I recently jumped at the chance to read an early copy of Elizabeth St John's new novel, The King's Intelligencer, and I am excited to share it with you today. First, I should say that I LOVED The Godmother's Secret, which is kind of a prequel to this novel, though they are not technically published as a series. Besides being jealous of St John's familial connection to these historic events, I share her feelings that there are buried truths that may never be discovered about the famous Princes in the Tower.
This author does a fantastic job of taking women at the edge of well-known history and portraying them as unique, realistic, protagonists. (Did I mention they are her own ancestors? Yes, I know I did, but it's fantastic.) In The Godmother's Secret, Elysabeth St John (THEY HAVE THE SAME NAME!) is godmother to Prince Edward, better remembered as the eldest of the missing princes. I won't give away what happens, but it is well-written and historically plausible. Go read it.
The King's Intelligencer picks up almost two centuries later, during the reign of King Charles II, when a set of children's bones are discovered at the Tower of London. Right where Thomas More claimed the Princes in the Tower were buried.
Westminster Abbey Memorial
I have to be honest, I had never actually considered what it was like when those bones were found. St John does a fantastic job of demonstrating that there must have been questions. Lots of questions. Did people of the 17th century accept as fact that Richard III had killed his nephews? Did they think about those little princes at all? Did they wonder who had killed them or if they had actually been killed? Since we still discuss these questions today, I'm going to venture to guess that people of that time did as well, and St John transports the reader right into the middle of it.
The era is vividly recreated with scenes of debauchery at court, Princess Mary's emotional melodrama, the scheming over who would marry the "heir to the heir," and a search for the truth about the bones found in the Tower. Franny Apsley is a descendant of Elysabeth St John, and she is thrown into investigating what really happened and what her family's role in it was.
I don't want to give anything away, but if you can't help but get caught up in debates about the Princes in the Tower, you will enjoy this look at the mystery from the 17th century perspective.
I enjoyed Franny as a main character because she had depth and flaws. She is both independent and afraid to lose royal favor. She finds herself in love but is also intellectual enough to separate lust from other motives at play. Her relationship with Mary is . . . weird, but the author has made it historically authentic. I've really not read about this era, so I enjoyed learning about it.
This book is a slow burn, with real life getting in the way of Franny's objectives, giving the story another dash of authenticity and the reader deeper understanding of 17th century life. Fictional elements of the story are expertly blended with documented history, and the author helpfully explains which is which in her author's note. (Another side note: the author's other books, The Lydiard Chronicles cover the same family through the English Civil War, so you'll want to pick those up as well if you love a great family saga.)
A highly recommended read for those who love 17th century fiction or those who typically read about the Wars of the Roses.
More about The King's Intelligencer
Franny Apsley, trusted confidante to Charles II’s beloved niece and heir, Lady Mary Stuart, is caught up in the court’s excitement surrounding the find. Yet, as a dark family secret comes to light, Franny realises the truth behind the missing princes is far more complex—and dangerous—than anyone suspects. Recruited by her formidable cousin Nan Wilmot, Dowager Countess of Rochester, to discover the truth behind the bones, Franny is thrust into the shadowy world of intelligencers. But her quest is complicated by an attraction to the charismatic court artist Nicholas Jameson, a recent arrival from Paris who harbours secrets of his own.
Pursued by Nicholas, Franny searches for evidence hidden in secret family letters and paintings, and uncovers a startling diplomatic plot involving Lady Mary, which causes Franny to question her own judgment, threatens the throne, and sets England on a course for war. With only her courage and the guidance of an enigmatic spy within the royal household, Franny must decide how far she will go to expose the truth—and whether that truth will lead to England’s salvation or her own heartbreak.
In a glittering and debauched society where love is treacherous and loyalty masked, Franny must navigate a world where a woman’s voice is often silenced and confront the ultimate question: What is she willing to risk for the sake of her country, her happiness, and her family’s safety?
A captivating historical novel of conspiracy, passion, and courage, The King’s Intelligencer is one woman's quest for a truth that could change the fate of a nation. A companion to the critically acclaimed best-selling novels The Godmother’s Secret and The Lydiard Chronicles, The King’s Intelligencer weaves together beloved characters and actual events to bring a suspenseful mystery to life.
Connect with Elizabeth St John
Inspired by family archives and residences from Lydiard Park to the Tower of London, Elizabeth spends much of her time exploring ancestral portraits, diaries, and lost gardens. And encountering the occasional ghost. But that’s another story.
Living between California, England, and the past, Elizabeth is the International Ambassador for The Friends of Lydiard Park, an English charity dedicated to conserving and enhancing this beautiful centuries-old country house and park. As a curator for The Lydiard Archives, she is constantly looking for an undiscovered treasure to inspire her next novel.
Elizabeth's works include The Lydiard Chronicles, a trilogy set in 17th-century England during the Civil War, and The Godmother's Secret, which unravels the medieval mystery of the missing princes in the Tower of London. Her latest release, The King’s Intelligencer, follows Franny Apsley's perilous quest to uncover the truth behind the sudden discovery of the princes' bones. In Charles II's court of intrigue and deceit, Franny must decide what she’ll risk—for England’s salvation, her family's safety, and her own happiness.
Connect with Elizabeth on her website, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, Book Bub, Amazon Author Page, and Goodreads.
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