The King's Evil

The King's Evil
Genre : Fiction
Published : 4 Apr 2019 - HarperCollins
London 1667. In the Court of Charles II, it’s a dangerous time to be alive – a wrong move may lead to disgrace, exile or death. The discovery of a body at Clarendon House, the palatial home of one of the highest courtiers in the land, could therefore have catastrophic consequences.

James Marwood, a traitor’s son, is ordered to cover up the murder. But the dead man is Edward Alderley, the cousin of one of Marwood’s acquaintances. Cat Lovett had every reason to want her cousin dead. Since his murder, she has vanished, and all the evidence points to her as the killer.

Marwood is determined to clear Cat’s name and discover who really killed Alderley. But time is running out for everyone. If he makes a mistake, it could threaten not only the government but the King himself…

Reviews

The King’s Evil is an absolute treat from start to finish - a hugely engaging, atmospheric historical thriller with not one but two smart and lovable protagonists. Andrew Taylor is one of our finest storytellers, and his Restoration series just gets better and better.

Antonia Hodgson, author of THE DEVIL IN MARSHALSEA

I loved this! It's a treat to read a book that is so immersive, that pulls the reader into an entirely different world. Andrew Taylor uses the details of his research with such skill that instead of distancing us from the story, they draw us in. This is a complex story told with clarity - a masterclass in writing for the genre.

Ann Cleeves, bestselling author of the Shetland series

Taylor’s description of a teeming, uncertain London is vivid and compelling.

Alex Larman, The Guardian

The plot is twisty, the characters engaging and the language easy for contemporary readers.

Literary Review

It’s a novel filled with intrigue, duplicity, scandal and betrayal, whose author now vies with another master of the genre, C. J. Sansom.

The Spectator