Destroying Angel: Winner of the 2019 CWA Historical Dagger

The Black Friar is a gripping tale of crime and sedition set in 16th-century England, where Captain Damian Seeker is sent to a small village on the North York moors to prepare the way for the rule of the major-generals. He discovers a plot to rival anything in scheming London, involving a bubbling cauldron of grudges and resentment, a local constable drunk on power, a hated lord of the manor, a vicar on trial for his job and home, and the Pullans, who are proud Puritan but disillusioned with Cromwell's government. Seeker must find out the motive behind the death of a man poisoned at a dinner party, and when the most painful part of his past reappears, he must face his match.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 416 pages
\n Publication date: 07 February 2019
\n Publisher: Quercus Publishing
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Winner of the 2019 CWA Historical Dagger, this gripping tale of crime and sedition delves into the depths of 17th-century England. Set against the backdrop of The Black Friar, a novel hailed by the Sunday Times as the best historical crime novel of the year, and The Seeker, praised by the Sunday Express as "captivating," Captain Damian Seeker embarks on a perilous journey to the north. Tasked with preparing the way for the rule of the major-generals, Seeker finds himself under the command of Colonel Robert Lilburne at York. However, his routine visit to a small village on the North York moors takes an unexpected turn when Lilburne orders him to gather details about the stringent new anti-Royalist laws. Little does Seeker know that this seemingly mundane task will unveil a plot that rivals the scheming of London.

An invitation to dinner at the house of local businessman Matthew Pullan serves as a window into the simmering cauldron of grudges and resentment that permeates Faithly village. The local constable, drunk on the minuscule power he wields, employs it to seek revenge against old resentments. The hated lord of the manor, the last of a staunchly Royalist family who has managed to evade suspicion of treachery for the time being, lurks in the shadows. The vicar, on trial for his job and his home, is accused of ungodly acts. And the Pullans, proud Puritans but disillusioned with Cromwell's government, are respected and despised in equal measure within the community.

The man behind the unlikely gathering, The Trier, the enforcer of Puritan morality in the local villages, remains absent. As the night unfolds, one of the gathered individuals is fatally poisoned, leaving Seeker to unravel the motive behind the death. Was it a case of mistaken identity, petty revenge, or part of a larger plot against Cromwell's government in the north? But who in Faithly, if anyone, can Seeker trust? As the Seeker confronts the most painful part of his past after eleven years, he must confront his own demons and determine if he has what it takes to overcome the challenges that lie ahead.

This captivating tale of crime and intrigue unfolds against the backdrop of a tumultuous period in English history, offering a glimpse into the lives of ordinary people caught in the crosshairs of political turmoil. With its intricate plot, well-developed characters, and atmospheric setting, The Black Friar and The Seeker are must-reads for fans of historical fiction and crime novels alike.

\n Weight: 298g\n
Dimension: 193 x 123 x 26 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781786484185\n \n