The Sovereign's Secret: Book 3 of The Witchfinder's Well Trilogy

The Witchfinder's Well #3

by Jonathan Posner

England 1575. After involvement in an audacious assassination attempt on the life of Queen Elizabeth has tested Lady Mary de Beauvais to her limits - and beyond - all she wants is to do is live a peaceful life with her family. Unfortunately her time-travelling past catches up with her, and she now faces the greatest threat to her life in Tudor England. That is until Frances Walsingham, the sinister spymaster, offers to send her on her most dangerous mission yet. Can Lady Mary find the courage, the strength and the sheer determination to win through finally?
Whatever happens, history is going to change.

394 pages, Paperback

Published October 19, 2022

About the author

Jonathan has been an avid reader of fiction ever since he was old enough to own a torch. As a schoolboy he virtually lived in Narnia, and as he got older, he got into historical fiction - particularly Phillipa Gregory, Susan Kay, C J Sansom and the Flashman Papers.

He loves creative writing, and has written the book and lyrics for three full-scale Musicals, all of which have been performed by community or professional casts. There have also been two plays, some dubious-quality poetry and several short stories.

In 2015 he upcycled the plot of one of the Musicals into The Witchfinder's Well, a full-length Elizabethan action and adventure novel, available on Amazon as eBook, paperback and hardback.

This was followed by the second part of the trilogy - The Alchemist's Arms - in 2019. In Summer 2022 the third part - The Sovereign's Secret was published.

Jonathan's other series, set in the early 16th century, starts with The Broken Sword. The second in the series, The Tudor Prince, is slated for publication in 2023.

Jonathan has two adult sons and lives in Exeter. His love of Musicals has led to him presenting shows on local community radio stations featuring songs from stage musicals - for over thirteen years on Marlow FM, and lately on Phonic FM in Exeter.

Reviews

[Karen J · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in the Witchfinder's Well trilogy. The story continues where the second book left off with the arrest of Mary for sorcery because she is a time traveler and she used her phone to impersonate the voice of Jesus. Queen Elizabeth's spymaster decides to use Mary's knowledge of the future to change the future. He gives Mary the option to undertake and execute his plan or be burned at the stake. Even though Mary doesn't like the plan, she agrees. Mary has a grand adventure with a new companion that she isn't too sure about and is involved in plots and counter plots. In the end she wins her freedom and gets to go back to her life at Grangedean Manor. We even get to hear more about the Alchemist in this book.
I enjoyed the book and thought it probably represented well what lengths people will go to in order to protect their own way of life. We meet some ruthless characters in this book who would kill people without a second thought thinking they are justified in doing so based on their beliefs.

[Shirley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great storytelling, thrilling conclusion to the trilogy.

[Doreen White · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the first page I was hooked. Well written the book was full of excitement and at times I couldn't put it down. Most enjoyable.

[Chasqui · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hindsight is a wonderful gift, offered in this story to Sir Francis Walsingham by Lady Mary de Beauvais, who started life as Justine Parker in 1988. Early into this story she is imprisoned in the Tower of London for heresy. With her time travelling secret discovered and mobile phone dangled in front of her by Sir Francis, Queen Elizabeth I’s spy master, she accepts the challenge he sets her, in the hope of succeeding and escaping the death penalty. It is no easy task as her adventures take her around England, as she comes into contact with a variety of people, not all of whom can be trusted, while facing dangers and injury, but with ingenuity and much bravery, she pursues her goal while dreaming of spending a quiet life back with her Tudor family.

As the third and final book in this trilogy, it has been good to become re-acquainted with Lady Mary and follow her latest exploits. It is well-written, with the right amount of tension and mystery, and explores the effect a time traveller might have on people in an earlier century. Although l am always sorry to come to the end of a series of books I have thoroughly enjoyed, there is a bonus in the shape of a prequel, The Lawyer’s Legacy, to be published shortly and I am looking forward to reading that on my Kindle in the not-too-distant future.

[Rebecca D’Harlingue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this, the third book in the Witchfinder's Well series. I had read the first book in the series, The Witchfinder's Well, but I hadn't read the second book. That did not cause a problem with following the third book, but since I found this one such a good read, I will probably go back and read the second book, too.

I found this book to be even more satisfying than the first book in the series, still with plenty of action and even more intrigue, totally immersing the reader in the Tudor period. Be prepared for the fulfillment of the warning on the cover of "This time history is going to change." It's fun to see how Posner brings this about.

[Sam Gauntley · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent end to the trilogy. Raced through this one. It had me from the first page and at many points I couldn’t put it down. Engaging and intriguing all the way through with great twists and turns, I truly couldn’t predict where it was going next. Wholly unique and enjoyable trilogy of books 🙂

[Linda Ulleseit · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew from the first time Lady Mary said she wanted to live a quiet life with her family that it wasn't going to happen. She undertakes a dangerous mission, unbeknownst to her husband and children, that will save England. Once again, Posner has delivered an exciting adventure.