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An Elizabethan Spy Mystery #2
The Course of All Treasons: An Elizabethan Spy Mystery
England, 1586. Tensions rise as threats to the realm abound. Traitors are plotting for Mary Queen of Scots to depose Elizabeth I and take the throne. Rumors of a Spanish invasion by sea mount daily. And the body of one of Sir Francis Walsingham's agents is found floating in the Thames as other agents face enemies armed with crossbows and vials of poison.
Nicholas Holt, a spy in Walsingham's employ, narrowly averts the same fate while setting off in pursuit of the killer--or killers. And when he surprises a suspect in the company of a Spanish agent, he believes he's close not only to solving the case but preventing an act of high treason.
But soon, the attacks begin to threaten Nick's circle of friends. As those he loves face mortal peril, Nick must unravel the tangled plot, all the while steering a careful path through the fierce rivalry between Walsingham's agents and those of the Queen's favorite, the upstart Earl of Essex. Now it's a race to the breathless conclusion as Nick desperately searches for the answers that can save the day--and a vestige of loyalty that can save his own life.
Nicholas Holt, a spy in Walsingham's employ, narrowly averts the same fate while setting off in pursuit of the killer--or killers. And when he surprises a suspect in the company of a Spanish agent, he believes he's close not only to solving the case but preventing an act of high treason.
But soon, the attacks begin to threaten Nick's circle of friends. As those he loves face mortal peril, Nick must unravel the tangled plot, all the while steering a careful path through the fierce rivalry between Walsingham's agents and those of the Queen's favorite, the upstart Earl of Essex. Now it's a race to the breathless conclusion as Nick desperately searches for the answers that can save the day--and a vestige of loyalty that can save his own life.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 10, 2019
33 people are currently reading
121 people want to read
About the author
Suzanne M. Wolfe
9 books100 followersSuzanne M. Wolfe grew up in Manchester, England and read English Literature at Oxford University, where she co-founded the Oxford C.S. Lewis Society. She served as Writer in Residence at Seattle Pacific University and taught literature and creative writing there for nearly two decades. Wolfe is the author of three novels: A Murder by Any Name (Crooked Lane), The Confessions of X (HarperCollins/Nelson, 2016, winner of the Christianity Today Book of the Year Award), and Unveiling (Paraclete Press, 2018, winner of the Award of Merit from the Christianity Today Book of the Year Awards). Thirty years ago, she and her husband, Gregory Wolfe, co-founded Image, a journal of the arts and faith. She and her husband are the parents of four grown children. They live in Richmond Beach, Washington.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
December 9, 2019
An historical mystery set in London during the reign of Elizabeth the first, and it also turns out to be the second in a series. I have not read the first but this one was fine to read as a stand alone.
Having said that I will be looking out for book one as I much enjoyed the characters, especially Nicholas Holt who is a spy at the Queen's court. A number of real life characters appear, notably William Shakespeare in his younger years struggling to become a playwright. There is a huge amount of well researched historical detail and the setting of London in the days before sanitation is well pictured.
Couple this with a convoluted mystery which results in some macabre deaths and a number of near misses, and you have a very readable and entertaining book.
My thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Having said that I will be looking out for book one as I much enjoyed the characters, especially Nicholas Holt who is a spy at the Queen's court. A number of real life characters appear, notably William Shakespeare in his younger years struggling to become a playwright. There is a huge amount of well researched historical detail and the setting of London in the days before sanitation is well pictured.
Couple this with a convoluted mystery which results in some macabre deaths and a number of near misses, and you have a very readable and entertaining book.
My thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
January 5, 2020
The Course of All Treasons is a historical mystery thriller set in the mid-Elizabethan era, featuring a fictional aristocratic spy, Nicholas Holt, mixing with famous characters from that period. It’s the second in a series, and I had intended to read A Murder by Any Name first, but felt it was relatively expensive for an ebook by an unknown (to me) author so waited, hoping the price would come down, then ran out of time as my review was already a month overdue. As it happens it is easily read as a stand-alone, and while Holt’s previous case is referred to frequently, there are no major spoilers.
London, 1586. Nick Holt, the younger son of an earl in a family of secret Catholics, works reluctantly as a spy for Queen Elizabeth I under the direction of Sir Francis Walsingham and Sir Robert Cecil (both real people.) Elizabeth’s crown is under threat from both the Spanish and factions within England who would rather return to Catholic rule under her cousin, the imprisoned Mary Queen of Scots. While on a mission to tail a suspected Spanish agent, Holt is attacked, and saved only by the intervention of Edmund, an acquaintance from his youth now working for a rival agency set up by the Queen’s new favourite at court, Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex (also real.) Suspecting that Essex had a had hand in the attacks on both Holt and other of his spies, Walsingham sends Nick to work for the spoiled arrogant Essex, putting both him and his friends in danger.
This is a well-written historical romp with a modern flavour - including contemporary language that some will find jarring - the author explains the reasons for this in the afterword and it will either bother you - in which case find another book, or it won’t. Reminiscent of CJ Samson’s Shardlake novels, but lighter (and shorter) I found this to be a well paced mystery with appealing characters and a good sense of place with it’s atmospheric descriptions of Tudor life. Nick Holt is an appealing hero, like a cross between James Bond and Jon Snow - complete with his giant loyal dog - and I enjoyed the surrounding characters, especially his Jewish physician friends Eli and Rivkah. (Perhaps no surprise that I was particularly interested in the medical aspects.)
I’ve read a reasonable amount of Tudor fiction so had an idea of the main players, but there is a helpful character list at the start - in a time where most of the men are called either Robert or John, this is very useful. I liked the way the author brought in Shakespeare as an unknown playwright putting on a first version of Hamlet, and the depiction of the ageing Elizabeth as a vain and anxious but resolute monarch was consistent with previous portrayals.
I guessed the identity and motives of the antagonist relatively early but this didn’t spoil it at all for me and I liked the way the reveal tied things back into true events. I’d definitely be keen to continue this series and probably will go back and read book 1 when my TBR reduces enough to justify buying it!
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc which allowed me to give an honest review, and apologies that it is late. The Source of All Treasons is available now.
London, 1586. Nick Holt, the younger son of an earl in a family of secret Catholics, works reluctantly as a spy for Queen Elizabeth I under the direction of Sir Francis Walsingham and Sir Robert Cecil (both real people.) Elizabeth’s crown is under threat from both the Spanish and factions within England who would rather return to Catholic rule under her cousin, the imprisoned Mary Queen of Scots. While on a mission to tail a suspected Spanish agent, Holt is attacked, and saved only by the intervention of Edmund, an acquaintance from his youth now working for a rival agency set up by the Queen’s new favourite at court, Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex (also real.) Suspecting that Essex had a had hand in the attacks on both Holt and other of his spies, Walsingham sends Nick to work for the spoiled arrogant Essex, putting both him and his friends in danger.
This is a well-written historical romp with a modern flavour - including contemporary language that some will find jarring - the author explains the reasons for this in the afterword and it will either bother you - in which case find another book, or it won’t. Reminiscent of CJ Samson’s Shardlake novels, but lighter (and shorter) I found this to be a well paced mystery with appealing characters and a good sense of place with it’s atmospheric descriptions of Tudor life. Nick Holt is an appealing hero, like a cross between James Bond and Jon Snow - complete with his giant loyal dog - and I enjoyed the surrounding characters, especially his Jewish physician friends Eli and Rivkah. (Perhaps no surprise that I was particularly interested in the medical aspects.)
I’ve read a reasonable amount of Tudor fiction so had an idea of the main players, but there is a helpful character list at the start - in a time where most of the men are called either Robert or John, this is very useful. I liked the way the author brought in Shakespeare as an unknown playwright putting on a first version of Hamlet, and the depiction of the ageing Elizabeth as a vain and anxious but resolute monarch was consistent with previous portrayals.
I guessed the identity and motives of the antagonist relatively early but this didn’t spoil it at all for me and I liked the way the reveal tied things back into true events. I’d definitely be keen to continue this series and probably will go back and read book 1 when my TBR reduces enough to justify buying it!
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc which allowed me to give an honest review, and apologies that it is late. The Source of All Treasons is available now.
January 11, 2020
A good follow up to the first in the series, I think I will be sticking with the series as each book comes out. I enjoy the characters, setting, and the intriguing mysteries throughout. 4 🌟!
April 9, 2020
Top Eleven Reasons I Enjoyed The Course of All Treasons
1. My reading bent leans to non-fiction, especially biographies and histories. This said, what underpins a Nick Holt mystery is careful setting which maps out Elizabethan London, its streets, its houses, its wharfs. Wolfe paints the landscape so well the reader follows into the alleyways, taverns, and brothels seamlessly. Toss in some historical personages, such as Queen Elizabeth I, and pseudo-historical players, and you have a read that satisfies a taste for history and mystery.
2. Her majesty's spy, Nick Holt, is an Oxford man whose employ in Elizabeth’s court leads him on many a wild chase, through the colleges and taverns of Oxford and the Inns and Inns of Court of London.
3. There is plenty of solid historical meat to gnaw on. Wolfe has done her research on the time period well. Priest holes and recusants, Robert Cecil, Sir Francis Walsingham, and Spainish diplomats.
4. What is a royal court without a jester? Name: Codpiece. His clowning conceals one who knows more than he says.
5. The villain smiles and smiles or does not smile and smile.
6. Will Shakespeare assumes the role of a minor player, almost standing in the wings.
7. Poetic imagery. Wolfe has a poet’s sense of image. One description from _The Course of All Treasons_ which lingered for me is a London sunset figured as "a gold sovereign slipping” into the pocket of a velvet dress.
8. A wide cast of characters, well-drawn, fill the pages with people who are at once of their time and universally appealing.
9. The plot moves quickly with several suspects, including one of many disguises. Nick must discover who is killing off spies in the employ of Queen Elizabeth I. There are clues and you may guess who the culprit is, but the hunt through London is a good one.
10. The tantalizing subplot love story of Nick and Rivkah does not dominate the action, but as with good Shakespearean drama, it holds its attractions. [Please more of Rivkah in future mysteries.]
11. Opening lines can be memorable. Moby Dick’s, “Call me Ismael.’ Hamlet’s, “Who’s there?” How can you not like a book with the first line, “Satan’s pizzle”?
1. My reading bent leans to non-fiction, especially biographies and histories. This said, what underpins a Nick Holt mystery is careful setting which maps out Elizabethan London, its streets, its houses, its wharfs. Wolfe paints the landscape so well the reader follows into the alleyways, taverns, and brothels seamlessly. Toss in some historical personages, such as Queen Elizabeth I, and pseudo-historical players, and you have a read that satisfies a taste for history and mystery.
2. Her majesty's spy, Nick Holt, is an Oxford man whose employ in Elizabeth’s court leads him on many a wild chase, through the colleges and taverns of Oxford and the Inns and Inns of Court of London.
3. There is plenty of solid historical meat to gnaw on. Wolfe has done her research on the time period well. Priest holes and recusants, Robert Cecil, Sir Francis Walsingham, and Spainish diplomats.
4. What is a royal court without a jester? Name: Codpiece. His clowning conceals one who knows more than he says.
5. The villain smiles and smiles or does not smile and smile.
6. Will Shakespeare assumes the role of a minor player, almost standing in the wings.
7. Poetic imagery. Wolfe has a poet’s sense of image. One description from _The Course of All Treasons_ which lingered for me is a London sunset figured as "a gold sovereign slipping” into the pocket of a velvet dress.
8. A wide cast of characters, well-drawn, fill the pages with people who are at once of their time and universally appealing.
9. The plot moves quickly with several suspects, including one of many disguises. Nick must discover who is killing off spies in the employ of Queen Elizabeth I. There are clues and you may guess who the culprit is, but the hunt through London is a good one.
10. The tantalizing subplot love story of Nick and Rivkah does not dominate the action, but as with good Shakespearean drama, it holds its attractions. [Please more of Rivkah in future mysteries.]
11. Opening lines can be memorable. Moby Dick’s, “Call me Ismael.’ Hamlet’s, “Who’s there?” How can you not like a book with the first line, “Satan’s pizzle”?
September 5, 2020
A deeply satisfying sequel to Wolf’s first novel, perhaps even better. I enjoyed the pageantry and intrigue of the Elizabethan court. Equally exciting was the fictitious account of Nick Holt, master spy under Walsingham. So many figures from the 16th century England made appearances, but this is no tedious history. Rather, this is a true page turner.
November 25, 2022
Questo è quasi più un romanzo di spionaggio che un giallo, ma devo dire che mi è piaciuto, nonostante la lingua che cerca di replicare quella in uso nel Cinquecento. E ho pure capito chi fosse il cattivo. Devo dire che mi spiace che non ci siano altri libri, almeno per ora (ma sono passati tre anni dalla pubblicazione di questo, quindi dubito che ne usciranno altri).
August 13, 2019
I started reading this book thinking since it was a historical fiction genre that I could get into it. I was completely wrong unfortunately. I don't think it was how the author wrote the book, but more the story line that I couldn't follow very well. I would gladly try another book from this publisher and from the author, however, this specific book just did not work out for me.
September 29, 2019
I received a copy of this title from the publisher for an honest review. The Course of All Treasons is the second title to feature the Honorable Nicholas Holt, spy for Elizabeth I, but it can easily be read as a stand alone. Set during the later days of Queen Elizabeth, the author does a wonderful job of conveying the times , including the real fear that recusant Catholics faced and what life was like for the common people. Real life figures from the era are sprinkled throughout the story including Sir Robert Cecil, Robert Devereaux (Earl of Essex), Sir Francis Walsingham, and even Will Shakespeare. Nick finds himself in Oxford following a Spanish agent, but quickly loses him. After running into Edmund, a former classmate and neighbor of Nick's, he finds himself trapped into traveling back to London with Edmund; Nick always found Edmund to be a trial as a youth and quickly determines he hasn't changed much with age. The pair are unexpectedly attacked but are able to fend off the assailants. Upon his return to London, Nick finds that the attack on him may be part of a broader attack on Walsingham's spies. After having to tell Cecil of his lack of success with his mission, Nick is assigned to attempt to infiltrate a rival spy network run by the Earl of Sussex in the hope that Cecil will be able to discredit his much hated childhood nemesis and current rival with the queen.
What follows is a well written mystery with many twists and turns to keep the reader guessing throughout. I love how we get to see glimpses into both life in the palace as well as the more common parts of London where Nick's pub is located. Secondary characters are well-written and developed and add much to the story. I can't wait to see what the author has in store for Nick and his friends in the next title in the series.
What follows is a well written mystery with many twists and turns to keep the reader guessing throughout. I love how we get to see glimpses into both life in the palace as well as the more common parts of London where Nick's pub is located. Secondary characters are well-written and developed and add much to the story. I can't wait to see what the author has in store for Nick and his friends in the next title in the series.
December 20, 2019
The Course of All Treason by Suzanne M. Wolfe is set in Elizabeth the First’s reign, when treasonous plots seemed to be the norm rather than the exception – all centered around Mary of Scotland.
The book starts out with a death. Nicholas Holt – Nick to his friends -- is employed in the spy business and hopefully has a little longer life to look forward to. The spy game is hot and heavy in the England of the time, with Spain and France threatening and a Catholic plot around every corner. And since Nick’s family is recusant Catholic, he has to be especially careful – it’s basically the reason he’s doing what he’s doing.
Someone is killing Walsingham’s agents – and Nick’s been “loaned” out to a rival spy network headed up by the Earl of Essex—the Queen’s latest favorite. Nick has been sent in to find out to discover what’s going on. He’s definitely not happy about it. This after almost being assassinated himself. Thus begins The Course of All Treasons, the second in the series of Elizabethan spy thrillers.
Court politics! What everlasting fun! Spanish spies! Irish beauties that are spies! Tricksters abound. And Nick as a double agent. The end result – to discredit the Earl of Essex, because he is getting too powerful so close to the Queen.
Revenge, hatred abound. And at the center of it all, plots and counter-plots against Elizabeth as they have ever been, as long as a protestant Queen rules and a Catholic Queen is imprisoned.
The book is enjoyable enough, but what turned me off was the use of modern language and modern word usage (one character is described as another’s bagman, for instance, an “occupation” which didn’t come into use until the 1800s. Another word that jarred me -- “toffs” – not used until the 1850s.). The author has an explanation of sorts at the end of the book, but I feel that doing this detracts from the essence of what a historical mystery is.
Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for a copy of this book, in exchange for this review.
The book starts out with a death. Nicholas Holt – Nick to his friends -- is employed in the spy business and hopefully has a little longer life to look forward to. The spy game is hot and heavy in the England of the time, with Spain and France threatening and a Catholic plot around every corner. And since Nick’s family is recusant Catholic, he has to be especially careful – it’s basically the reason he’s doing what he’s doing.
Someone is killing Walsingham’s agents – and Nick’s been “loaned” out to a rival spy network headed up by the Earl of Essex—the Queen’s latest favorite. Nick has been sent in to find out to discover what’s going on. He’s definitely not happy about it. This after almost being assassinated himself. Thus begins The Course of All Treasons, the second in the series of Elizabethan spy thrillers.
Court politics! What everlasting fun! Spanish spies! Irish beauties that are spies! Tricksters abound. And Nick as a double agent. The end result – to discredit the Earl of Essex, because he is getting too powerful so close to the Queen.
Revenge, hatred abound. And at the center of it all, plots and counter-plots against Elizabeth as they have ever been, as long as a protestant Queen rules and a Catholic Queen is imprisoned.
The book is enjoyable enough, but what turned me off was the use of modern language and modern word usage (one character is described as another’s bagman, for instance, an “occupation” which didn’t come into use until the 1800s. Another word that jarred me -- “toffs” – not used until the 1850s.). The author has an explanation of sorts at the end of the book, but I feel that doing this detracts from the essence of what a historical mystery is.
Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for a copy of this book, in exchange for this review.
January 7, 2020
Suzanne M. Wolfe follows up her 2018 "A Murder by Any Name" with another mystery for the Honorable Nicholas Holt to solve. After an attempt is made on his life while trailing a possible spy for enemy Spain, Nick is forced to work for the Earl of Essex, whose own spy network rivals that of Nick's boss, Sir Francis Walsingham. Another spy in Walsingham's employ was murdered in a shack by the wharf, and he sends Nick to find proof that Essex's to blame under the guise of helping him track down the traitor providing information to the Spanish. But soon Nick and his friends are targeted by Winchelsea's murderer.
I was very excited to have a follow-up to "A Murder by Any Name." The ensemble is, for the most part, well established. Nick maintains all of his sarcasm, one-liners and deep concern for the safety of his friends. I felt like Nick was able to be fleshed out even more in this book as the stakes get higher and more personal. He is forced to tread even lighter than before with the reminder that his family's status as recusant Catholics could be used against him at any moment. Familiar characters like John and Maggie Stockton, doctors Eli and Rivkah, and the bard himself-trying and failing miserably to market an early version of Hamlet-make their return. The newer cast is headed by the cocky, showboat Essex and his spy crew, which include one of Nick's former classmates and a young Irishwoman with a knack for disguise.
If any faults, there were moments of exposition peppered in to remind the reader of Nick's previous case, which while handy could get a little distracting. I also found the climax and resulting finale a little rushed, especially with a significant plot point being discussed in the next to last chapter that will hopefully be explored more in another story.
All in all, I thought it was a strong sequel to the previous mystery with plenty of action and strong characters.
I was very excited to have a follow-up to "A Murder by Any Name." The ensemble is, for the most part, well established. Nick maintains all of his sarcasm, one-liners and deep concern for the safety of his friends. I felt like Nick was able to be fleshed out even more in this book as the stakes get higher and more personal. He is forced to tread even lighter than before with the reminder that his family's status as recusant Catholics could be used against him at any moment. Familiar characters like John and Maggie Stockton, doctors Eli and Rivkah, and the bard himself-trying and failing miserably to market an early version of Hamlet-make their return. The newer cast is headed by the cocky, showboat Essex and his spy crew, which include one of Nick's former classmates and a young Irishwoman with a knack for disguise.
If any faults, there were moments of exposition peppered in to remind the reader of Nick's previous case, which while handy could get a little distracting. I also found the climax and resulting finale a little rushed, especially with a significant plot point being discussed in the next to last chapter that will hopefully be explored more in another story.
All in all, I thought it was a strong sequel to the previous mystery with plenty of action and strong characters.
December 10, 2020
I hoped this was going to be the perfect cozy book for reading over a long weekend: an Elizabethan mystery, complete with fantastic details of the dress, food, street life, and royal court tensions of the time; intrigue, plotting, and the lurking threat of Mary Queen of Scots; and the rewards and dangers of being in Elizabeth I's inner circle. And, dear reader, it was.
With fears of betrayal and destruction at the hands of Mary Queen of Scots loyalists looming over Elizabeth's court, Nicholas Holt, a spy for Sir Francis Walsingham, must unravel the mystery of a killer who's picking off his fellow spies one by one.
But first Queen Elizabeth orders Nick to work within a rival spy network, and he suspects that some of the trusted sneaks are double agents aiming for Elizabeth's destruction. When Nick realizes that some of his closest friends, innocent of any wrongdoing, are in potential mortal danger because of his position as a spy, he's forced to take risks to try to out the murderer immediately, without concern for politics, protocol, or his own personal safety.
Nick is an appealing character, I adored the detailed setting, and the mystery's resolution makes sense without seeming too easy or involving outlandish red herrings.
I first mentioned this book in the Greedy Reading List Three Books I'm Reading Now, 11/17/20 Edition.
This is the second book in Wolfe's Elizabethan Spy Mystery series; the first is A Murder by Any Name.
Click here for my full review of this book--and for other historical fiction mysteries you might like--on The Bossy Bookworm.
With fears of betrayal and destruction at the hands of Mary Queen of Scots loyalists looming over Elizabeth's court, Nicholas Holt, a spy for Sir Francis Walsingham, must unravel the mystery of a killer who's picking off his fellow spies one by one.
But first Queen Elizabeth orders Nick to work within a rival spy network, and he suspects that some of the trusted sneaks are double agents aiming for Elizabeth's destruction. When Nick realizes that some of his closest friends, innocent of any wrongdoing, are in potential mortal danger because of his position as a spy, he's forced to take risks to try to out the murderer immediately, without concern for politics, protocol, or his own personal safety.
Nick is an appealing character, I adored the detailed setting, and the mystery's resolution makes sense without seeming too easy or involving outlandish red herrings.
I first mentioned this book in the Greedy Reading List Three Books I'm Reading Now, 11/17/20 Edition.
This is the second book in Wolfe's Elizabethan Spy Mystery series; the first is A Murder by Any Name.
Click here for my full review of this book--and for other historical fiction mysteries you might like--on The Bossy Bookworm.
April 21, 2023
I enjoyed book one of this series and liked the second book just as much. This is terrific historical fiction in the Elizabethan era.
The best thing about this series for me is the characters. All of them are interesting, complex and for the most part very likable. In particular, Nick our MC is a good man, despite being in a very difficult position being forced to work for Walsingham as a spy due to his being a member of a recusant Catholic family. Nick would prefer to just run his tavern and live his life, but circumstances don't allow that, and he is smart and capable and actually a very good spy unfortunately for him, but fortunately for the reader who gets to go along on his adventures.
I also really like the brother and sister Jewish physicians who treat the poor of London despite having been - as Jews have been for centuries - run out of their original home in Spain due to the bigotry and ignorance of people about the Jewish race. Despite what they have suffered both of them are kind and generous and giving to people who need their treatment and knowledge and have no other recourse for the medical treatments so many in London at this time desperately required.
The murder investigation was well-plotted and the pacing of the story and the ups and downs Nick endures as he investigates and ultimately figures out what happened and why is very interesting and engaging. I like this author's writing style and will look for more books from her.
The best thing about this series for me is the characters. All of them are interesting, complex and for the most part very likable. In particular, Nick our MC is a good man, despite being in a very difficult position being forced to work for Walsingham as a spy due to his being a member of a recusant Catholic family. Nick would prefer to just run his tavern and live his life, but circumstances don't allow that, and he is smart and capable and actually a very good spy unfortunately for him, but fortunately for the reader who gets to go along on his adventures.
I also really like the brother and sister Jewish physicians who treat the poor of London despite having been - as Jews have been for centuries - run out of their original home in Spain due to the bigotry and ignorance of people about the Jewish race. Despite what they have suffered both of them are kind and generous and giving to people who need their treatment and knowledge and have no other recourse for the medical treatments so many in London at this time desperately required.
The murder investigation was well-plotted and the pacing of the story and the ups and downs Nick endures as he investigates and ultimately figures out what happened and why is very interesting and engaging. I like this author's writing style and will look for more books from her.
December 12, 2019
When I picked up this book, I was honestly shocked to find myself in Medieval England. I had completely forgotten why I originally selected this one and I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy it. It turns out that this story took me on a rollicking adventure across London. And the tour was guided by the handsome Nicholas Holt. This is a different kind of investigation because it's in medieval times and Nicholas doesn't have all the fancy tools that we have today but it forces you to pay more attention to the characters and their motives. My favorites were Nicholas and Rivkah. I also really enjoyed Annie as a counterpoint to Nick. The author did an excellent job of bringing Nicholas's part of London alive and incorporating the differences between wealthy parts of the city and the impoverished parts. I found the politics of the time that influence the events to be really interesting too. This story is very much driven by the characters themselves, no gun fights or high speed chases, but that's why it was such a good read.
March 18, 2020
A well-written second book in a historical mystery series that is set in London during the reign of Elizabeth I. I did not read the first book but plan on going back for it as I really enjoyed the characters in this novel, especially Nicholas Holt. Nicholas is a spy in the Queen's court. I enjoy the inclusion of several real life characters in this novel, especially William Shakespeare, who is featured as a younger man who is struggling to become a playwright. The author obviously researched historical detail and the setting of London during those days, as everything is well described and documented.
Ms. Wolfe does a wonderful job with plot and character development, which creates a very entertaining read.
I would like to thank the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book and exchange for a fair and honest review.
Ms. Wolfe does a wonderful job with plot and character development, which creates a very entertaining read.
I would like to thank the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book and exchange for a fair and honest review.
December 4, 2019
I admit to being a fan of the first novel, which I thought hit many points about the complex Elizabethan period without going too deep - I spent some time googling as I was reading and I appreciated the author's notes. Nick Holt works for Sir Francis Walsingham, and thus for the Queen, and in this outing he's been charged with uncovering the murderer of another of Walsingham's men. I don't know how to describe what happens but suffice it to say, the characters are good, the plot engaging, and you might like me, learn something. I was pleased to see his friends Eli and Rivkah return in this installment (and kept crossing my fingers for them). Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. For fans of historical mysteries- what's better than one set in 1568?
February 18, 2021
I enjoyed this novel very much. Suzanne Wolfe clearly did a great deal of research, in order to add depth and atmosphere to the story. Both movies and novels, set in historic moments, should pull threads of the historic through to the present for flavor and information. But it's unhelpful to write to (or film) heavily based on anachronistic speech and mannerisms that are wholly foreign to the modern mind. It's good to balance the information with explanation, but not to weigh the story down. The author succeeded in this area. The heart of man has not been altered over the centuries, only our mannerisms. This was captured with insight and accuracy.
July 8, 2019
This just wasn't for me. The overall plot was less interesting than the subplot about the tensions between Protestants and Catholics in the Elizabethan society, as well as the story of the two Jewish characters, doctors Eli and Rivkah, which could easily have a stand alone book about the hardships of being victims of a pogrom and having to set down in a new country where they could face the same fate.
I did enjoy that Wolfe used the real spy network that weaved through court and city life in the 1500s. It was nicely done by the author.
All in all, a solid 2.5 for me.
I did enjoy that Wolfe used the real spy network that weaved through court and city life in the 1500s. It was nicely done by the author.
All in all, a solid 2.5 for me.
March 18, 2020
Thankyou to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and the author, Suzanne M Wolfe, for the opportunity to read an advanced readers copy of The Course of All Treasons in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.
I really enjoyed reading this book. Elizabethan England comes alive in the narrative of this book.
The storyline was well plotted with intriguing characters. The settings were highly descriptive and captivating. Will definitely be reading more from this author. 3.5 stars
Well worth a read.
I really enjoyed reading this book. Elizabethan England comes alive in the narrative of this book.
The storyline was well plotted with intriguing characters. The settings were highly descriptive and captivating. Will definitely be reading more from this author. 3.5 stars
Well worth a read.
December 10, 2019
One of the reasons I enjoy this series is the protagonist, Nicholas Holt. Nick is the younger son of a minor noble in the court of Queen Elizabeth I. Due to the fact that his family are secretly Catholics, Nick has been coerced into spying for Robert Cecil and Walsingham. As part of his cover, Nick runs The Black Sheep tavern with his childhood friend John and John’s wife, Maggie. Nick also has a loyal partner in the form of a gigantic Wolfhound named Hector.
Nick continues to be both empathetic (especially to those in the lower classes), but also cunning and deadly. I hate stupid characters that blunder their way from one adventure to the next but Nick can definitely hold his own. But he’s not perfect – he has several flaws – but that makes him more endearing to me.
I found this story to be a bit more confusing than the first one. However, I think all the plots and subplots were deliberate in order to add to the confusion and paranoia that I think was typical of life at the court of Elizabeth I. There were spies everywhere and everyone was suspect. Trying to unravel who was plotting with who, who was loyal and who was treasonous could make anyone’s head swim.
Just as in the first book, some of the well-known historical characters (Walsingham, Essex, Cecil, etc) play important parts, but were secondary to the main characters like Nick and John. And that’s completely fine with me. I enjoy how Wolfe has the bigger-than-life figures nudge the action along, but then they fade into the background.
Wolfe does a terrific job of setting up the environment and atmosphere of Elizabeth’s court. There’s just enough historical reference to put you in the right frame of mind but really, it’s the characters and their personal stories that I’m here for. Fingers crossed that there’s more adventures with Nick Holt on the horizon!
* Thank you to the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, for providing me with an advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
Nick continues to be both empathetic (especially to those in the lower classes), but also cunning and deadly. I hate stupid characters that blunder their way from one adventure to the next but Nick can definitely hold his own. But he’s not perfect – he has several flaws – but that makes him more endearing to me.
I found this story to be a bit more confusing than the first one. However, I think all the plots and subplots were deliberate in order to add to the confusion and paranoia that I think was typical of life at the court of Elizabeth I. There were spies everywhere and everyone was suspect. Trying to unravel who was plotting with who, who was loyal and who was treasonous could make anyone’s head swim.
Just as in the first book, some of the well-known historical characters (Walsingham, Essex, Cecil, etc) play important parts, but were secondary to the main characters like Nick and John. And that’s completely fine with me. I enjoy how Wolfe has the bigger-than-life figures nudge the action along, but then they fade into the background.
Wolfe does a terrific job of setting up the environment and atmosphere of Elizabeth’s court. There’s just enough historical reference to put you in the right frame of mind but really, it’s the characters and their personal stories that I’m here for. Fingers crossed that there’s more adventures with Nick Holt on the horizon!
* Thank you to the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, for providing me with an advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
February 3, 2025
I'm kind of bummed to see there isn't anything more from this series. The cast of characters was entertaining without stealing focus from our main character. And Hector. Who doesn't want more from a faithful hound?
I'd like to see where the author takes this story. I'm always interested in seeing how different author's deal with Mary, Queen of Scots. She's either a villain or a victim. I would like to see how Wolfe spins the story.
I'd like to see where the author takes this story. I'm always interested in seeing how different author's deal with Mary, Queen of Scots. She's either a villain or a victim. I would like to see how Wolfe spins the story.
October 8, 2019
It's the second book I read in this series and I think it improves with each instalment.
The plot is engrossing and keeps you hooked till the end, the cast of characters is well written and interesting, the mystery kept me guessing.
I look forward to reading other books in this series.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
The plot is engrossing and keeps you hooked till the end, the cast of characters is well written and interesting, the mystery kept me guessing.
I look forward to reading other books in this series.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
December 12, 2019
Wolfe has written another intriguing mystery set in Elizabethan London, in which we learn more about Nicholas Holt and his relationships with the other main characters. In addition to sharing her passion for this time in history, Wolfe gifts the reader with her beautiful perspective on life, faith, and philosophy. Her masterful use of words makes everything she writes a delight to read!
November 7, 2020
I love these Elizabethan spy mysteries. I hope the author writes more. I don't usually like my protagonist to be male but the main character is so complex and interesting. The insight into and it's inhabitants was fascinating, especially as most Tudor era novels focus only on court life. I want more!
March 13, 2024
This sequel to A Murder By Any Name did not disappoint in any way. Nick returns with a new mission and with the help of a host of likable, as well as some unlikable characters, Nick is trying to solve a murder and unmask treachery. I loved this book and its characters as well as the amazing research that went in to showing us London in the 1500’s. A must read.
March 31, 2020
Walsingham’s spies are being killed and hunted. It’s up to Nick to find out who is behind the attempts on his life and others. He is sent to work with the Queens current favorite Essex and his spy ring. Just when he believes he know who the murderer is, another attack takes place.
September 5, 2019
The Course of All Treasons was a pretty good read. I look forward to more by Suzanne M Wolfe in the future. I give this one four stars.
September 27, 2020
Thumbs up for another good read by this author
June 26, 2021
Solid Elizabethan spy story.
December 30, 2020
I hoped this was going to be the perfect cozy book for reading over a long weekend: an Elizabethan mystery, complete with fantastic details of the dress, food, street life, and royal court tensions of the time; intrigue, plotting, and the lurking threat of Mary Queen of Scots; and the rewards and dangers of being in Elizabeth I's inner circle. And, dear reader, it was.
With fears of betrayal and destruction at the hands of Mary Queen of Scots loyalists looming over Elizabeth's court, Nicholas Holt, a spy for Sir Francis Walsingham, must unravel the mystery of a killer who's picking off his fellow spies one by one.
But first Queen Elizabeth orders Nick to work within a rival spy network, and he suspects that some of the trusted sneaks are double agents aiming for Elizabeth's destruction. When Nick realizes that some of his closest friends, innocent of any wrongdoing, are in potential mortal danger because of his position as a spy, he's forced to take risks to try to out the murderer immediately, without concern for politics, protocol, or his own personal safety.
Nick is an appealing character, I adored the detailed setting, and the mystery's resolution makes sense without seeming too easy or involving outlandish red herrings.
I first mentioned this book in the Greedy Reading List Three Books I'm Reading Now, 11/17/20 Edition.
This is the second book in Wolfe's Elizabethan Spy Mystery series; the first is A Murder by Any Name.
Click here for my full review of this book--and for other historical fiction mysteries you might like--on The Bossy Bookworm.
With fears of betrayal and destruction at the hands of Mary Queen of Scots loyalists looming over Elizabeth's court, Nicholas Holt, a spy for Sir Francis Walsingham, must unravel the mystery of a killer who's picking off his fellow spies one by one.
But first Queen Elizabeth orders Nick to work within a rival spy network, and he suspects that some of the trusted sneaks are double agents aiming for Elizabeth's destruction. When Nick realizes that some of his closest friends, innocent of any wrongdoing, are in potential mortal danger because of his position as a spy, he's forced to take risks to try to out the murderer immediately, without concern for politics, protocol, or his own personal safety.
Nick is an appealing character, I adored the detailed setting, and the mystery's resolution makes sense without seeming too easy or involving outlandish red herrings.
I first mentioned this book in the Greedy Reading List Three Books I'm Reading Now, 11/17/20 Edition.
This is the second book in Wolfe's Elizabethan Spy Mystery series; the first is A Murder by Any Name.
Click here for my full review of this book--and for other historical fiction mysteries you might like--on The Bossy Bookworm.
August 11, 2022
I loved this book! I enjoyed getting to follow Nick's,Johns, and Hector's adventures again.
This story had many twists and turns and even red herrings.
I tentatively figured out the culprit pretty early on, however, none of that took away from my enjoyment of the overall story.
Well done.
This story had many twists and turns and even red herrings.
I tentatively figured out the culprit pretty early on, however, none of that took away from my enjoyment of the overall story.
Well done.
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