Stevie‘s review of The Traitor’s Daughter (Thornleigh, Book 7) by Barbara Kyle
Historical Fiction published by Kensington 26 May 15
Having been entranced by the previous book in the Thornleigh saga, I’m sorry to say that house renovations, amongst other things, have prevented me from going back and reading all the books from the beginning. However, seeing the next in the series waiting to be snapped up for review was too good an opportunity to be missed, and, once again, I was swept up into an Elizabethan adventure with a group of characters who all feel very fresh in spite of this being book number seven.
Ten years on from the events of the previous book, Kate – the daughter of one of Queen Elizabeth’s most trusted men and his traitorous Catholic former wife – is waiting for her husband to be released from prison. His crime – to be caught taking part in an illegal Catholic Mass. All is not how it seems, however; Kate and Owen are spies for the Queen, a secret so deep that even Kate’s father doesn’t know and has disowned her for marrying a penniless playwright who follows the wrong religion.
Meanwhile, Kate’s younger brother, Robert – who was left behind when their father snatched Kate away from their mother – has returned to England with plans to join the Catholic insurgents, some of whom are still in contact with his mother and her friends.
Kate, Robert, and Owen soon find themselves positions in the households of their respective enemies, although for a long time Kate has no idea which side her brother is really on. Owen is forced to choose between his wedding vows to Kate and his duty to protect the Queen, and even Kate’s father is endangered by the plots that are unfolding.
This is a thrilling adventure from beginning to end, and I genuinely believed that characters were in danger for their lives, unlike in many romantic suspense stories where it’s accepted that, no matter what threats they face, the main couple will emerge unscathed at the end. I’m greatly looking forward to more of this series and hope to be able to read all of it, as soon as my life calms down a little. Highly recommended even to those completely new to the books – as this takes place ten years after the previous one, all the characters have developed enough in that time to need reintroduction even to seasoned readers.
Grade: A
Summary:
In 1582, England is gripped by the fear of traitors. Kate Lyon, tainted by her exiled mother’s past treason, has been disowned by her father, Baron Thornleigh. But in truth, Kate and her husband Owen are only posing as Catholic sympathizers to gain information for Queen Elizabeth’s spymaster. Kate is an expert decoder. The deception pains her, but she takes heart in the return to England of her long estranged brother Robert. If only she could be sure where his loyalties lie…
Kate and Owen’s spying yields valuable intelligence: English Catholics abroad are spearheading an invasion that would see Elizabeth deposed—or worse—in favor of Mary, Queen of Scots. Kate takes on the dangerous role of double agent, decoding and delivering letters the exiles send Mary. But when lives and fortunes hang by the thinnest threads, betrayal is only a whisper away…
A brilliant blend of Tudor history and lush storytelling, The Traitor’s Daughter is a riveting, passionate novel of loyalty, heartbreak, and one woman’s undaunted courage.
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
