The first book in the No. 1 Sunday Timesbestselling series following Giordano Bruno, set at the time of Queen Elizabeth IIn Elizabeths 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 queens 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. Perfect for fans of C. J. Sansom and Hilary Mantel. Praise for S. J. ParrisA delicious blend of history and thriller The Times. An omnipresent sense of danger Daily Mail. Colourful characters, fast-moving plots and a world where one false step in religion or politics can mean a grisly death Sunday Times. Pacy, intricate, and thrilling Observer. Vivid, sprawling . Well-crafted, exuberant Financial Times. Impossible to resist Daily Telegraph. An atmospheric and well-written historical thriller Guardian. Twists and turns like a corkscrew of venomous snakes Stuart Mac. Bride. It has everything - intrigue, mystery and excellent history Kate Mosse. The period is incredibly vivid and the story utterly gripping Conn IgguldenA brilliantly unusual glimpse at the intrigues surrounding Queen Elizabeth IAndrew Taylor"Rich in both historical detail and ingenious twists" Sam Bourne (bestselling author of The Righteous Men)