Heresy - BookWyrm

English language

Published Aug. 8, 2011

ISBN:: 9780007317707
OCLC Number:: 701109955

(2 reviews)

In Elizabeth's England, true faith can mean bloody murder... Oxford, 1583. A place of learning. And murderous schemes. The country is rife with plots to assassinate Queen Elizabeth and return the realm to the Catholic faith. Giordano Bruno is recruited by the queen's spymaster and sent undercover to expose a treacherous conspiracy in Oxford - but his own secret mission must remain hidden at all costs. A spy under orders. A coveted throne under threat. When a series of hideous murders ruptures close-knit college life, Bruno is compelled to investigate. And what he finds makes it brutally clear that the Tudor throne itself is at stake... Heretic, maverick, charmer: Giordano Bruno is always on his guard. Never more so than when working for Queen Elizabeth and her spymaster - for this man of letters is now an agent of intrigue and danger.

2 editions

airdog reviewed Heresy by S. J. Parris

Review of 'Heresy' on 'GoodReads'

3 stars

Although not a specialist of the period of Elizabeth's reign, this books seems to me very successful in recreating the period, it's atmosphere and it's problems. While Elizabeth was trying to have England truly accept the new faith while sparing when possible the sensitivity of those nostalgic about the Pope, numerous plots where taking place to restore the old faith and as many counter-plots to try to thwart those efforts.

It is in this context that a excommunicated former monk from Italy gets involved as a spy for an earl who is very close to the queen.

While the plot doesn't throw you off your chair with surprising revelations and developments, it does move on it's way methodically while keeping a certain sense of suspense constantly hanging in the air. The characters are very believable involved as they are in both their religious motivations as well as more pragmatically personal …

Although not a specialist of the period of Elizabeth's reign, this books seems to me very successful in recreating the period, it's atmosphere and it's problems. While Elizabeth was trying to have England truly accept the new faith while sparing when possible the sensitivity of those nostalgic about the Pope, numerous plots where taking place to restore the old faith and as many counter-plots to try to thwart those efforts.

It is in this context that a excommunicated former monk from Italy gets involved as a spy for an earl who is very close to the queen.

While the plot doesn't throw you off your chair with surprising revelations and developments, it does move on it's way methodically while keeping a certain sense of suspense constantly hanging in the air. The characters are very believable involved as they are in both their religious motivations as well as more pragmatically personal ones that would lead to their immediate material profit. This is disclosed to us progressively as the characters slowly disclose their inner conflicts and complexity (or lack thereof.)

Stephanie Merritt (alias S.J. Parris) give us a very good read, interesting to the end.

airdog reviewed Heresy by S. J. Parris

Review of 'Heresy' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

Although not a specialist of the period of Elizabeth's reign, this books seems to me very successful in recreating the period, it's atmosphere and it's problems. While Elizabeth was trying to have England truly accept the new faith while sparing when possible the sensitivity of those nostalgic about the Pope, numerous plots where taking place to restore the old faith and as many counter-plots to try to thwart those efforts.

It is in this context that a excommunicated former monk from Italy gets involved as a spy for an earl who is very close to the queen.

While the plot doesn't throw you off your chair with surprising revelations and developments, it does move on it's way methodically while keeping a certain sense of suspense constantly hanging in the air. The characters are very believable involved as they are in both their religious motivations as well as more pragmatically personal …

Although not a specialist of the period of Elizabeth's reign, this books seems to me very successful in recreating the period, it's atmosphere and it's problems. While Elizabeth was trying to have England truly accept the new faith while sparing when possible the sensitivity of those nostalgic about the Pope, numerous plots where taking place to restore the old faith and as many counter-plots to try to thwart those efforts.

It is in this context that a excommunicated former monk from Italy gets involved as a spy for an earl who is very close to the queen.

While the plot doesn't throw you off your chair with surprising revelations and developments, it does move on it's way methodically while keeping a certain sense of suspense constantly hanging in the air. The characters are very believable involved as they are in both their religious motivations as well as more pragmatically personal ones that would lead to their immediate material profit. This is disclosed to us progressively as the characters slowly disclose their inner conflicts and complexity (or lack thereof.)

Stephanie Merritt (alias S.J. Parris) give us a very good read, interesting to the end.

Subjects

Magicians
Spaniards
Monks
Fiction
Murder
Investigation
Scientists
Heresy
History

Places

Oxford
Great Britain
England