In Heresy, SJ Parris (pseudonym of journalist Stephanie Merritt) introduces her readers to Giordano Bruno; a Dominican Friar and philosopher armed with his incredible memory, charismatic persona and determined investigative powers.

Heresy by SJ Parris

When we first meet Giordano Bruno in 1576 at the San Domenico monastery in Naples, the friar has been locked in the privy for two hours reading Erasmus. Deep in thought, his private seclusion is rudely interrupted by a furious knocking on his cubicle and his extended absence noticed by fellow Monks. Bruno feigns an illness blaming his condition and absence on “something I ate”.

Before exiting the privy, Bruno drops his copy of Erasmus into the cesspit in the vein hope of hiding his true reason for calling on the privacy of the aromatic cubicle. The Monks, unshaken, find the book and call for the Father Inquisitor. Bruno returns to his tiny cell and faced with heresy claims he climbs through the narrow window and escapes. available from UK Amazon and US Amazon

When next we meet our hero, time has advanced seven years, Bruno has escaped religious justice in Italy, been excommunicated and has decamped in the French court of Henri III. He travels to England staying at the home of the French Ambassador. There he meets up with his good friend Sir Philip Sidney and the pair escort a Polish prince to Oxford – giving Elizabeth I some much needed rest from the travelling dignitary.

Sir Francis Walsingham, secretary of state and trusted advisor to Queen Elizabeth I, enlists Bruno’s guile to spy on possible Catholic conspirators at Oxford University. Receiving no purse from France and a promise of payment for information from Walsingham, Bruno accepts and leaves for Oxford in late May.

Giordano Bruno

Following a late supper hosted by John Underhill, rector of Lincoln College, in which he is introduced to his young and outspoken daughter Sophia; his evening is interrupted with the brutal murder of Roger Mercer.  A stray Irish wolfhound is the suspected cause and Bruno begins to investigate the suspicious slaying. When a second murder occurs, hot on the tail of the first, Bruno steps up his investigation determined to catch the killer.

Blending fact and fiction, Heresy is an engaging Elizabethan mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline and although I did find the initial stages and foundation a tad sedentary, the pace increased as the body count grew – I couldn’t put the book down! Weighing in at a generous 460 pages, the descriptive narrative is told from a first person perspective.

Parris utilises the weather and historical buildings to great effect evoking a chilling atmosphere throughout. I really felt as if I was walking side by side with Bruno strolling through the college grounds and eating 16^th century fare. The sights and sounds of Elizabethan Oxford come alive!

Heresy will certainly encourage you to learn more about the real Giordano Bruno and his various escapades throughout Europe. I love books that leave you wanting more!

Tolerance, secrecy and reputation combine with brutality and torture to offer a provoking tale of religious fervour and heresy. Wonderfully captivating.

Published by Harper Collins, “Heresy” is available from UK Amazon and US Amazon.

Stop Press: Heresy has been shortlisted for the 2010 CWA Ellis Peters Historical Crime Award