Traitor
A captivating historical espionage thriller for fans of Abir Mukherjee and S J Parris
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Traitor
Narrated by:
Gareth Armstrong
Buy Now for £10.76
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Narrated by:
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Gareth Armstrong
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By:
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Rory Clements
About this listen
The fourth book in the iconic John Shakespeare series, beloved by thousands of readers, from true master of historical fiction, Rory Clements.
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'Sixteenth-century London comes alive in all its tawdriness' Daily Mail
'Beautifully done . . . alive and tremendously engrossing' Daily Telegraph
'Plot and dialogue that hums with Elizabethan slang, profanity and wit' The Times
'Enjoyable, bloody and brutish' Guardian
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The Elizabethan navy has a secret weapon: an optical instrument so powerful it gives England unassailable superiority at sea.
Spain will stop at nothing to steal it and seize the two men who understand its secrets - its operative William Ivory, known as the 'Queen's Eye', and its inventor, the maverick magician Dr Dee.
With a second Armada threatened, intelligencer John Shakespeare is sent north to escort Dr Dee to safety. But his mission is far from straightforward.
While Shakespeare attempts to untangle a plot that points to treachery at the very highest reaches of government, he also faces serious accusations far closer to home. With so much at stake, must he choose between family and his duty to Queen and country?
Moving from the Catholic heartlands of Lancashire to a vagabond camp in the heart of England, and from the deck of Admiral Frobisher's flagship to the secret meetings of Elizabeth's closest associates, Traitor is an intriguing and compelling novel from award-winning writer Rory Clements.
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Readers adore Martyr and the John Shakespeare series . . .
'If you love C.J. Sansom, you'll love this'
'Once again Rory Clements has delivered an excellent fast paced Elizabethan mystery'
'An absolutely delightful Elizabethan mystery'
'If you enjoy S.J. Parris, you need to try this'
'Rory Clements has struck gold with John Shakespeare'©2011 Rory Clements
Continue the series
Critic reviews
John Shakespeare is one of the great historical sleuths. (Barry Forshaw)
A colourful history lesson ... exciting narrative twists.
Enjoyable, bloody and brutish.
An engrossing thriller.
'Clements can be seen doing for Elizabeth's reign what CJ Sansom does for Henry VIII's . . . What's impressive in the latest is how much of Tudor society it crams in, from the court and Derby's estate to outlaws and the soldiers in its concluding battle scenes'
'There's plenty of thrills . . . the multiple plot elements are well-handled . . . there's much that's enjoyable and Clements' orchestration of the narrative is skillful'
'The best yet in Rory Clements' magnificent series about John Shakespeare . . . As always, the historical detail is fascinating and sometimes delightfully obscure . . . another sumptuous feast that will leave you sated - but craving for the next helping!'
'I found this the best book in the series'
'This is a first-class mystery steeped in authentic sixteenth-century intrigue; the evocation of the stench and squalor of Tudor London is sans pareil'
Praise for Prince:
'A genuine page turner, and cleverly weaves in real historical events and personalities. Fans will not be disappointed'
'A genuine page turner, and cleverly weaves in real historical events and personalities. Fans will not be disappointed'
'Intriguing . . . wonderfully graphic and descriptive. Clements richly deserves the accolade: "faster moving than C.J. Sansom'
'Clements' thrilling murder mysteries are a real cut above . . . steeped in authentic 16th-century politics, the plots are complex and clever, and the characters believable and engrossing. But his greatest gift is the ability to bring to life the squalor, intrigue and perils of Tudor London and amidst it all create a superbly tense and entertaining mystery. Roll on Mr Shakespeare's Act IV'
'Blending fact with fiction Clements tells a rip-roaring yarn with vigour and energy and a huge enthusiasm for the period . . . a novel lacking neither action nor spice. An undeniably enjoyable and lively plot that gathers pace and excitement throughout. A devilishly good read'
'There is a veritable cornucopia of elements to praise here . . . John Shakespeare is one of the great historical sleuths'
'This very well-plotted, erudite, historical mystery has many twists and turns which make for a very vivid story line. A very absorbing read with a real quality, similar in style but perhaps faster moving, than books by James Forrester or C.J. Sansom. I consider it one of the best books I've read this year. I will certainly look out for more stories by this very talented writer'
'Good news for John Shakespeare fans - the Elizabethan Bond is back for his fourth and perhaps most compelling adventure . . . This condensation of almost thirteen years of history moves at a furious pace to provide a rumbustious read mixing fact with plenty of adventure, sex and violence with enough twists to confuse anyone but the most determined sleuth . . . This is very definitely another hit for award-winning author Rory Clements'
Traitor is the fourth in a series of five novels (so far) by Rory Clements, following Martyr, Revenger and Prince and preceding The Heretics. John Shakespeare is the fictional brother of William Shakespeare and is an intelligencer – an agent in the Tudor court of Elizabeth I. Each book sees Shakespeare solving a different crisis, and in this one it’s the theft of a unique telescope that could win England its struggle with the Spanish. Together with Boltfoot Cooper – the Watson to his Holmes – Shakespeare must find the telescope and the one man who can use it, battling the forces of politics, injustice and threats to his family along the way.
The Story
The story is energetic and engaging, and Clements conveys a real sense of the period – the injustice, the poverty and the religious intolerance – without making the story-telling turgid. The story weaves fictional characters and situations with those from history in a way that is seamless and convincing, and there’s a clear sense of authenticity to the many historical details that add colour to the prose. As the fourth in the series, Traitor develops a story arc that was started in the first book, Martyr, but enough back-story is peppered into the plot to make Traitor a novel that can stand on its own feet and make reading its predecessors unnecessary.
The Narration
Gareth Armstrong’s reading is clear and well-paced, and his delivery rich and emotional without being over-dramatic. He gives each character its own voice and personality and stays true to both throughout the story – it’s easy to think you’re listening to a drama with multiple actors. Armstrong does women’s voices very well too, and in giving lisps, breathlessness and even buck teeth to his characters, he brings them alive.
Intrigue and adventure in Elizabethan England
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Excellent!
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Amazing performance
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Most enjoyable
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Absolutely breathtaking!
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