A 17th-century British royal spy uncovers a nefarious plot brewing in Oxford in this "fine series [of] derring-do and historical interest" (Kirkus Reviews).

Spring, 1603: As Queen Elizabeth lay dying, England waits anxiously to know its future. The Virgin Queen hasn't named an heir, refusing even to speak. Her cousin James, King of Scotland, is assumed to be her successor, but will the transition be peaceful? Sir Robert Cecil, Secretary of State, fears insurrection and has brought troops to the capital. But from where might the danger come—overseas, or from malcontents closer to home?

Meanwhile, intelligencer Martin Marbeck finds himself wrongly suspected of corruption and frozen out of Cecil's inner circle. When a Lady acquaintance asks him to check on her son in Oxford, Marbeck is happy for any excuse to leave London. It seems the young man has joined a fanatical Puritan sect, but his involvement is far more serious—and dangerous—than anyone had imagined. Suddenly, Marbeck finds himself confronting multiple plots that threaten not only the peace of the nation but the very fabric of England itself . . .

"The fast-moving plot is never dull, making the prospect of more Marbeck welcome." —Publishers Weekly

"If further novels are as good as this one, the series could have a long run." —Booklist