The Traitor's Child: Will One Family's Guilty Secret Lay Bare History's Biggest Lie?

by Mark Townsend

After a fateful confrontation with the brother he once betrayed, Eric van Kroot finds himself roaming Amsterdam's seediest streets in a desperate search for the child he never knew he had. His quest uncovers far more than he'd bargained for, however, as he stumbles across the biggest cover up in history. But there are those who will do anything to stop him, for, while many have much to gain, others have everything to lose...

304 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2020

Reviews

[Hannelore Cheney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and John Hunt Publishing for the eARC.
This is a very interesting read and a lot of it takes place in Amsterdam, which I loved, having spent time there. It's set in several time lines and countries, with the main characters Eric and the daughter, Hannah, he's desperate to find. An ancient scroll is also being sought by Eric, a scroll the Catholic Church is desperate to keep secret.
It's a good mystery, thought provoking and obviously well researched. I loved Mark Townsend's final remarks and explanations, fascinating...
Definitely recommended.

[Marlene MacPhail · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read all but one of Mark Townsend's non-fiction books and they remain among my KEEPERS. The unread book is now on my shelf and ready for opening! Mark's background as a vicar with the Church of England, open world-view, and sense of humour make his books warm, informative, and thought-provoking. I was fortunate to be among those who gave some feedback and thoughts during the writing of The Traitor's Child and had looked forward to it for a couple of years. It was WORTH THE WAIT! The story is fast-paced and exciting, with characters I came to know and care about. I loved the way the storyline takes us from the present to the past and back again....building the plot to its surprising and beautiful conclusion...a conclusion that will shock some and be absolute truth to others. Throughout the book, I kept coming back to one thought...if ever a book was suited for adaptation to film, this has to be it! It also begs for a sequel....! I enjoyed The Traitor's Child tremendously and consider it a must- read for anyone wanting a thriller of a ride. Superb breakout novel, Mark!!! Keep 'em coming!

[Ankur Goyal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once you pick up this book you will not be able to put it down. The book starts with curious and innocent questions of a child who is not willing to believe that the followers of a God who is so kind and forgiving can be so cruel and so unlike the God himself. The child gets into trouble for asking questions. Very early in life she witnesses the hardships and hypocrisy of a world which seems so pious from outside. In other part of the world is a man digging the past of his family, completely unaware of the fact that he has a daughter who turns up dead when he finally finds her.

Future holds not only unearthing of several secrets related to lineage of the family but also something which threatens the basic foundation of entire christianity. It raises several questions on how Christianity has established its foundations on lies all over the world and to what extent it will go to protect their territory.

You will want to read the book in one sitting. Language of the book is easy and appealing to senses. Innocence in questions of a child, grief in voice of a father, anger, surprise and fear; all emotions combines in this masterpiece of a book.

[Wytzia Raspe · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a novel with 3 separate stories that after a while intertwine:
- a Jewish man around the time of the fall of Granada;
- an Irish girl in a orphanage run by nuns
- a Dutch guy looking for his daughter in the 1980ties.

It is obvious the writer does not like the church and does a kind of "Dan Brown". It grated as I am raised in a religious family and this felt as Christians bashing and I was wondering if he would have dared it with for instance Muslims. Do not get me wrong: it is fiction. But I would have liked it more if the people had been more diverse.

I am Dutch: What was supposed to be Dutch (the junk) was gibberish. Another thing was that the Jewish man flies to Amsterdam. And yes in the 16th century many refugees came to Amsterdam because it was a safe heaven against religious persecution. But I think that wave of refugees was 40 years after the time the book is set..

The fact that a house in Spain is preserved for 5 centuries was also a bit much.

[Richard Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got to know Mark Townsend when we were both Church of England priests serving in the diocese of Hereford. After he left the CofE (I’m still in it, though the Welsh version), I’ve followed with interest his ministry and his career as a writer. I was excited to see he had published a first novel, so added it to my list and now have finally read it.

Other reviewers have described it as a “page turner” and this is certainly true. I read it in 5 days flat! I would say it is a brilliantly conceived and written book. The action is fast paced, and the characters well developed so you can love or hate them. I like the way real events from history are blended in with the story. It has obviously been meticulously researched and the descriptions of Mojacar were particularly evocative; I definitely want to visit!

Well done Mark and I look forward to more from your pen in the future!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow I read this in less than 24 hours! It's a quick read anyway but you do want to know what is going to happen, so hence I couldn't put it down! I loved how at the beginning you are drip fed different parts of the story from different characters, which eventually all tie up. My only slight criticism is that I would have liked a little more detail, some parts are skimmed over (for example when Eric and Penelope go to the ancestors house). I would have liked to read more about the dangers they faced there. But aside from that, it's a great beach/lockdown read and would make a great BBC/Netflix serialisation.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hannah is an orphan who suffers a great deal of abuse from the nuns at the convent where she was left. Across the globe, Eric is a man with a score to settle with his brother, Peter. Told in different time periods, the book is confusing to begin with as we aren't sure how these are all connected, but as it goes on we find out many secrets about the history of the church as well as Christianity and Judaism in this fanciful (yet realistic) re-telling of the weeks leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus. While my attention waned a little in the middle, the end was completely satisfying and brought everything together!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

[Amra Winter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was originally drawn to this book because of the cover, but as soon as I read the blurb, I was hooked. I stayed up very, very late reading, and finished the book in one sitting.

The book mainly follows the story of two different people, Eric, a Dutch man in Amsterdam in 1981, and Hannah, a young girl in a Welsh orphanage in 1970. Eric has recently returned from 20 years in Mexico to see his estranged brother about a recently discovered family secret that could ruin not only their lives, but the very standing of the Church. In return, he learns about the daughter he never knew existed, and so much more.

Will Eric find his daughter? What is the family secret that threatens to tear the Church apart? And how do Hannah and Eric's secrets entwine?

[TBHONEST · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Traitor's Child is a powerful read, full of secrets and intrigue, that grips you from the first page and keeps you turning the pages as the plot unfolds. One you cannot help but keep reading.

[Ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an easy book to get into as the separate storylines were interesting and well written. I became more caught up in the story the further I read and had to stay up late to finish it because I wanted to know how it ended. Everything tied up well, although the last bit felt a bit like a sermon.

[Gaynor Kirkham-Painter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book, well written and easy to read. Several twists and turns even at the end.

[Maggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read several of Mark Townsend's’s factual books and both enjoyed and admired them but this is the first fiction one I've read – and boy, can he write fiction! It’s a fast-moving whirlwind of a book, back and forwards in time and it engaged me within minutes. I read the whole book in one day and was cross when interrupted!
I don’t know how long it would take other readers to work out what the three denouements were but, having written my own fictional trilogy on a very similar line, more than 20 years ago, it was very clear to me the main direction that the book was going. However, the anticipation didn’t impede my enjoyment one bit.
However, in the book’s three plot climaxes there is one that made me slump. Okay, that’s just me; In my line of work I often meet people who hold this view and it just doesn’t compute to me. If it’s true, then so much in the mystical tradition of all beliefs wouldn't make sense. But this is dramatic and effective fiction and if that bit that's off-putting for me makes someone else think anew, then that's great. That's the only reason it's a four star review and not five. A beautifully-written and engaging novel.

[Tony DeMalio · Rating 5 out of 5]

There have been times when I've started a book, then put it down because I get bored with it. This is not the case with "The Traitor's Child." A riveting read! What more can I say that hasn't been said in the other reviews? Read the book, you won't be disappointed!

[Gavin Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once you open this book you can’t put it down was really good read start to finish

[Patricia Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fantastic read. I was hooked from page one. It kept you guessing all the way through. The historic detail was amazing. It would make an amazing film.

[Philip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well I am surprised at this book, this book is a real Page Turner, probably one the best religious thriller i’ve read in a while, I would love to see more thrillers by the author Mark Townsend

[Maria Barry · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a cracker! This one had me gripped and was unputdownable. The message behind it needs to be heard in this world. I highly recommend this book. The characters are well-drawn and believable and the story has pace. As other reviewers have said, this would make a great film.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am currently reading The Traitors Child and i honestly haven't read a book so engrossing. I haven't been able to put it down. It is by far the BEST book I've read so far.

I think it would make an amazing film !!!!!!

[Kevin Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This really is a book that is impossible to put down! The author paints incredible pictures and moves with ease between different times as the story unfolds. The story could easily become a great film or mini series and, having read this, I’m am looking forward to further work from Mark.

[Felicity Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping read, and a real page turner. I very much liked the historical parts. It was well researched, giving many illuminating facts. Usually, when picking up a book after a break from it, I have to go back over the last few pages - to remind me where I was. However with The Traitor’s Child, I was straight back into the plot, without having to remind myself. It had a very satisfying ending too. I think it would make a brilliant film.

[S Mann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down! The suspense, story-line, and character development kept me turning through the pages late into the night. A brilliant read!

[Pennie Lodge · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a story! An amazing read which I found totally absorbing - didn’t want to put the book down but also didn’t want it to end! Well written & wonderfully gripping! In my opinion it’s up there with the best of them! Well done, Mark - looking forward to your next book!

[Sophie Ball · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book from start to finish! I was hooked from the start and didnt want it to end. Fabulous read!

[Chrissie Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMGoodness!I picked up "The Traitor's Child" last night and read until 04:30 - never have I ever had a book that I literally could not put down before this one. What a story. I was completely hooked ( it took a few chapters to get used to swinging between dates and characters) and I could feel the love coming from the pages. The story that being Christian is all about showing love and understanding to each other, not which building that you visit to pray in, was overwhelming. Also, the sadness and reality of those who are "most Christian" amongst us may be in fact, the most cruel, narrow minded and twisted of all God's creatures! It is beautifully written, with the odd twist here and there to keep the reader ultra inquisitive. There are many facets to this book that keeps you wanting even more.
Well done Mark Townsend on this wonderfully written novel.

[Doreen Kraatz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this book up and stated to read the book from start to finish without being able to put it down. It is such an exciting story that I was not able to stop. Very interesting historical views on the story of Jesus, his followers, a lost child and her story. Highly recommended and very exciting.

[Sally Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read couldn’t put it down. Would make a great film.

[Annette Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Traitor's Child by Mark Townsend is my first experience with this author, but it is unlikely to be my last. He cleverly twines three different stories set in three different locations and time periods to craft a clever historical mystery that dates back to the foundation of the Catholic Church.
The book opens with seedy scene in a brothel in 1980's Amsterdam, the city that is the setting for much of the book. We are then introduced to Eric van Kroot, a native of the city who has returned to patch up his relationship with his brother, after a terrible falling out years before. The second thread of the story follows Eric's ancestor, a Jew who was forced to leave his home or convert at the time of the fall of Granada, while the third is that of a young girl in a Welsh orphanage run by some very cruel catholic nuns, Over the course of the book we learn how history shaped the lives and destinies of these characters, and how they are connected, largely while following Eric on a series of Indiana Jones like adventures as he uses his ancestor's diary to uncover a precious religious relic. The mystery is an engaging one, even if the ending does not come as a huge surprise, and as long as you are willing to suspend your disbelief and go where the story takes you, you are in for an entertaining time.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story with a religious foundation. There are three parts to the story, which crosses timeframes: Peter and Eric van Kroot are two brothers who hate each other but find a secret bond that ties them together and may possibly destroy the church; Hannah is an orphan in the hands of nuns who run the orphanage where she lives and who abuse her—and is Eric’s unknown (to him) daughter; the last concerns the secret that Eric and his brother share which might destroy the church. Once the story gets going, many new secrets/truths about the church and culture as well as the brothers and their lives across different timeframes emerge. It seemed difficult to see, as I read along, how they all could possibly come together, but they did in the end. Thus, I found the story confusing at times. I also felt that the story of Hannah had enough substance and interest in it to be a story in itself rather than part of a book. Still, the story is exciting and interesting, especially if you enjoy reading about secrets that can change things considerably. I received this from NetGalley to read and review.

[Doris Vandruff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hannah grew up in the orphanage. All the nuns know her. They k ow her name is Hannah, so why do some of them call her Maggie? It's hard to figure out. Of course the orphanage is a hard place with austere conditions. Not enough food, hard work, harsh punishments and even harsher nuns. Their is Sister Simon, she is definitely a favorite. She doesn't tell and she has a kind way of treating g the girls. She listens too, and she's very patient.
A scroll has been hidden for many years. What this scroll has to say will change the world in so many ways. The Catholic church is not happy. They want to find it first so they can hide the real truth. Nate knows his family history and he will find the scroll and share it with the world.
These two stories will become entwined to make one story. Hannah will discover why the nuns called her Maggie and Nate will find what he's looking for.

[Annemarie Macken · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘The Traitor’s Child’ is a mystery/historical fiction, with some interesting and engaging aspects to keep readers turning the pages to uncover the secrets many of the characters seem to be hiding. The basic idea of the plot is a good one and there are many positives in terms of the storyline and characterisation, however there are times where the pace is a little loose and the language a bit repetitive and obvious. The interweaving of various timescales and characters’ lives is a plus for the most part, though it is not always as lucid as it could be - bear with it though as it is a worthwhile read overall, particularly in its shock tactics and questioning of religion and the teachings of the Christian church.