by 
State of Treason
TRUST NO ONE
A William Constable Spy Thriller Book 1
By Paul Walker
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“A gripping and evocative page-turner that vibrantly brings Elizabeth’s London to life.” Steven Veerapen, author of A Dangerous Trade
London 1578 – a cauldron of conspiracy, intrigue and torture.
The might of Spain and the growing influence of the Catholic League in France all threaten the stability of Queen Elizabeth and her state.
William Constable, a physician and astrologer, is summoned to the presence of the Queen’s spymaster, Sir Francis Walsingham. He is charged to assist a renowned Puritan, John Foxe, in uncovering the secrets of a mysterious cabinet containing an astrological chart and coded message. Together, these claim Elizabeth has a hidden, illegitimate child (an “unknowing maid”) who will be declared to the masses and serve as the focus for an invasion.
Constable must uncover the identity of the plotters, unaware that he is also under suspicion.
A connection to his estranged mentor, Doctor Dee, comes under scrutiny.
Pressured into taking up a position as a court physician, Constable becomes a reluctant spy.
Do the stars and cipher speak true, or is there some other malign intent in the complex web of scheming?
Constable becomes an unwitting pawn, in a complex game of thrones and power.
State of Treason is the first in a series of Elizabethan thrillers featuring William Constable.
Recommended for fans of CJ Sansom, S J Parris and Rory Clements.
A Word from the Author
Life was precarious in 1578 London, even for an obscure scholar such as William Constable, the hero of this story. The approved religion shifted with regularity and any error in observance punished severely. Queen Elizabeth was 45 and the many plots against her rule were hunted down with ruthless efficiency by Sir Francis Walsingham, her ‘spymaster’. Rumours about her love life circulated throughout her reign. Catholic opponents challenged her virtue and far from being the ‘Virgin Queen,’ hostile observers branded her the ‘whore’ of Europe. Speculation about an illegitimate child of Elizabeth persist to the present day and this is the starting point of the story.
Constable, finds himself as an unwilling helper to uncover a conspiracy. He unravels the secrets of a mysterious cabinet containing an astrological chart and coded message. Together, these claim Elizabeth has a hidden child (an “unknowing maid”) who will be declared to the masses and serve as the focus for an invasion.
Constable is swept up in the chase to uncover the identity of the plotters, unaware that he is also under suspicion. He schemes to gain the confidence of the adventurer John Hawkins and a rich merchant. Pressured into taking up a position as a court physician to pick up unguarded comments and gossip from nobles and other courtiers, he becomes a reluctant spy for Walsingham.
Do the stars and cipher speak true, or is there some other malign intent in the complex web of scheming?
Constable must race to unravel the threads of political manoeuvring for power before a new-found love and perhaps his own life are forfeit.
(Paul Walker, June 2019)
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