by S. J. Parris
First published 2012
Giordano Bruno senses someone following him through London's summer streets in 1584. The radical philosopher turned spy expects an old enemy, but finds Sophia Underhill instead. This young woman once held his heart, and now she needs his help. Authorities have charged her with killing her husband, a powerful Canterbury magistrate. Bruno travels to the ancient pilgrimage city to clear her name. His investigation reveals the dead man belonged to a secret cult devoted to Thomas Becket, the archbishop slain centuries earlier in Canterbury Cathedral. The magistrate's murder connects to a wider conspiracy that threatens the kingdom itself. Bruno must decode historical mysteries about Becket's vanished remains while dodging present dangers. His rekindled feelings for Sophia complicate every move. Another killing seems inevitable, and Bruno fears he may be the target. The case pulls him deeper into Canterbury's shadows, where religious zealots plot against the crown and ancient secrets fuel modern crimes.
Genres: historical, historical-fiction, mystery, thriller
Vibes: atmospheric, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, enemies-to-lovers
Setting: London, Canterbury
Period: 1584
416 pages · Paperback · HarperCollins Publishers