The Winter List

In the summer of 1660, Charles Stuart has been restored to the throne, and men who supported the Protectorate are being hunted down as traitors. Damian Seeker, a staunch Republican, is on a list of traitors to the king, and Royalist spy Lady Anne Winter is employed to find evidence of guilt or innocence among the names on the Winter List. Manon Seeker, Seeker's daughter, is married to Lawrence Ingolby and living in York, surrounded by spies and watchers. One of those spies is closer than she could have imagined.

Format: Hardback
Length: 384 pages
Publication date: 07 September 2023
Publisher: Quercus Publishing

By the summer of 1660, the last vestiges of the Republic had been swept away, and the Stuarts had been restored to the throne under the reign of Charles II. A list of regicides believed to be involved in the death of Charles I was drawn up, and gruesome executions began to take place, intensifying the hunt for those who had gone into hiding at home or abroad. Although not a regicide, Damian Seeker, a staunch Republican, found himself on a list of traitors to the king. Royalist spy, Lady Anne Winter, was employed to find evidence of guilt or innocence among the names on the Winter List. Seeker had fled England, but his beloved daughter, Manon, remained married to Seeker's friend, the lawyer Lawrence Ingolby, and lived in York. As the conduit to her father and to others on the Winter List, surrounded by spies and watchers, Manon lived in constant danger and fear of discovery. One of those spies was closer than she could have imagined.

Perfect for fans of Robert Harris and Andrew Taylor, "The Winter List" is a wonderful storyteller that vividly imagines the world of 1660, with all its romance and tragedy. The novel builds the world of the period from the ground up, with all its social and political complexities, and brings to life the characters who lived in this tumultuous time. The plot is propulsive, well-researched, and fascinating, with a blend of historical fact and fiction that adds depth and richness to the story.

One of the standout features of "The Winter List" is its vivid portrayal of the characters. Seeker is a complex and flawed protagonist, driven by his love for his daughter and his desire for revenge against those who have wronged him. Lady Anne Winter is a fascinating and enigmatic character, torn between her loyalty to the king and her conscience. Manon is a strong and determined woman, who faces her fears and risks everything to protect her father and those on the Winter List. The other characters, such as Lawrence Ingolby, are well-developed and add to the depth and complexity of the story.

The historical setting of 1660 is also brought to life with great detail and accuracy. The reader is transported back to a time of political intrigue, religious persecution, and social unrest, and feels the tension and fear that the characters must have felt. The author's research into the period is evident in the vivid descriptions and the historical details that add to the richness of the story.

Overall, "The Winter List" is a gripping fiction with historical fact that will keep readers hooked right up to the end. The author's vivid storytelling and well-developed characters make this a glorious tale of revenge and retribution, and a must-read for fans of historical fiction.

Weight: 610g
Dimension: 164 x 242 x 34 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781529414226