What do you think?
Rate this book
The Tudor Throne #4
The Secret in the Tower
England lies on the brink of war.
The Duke of Suffolk has sought protection in the Dutch empire, leaving King Henry desperate to secure his extradition at any cost. Emperor Maximilian drives a hard bargain, which imperils his ability to provide for the newly widowed Katharine of Aragon. He also faces treason in his court, since not everyone has forsaken the queen’s treacherous cousin. To appease the Spanish, Henry offers them a castle on the Thames, but there, not is all as it seems.
The arrival of his royal comptroller coincides with a rash of thefts. Suspicious and fearful of the king’s intentions, the Spanish cling to their last hope, that Katharine can find a way to reforge the broken alliance. But her idea may not meet with the king’s approval.
When the ambitious young Thomas More brings a stranger into their midst, the turbulent skies over Durham House fill with uncertainty. Secret meetings, shadows in long corridors, and a sinister plot unfold beneath the shadow of The Tower.
The Duke of Suffolk has sought protection in the Dutch empire, leaving King Henry desperate to secure his extradition at any cost. Emperor Maximilian drives a hard bargain, which imperils his ability to provide for the newly widowed Katharine of Aragon. He also faces treason in his court, since not everyone has forsaken the queen’s treacherous cousin. To appease the Spanish, Henry offers them a castle on the Thames, but there, not is all as it seems.
The arrival of his royal comptroller coincides with a rash of thefts. Suspicious and fearful of the king’s intentions, the Spanish cling to their last hope, that Katharine can find a way to reforge the broken alliance. But her idea may not meet with the king’s approval.
When the ambitious young Thomas More brings a stranger into their midst, the turbulent skies over Durham House fill with uncertainty. Secret meetings, shadows in long corridors, and a sinister plot unfold beneath the shadow of The Tower.
245 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2020
5 people want to read
About the author
Charity Bishop
32 books125 followersCharity Bishop is an author of historical fantasy, magical realism, and Christian horror/suspense who has been writing stories since a rainy afternoon at age eleven sparked her lifelong obsession with narrative. Over the past three decades, she has crafted intricately researched novels set everywhere from Napoleonic France to the doomed decks of the Titanic, always exploring the complexities of human nature with a blend of intellectual curiosity, creative abandon, and surprising humor. When she's not diving deep into historical archives or battling her inner demons of self-doubt, Charity can be found sewing gowns for Monster High dolls, being owned by her beloved cats, and dreaming up the next world for her readers to explore. Her work stands against hypocrisy, the abuse of power, and the darkness in human hearts, while always leaving room for hope, redemption, and the kind of plot twists that keep you reading long past your bedtime.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 7, 2020
3.5 stars!
I've come to expect quite the thrill ride from Charity's Tudor Throne books, and this latest installment is no exception. Now, I wasn't as enchanted by the setting as I was in books 2 and 3 (I mean, London vs. the beach: who do you think is gonna win . . . THE BEACH), but still. Quite a ride.
As is tradition by this point *grins*, allow me to sum up the delightfully vibrant cast of characters:
Estrella: Hufflepuff cinnamon roll
Katharine: Slytherin cinnamon roll
Elisabeth: Slytherin cinnamon roll No. 2
Margaret Beaufort: my new hero
Avis: *allllllllllllllllllllllllll the hugs*
Henry Tudor: #don't question my life choices
Lovell: #hmm, haven't done anything nice for anybody in a while #lemme rescue a child
Grimaldi: um, eww?
Hawke: KILL IT WITH FIRE
Foxe: sir . . . just stop
Jones: I had such high hopes for you
Ralfkin: seriously can none of y'all male specimens get your act together
More: "Not all men--" "YOU'RE RIGHT, Sir Thomas More would never do this"
Willoughby: "Not all men--" "RIGHT AGAIN, Baron Willoughby can always be relied on"
Estrella (as you can probably tell) is my favorite character in the whole series, closely followed by Katharine. I love how their sweet spirits shine so bright amidst the intrigue and cold-heartedness surrounding them; yet, they're not damsels in distress. They're not defenseless. They each have their own special strengths. [Katharine, in particular--don't mess with that girl, fellas. She will cut you back. With a smile.] A++ female characterization.
In particular, it makes me chuckle to see how nervous Henry Tudor gets around Katharine, cuz HE KNOWS SHE'S COMING FOR HIM. He /knows/. He knows he's met his match.
I want Estrella to marry Willoughby when she's old enough *fingers crossed!!* and I WISH Katharine could marry Thomas More but we know she doesn't because stupid history. Stupid, stupid history. *wailsssssssssssssss*
I'm excited for Book 5, for sure :D :D
I've come to expect quite the thrill ride from Charity's Tudor Throne books, and this latest installment is no exception. Now, I wasn't as enchanted by the setting as I was in books 2 and 3 (I mean, London vs. the beach: who do you think is gonna win . . . THE BEACH), but still. Quite a ride.
As is tradition by this point *grins*, allow me to sum up the delightfully vibrant cast of characters:
Estrella: Hufflepuff cinnamon roll
Katharine: Slytherin cinnamon roll
Elisabeth: Slytherin cinnamon roll No. 2
Margaret Beaufort: my new hero
Avis: *allllllllllllllllllllllllll the hugs*
Henry Tudor: #don't question my life choices
Lovell: #hmm, haven't done anything nice for anybody in a while #lemme rescue a child
Grimaldi: um, eww?
Hawke: KILL IT WITH FIRE
Foxe: sir . . . just stop
Jones: I had such high hopes for you
Ralfkin: seriously can none of y'all male specimens get your act together
More: "Not all men--" "YOU'RE RIGHT, Sir Thomas More would never do this"
Willoughby: "Not all men--" "RIGHT AGAIN, Baron Willoughby can always be relied on"
Estrella (as you can probably tell) is my favorite character in the whole series, closely followed by Katharine. I love how their sweet spirits shine so bright amidst the intrigue and cold-heartedness surrounding them; yet, they're not damsels in distress. They're not defenseless. They each have their own special strengths. [Katharine, in particular--don't mess with that girl, fellas. She will cut you back. With a smile.] A++ female characterization.
In particular, it makes me chuckle to see how nervous Henry Tudor gets around Katharine, cuz HE KNOWS SHE'S COMING FOR HIM. He /knows/. He knows he's met his match.
I want Estrella to marry Willoughby when she's old enough *fingers crossed!!* and I WISH Katharine could marry Thomas More but we know she doesn't because stupid history. Stupid, stupid history. *wailsssssssssssssss*
I'm excited for Book 5, for sure :D :D
February 12, 2020
Well, Charity Bishop has done it again. She's made English history so engrossing in her latest Tudor Throne installment that I put down the other two books I've got going at the moment so I could concentrate on this this one.
The Secret in the Tower focuses on Katherine of Aragon, widowed wife of the late heir to the Tudor throne in England. She was married to Prince Arthur to build an alliance between England and her native Spain, but Arthur's death in a previous book threatens that alliance. No one knows quite what to do with her -- had she borne Arthur a child, that would make her situation secure, but as it is, she has no real reason to remain in England. But King Henry VII doesn't want her to return to Spain either, because then he'll have to return her dowry, which he's already spent on his costly efforts to rid himself of the biggest threat to his crown.
Katherine makes friends with the scholarly Thomas More, who often visits and advises her. The plot grows more and more complex, with rescued waifs, missing prostitutes, a series of thefts, and scandalous rumors, before coming to a satisfactory conclusion. And fear not! Fellow fans of that foxy fellow Thomas Lovell will see plenty of him in these pages too.
The Secret in the Tower focuses on Katherine of Aragon, widowed wife of the late heir to the Tudor throne in England. She was married to Prince Arthur to build an alliance between England and her native Spain, but Arthur's death in a previous book threatens that alliance. No one knows quite what to do with her -- had she borne Arthur a child, that would make her situation secure, but as it is, she has no real reason to remain in England. But King Henry VII doesn't want her to return to Spain either, because then he'll have to return her dowry, which he's already spent on his costly efforts to rid himself of the biggest threat to his crown.
Katherine makes friends with the scholarly Thomas More, who often visits and advises her. The plot grows more and more complex, with rescued waifs, missing prostitutes, a series of thefts, and scandalous rumors, before coming to a satisfactory conclusion. And fear not! Fellow fans of that foxy fellow Thomas Lovell will see plenty of him in these pages too.
June 19, 2025
In this fourth installment in my Tudor Throne series, at long last I could introduce a famous figure from the period, but who did not present himself in another book -- Thomas More.
Unsurprisingly, since he is such a strong character, his portion of the novel came together the quickest. His fierce determination to have his own way (and possibly pursue a career in the Church), his unwillingness to heed the warnings of others, and his strong sense of personal ethics drove him from the first -- straight into a diabolical tale of an evil woman, a London fraught with indecision and peril, and the tentative hold Katharine of Aragon has upon the English court.
Henry and Sir Thomas Lovell return once more, to unravel a sinister series of events... but the heart and soul of the novel truly belong to the impulsive "Master More." I hope you enjoy him as much as I do.
Unsurprisingly, since he is such a strong character, his portion of the novel came together the quickest. His fierce determination to have his own way (and possibly pursue a career in the Church), his unwillingness to heed the warnings of others, and his strong sense of personal ethics drove him from the first -- straight into a diabolical tale of an evil woman, a London fraught with indecision and peril, and the tentative hold Katharine of Aragon has upon the English court.
Henry and Sir Thomas Lovell return once more, to unravel a sinister series of events... but the heart and soul of the novel truly belong to the impulsive "Master More." I hope you enjoy him as much as I do.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews