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Mercenary For Hire #0.5-2
The Tudor Mystery Trials Box Set: The Tudor Heresy / A Queen's Spy / A Queen's Traitor
Alternate cover edition of ASIN B07B5PJ68M
Box Set - containing the novella The Tudor Heresy and the Two Full Length 400 page reads of A Queen's Spy and A Queen's Traitor.
As Tudor England erupts following the death of Edward VI, can one young spy protect his queen? International bestselling author Sam Burnell takes us deep into the treacherous world of powerful monarchs, intrigue, murder, and treason with this magnificent new epic, A Queen’s Spy.
In 1553, England is torn apart by religious conflict. Power in England shifts precariously between Catholics and Protestants, royalty and commoners clash, testing friendship, loyalty, and brotherly love.
Richard Fitzwarren, caught in the middle of a cruel family feud, wants nothing more than to make his own way in the world. A childhood friend of the Princess Elizabeth, he cannot forget his loyalty in her time of need. Pressured by her sister, Mary, Elizabeth’s continued existence remains precarious throughout her reign. The divide between Catholic Mary and Anne Boleyn’s Protestant daughter Elizabeth is a deep one.
Jack Fitzwarren, Richard’s displaced bastard brother, seeks a place at his brother’s side. Impulsive and hot headed, his attempts to gain his brother’s acceptance and approval often end badly.
Finally the brothers are brought head to head when Richard tries to foil a plot against Elizabeth. Will Richard accept his fate and fight? Or will he run? Can Jack murder his brother to save a woman he’s never met?
Box Set - containing the novella The Tudor Heresy and the Two Full Length 400 page reads of A Queen's Spy and A Queen's Traitor.
As Tudor England erupts following the death of Edward VI, can one young spy protect his queen? International bestselling author Sam Burnell takes us deep into the treacherous world of powerful monarchs, intrigue, murder, and treason with this magnificent new epic, A Queen’s Spy.
In 1553, England is torn apart by religious conflict. Power in England shifts precariously between Catholics and Protestants, royalty and commoners clash, testing friendship, loyalty, and brotherly love.
Richard Fitzwarren, caught in the middle of a cruel family feud, wants nothing more than to make his own way in the world. A childhood friend of the Princess Elizabeth, he cannot forget his loyalty in her time of need. Pressured by her sister, Mary, Elizabeth’s continued existence remains precarious throughout her reign. The divide between Catholic Mary and Anne Boleyn’s Protestant daughter Elizabeth is a deep one.
Jack Fitzwarren, Richard’s displaced bastard brother, seeks a place at his brother’s side. Impulsive and hot headed, his attempts to gain his brother’s acceptance and approval often end badly.
Finally the brothers are brought head to head when Richard tries to foil a plot against Elizabeth. Will Richard accept his fate and fight? Or will he run? Can Jack murder his brother to save a woman he’s never met?
595 pages, ebook
Published February 28, 2018
362 people are currently reading
151 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 30, 2018
I enjoy a good cloak and dagger story, and there’s mystery, treachery and intrigue aplenty in these historical adventures. For those who think the Tudors have been done to death, this story starts in the less well explored time leading up to and following the death of Edward VI, the Northumberland plot to place Lady Jane Grey on the throne, and the subsequent tensions between supporters of Mary and Elizabeth.
The main plot revolves around the Fitzwarren family and the power struggle between Robert, the father’s favourite, his villainous cousin, Harry, and two other brothers, Richard and Jack who, though allied, are constantly at each other’s throats. The conundrum of who is the true heir and who is the bastard slightly mirrors the royal intrigues, as both Mary and Elizabeth were at one point declared bastards, hence Lady Jane’s claim to the throne.
The royal characters are less well developed. Lady Jane, the reluctant plotter, and her family disappear without a trace early on. The portrayal of Mary is a bit simplistic. The author asserts that Mary hated Elizabeth. If that were the case, she would certainly have found a way to get rid of her. As it was, she spared her the block. Mary even initially pardoned Lady Jane, but was forced to execute her when her father joined Wyatt’s rebellion. She pardoned Jane's mother and sisters and allowed them to live at court. Mary’s religious fanaticism and the subsequent burnings have, unfortunately, tarnished her reputation permanently.
Much more highly developed are the characters of the Fitzwarrens. The enigmatic Richard is superficially a mercenary for hire, and his true loyalties and motives are slowly revealed. Jack in an interesting character too and Robert and Harry are splendid villains. Catherine is well drawn and sympathetic and not at all your usual historical damsel in distress. However, I was puzzled as to why she did not simply go to Mary for help while in London, rather than stay with a man she suspected of complicity in her family’s murders.
The writing could have been tighter and the dialogue was a bit rambling in parts, with a lot of unnecessary tags. However, the fight scenes were excellent and there was plenty of tension leading up to the finale. Throughout, the author conjures up vividly the atmosphere of 16th century England, with its squalor, treachery and casual cruelty.
The main plot revolves around the Fitzwarren family and the power struggle between Robert, the father’s favourite, his villainous cousin, Harry, and two other brothers, Richard and Jack who, though allied, are constantly at each other’s throats. The conundrum of who is the true heir and who is the bastard slightly mirrors the royal intrigues, as both Mary and Elizabeth were at one point declared bastards, hence Lady Jane’s claim to the throne.
The royal characters are less well developed. Lady Jane, the reluctant plotter, and her family disappear without a trace early on. The portrayal of Mary is a bit simplistic. The author asserts that Mary hated Elizabeth. If that were the case, she would certainly have found a way to get rid of her. As it was, she spared her the block. Mary even initially pardoned Lady Jane, but was forced to execute her when her father joined Wyatt’s rebellion. She pardoned Jane's mother and sisters and allowed them to live at court. Mary’s religious fanaticism and the subsequent burnings have, unfortunately, tarnished her reputation permanently.
Much more highly developed are the characters of the Fitzwarrens. The enigmatic Richard is superficially a mercenary for hire, and his true loyalties and motives are slowly revealed. Jack in an interesting character too and Robert and Harry are splendid villains. Catherine is well drawn and sympathetic and not at all your usual historical damsel in distress. However, I was puzzled as to why she did not simply go to Mary for help while in London, rather than stay with a man she suspected of complicity in her family’s murders.
The writing could have been tighter and the dialogue was a bit rambling in parts, with a lot of unnecessary tags. However, the fight scenes were excellent and there was plenty of tension leading up to the finale. Throughout, the author conjures up vividly the atmosphere of 16th century England, with its squalor, treachery and casual cruelty.
March 30, 2018
"Let them hate, so long as they fear."
I’ve read both of these books, and I highly recommend this collection.
A Queen’s Spy:
A tale of scandal and intrigue in Renaissance England, where several players—mostly family—vie for ascension. The author certainly knows enough about this time period to render an accurate portrayal. Verisimilitude, or, essentially, believability, in writing is what keeps me invested in any novel. Although fiction, I have to know that it could’ve been real, or that it might’ve happened. With that being said, this 16th century setting is palpable and convincing. This was historical without being tedious, with enough plot twists and adventure to hold my attention. Thumbs up!
A Queen’s traitor:
In writing, I love all things adventure, from sword fights and political plots to exhilarating excursions through vast wildness. Ancient, medieval , or renaissance—which is when this story takes place—if the writing is clear, the action is fast and the setting well described, then I'm all in. All of those things were at play in this tale. Like the first book, this was full of court politics and nasty duels, and the tension started in just the first few pages, with a gripping scene between Jack and Dan. What's more to say?
I’ve read both of these books, and I highly recommend this collection.
A Queen’s Spy:
A tale of scandal and intrigue in Renaissance England, where several players—mostly family—vie for ascension. The author certainly knows enough about this time period to render an accurate portrayal. Verisimilitude, or, essentially, believability, in writing is what keeps me invested in any novel. Although fiction, I have to know that it could’ve been real, or that it might’ve happened. With that being said, this 16th century setting is palpable and convincing. This was historical without being tedious, with enough plot twists and adventure to hold my attention. Thumbs up!
A Queen’s traitor:
In writing, I love all things adventure, from sword fights and political plots to exhilarating excursions through vast wildness. Ancient, medieval , or renaissance—which is when this story takes place—if the writing is clear, the action is fast and the setting well described, then I'm all in. All of those things were at play in this tale. Like the first book, this was full of court politics and nasty duels, and the tension started in just the first few pages, with a gripping scene between Jack and Dan. What's more to say?
March 15, 2019
I am half the way through the 4th book and I have to stop. Now.
It's has a fairly good storyline and if I had to say anything about it, it's that it is very repetative. So many writers nowadays fill serial books with so much backstory so they can call them stand alone books. This one is no exception. I am not fond of filler.
It's the main characters who are the reason I had to stop. Ugh. Richard seems to be an arrogant individual who takes great pleasure in taunting his brother. Jack/John is a whiny, unintelligent man who is annoyingly immature. Their relationship is certainly not a healthy one for either of them. One has to wonder what bonds them together other than the obvious. Nothing that I can discern.
The combination of monotonous dialogue and shallow under developed characters is enough to make me stop reading and move on. 😒
Edit: I forgot something. To add insult to injury, the Kindle edition is filled with spelling errors, incorrect punctuation and spacing that defies logic! One would think that the writers who have books that are like this would contact Kindle/Amazon to correct such annoying abuse of their work. I certainly wouldn't allow mine to stand like that!
It's has a fairly good storyline and if I had to say anything about it, it's that it is very repetative. So many writers nowadays fill serial books with so much backstory so they can call them stand alone books. This one is no exception. I am not fond of filler.
It's the main characters who are the reason I had to stop. Ugh. Richard seems to be an arrogant individual who takes great pleasure in taunting his brother. Jack/John is a whiny, unintelligent man who is annoyingly immature. Their relationship is certainly not a healthy one for either of them. One has to wonder what bonds them together other than the obvious. Nothing that I can discern.
The combination of monotonous dialogue and shallow under developed characters is enough to make me stop reading and move on. 😒
Edit: I forgot something. To add insult to injury, the Kindle edition is filled with spelling errors, incorrect punctuation and spacing that defies logic! One would think that the writers who have books that are like this would contact Kindle/Amazon to correct such annoying abuse of their work. I certainly wouldn't allow mine to stand like that!
February 24, 2022
I like this entire series. It was nice to start out with a novella that helps to set the framework for the series. This box set includes the novella and the first two full books in the series. I like the brothers a great deal as none of them are alike and their characters bounce off of each other well. I am not a fan of reading about Queen Elizabeth I but this series provided a different angle focusing almost entirely on the brothers rather than on Elizabeth. It also focuses on the time before her coronation which is not quite so well documented.
The writing is very good and the character development is excellent. At times there are things that the characters do that seem a bit nonsensical but aren't we all nonsensical at times?
The writing is very good and the character development is excellent. At times there are things that the characters do that seem a bit nonsensical but aren't we all nonsensical at times?
March 5, 2018
I really enjoyed the first two books of this series and I look forward to some more to come. The novella prequel was enjoyable and gave a backstory to fans who can't wait for the next book.
It is an enjoyable historical read, fast paced and filled with action. I like the two main guys, I find them unusual and different, somehow likable and not likable at the same time! An intriguing family backstory set against the ever interesting Tudor backdrop.
It is an enjoyable historical read, fast paced and filled with action. I like the two main guys, I find them unusual and different, somehow likable and not likable at the same time! An intriguing family backstory set against the ever interesting Tudor backdrop.
March 29, 2018
I love a good mystery with interesting characters and this book delivers on its promises. The author, Sam Burnell’s love and knowledge of history and archaeology shine brilliantly in The Queen’s Spy. There’s never a dim or dull moment as the book grabs you at the beginning, shakes you, and doesn’t let go until the end. It is a most engaging and fascinating historical Tudor mystery novel. The box set makes it easier to keep reading and that’s what you’ll want to do.
December 6, 2018
Best way to work a 12 hour shift.
I read the 1st book a week ago and loved it so looked in the kindle store to look for another book in the series. I was pleasantly surprised to see the 3 book box set. I decided to get, I also checked out AUDIBLE books and picked out an audible book that had all three books. What a bargain!
I took my box set to work and listened to the series over two 12 hour shifts.
Just learned there's another book out.....yes I just bought it too
I read the 1st book a week ago and loved it so looked in the kindle store to look for another book in the series. I was pleasantly surprised to see the 3 book box set. I decided to get, I also checked out AUDIBLE books and picked out an audible book that had all three books. What a bargain!
I took my box set to work and listened to the series over two 12 hour shifts.
Just learned there's another book out.....yes I just bought it too
January 28, 2023
The FitzWarren Brothers
First two books in a well-researched series set in the period of the children of Henry VIII. Burnell gives us the three sons of William FitzWarren, their adventures and misdeeds, passions and avarice as the crown of England passes from Edward VI to Mary, with Elizabeth in the wings. Humor mixes with tension as the action crosses from north to south and west to London.
First two books in a well-researched series set in the period of the children of Henry VIII. Burnell gives us the three sons of William FitzWarren, their adventures and misdeeds, passions and avarice as the crown of England passes from Edward VI to Mary, with Elizabeth in the wings. Humor mixes with tension as the action crosses from north to south and west to London.
September 11, 2022
Medieval mysteries
This collection of books was very entertaining. I loved the descriptions of places and customs so much I felt I was there! I will continue with Jack and Richard’s adventures! Recommended.
This collection of books was very entertaining. I loved the descriptions of places and customs so much I felt I was there! I will continue with Jack and Richard’s adventures! Recommended.
September 19, 2022
good story line
I think sometimes the story stops abruptly and turns to another subject too often. It was a little confusing. Also there are SO many typos that it got frustrating and irritating to say the least. The characters were interesting.
I think sometimes the story stops abruptly and turns to another subject too often. It was a little confusing. Also there are SO many typos that it got frustrating and irritating to say the least. The characters were interesting.
March 12, 2025
loved it
This was an exciting historical fiction book. There was so much action that it was hard to put it down. I loved the Fitzwarren characters and their escapades. There were some grammatical errors but because the story was so good, I moved on.
This was an exciting historical fiction book. There was so much action that it was hard to put it down. I loved the Fitzwarren characters and their escapades. There were some grammatical errors but because the story was so good, I moved on.
February 4, 2019
Great action adventure
I really enjoyed the complicated relationships and humor. It is a great adventure tale with plenty of action! I can’t wait to read the next book!
I really enjoyed the complicated relationships and humor. It is a great adventure tale with plenty of action! I can’t wait to read the next book!
November 8, 2020
Loved the series
August 9, 2022
A very imaginative though rather unlikely story
June 18, 2023
An enjoyable historical fiction based on actual history.
October 25, 2023
Good
I like historical that use real people as their characters. The main characters were made up but good. Booth stories were good, but the first one was the best.
I like historical that use real people as their characters. The main characters were made up but good. Booth stories were good, but the first one was the best.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews