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The Royal Secret: The latest new historical crime thriller from the No 1 Sunday Times bestselling author (James Marwood & Cat Lovett) (Book 5) Hardcover – June 15, 2021

by Andrew Taylor (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 2,883 ratings
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From the No.1 bestselling author of The Last Protector and The Ashes of London comes the next book in the phenomenally successful series following James Marwood and Cat Lovett during the time of King Charles II.

Over 1 Million Andrew Taylor Novels Sold!

A Times Best Paperback of 2022

Two young girls plot a murder by witchcraft. Soon afterwards a government clerk dies painfully in mysterious circumstances. His colleague James Marwood is asked to investigate – but the task brings unexpected dangers.

Meanwhile, architect Cat Hakesby is working for a merchant who lives on Slaughter Street, where the air smells of blood and a captive Barbary lion prowls the stables. Then a prestigious new commission arrives. Cat must design a Poultry House for the woman that the King loves most in all the world.

Unbeknownst to all, at the heart of this lies a royal secret so explosive that it could not only rip apart England but change the entire face of Europe…

Read more Read less
Previous page
  1. Book 5 of 6
    James Marwood & Cat Lovett
  2. Print length
    480 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    HarperCollins
  5. Publication date
    June 15, 2021
  6. Dimensions
    6.26 x 1.69 x 9.45 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    0008325561
  8. ISBN-13
    978-0008325565
  9. See all details
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Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
Previous page
  1. The Last Protector: from the No 1 Sunday Times bestselling author comes the latest historical crime thriller: Book 4 (James M
  2. The King’s Evil (James Marwood & Cat Lovett) (Book 3)
  3. The Black Friar (The Seeker)
  4. The Seeker
  5. THE FIRE COURT
  6. The Vivaldi Cipher (Vatican Secret Archive Thrillers)
Next page

From the Publisher

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a

a

a

The Times, 2019

C.J. Sansom, 2019

Guardian, 2018

s a a a a
The Ashes of London The Fire Court The King's Evil The Last Protector The Royal Secret
Customer Reviews
4.2 out of 5 stars
6,812
4.4 out of 5 stars
4,215
4.6 out of 5 stars
3,205
4.5 out of 5 stars
2,830
4.5 out of 5 stars
2,883
Price $17.59 $13.43 $17.99 $15.20 $19.26
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Editorial Reviews

Review

‘With all his customary deftness and skill, Taylor weaves a colourful, complicated plot involving royal secrets, foreign spies in London and a mangy lion, caged in a merchant’s stables, that is used to frighten a man to death’ The Times Best Paperbacks of 2022

‘A pleasure from start to finish’ The Spectator

‘Beautifully crafted story’ Mystery and Suspense

Praise for The Last Protector:

‘Confirms his status as one of our finest writers of historical thrillers’ The Sunday Times

‘There is colour, violence, devotion, courage and fun here. What more could anyone ask of a crime novel?’ Literary Review

‘Taylor is on reliably good form in this fourth instalment of a series that effortlessly blends history and mystery.’ The Times

‘A teeming London (in the process of reconstruction after the Great Fire), political chicanery, duels, brothels, court manoeuvrings ― all are grist to Taylor’s imaginative mill’ The Financial Times

‘A brilliant historical novel about Cromwell… Riveting’ Evening Standard

‘Superb… Cat, especially, remains one of the most compelling, multifaceted characters in contemporary historical fiction’. Observer

‘Taylor’s fourth Marwood tale is gripping and rich in detail – 4.5 stars’ The Sun

‘Boasting political intrigue and evocative period atmosphere, The Last Protector is crime writing at its most elegant and assured’ Waterstones blog

“[G]reat fun and perfect summer getaway reading”! Globe and Mail

Book Description

The latest new historical crime thriller from the No 1 Sunday Times bestselling author

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperCollins (June 15, 2021)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 480 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0008325561
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0008325565
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.54 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.26 x 1.69 x 9.45 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 2,883 ratings

About the author

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Andrew Taylor

Andrew Taylor

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Andrew Taylor is a bestselling British crime and historical novelist, winner of the CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger (for lifelong excellence in the genre), the HWA Gold Crown for best historical novel of the year, and the triple winner of the CWA Historical Dagger. He has published over 45 books.

They include the international bestseller, The American Boy (a Richard and Judy selection); the Roth Trilogy (filmed for TV as Fallen Angel); the Lydmouth detective series set in the 1950s; and The Anatomy of Ghosts, shortlisted for the Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year.

His most recent books are the Marwood and Lovett Restoration series. The Ashes of London was a Times/Waterstones number one bestseller. The sequels have both all been bestsellers too. The fifth in the series, The Royal Secret, is scheduled for UK publication in April 2021.

For more information: web www.andrew-taylor.co.uk; twitter @andrewjrtaylor

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
2,883 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Galla
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!
Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2021
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This latest volume in the saga of James Marwood and Cat Hakesby revolves around the secret treaty between Charles II and Louis XIV. James learns about a murderous Dutch spy who he must track down before he learns the details about the treaty. Cat unknowingly becomes a courier to Charles' beloved sister, Minette, who is married to Louis' brother the Duc d'Orleans. The ruse involving Cat makes use of her skills as an architect as a ploy to get her and secret papers to Minette. The story's climax takes place at Dover Castle where Charles, Minette, Kat, James and the spy wind up together. The story is based on solid historical fact; the characters are realistic....some are appealing and some repugnant; and the descriptions of the palaces, homes, hovels and mean streets are vivid. The description of Louis' 30,000 man caravan slogging its way through rain and mud is vivid, as is that of the two room leanto where the King and Queen of France plus a number of courtiers had to sleep on straw! Other characters include a merchant with a penchant for collecting unusual items, including a lion, and his appealing granddaughter with a serious problem. Two surprises, one unexpected death and a not exactly unexpected development in James' and Cat's relationship.
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A. meyer
4.0 out of 5 stars It wasn't bad - dragged a little though.
Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2022
Verified Purchase
I've read all the books in the series so far. I think this one just drags on and on. I have also found myself disliking 'Cat' more and more with each book. Poor Marwood is always treated like dirt by her and it annoys me.
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Anonymous
5.0 out of 5 stars Andrew Taylor never, never disappoints!
Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2021
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Great summer reading as well as accurate portrayal of everyday people trying to survive during the reign of Charles II.
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Mike Beuvink
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it
Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2021
Verified Purchase
Really enjoyed reading this book.
Looking forward to the next book in the series.
History, intrigue, romance, these books have it all.
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EML
4.0 out of 5 stars A worthy follow up
Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2021
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I have enjoyed this series from Andrew Taylor. Good history, sharp plots and a couple of good characters taking the lead.
More more!
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AnnetteBReviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable Character-Driven Story
Reviewed in the United States on June 16, 2021
London, 1670. Two young girls, Maria and Hannah, plot a murder by witchcraft. Once, “allies of a sort, united in their hatred of Abbott and his tyrannies.” Later, as Abbott is only a memory, one blackmails another.

Cat Hakesby carries on her late husband’s business as an architect and surveyor. She is commissioned to build a new poultry house for the king’s sister, which requires her to travel to France where the king’s sister resides.

James Marwood works at Scotland Yard when Richard Abbott, one of Lord Arlington’s clerks, dies. Marwood is set on an investigation of the circumstances surrounding Abbott’s death, and relates his findings to Lord Arlington, Undersecretary of State.

Meanwhile, Marwood and Cat meet once or twice a month to listen to music or go to a play or go for a walk in finer weather. It is an alliance of mutual assistance rather than affection as she prefers to keep her independence. After the end of last outing, they don’t make plans for the next time, as they usual would. That unsettles Marwood a bit. “She could forgive his unfortunate liking for low comedy, but not the way he had ogled the orange girl in front of her very eyes. (…) His boorish behaviour towards Mr Fanshawe and his guest had been almost equally bad.” Later, he extends his olive branch by writing her a letter with a plan to see a new play. She curtly expresses her refusal without any explanation. And now, it gnaws at him when he sees Cat with someone he is after.

There is one particular person at the heart of this mystery, but there is a lot of deception and some misjudgment, as well as complications. Besides one being dead, another vanishes, and yet another has a powerful friend. It presents some challenges for Marwood.

The characters come from different directions and as story develops they interestingly start coming together, as they happen to be related in some way. The plot is intriguing, culminating with a lot of intrigue and a royal secret unbeknownst to all. Written with marvelous prose sprinkled with humor, the characters come alive with their settings, vividly presented and giving a good sense of time and place. Beautifully crafted story and atmospheric in its depiction.

This fifth installment in the series reads as a stand-alone. With skillful writing, you can easily follow the characters, which drive this story to the culminating end.
3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Love this series
Reviewed in Canada on April 25, 2022
Verified Purchase
I love this series and this book didn’t disappoint. The main characters are so likeable. I don’t usually read any crime novels, but I love these ones!
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babushka
5.0 out of 5 stars My the best writer
Reviewed in Canada on November 22, 2021
Verified Purchase
I hope the adventures are going to continue. I am waiting for book#6.
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Catheine H.
4.0 out of 5 stars Great series of books
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 26, 2024
Verified Purchase
Really enjoyable reading, love the historic detail and getting to know the characters.
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Entwhistle
5.0 out of 5 stars Arrived on time
Reviewed in Canada on July 16, 2021
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Wonderful book
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gerardpeter
5.0 out of 5 stars Servants and Spies
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 5, 2021
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Solid historical fiction from an accomplished writer, and a page turner.

This is the fifth in the series set in Restoration England. The King’s Secret refers to the Treaty of Dover of 1670 which tied Charles II to Louis XIV. Certain clauses in the terms were concealed and unknown for more than a century. A good subject to exercise our two protagonists, James Marwood and Cat Hakesby.

Cat’s architectural talents take her to France, allowing Taylor to describe the court of the Sun King. Back in London Marwood tracks his quarry, a Dutch spy, through rather less glamourous surroundings. Apart James and Cat continue to wonder what they mean to each other, especially now Cat is a widow. A subplot runs alongside international intrigue, concerning an embittered servant girl and a lion.

The wide cast includes many familiar to the reader – Marwood’s household servants and slave, his bosses in Whitehall, Cat’s colleague, Brennan, and her servant, Jane Ash. Taylor shows how hard life was for children without family or means, treated badly by master and mistress alike.

Without being tedious the author tells the reader so much about daily life – food and drink (and poison), travel by coach and carriage, the torment of crossing the channel. We learn how getting about London was easier by rowing boat, the job of waterman being as necessary then as parcelforce today.

The Royal Secret is an exciting and well-paced novel, even as I knew much of the actual history. Previous Marwood adventures would have been easier to follow with a good map of Restoration London. Now I am more familiar with Bread Street Hill and Puddle Wharf, so when I say “I got lost in this novel”, it is for all the right reasons.
4 people found this helpful
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