William Constable Spy Thriller series – Book 1
“A gripping and evocative page-turner that vibrantly brings Elizabeth’s London to life.” Steven Veerapen, author of A Dangerous Trade
London 1578 – a cauldron of conspiracy, intrigue and torture.
The might of Spain and the growing influence of the Catholic League in France all threaten the stability of Queen Elizabeth and her state.
William … threaten the stability of Queen Elizabeth and her state.
William Constable, a physician and astrologer, is summoned to the presence of the Queen’s spymaster, Sir Francis Walsingham. He is charged to assist a renowned Puritan, John Foxe, in uncovering the secrets of a mysterious cabinet containing an astrological chart and coded message. Together, these claim Elizabeth has a hidden, illegitimate child (an “unknowing maid”) who will be declared to the masses and serve as the focus for an invasion.
Constable must uncover the identity of the plotters, unaware that he is also under suspicion.
A connection to his estranged mentor, Doctor Dee, comes under scrutiny.
Pressured into taking up a position as a court physician, Constable becomes a reluctant spy.
Do the stars and cipher speak true, or is there some other malign intent in the complex web of scheming?
Constable becomes an unwitting pawn, in a complex game of thrones and power.
State of Treason is the first in a series of Elizabethan thrillers featuring William Constable.
Recommended for fans of CJ Sansom, S J Parris and Rory Clements.
Paul Walker is the author of the William Constable series of Elizabethan spy thrillers. He lives in London.
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State of Treason by Paul Walker, a first book of the William Constable Soy Thriller Series
I enjoyed this Historical Fiction with a mystery, thriller and espionage component set in the Elizabethan era. This is my favorite epoch in time in the Tudor timeline. The story begins in 1578, where a plot to overthrow Queen Elizabeth I is on foot. I love reading about this period for its renaissance revival, advancements of the time such as the British naval force which starts to triumph over Spain.
This is a character driven story about a fictional character I am certain you will absolutely love – William Constable, an astrologer, a physician, a mathematician and someone gifted with learning languages, who was brought to help decipher a plot to overthrow the reign of Elizabeth I.
Among the other characters that were a joy to read about were Walsingham, the queen’s spymaster, Doctor Dee and John Foxe. The pacing of the story was quick, the writing very readable despite the use of colloquialisms, which I enjoyed very much and really learning about what happened during the time with all of the conspiracies like a secret child and other Papist plots and to try to overthrow the monarchy.
I enjoyed this read so much that the I cannot wait for the second installation of this amazing book that is first in the series!!
State of Treason is set in London, England, in the year 1578. The Virgin Queen, Elizabeth the first is 45-years old, and twenty years into her reign. It seems, perhaps, there could be a plot involving the monarch.
This book is written in the present tense and the first person. The author assumes the identity of William Constable, a fictional mathematician, astrologer, physician, herbalist, and physik, as in physics. He speaks and writes Latin, Greek, French, and Italian, but sadly not Aramaic because that would be handy in this story. Constable is a “Renaissance Man” with a significant library, and he can also swing a sword. As a physician, he seems to disdain the accepted practice of bloodletting as a medical treatment. For some reason, I particularly enjoyed the presentation of Constable’s ailing mother, Lady Amy, who would like to see her son married. How old is the main character? Well, you must figure it out. Here are the clues. His horse is “a bay gelding of nineteen years.” He has had that horse since he “was a youth of ten and he [the horse] was a yearling.”
I had a rough time getting started with this book. In the opening pages, too many characters were presented too fast, and I had a difficult time grabbing hold of something to care about. Fortunately, a few pages in, Constable and another scholar are brought together for a purpose, and I became interested. A strange and perplexing object provides the basis for the plot, the intrigue, and the mystery to be solved. “It’s a small chest or large box about three hands square with a depth of no more than one.” Of course, it has a secret hidden compartment, a complex locking mechanism, and contains a cryptic, mysterious message, a riddle that needs to be decoded and solved.
The author places the reader in the story by setting a dark and shadowy vibe. The large castles, estates, and mansions are poorly lit. Mis-trust hangs in the air. Those in high places are always watching. Even their servants are barely seen. For example, in one scene, “An unseen hand opens the door, and Walsingham strides out.” Elsewhere, the author describes that there is a tapestry, but William Constable can’t make out the scene on the tapestry. I had to look up several words and phrases that were well placed in the story and added to the sense of time and place. Here’s what I learned. Crenellated battlements are kind of like the top of a rook in the game of chess. A scryer is a seer who employs a divining tool such as a crystal ball. A doxy is a prostitute. A hawker is a vocal traveling peddler, and I guess I knew that, now that I think of it. A goodwife is a term that honors a housewife not of noble birth. A codling is an immature fish, a codfish I presume, based on my google search it is served with its tail in its mouth. A mummery is a pretentions ceremony. A palfrey (there is a grey one in the book) is an archaic word for a docile horse. The author does a great job of placing the reader in the setting and involving the reader in solving the mystery.
Here’s a tangent notion. Neither are used frequently, but I was surprised to find the F-word and the S-word, so I looked up the etymology. Apparently the F-word first appeared in the 1400s, however, its meaning was, to strike. So, when preceded by the word wind, as in this book, it meant to strike the wind. As for the S-word, that is a very old word and was not considered to be vulgar. Its appearance in this book related to Constable’s mother’s debilitating constipation, appearing as, “Please sir… your mother… the lady Amy… has shat, sir.”
When I’m reading, I’m always on the lookout for cool sentences. I love this sentence, when Constable addressed his mother, “I am pleased that your aspect has more spark today.” That might be fun to say to someone who is feeling better. Here’s another interesting sentence, “No meal is complete without a ham.”
So, will the guy get the girl? The one who wrinkles her nose a lot. Will the patients’ health improve? Will there be violence? Will something bad happen to Her Majesty? Who is the bad guy? Perhaps there is a conspiracy involving many bad guys. It is possible to guess correctly. I did, so I’m feeling kinda smart, even if I had to look up lots of words I should have known. Anyway, I won’t spoil the ending by answering the questions in this paragraph.
I tremendously enjoyed spending a weekend in Paul Walker’s London, circa 1578. State of Treason is a compelling mystery, featuring intrigue, action, adventure, and a touch of romance. I highly recommend it.
The end of the book suggests a great adventure in the next book in the series. Here’s what a character in State of Treason has to say about the nature of such an adventure, “It fires the imagination and zeal of those who would seek to enlarge the splendor and dominion of Her Majesty. It uplifts and adds the color of heroism to the dreams of all true Englishmen.” Here’s to the next book in the series, A Necessary Killing (William Constable Spy Thriller series Book 2), by Paul Walker.
Thank you HFVBT and the author for a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
State of Treason
William Constable Spy Thriller Series #1
By: Paul Walker
*REVIEW*
During the latter half of the sixteenth century, Elizabeth I was a formidable queen, and woman at that, over the whole of England. Conspiracy theories and superstition signs lurked around every turn. Elizabeth’s spymaster, Sir Francis Walsingham, enlists the help of a doctor and astrologer, William Constable, in the unraveling of the rumor of an illegitimate child as the source of a coming invasion. Is this true? Using the secrets of a cabinet confiscated from enemies of the crown containing astrological charts and secret messages, Constable, and others, must discern the message. I won’t go into detail about the plot, as it’s complicated. I will say the author does an excellent job of capturing the atmosphere of time and place. These people held religion in the highest esteem, but they were also superstitious and believed in the interpretation of signs, such as star charts and astrological anomalies. This feeling comes through well in the story. In addition, both real and fictional characters are seamlessly woven together so that, if the reader is unaware of historical context, it’s impossible to decipher fact from fiction. I have long been interested in sixteenth century England, and State of Treason is an informative and insightful look at this era. Historical fiction enthusiasts will enjoy this book. I look forward to reading from Paul Walker in this new series.
This book is certainly a page turner – it gripped me from the start.
Intelligently written and well researched, with plenty of historic detail.
After the main story, there is an End Notes section describing some of the history and events mentioned in the book – which is a nice touch.
I am looking forward to the sequel.