The Testimony of Alys Twist: 'Beautifully written' The Times

When Mary Tudor ascends to the throne of England, her half-sister, Princess Elizabeth, emerges as a popular rebellion. Alys Twist, a laundress at the royal wardrobe, becomes a spy in Elizabeth's household, but her own secrets may threaten her safety. The Testimony of Alys Twist is a character-driven tale with intrigue and Sapphic themes, praised for its modern approach to Tudor history and well-researched material.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 08 April 2021
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group

1553: England rejoices as the rightful heir, Mary Tudor, sweeps to power on a wave of populist goodwill. However, the people should have been cautious about their desires, as Mary's mission is to turn back time to an England of old. Within weeks, widespread rebellion favors her half-sister, Princess Elizabeth, who is the complete opposite of Mary. From now on, Elizabeth must use her considerable guile to stay alive.

Orphan Alys Twist has come a long way, further than she ever dared hope, to work as a laundress at the royal wardrobe. There, she meets Bel, daughter of the Queen's tailor, and seems to have arrived at her own happy ending.

But in a world where appearance is everything, a laundress is in a unique position to see the truth of people's lives, and Alys is pressed into service as a spy in the errant princess's household. Alys herself is hardly whiter than white, and when the princess is arrested, she must make a dangerous choice.

Reader praise for The Testimony of Alys Twist:

This is an interesting story with much intrigue. It's rare to find an established novelist who includes Sapphic themes within their work, but that is exactly what the author has done here. It's very much a character-driven tale with Alys front and center.

Reader review:

I like Suzannah Dunn's take on Tudor history, as she writes well, uses modern vernacular to make historical characters just like us, and usually does her research on the material aspects of history. Here, she's clearly done her homework.

Reader review:

Weight: 240g
Dimension: 126 x 197 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780349141343