The Incendium Plot

Christopher Radcliff #1

by A.D. Swanston

Librarian note: an older cover for this edition can be found here.

England in 1572 is a powder keg of rumour, fanaticism, treachery and dissent. All it would take is a single spark . . .

In the England of Elizabeth I, the fear of plague and invasion, and the threat of insurrection are constant. As the Earl of Leicester's chief intelligencer, lawyer Dr Christopher Radcliff is tasked with investigating rumours of treachery at home and the papist threat from abroad. And with heresy and religious unrest simmering beneath the surface of a country on the brink, Radcliff is under pressure to get results.

Then two brutal and seemingly motiveless killings point alert Radcliff to the whisper of a new plot against the queen. There are few clues, and all he and his network of agents have to go on is a single word: incendium. But what does it mean - and who lies behind it? Christopher Radcliff must find out before it's too late . . .

(Please note: The Incendium Plot was first published in hardback as Incendium)

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Historical Mystery, Fiction, Historical, Thriller, Crime

416 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 23, 2017

About the author

Aka Andrew Swanston.

Andrew Swanston read Law at Cambridge University, and held various positions in the book trade, including being a director of Waterstone & Co, and chairman of Methven’s plc, before turning to writing. Inspired by a lifelong interest in seventeenth century history, his ‘Thomas Hill’ novels are set during the English Civil Wars, and the early period of the Restoration. He lives with his wife in Surrey, near to their three children and two grandchildren. His interests include golf, gardening, and drawing.

Reviews

[Adina · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5* rounded up because I want to see more from this series.

Incendium is a historical spy fiction set during the reign of Elisabeth I. Christopher Radcliff, a former law professor is employed by Earl of Leicester, a close adviser to the Queen, as chief intelligencer. His job is to keep the Earl informed regarding potentials plots against the Crown. Dr. Radcliff engages the help of a series of interesting agents who listen around and report if they hear any interesting whispers.

The novel begins with the brutal murder of one of the lawyer’s agents and his wife. In the same time, Dr. Radcliff is sent to France by the Earl in order to receive an important message from the English ambassador in Paris, just in time to assist to one of the most horrible mass murders in History, the Massacre of St. Bartholomew Day. The two events slowly, slowly come together and a new plot to kill the Queen has to be discovered and crushed.

The historical information was well presented and engaging, I could immediately see that the author is a historian who knows this period well. I was encouraged by what I read to study more about the historical characters and events. Even though the outcome of the plot is obvious if you know a bit of history, the story still managed to keep me interested and tension was well built.
I have two minor complains. At the beginning I found that it was difficult to keep my attention on what I was reading. I don’t know if it was my fault or the writing, but the situation resolved itself shortly. Secondly, the characters could have been better drawn and more interesting. My favorite was the prostitute spy because she was funny, spiritual and smart. The others did not differentiate so well. The Earl was extremely irritating as all the meetings between him and Christopher were more or less about the same thing: Him requesting and threatening his protegee to find a solution fast or else. After hearing the same conversation over and over and over again I was bored and annoyed with the author for making the character so one-dimensional. There is also a love story which felt a bit flat and I would have like to see more passion between the 2.

All in all, an interesting and well written historical mystery novel, in the style of C.J. Sansom.
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Paromjit · Rating 4 out of 5]

AD Swanson knows his Elizabethan history as he illustrates in this piece of historical fiction of 1572, the first in the Dr Christopher Radcliff series, set in stinking, poverty ridden, London, although there is a harrowing picture of Paris, with its out of control terror, butchery and massacre of Huguenots. Radcliff is a Law Professor, no longer able to work in Cambridge and now is Robert Dudley's (Earl of Leicester) chief spy and intelligence gatherer of plots and conspiracies aimed at removing Elizabeth, replacing her with Mary, Queen of Scots and restoring Catholicism as the faith of England. We see how close to Elizabeth the conspirators are, as the book opens with the execution of her cousin, the Duke of Norfolk. There is a febrile atmosphere as paranoia reigns supreme, with the threat of a Spanish invasion on the horizon and England is ill equipped to defend itself. Radcliff has agents in the city, who can go where he cannot, in his efforts to keep one step ahead of the plotters. Two of his friends and agents, Nicholas and Sarah Houseman are murdered because of their awareness of the mysterious term, Incendium. Their bodies are removed from their home and all their valuables taken.

Radcliff is disturbed by the disappearance of the Housemans, refusing to accept that they have left London. However, it is difficult to get to the bottom of the mystery, and his patron, Leicester is not minded to view this as important, he has far more important matters to deal with, as he talks of a nest of vipers, the wild rumours that abound and a Queen that is struggling to come to terms with the treachery she has faced from her close family circles. Leicester, at the instigation of the Queen, has acquired a young, new and ambition man, John Berwick, who makes Radcliff uncomfortable and ill at ease as he surmises that Berwick means to usurp his strong position with Leicester. Against his better judgement, Radcliff goes to Paris, only to witness the city tip over into a nightmare as thousands of Protestants are slain after the killing of the Huguenot leader, Admiral Coligny. Radcliff understands that behind these events are powerful forces whose ultimate aim is to destabilise London and assassinate Elizabeth. Radcliff faces setback after setback as his judgement is questioned and he is confined to his house. However, he is not a man to give up as he finds himself in danger and caught up in a desperate fight to ensure that Elizabeth is safe.

Swanston has written a historical thriller that captures the atmosphere of a London reeling under the threats that threaten the rule of Queen Elizabeth 1, with real figures from the period such as Sir Francis Walsingham, the Earl of Leicester, and the Duke of Norfolk prominent in the narrative. The author depicts a insightful picture of the state of affairs at Whitehall Palace, with all its intrigue and deception, and Leicester is not immune to feelings of fear and insecurity which he takes out on Radcliff. Executions are viewed as must see forms of public entertainment and there is the horrifyingly popular practice of bear baiting. This is an entertaining and suspenseful read, although I felt the character of Radcliff needs more development to make him feel like a more authentic character. Nevertheless, this a compelling novel that I particularly recommend to those interested in Elizabethan history. Many thanks to Random House Transworld for an ARC.

[Annet · Rating 4 out of 5]

The guards came that night. Christopher was roused and told to dress. Where am I to be taken?" he asked, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "The tower," replied one of the guards. "The Earl of Leicester has commanded it." Christopher swore. Had the earl changed his mind again? They travelled by barge to the Tower stairs. Christopher huddled into his cloak against the night cold. To their left, glimmers of light from watchmen's lanterns flickered in the blackness; to their right the marshes and meadows were black as pitch. At night, the river was a strange ghostly place and, especially under London Bridge where the currents sucked and swirled, a place of danger...

Great historical mystery/crime book! Makes me think of C.J. Sansom (Matthew Shardlake) and S.J. Parris (Giordano Bruno). Here's another historical hero to add to the list: academic, lawyer and intelligencer Dr. Christopher Radcliff. Recommended for those who like a good, entertaining history book, atmospheric, entertaining & interesting. It is the first in a new series set during the reign Elizabeth I. Enjoyed it!

This is the story: The England of Elizabeth I is a country on the brink. Fear of plague and invasion is ever-present, the threat of insurrection constant. Heresy and religious unrest simmer beneath the surface. And the execution that summer of the queen's own cousin, Duke of Norfolk, for treason, suggests that the discord and divisions run deep. For lawyer Christopher Radcliff and his patron, Earl of Leicester, the prospects of peace seem at best poor. Radcliff's role is to investigate both treachery at home and the ever-present papist threat from abroad. And then a whisper reaches him of a new plot against the queen..... Great book!

[Blodeuedd Finland · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have said it before, but historical mysteries really fit me. They have to work so hard to find anything, in a good way.

In this one Radcliffe, a lawyer works for the Earl of Leicester. And there is a plot afoot. Does someone want to kill the queen? Who can be trusted? Tensions between Catholics and the rest are rising. France is making moves, Spain is making moves. And Radcliffe is meant to try to figure out what is going on, and then there is the word, Incendium.

Who was behind it. Oh I could not guess hidden players. But I enjoyed reading about it and him finding out more. His hidden agents, the help he got from the woman he loved. It does take more than just one man looking through London.

The book felt light too and I read it fast, I also wanted to know what would happen. Well obviously I knew what would happen, but you know, to all who I had started to like too.

A good mystery, a nice little thriller.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fantastic start to A.D. Swanston's new series! Incendium focuses on the very real danger Elizabeth I faced personally in the wake of France's St Bartholomew's Eve massacre. A brilliant historical thriller.

[AdiTurbo · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible. I was so looking forward to reading it, and it disappointed me to no end. The historical background is sound, but nothing is happening. I'm 10%, and they're still at the office the main character entered on the first page. There is telling, and telling and telling, no kind of action to help us understand who these people are, and what their personalities are like. I hoped for more than this - some emotion, some suspense, maybe some less known historical details, but none of those were there. Quitting out of deep boredom.

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This does not measure up to other books I have read covering this period, but glad I gave it a trial. I do not intend to read further.

[Ted Farrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent story of intrigue and espionage in Elizabethan England. The characters are well drawn and the background, London in the late sixteenth century, is both plausible and interesting. The historical context, the enmity between Catholic France and Spain, on the one hand, and Protestant England, on the other, is recounted almost effortlessly without recourse to long, boring passages. I'd recommended to anyone with an interest in historical fiction.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Incendium Plot is the first in a series of historical thrillers featuring academic, lawyer and "intelligencer", Dr. Christopher Radcliff. It's set during the same turbulent period of Elizabeth I's reign that has proved such fertile ground for authors of historical crime mysteries such as C J Sansom and S J Parris.

The author occasionally tantalizes the reader with glimpses into Christopher's back story, such as the circumstances which led to him becoming a 'convicted felon', the reason for his extreme reluctance to go anywhere near a prison, how his relationship with widow, Katherine Allington, came about, and why she continues to refuse his offer of marriage. These details make the book feel much less like a first instalment and more like an established series, but still one with lots of secrets about the characters to be revealed.

In his role as intelligencer to the Earl of Leicester, Christopher has gathered together a varied network of informers including a bookseller, a prostitute and a Jewish goldsmith.  However, it can be a risky business as some of them will find out. And life in the 'the whispering world' of the Elizabethan court seems to be no less hazardous with rivalry amongst advisors for preferment and the ear of the Queen. As the Earl warns Christopher, it is a 'nest of vipers'. Although perhaps the vipers are lurking nearer the Earl than he might expect?

Dispatched to Paris on the orders of the Earl, Christopher arrives in time to witness the dreadful events of the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre.  He is forced to make a breathless escape from Paris but not before he has encountered Sir Francis Walsingham, without an appearance by whom surely no Elizabethan historical mystery would be complete. (There is also a walk-on part for Sir Philip Sidney, brother of Mary Sidney, the leading character in Naomi Miller's recent historical novel, Imperfect Alchemist.).

Christopher returns to a London fearful of a Spanish invasion and that the fires of hatred between Catholic and Protestants ignited in France will spread across the Channel to England. The memories of the dreadful scenes he witnessed in Paris will return to haunt him whenever he is confronted with cruelty or violence. Unfortunately for him, this becomes a regular occurrence as his investigations continue into the two killings and their possible connection with a  plot to overthrow the Queen.  Against his better judgment and in response to her determined questioning, Christopher finally confides in Katherine.  'There are bad things happening. Fires and plots and killing.  They must be stopped.' But will he succeed?

The plot moves at a brisk pace with plenty of twists and turns.  Along the way, the author provides useful brief recaps in case, like Christopher himself, you've come to wonder just exactly what's going on and how all the various threads will be woven together to reveal the full picture.

With its tightly-constructed plot and vivid period detail, The Incendium Plot will appeal to fans of historical mysteries looking for a new series to follow.

[Karen ⊰✿ · Rating 4 out of 5]

In London 1572, lawyer Dr Christopher Radcliff is given the task by the Earl of Leicester to find out about a plot to kill Queen Elizabeth and restore the Catholic Queen Mary.
We follow Christopher from London to Paris and back again as he chases down fragments of a plot - the only thing of which he is sure of is that it is named Incendium. The Queen and the Earl are unforgiving and so Christopher knows he must succeed, not just to save the Queen, but to also save himself and those close to him from the Tower.
During Elizabethan England, violence was commonplace and this book has a few squirmish scenes, but nothing too graphic. We do get a great sense of the time period though and what we can imagine were the sights and smells of 16th Century life in a big city. The plot was well paced and the characters developed well. I would recommend this to fans of Historical Fiction who also like a bit of mystery/suspense.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Ellyreynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good read

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in Elizabethan times, this is the story of a plot to replace Elizabeth I with Mary, Queen of Scots. It mixes fact with fiction.

I really enjoyed the book. The characters were believable and at times I felt myself transported to 16th century London. Whilst the story was slow, I never felt bored.

The writing was, on the whole, good and engaging.

My only criticism (and it's a slight one) is that I noticed the author using the same phrases scattered throughout the book. Perhaps that's just me with my keen eye.

Looking forward to reading his follow-up, Chaos.

[Alex White · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have been in a slump so this was good to restart, nothing revolutionary but well written and some good twists

[Karen Keane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder, mystery and spies in Elizabethan England, the main players of the time such as the Earl of Leicester and Sir Francis Walsingham all have major parts in this book. The protagonist of the book is a lawyer Christopher Radcliff, who has his own group of intelligences all ready to spy for him for money and England. A well wrote and thought out book on the lines of C J Sandom and a really easy, interesting read.

[Melisende · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incendium ... fire and death in the name of piety ...

I love historical mystery fiction - especially when featuring some ell known players such as Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester and favourite of Queen Elizabeth I of England.

As in reality, there is a plot against the Queen following what was known as the Ridolfi Plot (1571). There were plots on both sides of the English Channel as Paris prepares for the wedding of Henry of Navarre and Marguerite de Valois (which in itself is just a prelude to the St Bartholomew Day's massacre).

Dr Christopher Radcliffe, lawyer and spy for Leicester, is given the task to investigate and root out treason and its culprits wherever they may be. But the word "incendium" whispers of a new plot against the Queen.

Swanston gives us a real feel for Elizabeth London, the "viper's nest", where there are more real life treasonable plots than you could poke a stick at. And just when you think all is resolved, you find yourself only halfway through. Very clever writing.

[Redsteve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, solid historical espionage/mystery novel. I felt that the publisher was too aggressively pushing the comparison with C. J. Sansom's "Matthew Shardlake" series, but this book does compare favorably with them. Well portrayed historical characters, language, and attitudes. I especially liked how this book really gives you a feeling of the often incredibly ad hoc nature of espionage and police work in the 16th Century. 3.5 stars. Will likely check out some of his other books.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am always drawn to historical books , especially Tudor or Elizabethan era ,I enjoyed this book to a point , I found the characters a bit one dimensional ,
And a bit irritating, especially Catherine the love interest in the story ,I often imagine her stumping her feet like a child when she didn’t get what she wanted
My favourite was the Italian Tomasso a florentine spy who helps Radcliffe in his quest .
The Story on the whole was interesting and historically accurate.

[Josh Wigley · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up. Not a bad read and very easy to follow. The plot was a little bit predictable perhaps

[Lindsey Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Original Review Here

As soon as I saw Incendium by A.D. Swanston, I wanted it! The cover is beautiful! Never mind `don’t-judge-a-book-by-its-cover` – I wanted this book!

It did not let me down.

I haven’t read anything set in this era since I was a child and reading The Lady Grace Mysteries. It was refreshing to immerse myself in a different time and Swanston made this time accessible – I picked up on the way of life pretty much straight away!

The plot involves mystery, murder and a man trying to figure it out before it is too late. It is not the most action-packed or mysterious (I figured out who it was about a hundred pages before the character!).

What this book is, however, is steady. It gripped my attention the entire way through and remained a solid read throughout. It didn’t matter that I knew who it was – they still had to catch him! The pacing never slipped, the characters were solid and the plot enjoyable from start to finish. Never underestimate a steady book – they seem to be rare these days!

Christopher Radcliff is a thoroughly likeable character. There is a hint of darkness to his background that gives him depth but his determination shouldn’t be underestimated. Christopher is out of his depth for most of the novel but he refuses to give up.

The Earl of Leicester is temperamental – but that only raises the stakes for Christopher. Tomasso is a good friend and Christopher couldn’t have done it without him. Ell was fantastic – she relieved the tension and stopped scenes becoming too heavy.

Katherine’s character was the problem for me. She demanded so much of Christopher – things that could have them arrested for treason if anyone found out she knew. Yet she still demanded, and never listened to his explanations. The way Katherine was presented made it hard for me to see why Christopher loved her.

I will be recommending this book to as many people as I can. I loved it! It was refreshing, engaging and never faltered from the first page to the last. Despite some predictability, I was still caught unawares at other times and, basically, really enjoyed reading Incendium.

A thoroughly good read for sure!

[Charley Robson · Rating 1 out of 5]

The sticker on the cover tells me that, if this book is as not as good as CJ Samson, I am welcome to package it up and send it back. I am sorely tempted to do so.

While there is nothing wrong with the plot at its core - in fact it's very promising, full of plotting and intrigue and cat-and-mouse chases and the horrors of the St Bartholomew's Massacre - almost everything about the execution of the story is mishandled.

The author's writing style is as dry as desert dust, lacking in depth, warmth, and character. Details are brief, random, and everything from a character's clothes to a brutal murder is described in the same bored, detached tone. The characters, subsequently, are flat and lifeless and are impossible to get invested in. Their motion through the story is less like a narrative and more like pieces being moved around on a chessboard, but with none of the efficiency. Do we really need the three extra paragraphs describing a character having to go upstairs to find his boss, waiting three minutes before he appears, then all of them coming back downstairs again to talk? No more than we need to be told pointless backstory details that mean nothing, are never relevant to the story, and only serve to make our protagonist - himself a humourless misery in what little characterisation he has - even less engaging.

Top it all off with a serving of really needless grauitous sexism, homophobia and some especially egregious stereotyping bordering on straight-up antisemitism that, thanks to the author's style, come across very much as authorial bias as much as ""historical accuracy"" and I cannot recommend this book to anyone.

If you want a good historical mystery series, I recommend SG Maclean's 'Seeker' books instead.

[Jaffareadstoo · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Incendium Plot is a really sleek thriller which has all the hallmarks of a great whodunit and set, as it is, against a backdrop of the glorious Elizabethan age there is much to enjoy, both in terms of historical background, which is beautifully authentic, and also in the sharpness of the investigative process. Radcliff is a likeable character, methodical, meticulous and with never a clue left uninvestigated, you feel as though you are in safe pair of hand as he moves stealthily through some very dangerous places and mixes with very undesirable characaters.

Historically accurate, as only good research shows, The Incendium Plot has all the necessary ingredients for a rollicking good historical adventure which moves effortlessly between France and England, and as Radcliff and his associates discover more about the darkness which threatens to overwhelm them, so the danger moves ever closer to home.The author writes this type of historical suspense very well and intersperses the story with a wealth of interesting characters, some act as spies and informers, whilst others add a colourful and lively glimpse into life in Elizabeth's England.

This is the first of two thrillers which will feature the adventures with Christopher Radcliff in his intelligencer role. The Incendium Plot certainly gets the stories off to a very good start.

[Boar's Head Eastcheap · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first in a new series, and much as I love this period (and am increasingly interested in historical fiction) I'm not convinced I'll follow Christopher Radcliff's adventures. Not, at least, at full price.

To begin with, the book feels bloated: cut 25% and it might have been a reasonably pacy thriller. In fact, had I not read it over a weekend when I was too ill to leave my bed, I might not have finished it. So many books; so little time, etc

There were also places where I was hyper-aware of the exposition I was being fed, which always annoys me. This was undoubtedly well-researched, but at times, especially towards the beginning, the fruits of that research were being pressed on me too clumsily.

Finally, there's Dr Radcliff himself - simply a character I never warmed to. In clichéd police procedural style, he takes several dressings-down from his boss, and whilst Radcliff is given at least two 'you've got 24-hours to save your job' ultimatums, I never once cared.

That said, I enjoyed the scope of the book, hopping the Channel to take in the Massacre at Paris. It's an enjoyable enough stroll (too slow-paced to call it a 'romp') through Elizabethan London, and reasonably immersive, but that's about it.

[Sue Shearman · Rating 1 out of 5]

"As good as C J Sansom or your money back" - that's what it says on the cover. How do I get my refund?
History is OK, though the social history does leave something to be desired. The plot relies on too many unbelievable twists and turns to be credible and he can't write women at all.
I'm afraid that I have no interest in finding out any more about Dr Radcliffe and his adventures in Tudor England.

[Liz · Rating 2 out of 5]

A scant 2* awarded because I finished it. Frankly I found the first 60% or so dull with far to much visiting Whitehall to see the Earl but for no real reason. I didn't find the main characters at all engaging or believable and the dialogue was so stilted. The history might have been accurate but I felt I was being educated not entertained.
No, this is not as good as CJ Sansom, by a long way.

[Mal Warwick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A SPY UNCOVERS A NEFARIOUS PLOT ON THE LIFE OF QUEEN ELIZABETH I

Henry VIII and his daughter, Elizabeth I, ruled England for nearly a century (1509-1603). Together, they and the ambitious men and women surrounding them have furnished historians and novelists alike with unmatched opportunities for dramatic stories of passion, intrigue, and betrayal. The Matthew Shardlake mysteries by C. J. Sansom set during Henry’s reign stand out among scores of examples. But Andrew Swanston’s The Incendium Plot, an Elizabethan spy story, is a worthy competitor.

A HISTORY FILLED WITH CHILLING PRECEDENTS

Opening in the year 1572, early in Elizabeth’s reign (1558-1603), the novel follows the ups and downs in the life of Elizabeth’s spy, Christopher Radcliff. His charge is to unravel the strands of a nefarious scheme to assassinate the queen and install her cousin, Mary Queen of Scots, in her stead. The stakes couldn’t have been higher: the two women represented warring faiths, with the lives of thousands of British subjects hanging in the balance.

In those days, religion was a game played for keeps. The queen’s Protestant partisans feared the return of the rigid, Catholic faith of Queen Mary (reigned 1553-58). Elizabeth’s half-sister had accurately been known as Bloody Mary, who had nearly 300 religious dissenters burned at the stake. And the eponymous Incendium Plot was just one of dozens of attempts to kill Elizabeth I.

AN ENGAGING SPY AND A COMPLEX PLOT

Christopher Radcliff is one of the more engaging spies in historical fiction. He is a Doctor of Laws recently transferred from the faculty of Cambridge University to the rough-and-tumble of London and the queen’s court. One of Elizabeth’s chief advisers, The Earl of Leicester, had hired him as one of his “hundred eyes” employed to suss out threats to the Crown. In his turn, Dr. Radcliff had secured the services as informers of a member of the city’s small, illegal Jewish community and a beautiful prostitute. The two represented his most useful agents.

But the novel opens with the murder of another of his top agents, a “stationer” (bookseller). It’s in that opening scene that we learn the name of the plot that furnishes the book with its title. Yet for Dr. Radcliff even that knowledge is a long time coming. Instead, the Earl has charged him with making a long, difficult, and unwanted journey to Paris to meet face-to-face with Sir Francis Walsingham. There, the queen’s top spymaster will share a message with him for the earl’s ears only. Radcliff has no idea that his agent’s murder, the Incendium Plot, and Sir Francis’ message are all closely related. But of course we can guess.

The Incendium Plot is suspenseful until the end. And along the way Andrew Swanston exposes us to the sights, sounds, and above all the smells of 16th-century London. The man has clearly done a great deal of research.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Andrew (A. D.) Swanston‘s bio on his website notes that he “read a little law and a lot of sport at Cambridge University, and held various positions in the book trade, including being a director of Waterstone & Co, and chairman of Methven’s plc, before turning to writing. Inspired by a lifelong interest in early modern history,” Swanston has written eight historical novels to date set during the 16th, 17th, and 19th centuries. He lives with his wife in Surrey, near their three children and two grandchildren.

[Liesl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am notoriously picky when it comes to historical fiction. One of the problems of having studied history is that I both love reading historical fiction and yet also find it incredibly easy to be thrown out of enjoying the story just because of a simple inaccuracy. This is even more applicable when it comes to anything to do with Elizabethan England, aka one of my main specialisms. So A.D.Swanston had a series of significant obstacles to get over for me to even stand a chance of enjoying this book. He more than delivered. There were plenty of nice call-backs to specific historical incidents, with a significant portion of the book being structured around the massacre of Huguenots in Paris. Fairly simple yet comprehensive explanations were provided for those who were less familiar with the period, but these didn't bog the story down in detail.

Onto the story! Appropriately for the period, the story follows the adventures of Christopher Radcliff, head of the Earl of Leicester's intelligence network, as he investigates a Catholic plot. It's the right balance between Christopher trying to solve the mystery with high octane sections of action and Christopher running his intelligence network. So much of his job necessitates talking to people and considering what would most appeal to them to encourage them to divulge information, and I for one enjoyed the Elizabethan Le Carre feel of these sections. Christopher is an engaging character and I'm still intrigued to hear more about his backstory of his life in Cambridge. Plenty of interesting side characters too. I will most definitely be reading the next installment in this series.

Thank you Netgalley for giving me an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Jo-anne Atkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

London in the mid 1570s and rumour abounds of plots against the Queen with both Catholic nations at their centre. When one of his informants disappeared Radcliff is concerned but his paymaster, the Earl of Leicester, has other plans for him. Radcliff is sent to France to liaise with Sir Francis Walsingham and find out what he can against about a plot named Incendium which will destroy Elizabeth and put her cousin Mary (Queen of Scots) on the throne. In Paris Radcliff is caught up in the St Bartholomew's Day Massacre and this affects him deeply. Returning to London he finds that his two lines of enquiry are connected and also that there is a traitor in his circle.

This is the first in a proposed series of books about an Elizabethan intelligence agent, Radcliff, from a writer with a strong track record in writing historical fiction. I did like the fact that the reader is introduced to Radcliff with little backstory and only snippets are given. We are told that Radcliff is afraid of prisons within the first few pages and that he used to be a Cambridge lecturer, later we learn that he spent time in prison and later still we are told the nature of the crime and how he ended up in London. However there is no great detail and this allows Swanston the luxury of being able to explore that in later books. The plot is suitably complex, the sense of time and place excellent with the scenes set in Paris and Amiens particularly well-researched and touching. I look forward to reading the next chapter.

[Fred Bloggs · Rating 1 out of 5]

No ear for dialogue

And a bit of an obsession with period vocabulary, as if that sets a scene. Oh yes, as soon as you mention "scroyles", I'm transported to Tudor England. Even the quotes offered as teasers on this page show this - what's a "Maunderer", and more importantly, who cares? It's like the old tv trope of the serving "wenches" with low cut tops - nice, but a bit of an insult to ones intelligence. If that stuff floats your boat then good for you. Mine is sunk by now - I remember now why period drama - whether written or televisual - bores me to tears.

Something which bothers me somewhat is the historical accuracy. According to Wikipedia, the "Inclosure acts" were in effect from 1604-1914, having most effect in the 18th century, as new agricultural techniques incentivised landowners to aggregate land into larger parcels. QE1 died in 1603 - so how are so many people displaced by enclosures in London? 'Course, everybody lauds the author's historical knowledge, so I must have made a mistake (probably got the wrong queen or something). It's still boring drivel, though; it's back to fantasy for me, where Glen Cook, Joe Abercrombie, et al. write believable dialogue.

[Rekha O'Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christopher Radcliffe serves the Earl of Leicester in this Elizabethan historical mystery. Queen Elizabeth has her cousin, Mary Queen of Scots, locked up in the Tower and enemies from France and Spain are threatening her Protestant people. With religious tensions reaching their height, friends of Radcliffe's disappear, and then he is summoned by the Earl of Leicester to investigate a possible plot against the Queen.

Radcliffe has his share of personal issues with his lady love refusing to marry him and more than a passing attraction to one of his intelligencers, a Cheapside whore. But the most troubling relationship is his connection to the Earl and a smiling usurper intent on taking his place at the right hand of one of the most powerful men in England.

This is a sensational read. It's fast-paced and surprising, with engaging characters and descriptions that put you right in the middle of a potently drawn Elizabethan London. It's rich and engrossing and I am looking forward to reading more about Christopher Radcliffe's adventures.

[Anne Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love historical fiction, especially about the Elizabethan period so Incendium was right up my street. Doctor Christopher Radcliffe, ex Cambridge academic, is in London and is employed by the Earl of Leicester to gather information, amongst other tasks. The Earl has heard whispers about another plot against the Queen. This one might have the support of the Spanish, the French, the Scots or the Irish; or indeed any combination of these. When one of Christopher’s informants disappears, along with his wife, Christopher is sure it is somehow connected to this plot. Who is involved, what they are trying to achieve and their plans to achieve it, are all unknown. The Earl is running out of patience and Christopher runs the risk of being cast out at best, imprisoned at worst. The game is afoot!

The description of the horrors committed in France during the massacre of the Huguenots, as Christopher made his escape, was particularly well done. However, I thought the author did a good job generally in bringing the time to life. I shall certainly be looking out for the next book in the series.