A Dangerous Trade

Jack and Amy Cole #1

by Steven Veerapen

An Elizabethan Spy Thriller Series - Book 1 "A slow-burn character driven spy story that grips like a thumbscrew tightened by twist after twist towards the end - Le Carre transported to the 1560’s. Brilliant work, based in impressively wide research and the kind of competition that I and a good number of others could well do without!" Peter Tonkin, author of A Stage For Murder Rebellion stirs in Elizabeth’s England. In the bleak midlands, Mary Queen of Scots has begun a long imprisonment. Plots and counter-plots swirl around her. In the earl of Shrewsbury’s crumbling castles, the captive queen hopes for rescue. At the heart of the earl’s household is Jack Cole, a haunted and secretive figure with a dark past. Converted to Queen Mary’s cause by a charismatic secretary, Jack finds himself entangled in a Catholic plot to free her. Yet the queen’s household is under surveillance. Everyone is a potential spy, or is being spied upon. As Jack is drawn into the dark web of Catholic plotting, he must face a hideous truth. Meanwhile, his wife Amy must choose whether to protect her husband or betray him. Poison is poured, daggers are drawn, and guns are loaded. England's future hangs in the balance. Moving from crumbling castles to the imposing palaces of Queen Elizabeth, Jack Cole must decide where his loyalties lie – with queen, country, or wife. Recommended for fans of CJ Sampson, Rory Clements and Alison Weir. Steven Veerapen was born in Glasgow and raised in Paisley. Pursuing an interest in the sixteenth century, he was awarded a first-class Honours degree in English, focussing his dissertation on representations of Henry VIII’s six wives. He then received a Masters in Renaissance studies, and a Ph.D. investigating Elizabethan slander. Steven is fascinated by the glamour and ghastliness of life in the 1500s.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical

257 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 27, 2018

Reviews

[Margaret Stevens · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book makes it seem that spying was invented by Englishmen during the reign of Elizabeth I. We meet Jack Cole and his little wife Amy. Jack is, according to his wife, a chameleon, able to be whoever and whatever his company wants him to be. Jack is a stable hand, working with horses. Amy is a laundress with ambitions to be a seamstress. She has the tongue that cuts; he rarely speaks at all. Yet they love each other, even though they often have to live separately inside the same household. As the book moves along, we find out more and more about Jack and Amy, not all of it good. Be prepared for the book to move slowly up until the last two or three chapters. The author is building characters for you, flawed characters, and it takes time to do it well.

[CHRIS CARTER · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set against the volatile backdrop of Elizabeth I’s England, Steven Veerapen delivers a slow-burn, character-driven novel where paranoia is constant and loyalty is never simple. With Mary, Queen of Scots imprisoned and rebellion simmering beneath the surface, the story captures a nation balanced on the edge of religious and political fracture.

At the center is Jack Cole, a quietly compelling protagonist whose past weighs as heavily as the secrets he keeps. His gradual entanglement in Catholic plotting is handled with nuance rather than melodrama; this is espionage as moral corrosion, not swashbuckling adventure. Every whispered conversation, every gesture within the Earl of Shrewsbury’s household carries risk. Surveillance is omnipresent, and trust is a liability.

One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its domestic tension. Amy Cole is not a side lined spouse but a moral counterweight, forced into an impossible choice between love and survival. Their marriage becomes another battleground, mirroring the wider conflict tearing England apart. The personal and political are inseparable here, and Veerapen understands that true suspense lies in consequence, not spectacle.

The prose is measured and atmospheric, steeped in impressive historical research without ever becoming didactic. Castles decay, palaces intimidate, and the air is thick with fear, ambition, and religious fervor. Comparisons to le Carré are well earned, this is espionage rooted in psychology, ambiguity, and dread rather than action.

[Chasqui · Rating 5 out of 5]

This introduction to married couple Jack and Amy Cole had me rivetted from the outset. At first it seemed unusual for servants to become spies but thinking about it, I had to admit that those in such roles could often pick up information and pass it on, earning themselves some much needed extra cash. The surprising part is that Amy and Jack are not working together and while one admires Mary, Queen of Scots, the other is less impressed by the Scottish monarch.

This story captures the spirit of the era, with much historical fact, and as I felt as if I were travelling with Amy and Jack around the country, I learned much about the era and prominent figures in the mid-16th century. There were many surprises along the way and as I neared the end of this first of the trilogy, I was eager to continue reading the saga of the Coles in the second book, Divided Loyalties.

[Amy McElroy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very well written thriller and I'll certainly be reading the next two in the series.
As the plot unravels I was sure I knew what was going to happen but I was definitely wrong, this keeps you guessing.

The authors note at the end gives insight to where his ideas came from which I found extremely interesting and it's also provided me with further reading which has all been added to my TBR list!

[Alison Pilkington · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this and it felt quite realistic As to period. I wasn’t quite sure about the two main characters Jack and Amy at first but by the end I think they ‘worked’ and I definitely plan to red the next book in the series

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

1569. Amy, laundress and Jack Cole, stableman, are sent to the Earl of Shrewsbury household by their master the Duke of Norfolk. To basically spy on their captive, Mary Queen of Scots. But they both become embroiled in various plots. Can they survive them.
An entertaining and well-written historical mystery. A good start to this new series.

[Simon Mcleish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Historical novel of the reign of Queen Elizabeth I and the plots around whether England should be Protestant or Elizabeth overthrown for a Catholic coup and Mary Queen of Scots being made queen. Although the history was Interesting, I didn't enjoy it much, and won't bother looking out the sequel.

[G.A.NEWMAN · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it

A change from the Norman mysteries I have been reading recently and very much enjoyed.all characters very believable well crafted

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the historical detail

[Norma Brannen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Story!

I really liked this book . Don't know if I have read this author before, but I was pleased. I'm ready for another one.

[Mamabookowl · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love historical fiction as much as I do, especially the Elizabethan era, you'll definitely want to check out A Dangerous Trade by Steven Veerapen.


This is the first in the Jack and Amy Cole series. A Dangerous Trade follows this husband-wife duo as they separately work for spy networks, one going against Queen Elizabeth, the other against Queen Mary.


Fast-paced and enthralling are the best ways to describe this fantastic historical fiction novel. Check it out today, along with Veerapen's other works.