PARIS, 1585. A KING WITHOUT AN HEIR Giordano Bruno arrives in Paris to find a city on the edge of catastrophe. King Henry III lives in fear of a coup by the fanatical Catholic League and another massacre on the streets.
'A tight plot combines with subtly realised characters and an omnipresent sense of danger ... My pleasure in the vividly textured backdrop and a cracking story was accompanied by an uneasy shudder Daily Mail
'Colourful characters, fast-moving plots and a world where one false step in religion or politics can mean a grisly death' Sunday Times
'A delicious blend of history and thriller' The Times
'Vivid, sprawling ... Well-crafted, exuberant fare' Financial Times
'Successful historical thrillers need three elements: a killer plot that weaves seamlessly into the history; an engaging protagonist; and an atmospheric sense of place. Parris nails all three - Conspiracy is a gem' The Times
'This latest addition to the series will no doubt repeat its predecessors' success... The authentically febrile air of suspense that Parris generates, as well as a shoal of red herrings and some impish, what-if plotting. The drawing-room style denouement, conducted as it is in a salon at the Tuileries Palace, is also executed with knowing relish' Observer
'I can thoroughly recommend Conspiracy, which twists and turns like a corkscrew of venomous snakes Stuart MacBride
Author
About S. J. Parris
S.J. Parris is the pseudonym of author and journalist Stephanie Merritt. It was as a student in Cambridge researching a paper on the period that Stephanie first became fascinated by the rich history of Tudor England and Renaissance Europe. Since then, her interest has grown and led her to create this series of historical thrillers featuring Giordano Bruno.
Stephanie has worked as a critic and feature writer for a variety of newspapers and magazines as well as radio and television. She currently writes for the Observer and the Guardian, and lives in Surrey with her son.
