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Review
/ 'Impossible to resist ! Parris creates a convincing sense of the past, woven with so much intrigue that the head fairly spins' Daily Telegraph / 'Parris writes with confident ease of Tudor London ! The dialogue balances nicely on a tightrope of period phrases and cut-to-the-chase colloquialisms. More, please' The Times / 'Parris's plot is well crafted and full of surprises, an imaginatively satisfying addition to the many real intrigues surrounding the imprisoned Mary Stuart and the threats to Elizabeth's security' TLS / 'Tense and lively, a welcome follow-up to Heresy, fully living up to its predecessor's promise' Daily Mail Praise for Heresy: / 'Heresy has everything -- intrigue, mystery, excellent history and haunting sense of place. The beginning of a wonderful new detective series' Kate Mosse / 'Fascinating ! The period is incredibly vivid and the story utterly gripping' Conn Iggulden (bestselling author of Bones of the Hills and The Dangerous Book for Boys) / 'Heresy is a riveting read. Rich in both historical detail and ingenious twists, S. J. Parris has created a character in Giordano Bruno that will endure. A true rival to C. J. Sansom' Sam Bourne (bestselling author of The Righteous Men) / 'Parris paces her yarn perfectly' Daily Telegraph
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
Product Description
It is the year of the Great Conjunction, when the two most powerful planets, Jupiter and Saturn, align—an astrological phenomenon that occurs once every thousand years and heralds the death of one age and the dawn of another. The streets of London are abuzz with predictions of horrific events to come, possibly even the death of Queen Elizabeth.
When several of the queen's maids are found dead, rumours of black magic abound. Elizabeth calls upon her personal astrologer, John Dee, and Giordano Bruno to solve the crimes. While Dee turns to a mysterious medium claiming knowledge of the murders, Bruno fears that something far more sinister is at work. But even as the climate of fear at the palace intensifies, the queen refuses to believe that the killer could be someone within her own court.
Bruno must play a dangerous game: Can he allow the plot to progress far enough to give the queen the proof she needs without putting her, England, or himself in danger?!
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
3.8 out of 5 stars (15 customer reviews)
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Murky murder mysteries and complex catholic conspiracies, May 6 2011
By A. K. Johnston "(www.andrewj.com/books)" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Prophecy (Hardcover)
I thoroughly enjoyed S J Parris' first novel, Heresy, likening it to a Tudor Inspector Morse tale, and was delighted to be offered the chance to review a pre-publication copy of this second story starring the same protagonists.In this story the heretical monk, Giordano Bruno, is back at the French Embassy in Elizabethan London, where he is drawn rapidly into both a catholic conspiracy to invade England, and a related murder mystery when two of the queen's ladies in waiting meet very sticky ends.
The style is very similar to the first book, with Bruno trying to both uncover the truths about the murders, and navigate complex relationships with the other characters. The tale is again told in the first person, but here it makes a bit more sense as you get to understand Bruno's concerns, guilt and frustrations, and the motivation for some of his deeds.
I loved the period detail, particularly the descriptions of Elizabethan versions of well-known London locations. In this book Parris also makes much more use of actual events and personalities, such as Francis Walsingham, William Cecil and John Dee. I could almost hear some of the dialogue being spoken by Geoffrey Rush and Richard Attenborough.
The story is a real page-turner with a steady pace which kept my attention right to the end. However, if I have a slight criticism, it's that some plot twists, such as the murderer's identity, seemed to be signalled very early, while at other times key actions were taken by characters who had not been introduced.
These are minor failings, and overall this is a very enjoyable romp. I look forwards to Bruno's next outing.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
"Our world will change beyond recognition.", May 3 2011
By E. Bukowsky "booklover10" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Prophecy (Hardcover)
Set in 1583, "Prophecy," by S. J. Parris, explores the conflict between the followers of Elizabeth I and those who favor her cousin, Mary Stuart. Elizabeth, a Protestant, and Mary, a fervent Catholic, each claims to be the rightful heir to the Tudor throne. Various courtiers take sides and devise schemes to settle the dispute by whatever means necessary.The novel's protagonist and first-person narrator is former monk, cosmologist, philosopher, and writer, Giordano Bruno, whose patron is King Henry III of France. Bruno is staying in Salisbury Court under the protection of the French ambassador to England, Michel de Castelnau. Secretly, however, Bruno's loyalties lie with Elizabeth Tudor. In fact,he is employed by the queen's spymaster, Sir Francis Walsingham, to dig up information that would be useful to Her Majesty.
Parris effectively capturs the huge divide between the warring factions. The situation is made even more volatile by the threatened intervention of French and Spanish Catholics. Ms. Parris also touches on the obsession of certain learned men with portents and arcane lore. Bruno, as well as Elizabeth's astrologer, John Dee ("the most learned man in England"), are eager to get their hands on a much sought-after book that could impart vast knowledge and power to its owner.
Unlike "Heresy," which had a juicy and engaging plot, "Prophecy" generates few sparks. It is sluggishly paced, the byzantine plot is cumbersome, and the cast of characters, rather unwieldy. Bruno behaves like a bull in a china shop; he lacks the subtlety and shrewdness of an effective spy. He meets people in taverns (not the best way to avoid being noticed), and is generally clueless about what is going on under his nose. It is not surprising that he is targeted by a killer who has already claimed several victims. Although "Prophecy" is not particularly suspenseful, the author deserves high marks for her splendid period detail, vivid descriptive writing, and realistic evocation of a time when civil war between Catholics and Protestants seemed inevitable.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superb Second Effort: Parris is in the first rank of today's mystery thriller writers, Jun 29 2011
By Laurence R. Bachmann "LRB" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Prophecy (Hardcover)
Prophecy by S.J. Parris is positive proof that the author's earlier novel, Heresy was no fluke. As in her first work, Parris takes an intriguing premise, this time the 1583 Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn (which occur only once every 1,000 years or so) and lets it be the springboard for mayhem and intrigue. To fervid Catholics the Great Conjunction heralds the dawn of a new era, one without Elizabeth and one they will go to almost any length to realize.Giordano Bruno the monk, turned philosopher, turned spy, is once again enormously appealing and sympathetic. Some have complained that emotion and personal dislikes affect his opinion. For me this only makes him more believable and intriguing. Who doesn't let their personal opinions impact their judgment? And what man doesn't sometimes think with his nether regions? In addition to an intricate but thoroughly plausible plot, Parris has fashioned a hero that is a humanist, humane and very very human.
In addition to the complex plotting and twists galore, the depiction of Bruno is most effective--even touching. His escape from the Inquisition and the necessity of making his mark in a Protestant country have not diminished his ethics and the twinges of shame for his betrayal of his sponsors Henri of France and his ambassador to England. Admirably he recognizes these flaws, but realistically his ambition and desire to make his mark will trump all compunctions.
With both Heresy and Prophecy I have managed to be half right guessing Parris' villain(s). Perhaps her third will be my charm, but whether I do or not it will not diminish the tremendous appeal of this terrific series.
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