – a true historical figure- is obsessed with maintaining protestant power over Catholicism. To that end, his training and directives to Mallory were to flush out Catholic spies. Mallory is a much better student than her master could have hoped for. But when she witnesses the results of her handiwork, her heart and mind are conflicted.

“I saw no traitors plotting to bring down a queen, only desperate people; people whose world was in disarray and who felt threatened. Who prayed to the same God, only differently. Did this make what they were doing illegal?”


To complicate matters, Mallory learns some shocking revelations about her own past and struggles to tolerate Nathaniel- an obnoxious friend of a friend, who knows entirely too much about her work with Sir Francis, but who may well be the only person who can help her.

This period in history is so interesting. I never tire of reading novels set during the Elizabethan era. This story highlights the fevered religious paranoia towards Catholics. It was not entirely justified, but there were very serious and real dangers to the throne posed by Catholic spies. The book also touched on the impact the “Bartholomew's Day massacre” had on Sir Francis, which is what helped to fuel his prejudice against Catholics. There was a lot of tension, misinformation, and confusion regarding religion. The fear increased as more assassination attempts on Queen Elizabeth rose. Public executions, such as those described in this novel did indeed occur.

The author did an amazing job of recreating that tension and highlighting the moral dilemmas and atrocities that occurred in the name of religion and politics. The Locksmithing craft and the clever spy codes of the day is very interesting and fascinating. But, the characterizations in this novel are what sets it on a higher pedestal. Mallory is an outstanding personality. Her loyalty, her strength, talent and courage captured my imagination. She is quite the heroine. Nathaniel is truly nasty, in the beginning, but I grew to love him, and loved him even more for loving Mallory. Their love story is not at the center of the novel, but in many ways, it is at the heart of it – maybe even the soul of it. With so many villainous acts, so many selfish and manipulative plots afoot, with the danger at a fever pitch, their relationship lit the way to honor, bravery and hope.

This is a not only a stunning historical novel, but, a compelling story of the true meaning of love and family.

Note: This book was originally published back in 2016 by Harlequin MIRA. Some may have been given the impression this is a traditional historical romance, but it is not. It is pure Historical fiction- with a love story written into it. HF lovers will not want to miss this book!!

5 stars

[Christie«SHBBblogger» · Rating 3 out of 5]

Title: The Locksmith's Daughter
Series: Standalone
Author: Karen Brooks
Release date: July 31, 2018
Cliffhanger: No
HEAYes

When I saw the synopsis for this book, I was immediately hooked and had to get my hands on it. After reading and loving The Alice Network last year, I was so ready for another female spy book to give me that same rush of emotion and inspiration. I wish I could say that this was another five star read, but it wasn't quite what I had anticipated. Let me start out by saying that when it comes to the author's attention to historical facts and information, I couldn't have been more impressed. Her descriptions hit on every one of my senses and painted an incredibly vivid picture.

The archaic speech took a little getting used to, but it was perfectly on point and necessary for accurately setting the scene. When you open the book, you're stepping into a whole new world that is far from what we live in. She doesn't try to sugarcoat London, in fact the descriptions of the city was often unpleasant with its misogynistic culture and religious unrest. Mallory Bright lived in a time when women's virtue and Protestant faith were the only assets they had. In the beginning of the book, it's understood that she has lost all semblance of respectability and brought shame on her parents' house.

In God’s eyes and those of my parents and neighbors, I was more than a fallen woman—I was a scourge, the blight they labeled me.

Growing up, her father gave her the freedom to expand her mind and an education that a woman normally wouldn't during that time. He respected her thirst for knowledge, and was in fact proud of her "unnatural" abilities that her mother thoroughly despised. She took joy in learning to craft and break into the most complex of locks, and did it in the glow of her father's love and approval. Now after the horrible events that occurred and the resulting scandal, she can't bear the change in her father's eyes. She no longer has any interest in romantic love, as its caused nothing but despair and ruin. No, what she's most interested in is absolution, in whatever form necessary.

At the age of nineteen I found love, and by twenty-one had forsworn it. In two brief years I learned love was but a phantasm, a fool’s paradise until we bit into the apple and saw the garden for the bed of thorns and stinking refuse it is. Love was merely a word used by men to beguile, seduce and deceive.

When her father sets up a meeting with "an old friend" Sir Francis Walsingham for a job, she believes it's her one chance to redeem herself and her reputation. With her unique set of skills, she not only met the expectations of those training her, she exceeded them. She could crack any lock under pressure, play any part as if she was made to walk the stage, and she was loyal...to a fault. Desperate to win approval, she pushed aside her niggles of conscience and performed every task given to her no matter what occurred. But she soon realizes that accepting a job as a watcher for Queen Elizabeth's spymaster will bring many hard truths and unearthed secrets that she never bargained for.

I wanted to love Mallory, but a lot of the time I couldn't make sense of her decisions or actions. As intelligent as she supposedly was, she fell short of the strong heroine I was expecting that would break through societal norms. First of all, it's reiterated repeatedly that women had no value other than their reproductive abilities and giving their men pleasure. Mallory survived a terrifying ordeal at the hands of a sadistic man and for almost the entire length of the book it clouded her judgement and self-worth. After a point I wanted her to hold her head up high and stop blaming herself for the actions of another. To thumb her nose at those who disparaged her and stand tall. Her constant thoughts of how she was a loose woman filled with pitiful unworthy feelings started to get to me. It felt like she was a chess piece being moved around by the men in the book rather than a player in control of her own fate. She just wasn't the inspirational and courageous spy that I had envisioned. After witnessing the grisly executions of three Catholic priests that she helped to capture, I thought that she would start listening to the guilty voice in her head.

“Guilt is a demanding guest and most unwelcome.” One that had visited me often of late.

She would see the reality of the ruthlessness of Walsingham, and his true self-serving nature. But she stubbornly continued to take orders. Even after her mother sternly warned her what a bad man he was, how he could turn on her if it served his allegiance to the Queen.

Something that I couldn't make sense of was the fact that she hunted Catholics and reported them, telling herself that even the peaceful families she turned in deserved it. And all the while, her own mother was a Catholic herself who refused to renounce her faith. They paid hefty fines for it, and they were protected because of their connection to Walsingham. It never occurred to her however, that her family was no better or worse than the people she was hunting?? That in fact, her boss also fell in love with a Catholic in his younger years, and he now looked at them all as the devil's spawn? I didn't get how she was unable to see the hypocrisy of it all. Was her desperate need for love and approval so overpowering?

At the end, when she finally turned on Walsingham, it was with an apology to him, and a naive idea that she could bargain for the fate of her father. How in the world?? As she set her plan in motion, I felt a moment of pride, thinking that she was knowingly trading herself in order to free her father. That wasn't the case. She honestly thought that her demands would be honorably met by the man who she knew to falsify papers to guarantee a man's death. This is a man who put his country before family, honor, honesty, and morals. After everything she saw and knew, I didn't understand how she could feel this way.

Then after a horrifying torture scene, I thought that perhaps she would find a way to prove to everyone how much they underestimated her and find a way to save herself. Nope, she was a damsel in distress that was for some reason shocked that her rescuers were now going to be exiled for helping her. AGAIN, knowing everything she knew, how could she possibly think this? The man who broke her out of the tower was a respected Lord, so that means he's excused from the Queen's wrath after helping a traitor? I was so confused by her thought process again.

Okay, now that I've gotten my complaints about Mallory out, let me finish by saying that at almost six hundred pages of dense historical detail, this story could have been slow and boring. As frustrated as I got at times, I was riveted to the pages and binge reading huge chunks of the book in order to see what happened next. There was an ominous feel throughout, especially after the execution which was so appalling and disturbing that I had a hard time reading it all the way through.

Expect a few surprises along the way, and a subtle romance subplot simmering in the background. Lord Nathaniel endeared me to him from the very beginning, even when he was being boorish and brash with Mallory. There was a never a doubt that he was a man of strong principles and uncommon respect for everyone no matter their gender or social status. The more I read about him, the more I loved his strong character and unbending loyalty.

Even though I didn't love The Locksmith's Daughter as much as I anticipated, I was really impressed with the author's skill in melding fact and fiction in such a riveting way. She depicted the Tudor time period in England in minute detail and fused her fictional characters and historical figures flawlessly. Her note at the back was fascinating, and proved her dedication to research. So if you're looking forward to reading this, and you're captivated by this time period, this could very well be the book you're looking for. I'll be interested to see what other eras she explores in the future.

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[Amanda - Mrs B's Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my second helping of Australian historical fiction writer Karen Brooks. Last year I read and enjoyed Karen’s first novel, The Brewers Tale. The Locksmith’s Daughter is another fascinating historical tale from Brooks that expertly weaves fact with fiction together with a compelling female protagonist.

It took me no time at all to fall into The Locksmith’s Daughter. The first person narrative style employed by the author, allows the reader to immediately develop a bond with main protagonist, Mallory Bright. Mallory is an interesting young woman of her time. She is the only daughter and child of a well known locksmith in London, Gideon Bright. Gideon knows the extent of his daughter’s talents and has not restricted her as a result. As well as being a language expert, Mallory is successful at the lock picking trade. Her talents catch the eye of one of the most important figures in the Elizabethan era, Sir Francis Walsingham. Sir Francis hires Mallory for her language aptitude, in the hope that she can teach his daughter. However, as the book progresses, Mallory’s role and life becomes much more complicated. Under Walsingham’s direction, Mallory becomes a spymaster for the Queen’s protector and is caught up in a world dominated by religious divisions and political intrigue.

I had an immediate feeling, just from reading the prologue of The Locksmith’s Daughter that it was not going to take much at all to get me hooked on this novel. It should be said that I am a long standing fan of historical fiction, in fact, only a few years ago it was the only genre I would read. The Tudor and the Elizabethan era has fascinated me for some time. When I saw that The Locksmith’s Daughter was set in an era I enjoy reading about, I jumped at the chance to read and review it. It always amazes me that I continually find more interesting historical stories that are borne from this era. The Locksmith’s Daughter is a prime example of this. Author Karen Brooks should be commended on sheer amount of research she has undertaken, in order to bring this particular story to life. She deftly combines rich historical fact, with her own imagined fictional tale and it comes off just perfectly. What I appreciated about The Locksmith’s Daughter, was the effort Brooks has put into her novel to ensure that her prose is historically accurate. Although this was tough going reading wise, I still feel this is an important ingredient to good historical fiction novel. Added to this is the specific Elizabethan period detail, such as Brooks’ insertion of key historical events, players and even dress codes. All these points combine, to give the book an air of historical authenticity. Readers will find this book delivers a great mix of themes, from drama, to romance and intrigue. The focus on the trade of lock picking, through the main characters of Mallory and Gideon Bright, was particularly enlightening to read. There were some tough moments in this book too, such as instances of domestic violence and torture scenes, which serve to highlight the true extent of women’s inferiority in this era. Brooks has cast her characters well, offsetting the main protagonist Mallory, with a superb cast of good and bad minor characters. In particular, I found the character of Caleb fascinating and his minor story thread involving homosexuality in this era, utterly absorbing.

My final word on The Locksmith’s Daughter should be directed at giving a shout out to the fantastic author’s note contained at the end of the book. It provides further detail on the inspiration for the book and provides insight into the sheer level of research that is involved in the creation of a book such as The Locksmith’s Daughter. The Locksmith’s Daughter comes highly recommended, especially for those who appreciate full bodied historical fiction, written by an Australian author who knows her craft.

Please note that a free copy of this book was provided to me for review purposes through Beauty and Lace. To read the original review on the Beauty and Lace website please visit here: http://bookgirl.beautyandlace.net/boo...

[Annette · Rating 3 out of 5]

The drawn-out style of writing is not a style of writing I like to read. The first evening takes over 40 pages.

[Scott Klemm · Rating 5 out of 5]

With a quick glance at the other reviews, I see that I’m the first male to submit a review for Karen Brooks’ The Locksmith’s Daughter. Men should not shy away from this book because the protagonist is female. Karen did not write this book for any one gender. It’s not a mushy romance novel, but rather a very meticulously researched historical novel set in Elizabethan England. The main character, Mallory Bright, as the title implies, is the daughter of a locksmith. This was in an era when locksmiths actually made their own locks. Mallory learned their inner workings, became an expert lock picker, and her skill led her to be employed by Sir Francis Walsingham. Sir Walsingham (a real historic figure) was the secretary and spymaster for Queen Elizabeth I. In this period of history, who would suspect a mere woman to be one of Walsingham’s trusted “watchers”?

Karen Brooks, an Australian author, visited England in 2014 to see firsthand the actual locations and streets mentioned in her book. She has made every effort to make her historical novel as accurate as possible including taking up the study of old locks to lend realism to her story. She has sometimes infused her work with the actual language of the day such as the “jake” (privy) and a “jordan” (chamber pot). But, no need to worry. It will not send you scurrying to your dictionary. Their meanings can be figured out by the context.

This is my first time reading one of Brooks’ novels, and I am very impressed. She is indeed a master wordsmith. Her novel kept me engaged from beginning to end and included some surprise twists as the story unfolded.

[Kate Forsyth · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely gripping page-turner of a novel set in Elizabethan times, The Locksmith’s Daughter is told from the first person point of view of a young woman named Mallory Bright. The story starts a little slowly but the pace soon quickens, and the plot begins to twist and turn in unexpected ways.

Mallory is the daughter of a master locksmith who has taught her all his secrets. One evening her father is visited by the Queen’s spymaster, Sir Frances Walsingham, and Mallory is asked to show off her skills. She finds herself being trained as a spy to work on Walsingham’s behalf, and is drawn deeper and deeper into a dark and violent world.

The book is set during a time of intense religious strife, when Jesuit priests were being hunted down and hanged, drawn and quartered. Mallory finds herself caught with divided loyalties and in danger herself. The world of Elizabethan England is captured with all its myriad sounds and smells, and I particularly loved all the details about devious locks and how the Elizabethan secret service worked. It felt so real and authentic, it was as if I had actually slipped back in time myself – always a sign of meticulous research and attention to detail.

A gripping historical thriller that will quite literally steal your breath!

[Janelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel was a slow to get started and then was hard to put down. It’s a bit overlong, although the historical period (Elizabethan England) is very interesting and there’s plenty of real events included in the story. Some of the relationships seemed a bit melodramatic and the violence of torture and executions were not what I expected in this kind of book going by the cover of my edition! Overall a satisfying read but not brilliant for me.

[Lisa - (Aussie Girl) · Rating 4 out of 5]

AT 800 pages this is a very long historical novel skillfully combining the intriguing world of Elizabeth 1's spymaster Sir Francis Walsingham with Karen Brooks' own rich tapestry of characters. Well crafted and engaging The Locksmith's Daughter kept my interest to the very last page.

[Mia · Rating 1 out of 5]

The writing is so overwrought and distancing that I had to nope out about a hundred pages in. There are books where this kind of faux-olden timey language is done so well you fall right into the mindset of historical characters, but this did the exact opposite.

[Claire Louisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review to come.

[Laureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I listened to the audio book and did not read it, this story was amazingly good. I loved it totally and at times I wished I had read it to savour it more. While driving, my concentration was interrupted at times and I missed little bits. The story was set during the reign of Elizabeth I of England and involved the Queen's trusted man, Sir Francis Wolsingham? (Spelling?) So much intrigue, such unexpected twists and turns. This story had everything. An impressive, capable, strong woman, a deep love story (not sentimental so much), horrific torture scenes true to the times, the intolerances of Religious belief, family secrets etc etc. I highly recommend this book.

[Emmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know if I would have finished this had I not been listening to the audiobook during my commute. Or maybe the problem was the audiobook itself, but it was just sloooow. It's a 500 page book that was 22 hours as an audiobook. That seems long, no?
The last 30-40% picked up a bit, but was part of that because I switched to the physical book for the last 25%?
Also, major trigger warning for sexual assault, physical abuse, and torture. Was not expecting that when I picked this up.

[Jennifer (JC-S) · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘And if dreams were locks, we’d all possess keys.’

This novel takes back to the 16th century, to the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Mallory Bright is the daughter of London’s master locksmith, Gideon Bright. She has learned from her father and is able to unpick the most complicated locks. As the novel opens, Mallory is in disgrace with her mother (the reasons will become clear as the story unfolds) and her father wants to secure a place of safety for her. Sir Francis Walsingham, Queen Elizabeth’s spymaster, is made aware of her talents and offers her a job. Ostensibly, Mallory is to be the companion of Sir Francis’s daughter, but in fact she becomes increasingly involved in his spying operations which are shaped by political intrigue and religious dissension.

I was fascinated by Mallory’s involvement in Sir Francis’s work and was really liking Ms Brooks’s portrayal of this period of history until a particular twist in the story reduced my enjoyment. I sighed, put the book down, took a deep breath, picked the book up and read on.

We know that Mallory has secrets of her own and we become aware that there are other secrets being kept from her. All these secrets add to the intrigue, but while one specific secret did not work for me, it certainly adds to the tension in the story. Mallory’s loyalty to Sir Francis is tested when she witnesses the execution of three Jesuit priests. She knows that in at least one case the punishment exceeded the crime. And then it becomes personal: Mallory discovers the identity of a Catholic spy. Can she save that person’s life?

Aside from the twist I did not care for, I really enjoyed this story. Mallory Bright is an engaging protagonist, and I enjoy novels set in this historical period. This is the fourth of Ms Brooks’s novels I have read. ‘The Locksmith’s Daughter’ was published in 2016 and has sat on my shelf for far too long. While I did not enjoy it as much as Ms Brooks’s later works, it is well worth reading if you enjoy historical fiction set in the 16th century.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

[Naomi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I do wish they had half stars, because I would probably have given it 2 1/2 stars. I liked The Brewer's Tale, and that's why I got this book, but I didn't think it was half as good. I was very aware of the author pushing the book forward on several occasions - places where people's behaviour went against both the person's character and the setting without good explanation.

Let me explain (spoiler alert).

When Mallory goes to work for Sir Francis, her Papa was not happy at all with the arrangement, and yet later he said that he set it up so that Mallory would become one of Sir Francis's watchers. Did he want her to work for Sir Francis or not? I don't think he would have given that he was very worried about Mallory finding out the truth. I also can't imagine him approving of his daughter hunting Catholics when his own wife (whom he loves) is one.

Then there is the whole situation of Mallory finding out who her father is. None of it fitted. She had Papa who lied to her but cared for her all her life and showed her love. Then she had Sir Francis who abandoned her as a baby after admitting that he intended to reject her mother after promising to marry her. He then hired her as a watcher but kept everything purely professional. He only confessed that he was her father when he could feel that she was slipping from his grasp (Mallory's own deduction) and even then he said it had to remain private. He would only call her daughter that night in the privacy of that office. Yet, Mallory rejected Papa (too angry to even face him) and went running to Sir Francis. I imagine if she was angry with Papa, she would be just as angry with Sir Francis.

She goes to Sir Francis, and he says he can't let her stay at any of his residents and Mallory realised that he isn't going to help her as a father would. Still, when she goes to stay with Lord Nathaniel, she happily continues to do Sir Francis's bidding, despite it meaning spying on her best friend, the man she is starting to fall in love with, and her new companion, whom she is starting to really like. I just don't see how she can have such loyal to Sir Francis. It doesn't fit at all.

Then when she names her child after Sir Francis after he had Papa tortured and left him unable to be a locksmith. I can understand her getting to the end and at least understanding some of Sir Francis's actions, even forgiving him, but naming her son after him is going too far.

Karen Brooks' style is good and she certainly knows the era that she writes, and for that reason I wanted to give her another half a star, but storyline I found quite irritating.

[Rachael McDiarmid · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've decided to give this book five stars as I absolutely enjoyed everything about it. The characters, the story, the writing. For the last few days I've been lost in Elizabethan England (a place everyone knows I love to visit) and trapped in the fascinating world of locks and spies! I can't recall reading an historical fiction work with Francis Walsingham as a central character and I was captivated by the world of the spymaster and the relationships around him. Mallory, of course, was the character I loved the most and the book is written from her point of view. What she endured, and what she became, kept me turning those pages as did the world of Gideon, Caleb, Lord Nathaniel, Beatrice and more. Entertaining and interesting, this is a great new book from the author of The Brewer's Tale and I can't wait to see what she does next....!

[Toheed Ahmed · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Stars.
DNF at 67%.

I'm about to criticize this book a lot, but I want to say beforehand: I found it very underwhelming, I chose to give it 2.5 stars instead of 1 because despite everything, I can see why someone would like The Locksmith's Daughter. It wasn't "bad", it just lacked good and in a lot of classes felt close to being good, which makes me understand why someone saw good where I didn't. Hopefully that made sense. Also, unlike a lot of books that I read and don't like, I genuinely felt like the author was trying her hardest and that she loved the book she wrote. So credit where credit is due.

This book is very overwritten. Lots of unnecessary detail that ended up confusing me and overloading me with information. Also there is a lot of historical information and context that might've been interesting to someone who doesn't know much of the context of this time period, but as someone who knows a lot about this time in English history it felt like slugging through a history class I already passed.

I might've been able to get through all of that overwriting if the plot warranted it, but I didn't feel much of a connection to it. Around halfway, I think, they start revealing plot twists and I wasn't a big fan of them. I actually guessed the major one beforehand but I was quite underwhelmed. It felt cheap to me.

I don't dislike slowly paced books but it's so easy to mess up and I kept getting so bored because every event was always described that I think even with its slow pace this book could've been 2/3s the length if they cut at all the unnecessary scenes that served no purpose. Maybe if this was a visual medium it would've worked better?

The only thing that could've saved this for me was if I liked the characters enough to see this to the end and sorry, I didn't. Caleb was the only one I liked because he was charming, good to the people around him, and a good person.

The main lead Mallory started out as someone I sympathized with but as it went on she became so wishy-washy and her characterization because so inconsistent *especially in relation to the plot twist reveal* that she failed to become an actual character. Instead, she became a vehicle for the plot to go through and to bring to light social commentary of the time. While what she speaks of gender is mostly fine, it felt so basic and like something I've seen a lot before.

However, where Mallory really failed as a character to me was her relation with the protestants vs. catholic mess that was a part of the main plot. Going into it, I knew she was going to be a spy for the English government and so, against Catholicism. But it left a very bitter taste in my mouth to read. This isn't the fault of the book and more of a personal pet peeve of mine, but as someone who isn't as privileged as others, can I just say I am incredibly sick of main characters who have to "learn" whatever prejudice they have is wrong? I know that was one of the main character arcs but it left such a bad taste in my mouth because I can identify more with the suffering than the character who has to learn that... other people are human?
That isn't as much of the books' fault as my own, but it did hinder how much I cared for Mallory.

The main male love interest was another low point of the book. I didn't think highly of him and it felt like Mallory caught feelings for plot. I didn't believe that he was a good person and every "good" part of him felt forced to me... sorry. Not to say the initial "two characters meet, hate each other, learn not to, and fall in love" can't work, I mean I adore Pride and Prejudice, but it didn't click here.
Also he forced a kiss on Mallory, which is a major yikes to me. A forced kiss just turns me off a romance so fast.

Overall, kind of bland/basic, very overwritten, and inconsistent/bad characters. Long live Caleb. I wrote this review past 3 am, it's close to 4 am, so hopefully this is coherent.

[Gaele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mallory Bright, when first met, is just returned home to her family, in disgrace. Having had her head turned by a scoundrel and eloping for a marriage that wasn’t, she’d disgraced herself and tossed over a solid offer from a young man soon to become a lawyer. Now, she’s guilty, saddened, and a shadow of her former self: removed from the convivial relationship with the apprentices and staff of the house, a constant (yet ongoing) trial for her mother, and not comfortable or feeling particularly welcomed in the workshops of the locksmith. A place she spent many hours during childhood learning to pick locks designed to keep unwelcome eyes from the contents they protected. In fact, even for a middle-class craftsman’s home, Mallory was vastly different. Educated in the classics, languages, math and discussing politics, her best friend a young actor and playwright who was her constant companion, the fact that she was a woman, subject to the whims of the men and society that dictated her opportunities.

But, her return home after being beaten, abused and generally treated less well than one would a pig, set her on a course that would intimately weave her own skills, her mother’s refusal to forego her catholic beliefs, and her sex into the future of the country and monarch, as she came to work for Walsingham, principal secretary and spymaster for Queen Elizabeth, a man who collected information about all in the realm, with an almost fanatical zeal to rout out Catholicism, all couched under the auspices of the faith and its followers being traitorous and treacherous to the Queen. Here is where Malory truly grows and shows that limitations should simply be based in ability and not with some other nebulous standard of faith, appearance or sex, she is used by Walsingham to gather and report on information, usually to do with the “Catholic Threat”, she’s mesmerized and thirsty for the positive feedback and attention received, all things long denied her in the past few years. Skiled as a lockpick, with a familiarity in the tricks, booby-traps and construction of locks, each becoming ever-more intricate as the secrets they keep safe are more complex or dangerous to their owners.

But, an awakening comes to Mallory as she sees the aftermath of the secrets she’s helped to unlock: and her own questions start to arrive: from personal relationships and her mother’s unwillingness to shed her papist ways to her best friend Caleb’s dancing with acceptable and not with a very mercurial Queen who takes affront quickly, served by one who seems to see threats in every corner. When the tides turn yet again, and her loyalties to family and country are tested, it’s glorious to see how she maneuvers through the dangers, taking the largest chances possible, to extricate herself from the grips of the fervor that inflames the crown.

Nothing could please this history geek more than another story with a heroine, flawed yet brave, determined and clever, to work in the seediest and most treacherous place of all – the machinations around Queen Elizabeth and her court – with the threats (real and imagined) to the crown, one without clear heir, the ongoing purge of Catholicism started with her father’s (Henry VIII) schism from Rome, and the customs, descriptions, and even quick mentions of court and courtiers – Brooks has written a story that is gripping intelligent, and hopeful, even when things seem darkest. I love history and historic fiction, and the research, characters and the times just come alive in this story, and had me glued to each page and moment: smart fiction that engages and delights, perfect for that ‘sense’ of late 16th century England and the people who built lives and survived the changing tides.

I received an eARC copy of the title from the publisher via Edelweiss for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at I am, Indeed

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mallory the locksmiths daughter has had sadness and triumphs. She is an expert locksmith and a spy in England in the 1500's . These are terrible times with Queen Elizabeth 1 especially if you are Catholic its enough reason to send you to the Tower and certain torture.
There are wonderful characters in this story and the author mixes in the true life characters who lived and were in high positions during this time.
It kept me interested and on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next. Its not for the faint of heart.

[ivy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

for anyone interested in books about the elizabethan era, spies and includes well written friendships/relationships (calebmallory are my best friends), i definitely recommend - although please keep in mind that it is a quite long and deals with some heavy topics.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book. Maybe just a tad slow to take hold, but very enjoyable. If you enjoy historical fiction I think most would like this.

[Bookgypsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this smart, entertaining adventure through Elizabethan England. It was full of twists and turns, with a witty and engaging plot and well written characters.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Takes place in London in the 16th century, with a young woman as the main character, Mallory Bright. We quickly learn she has returned to her family, shamed, and posing as a widow. Mallory has strong ties with her Papa, the locksmith who taught her things that ordinarily only men would know. Her mother has always shunned her and even more so now she has returned, and so Papa finds a job for her. Soon Mallory is a spymaster.

The books mystery is one of Mallory’s life, but also what is also going on in England with the Queen Elizabeth declaring the Catholic religion outlawed. Mallory’s mother is one of the recusants, bringing more danger. Yet the Queens’ enforcer and right-hand man is Papa’s friend, Sir Francis Walsingham, would he bring the law upon them?

Meanwhile they have a long-term border, Caleb who is a playwright and homosexual. His plays have become popular although they may tend to comment on the current political situation that could be dangerous. He has a new benefactor, Lord Nathaniel, appearing at first as a bit of a rogue. Yet soon Mallory starts to see another side to the man.

With Mallory’s past of love and hate, she attempts to control her emotions and called this mediocrita, a balance of opposites. This attempt to find that calm is carried throughout the story in many different situations.

Mallory is a strong character, intelligent and doing work that in those days only men would do. She is unique in that world, although has some clouded judgment at times as well as succumbing to some womanly pining that embrace, the kiss…

Yes, there is a bit of romance in this historical book, but the plot leaves that mostly to the background.

There are a few gruesome scenes that I could have done without reading, but it adds to the layers and depth of this book.

It is not perfect by any means. There are awkward backstory moments when someone comes up in the story and we get a tangent, apparently Mallory remembering that occasion. Yet this minor flaw can be forgiven for a riveting tale and story. I particularly appreciated the long author’s note at the end which detailed many of the historical facts, and where the fiction began.

The intricacies of the story made this an interesting read. I held back reading this book thinking the romance part of the story would be the main focus, but happily it wasn’t. I enjoyed this book enough that I have several others of her now on my ever-growing to-read list.

[Dawn Emsen-Hough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the book. After reading The Chocolate Maker’s Wife, I was keen to read another book from this author. I was not disappointed wonderful book. If you like period novels, you’ll love this. A huge thank you to BG for a most wonderful gift.

[Meg - A Bookish Affair · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Locksmith's Daughter" is the story of Mallory Bright, a young woman with an amazing ability to pick any lock. She eventually finds herself in service to Sir Francis Walsingham, Queen Elizabeth's masterfully powerful spymaster. At first, Mallory sees her service as a way to escape her past but she will begin to see it as something much darker. I love reading about Queen Elizabeth's spies and I love reading in this time so this exciting book was a perfect pick for me!

Mallory is a great character. I was fascinated reading about how she learned how to pick locks and what she was able to do with a skill set that very few had. While it would have been interesting to read about Mallory's spy escapades on its own, I like that the author chose to give her a much more rounded out history. This woman has been through a lot when we first meet her in this book and I loved seeing how her past shapes her future and all of the decisions that she makes throughout this book. Having so much detail about her past really made me care and appreciate her resilience about her throughout the book.

I have liked the books of Karen Brooks' in the past so I was looking forward to this book on its own. This book has a lot of good detail! You get a great sense of what Mallory deals with and how she moves throughout her world. This book is fast paced and kept me reading. Walsingham and his exploits will always make for good reading!

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed this book. It's long, and I was a bit worried about reading it in time for my book club, but the story is well written and drew me in so the pages flew by. Our book club discussion was rich and there was a lot to talk about - women's roles, religion and acceptance of different beliefs, historical references, and more. The author did a great job of giving the reader a rich understanding of the time (1580s England), while incorporating that understanding into a story that had me anxious to see what happened next.

The author summarizes the book well at the end in her interview at the end, saying how she hopes the reader "feels a sense of history, but particularly, the humanity that links us across the eons - how, for all our differences and so-called advances we are more alike than not - we still love, laugh, make silly and great decisiions and gestures, suffer, long, grieve and triumph. "

I received this book as a member of the Harper Collins Book Club Girl book club.

[Helen - Great Reads & Tea Leaves · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! What a story! I am a lover of historical fiction and this is gripping reading. ‘The Locksmith's Daughter’ is a first-person narrative and straight away you are drawn into this turbulent Tudor period. The story is most engaging with factual detail, action, drama and romance all perfectly melded together.

Full review at:
http://greatreadsandtealeaves.blogspo...

[Lisasue · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm not sure how a book that features spies in Elizabethan England managed to be tedious, but that's what happened here. This book is definitely in need of some serious editing.

Just skip it. Maybe read something by Nancy Bilyeau instead.

[Caroline Andersson · Rating 1 out of 5]

This wasn’t good. It paired romance-novel quality plot, research, and writing with action-film quality romance. It was so boring.
Also, major trigger warnings for badly-handled sexual violence and what read to me as a garbled anti-abortion, anti-sex plotline.

[Leanne Francis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant, a big and dense read that transports you to Elizabethan England, the detail is incredible

[Brenda Rollins · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Locksmith's Daughter" by Karen Brooks is a historical novel set in the late 1500’s during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. In the spotlight is Mallory Bright, the daughter of a local master locksmith, she unknowingly becomes entangled in the world of espionage with the encouragement and guidance of Sir Francis Walsingham, the Queen’s own spymaster. The novel illustrates themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the complexities between love and duty set against the backdrop of a dangerous political and religious landscape.

England’s turbulent history is brought to the forefront in this enthralling tale where Catholic and Protestant views simply collide. It’s truly a magnificent novel and the prose is simply divine. It has all of the elements required to make this book exceptional. What a glorious story created by Karen Brooks mind. Between fact and fiction, it is a very captivating read. Brooks depicts real historical figures and actual historic events that are fully embedded in a story that stems from her vivid imagination. The descriptive narrative at the beginning slowly sets the stage for an epic tale that has been well researched.

Mallory’s reputation has been shattered and she would like nothing than to remove the tarnish hues from her past, but her unladylike persona is a deterrent for a select few that deem it a difficult attainment. She would prefer to work side by side with her father learning tricks of the trade. She is a very intelligent woman, a quick learner and formidable lock-pick with skills that Sir Francis Walsingham, spymaster and protectorate of the Queen deems beneficial to his vast network, a woman could work and navigate unsuspecting, a cunning plan is implemented. I was completely hooked into this intriguing storyline as Mallory Bright with a magnetic force gets drawn into the dangerous world of Queen Elizabeth's secret service, the twists and turns are plentiful, there are secrets that once revealed that could lead to destruction and the pathways are not only deceptive, but dangerous. Loyalty will be tested for the woman who appears to have no fear, and when punishment does not fit the crime, decisions and choices must be made, deviation is inevitable in order to obliterate the disgust, more importantly the barbarity. Mallory’s storyline is perfectly suited for a woman who exhibits strength, love and regret. She is a strong female protagonist who is very resourceful in a male dominated society. She will have her moral awakening, demonstrating her growth and moral courage. I truly adored her character. Lord Nathaniel was another great character given men’s power during the Elizabethan era, he’s that character that has a bit of mystery in his soul, but is downright admirable and his character was a nice touch to this great book.

The plot is intricate and its historical setting is very detailed. It features political intrigue, espionage, and personal struggles amidst a backdrop of historical events. The novel may be a bit long, but it is filled with political maneuvering, secrets, and betrayals, creating a suspenseful atmosphere that keeps readers guessing, and totally invested with each and every word, each and every page. It’s definitely a page turner and the author’s note at the end was very informative. This book was absolutely brilliant and I highly recommend it.