Book Description

Nicholas Peverell returns to his manor house in Sussex after visiting King Henry VIII at court and finds that his loyal steward has been murdered - strangled and thrown from the manor house tower. Nicholas immediately decides to launch an investigation.

He also has to deal with the unrest among the monks at his priory - King Henry is trying to reform the church and the plight of the monks is as yet unsure - could they somehow be involved in the murder?

Nicholas's problems are further exacerbated when beautiful and talented local girl Jane Warrener tells him she overheard talk of a conspiracy against the king. It is her notion that his steward's murder had something to do with it. Perhaps he overheard the conspirators, and they killed him off before he could betray their plans....

If this is the case, and with King Henry's untimely announcement of his intention to visit Peverell Manor on his way to Portsmouth in just a few days, Nicholas has no time to lose if he is to hunt down the murderous traitors and save the life of his king.

From Publishers Weekly

Nicholas Peverell, adviser to King Henry VIII, returns home to find that thieves have apparently murdered his steward in this middling debut mystery from British historian Collier. Preoccupied by the king's plan to seize Peverell Manor for revenue, as well as the growing tensions between the throne and the papacy over Anne Boleyn, Peverell is startled when Jane Warrener, an attractive, independent and assertive commoner, presents an alternative theory. Jane suggests that the steward may have known too much about a conspiracy to slay the king. Despite his grief over the recent loss of his wife and son, Peverell finds himself falling for Jane, and he abets her desire to break free of society's restrictions by enlisting her as his assistant. When he learns that the attempt on the king's life may come during a visit to the manor, the inquiry gains even more urgency as he tries to juggle it along with his own misgivings about the king's policies and caprices. The identity of the murderer doesn't come as much of a surprise, while the sleuthing consists of little more than checking motives and alibis. Unfortunately, the fast-paced plot lacks the ingenious twists that would make up for the reduced suspense in knowing that Henry VIII wasn't assassinated. Authentic period detail jars with anachronistic dialogue. An attractive jacket, depicting Henry VIII in the foreground and a body in the background, will hook historical mystery fans, though any sequel will need to be stronger to retain their loyalty.

From Booklist

Lord Nicholas Peverell returns to his Sussex manor after visiting King Henry VIII to find the gates locked and the servants preoccupied. Once inside, he learns that his trusted steward, Matthew, is dead. Although the servants think it is an accident, Nicholas suspects murder and begins an investigation. With King Henry coming to his estate for a visit in a few days, he needs to resolve the situation. As if this weren't enough, a beautiful and talented musician, Jane Warrener, tells him about a possible conspiracy against the king, and the monks at his priory are involved in suspicious activities. Collier, who read history at Cambridge, has created an interesting plot full of historical detail. The court intrigue and the budding romance of the widowed Nicholas and Jane will charm readers who enjoy a romp in merrie old England.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Barbara Bibel

About Author

Iris Collier is the daughter of a professional musician and was educated at Newnham College, Cambridge, where she read history. She taught creative writing in Chichester for a number of years and now lives in Boxgrove, England, where she researches and writes history books and thrillers. She is very interested in the rich history of England, and in particular, the history of the local priory at Boxgrove, where she gives guided tours. Boxgrove Priory and its environs provided much of the background and inspiration for Day of Wrath, her first historical crime novel.

Iris is married to a former diplomat, and has traveled a great deal throughout her married life. She has two grown children and one grandson.

Book Dimension

Height (mm) 237 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 Width (mm) 137