Sacred Treason by James Forrester

Set in 1563, four years into the reign of Elizabeth I (7 September 1533 – 24 March 1603), the last of the Tudor dynasty, Sacred Treason delves deeply into troubled England during times of political and religious unrest.

Written by historian James Forrester [The Pen name of Ian Mortimer], Sacred Treason surprised me. I know it’s an often overused cliché but I couldn’t put the book down. I was instantly transported back to Elizabethan times, deep in the heart of a cold and rain soaked London, I never left until the book’s conclusion – to be honest I’m not sure if I’ve actually left the muddy streets of London such was its mesmerizing hold!

Highly contagious, the book flows from beginning to end, the characters all lending a sense of realism as a battle between right and wrong, good and evil and Catholics v Protestants played out.

At the forefront of the plot is the highly respected William Harley, Clarenceux King of Arms and hero of a fascinating tale of treason, murder and an unrelenting quest for justice. As the rain and snow fell in a bitterly cold December my imagination ran riot making a mockery of my senses. This is what books are all about.

Although set in the mid to late 16^th century I had to keep reminding myself of the deep, black darkness that would have surrounded London under restrictions of curfews. We are so used to bright street lamps illuminating the darkest of streets in the 21^st century but as William Harley and his enemies walked the streets of London they had no such luxury. This obviously had its many benefits and drawbacks but if you were an angry Herald trying to avoid the gaze of the constabulary and watchmen it would certainly aid his quest for anonymity!

William Harley is a member of the College of Arms and the second highest-ranking of three ‘kings of arms’. Forrester based his character on William Harvey, who was Clarenceux King of Arms in 1557 declaring war on France on behalf of the queen.

The plot centres on the discovery and concealment of a manuscript (chronicle). The manuscript, written by Harley’s good friend Henry Machyn, holds a powerful secret with the potential to change the course of history. Fighting against powerful enemies Harley has to decipher the powerful code held within the pages of Machyn’s chronicle.

Harley is aided by Rebecca Machyn (Henry’s wife), the pair doing their best to make sense of the cryptic manuscript. We follow their perilous journey moving from stable loft to inn, experiencing the highs and lows as they attempt to locate the Knights of the Round Table, solve the mystery surrounding Anne Boleyn and secure a Catholic future.

Sacred Treason is at times a brutal reminder of how much of a struggle life was in the 16^th century. A powerful, evocative and gripping tale with an abundance of historical facts, the book is a sure fire winner.

Published by Headline, the book is available to buy at Amazon and Waterstones.