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The Heretics

From million copy bestselling author Rory Clements, the iconic historical mystery series

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The Heretics

By: Rory Clements
Narrated by: Gareth Armstrong
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About this listen

 'Does for Elizabeth's reign what CJ Sansom does for Henry VIII's' Sunday Times

The fifth 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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England have survived the Armada threat of 1588.

But when Spanish galleys land troops in Cornwall on a lightning raid seven years later, is it a dry-run for a new invasion? Revenge for the sacking of Spanish shipping and ports? Or is there, perhaps, a more sinister motive?

The Queen is speechless with rage at Spain's temerity. Sir Robert Cecil demands answers. But as John Shakespeare tries to get a grip on events, England's secret defences begin to unravel as one by one his network of spies is horribly murdered.

But what has all this to do with Thomasyn Jade, a girl driven to the edge of madness by the foul rituals of exorcism? And what is the link to a group of priests held prisoner in the bleak confines of Wisbech Castle?

From the pain-wracked torture rooms of the Inquisition in Seville to the marshy wastes of fenland, from the wild coasts of Cornwall to the sweat and sawdust of the Elizabethan playhouses, The Heretics builds to a terrifying climax that threatens the life of the Queen herself.

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Readers adore Martyr and the John Shakespeare series . . .

'If you love C.J. Sansom, you'll love this'

'You can feel, smell, see and hear the dangerous times of Tudor England'

'An absolutely delightful Elizabethan mystery'

'If you enjoy S.J. Parris, you need to try this'

'Rory Clements has struck gold with John Shakespeare'©2012 Rory Clements Crime Fiction Espionage Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Mystery Renaissance True Crime Exciting

Critic reviews

Rory Clements again brings to life the dark side of Elizabethan England.
Enjoyable, bloody and brutish.
Beautifully done ... alive and tremendously engrossing.
I found this the best book in the series.
All stars
Most relevant

Would you listen to The Heretics again? Why?

I would listen to the Heretics again, really enjoyed the plot and the narrator, interpretation

What other book might you compare The Heretics to, and why?

its like the Ken Follet books,

loved it

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Excellent story and very well read. I Look forward to listening to the next episode

Gripping

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Horrified at the exorcist rituals, pain people were willing to suffer in the name of religion and the fanatics of the time .

Strength and nobility of the main characters

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Good reader and excellent voicing. The plot hangs together well and I never lost the thread of who was who. Enjoyed the story line and the historical points made - made me feel "in the era".

First but not Last

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Where does The Heretics rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Not a bad read but not a brilliant one either. At times it feels like the author is spoon feeding you with super runny food thats not easy to swallow. Yet at other times he tends to go off on a tangent which leaves you dangling in midair until the relevancy becomes clear.

A real who did it story that on occasions left you wondering "well who are they talking about" as characters seemed to drift in and out.

Gareths performance was clear and pleasant to listen to.

Who did it

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