Anatomy of a Heretic: A dark and gripping historical naval thriller set in Asia and Europe

'David Mark is the king of grimy historical crime' Alex ReeveLONDON AND AMSTERDAM, 1628TWO ASSASSINS Nicolaes de Pelgrom is the Duke of Buckingham's trusted blade: charming, loyal and steeped in blood. Jeronimus Cornelisz is a Dutch apothecary with scarred skin, a head full of heresy and a talent for poisons that mimic death. ONE VOYAGE Both men board the Batavia, the treasure-laden flagship of the Dutch East India Company bound for the Indies. Nicolaes is carrying out a grieving widow's revenge. Jeronimus is guarding a criminal's precious cargo. A DEADLY GAME When the two killers cross paths, they realise one cannot succeed without killing the other. But they are not the only players aboard this ship... and below decks, where sickness and cruelty fester in the dark, the crew are plotting a bloodsoaked mutiny... Out on the rough seas a world away from home, who will survive, and who will die?This dark and gripping historical thriller was inspired by the true story of the Batavia, the deadliest mutiny in maritime history. Reviews for David Mark 'Dark and compelling with characters you will never forget' Elly Griffiths 'Exhilarating and inventive... wonderfully descriptive' Peter James 'Taut, intelligent page-turners' Abir Mukherjee 'Dark, compelling crime writing of the highest order' Daily Mail 'Gripping story lines steeped in emotion and menace' Mel Sherratt 'Compelling and harrowing' Daily Express 'More twists and turns than a corkscrew through the eyeball' Val McDermid 'An extraordinary talent... I adore how he writes' M.W. Craven

• Publication date: 24 November 2026
• Dimensions: Height 198 mm; Width 127 mm; Thickness 23 mm
• Publisher: Pellerin Books
• Format: Paperback
• ISBN-13: 9781807470241