The year is 1051. England is in turmoil. The beautiful and angry Queen Edith curses the ground her husband, Edward the Confessor, hunts on and all its future owners. Five centuries later, Richard Weston, a shrewd politician and rising member of Henry VIII’s court, is awarded the land and builds a magnificent manor house. But his family is living in the shadow of the curse and must soon pay its … curse and must soon pay its price. For his son and heir, Francis Weston, will be executed for a crime he did not commit — adultery with Anne Boleyn.
As both the vivacious Francis and the mysterious Anne unwittingly sow the seeds of their own destruction, Dr Zachary, the celebrated court astrologer and the Duke of Norfolk’s illegitimate son, tries to contend with dark forces beyond even his control.
But Sutton Place has not finished yet and centuries later Lord Northcliffe, a press baron, and Paul Getty, an oil tycoon, will also have to face the darkness…
The first novel of Deryn Lake’s haunting trilogy, Sutton Place, masterfully blends fact and fiction as it traces the tortured destinies of all those caught up in the curse.
Praise for Deryn Lake:
‘Deliciously spook-ridden’ Daily Telegraph
Deryn Lake started to write stories at the age of five then graduated to novels but destroyed all her early work because, she says, it was hopeless. A chance meeting with one of the Getty family took her to Sutton Place and her first serious novel was born. Deryn was married to a journalist and writer, the late L. F. Lampitt, has two grown-up children and lives in Mayfield, Sussex, with two large cats. She is also the author of To Sleep No More, The King’s Women and Pour The Dark Wine.
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I love historical fiction, and Sutton Place is an excellent example of real life events fleshed out to bring history to life. Very much enjoyed it.
It’s the kind of book that you can lose yourself in even though you know the story and the outcome because it is part of history. The interjection of totally fictional characters adds spice to an already savory story! I came upon it serendipitously through Book Bub and have already put book to and book 3 on my Kindle.
Enjoyed the history within.
This could have been good as an historic novel. Many events and characters were real, including Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, Katherine of Aragon, and Cardinal Wolsey. But, it had too much goofiness in it for my tastes.
Sutton Place, which was gifted to various important families over the ages, repeatedly saw the deaths of the heirs. The estate was supposedly haunted by both past and future ghosts as a result a curse put on it by Viking King Knut’s niece Edith. An astrologer attempted abatement: “Sator arepo tenet opera rotas,’ he repeated again, but to no avail. The maelstrom continued as he sought sanctuary beside the half-fainting Anne in the very centre of the four pentagrams. Standing there, supporting her in his arms, he was aware that he was witnessing demonic frenzy of the most unbridled force and knew that if either of them dared move out of the protection he had made they would be as good as dead. And powerful though he might be he had no idea as to what he should do. His magic was not strong enough to combat the fury that had been unleashed… he had stood in the pentagram with Anne Boleyn —powerless and frightened —and one command from his child had halted the demonic fury.” “‘Odin, Odin,’ came the terrible gruff voice and as she spoke ectoplasm poured from her lips in a torrent… The ectoplasm was turning to slime… Suddenly he remembered the crucifix. Picking it up from the altar he wielded it over his head like a broadsword, turning back to where his daughter lay, her face leering and goat-like.”
Give me a break. The author may as well have incorporated zombies, werewolves, and vampires. This was the first in a trilogy, but I won’t waste time on the others.
Interesting but challenging with the number of characters and same names
I just couldn’t get into it. It felt forced as I was reading… I quit after the 3rd chapter which is highly unusual for me.
Well done! After watching the series Henry VIII, this was a great book to read, with its focus on a portion of that monarchy and period in time. I so enjoyed the character development, and was able to see everyone in my mind’s eye with the fabulous costumes from the series.
Love it
I love historical stories. It gives me a chance to see what the world was like back in time.
Well researched. For a fantasy I enjoyed it much more than expected. I will follow the author.
Another re-telling of the Ann Bolyn story, but from a totally different perspective. I enjoyed it.
I loved the book. Easy to read and follow. Another viewpoint on the court of Henry VIII.
A truly outstanding book that leaves the always-prevalent fluff in the dust. I was immediately searching for more books by that author.