The reader, Steve West, has a great baritone voice. ( )

Gortner has done it again! The author who writes engaging and accurate historical fiction does not disappoint with his latest edition in the Spymaster Chronicles.
 
I'm a big fan of Elizabeth I so any stories that involve her are always a draw for me. With the Spymaster Chronicles, we are introduced to an interesting character, Brendan Prescott, who seeks to protect Elizabeth and to see her safely take her place on the throne. In The Tudor Conspiracy, Mary is now queen and although Elizabeth is her sister, it does not matter. In the eyes of the court and the current ruler, any potential heir to the throne is a threat. Throw in the Spanish interest and you have the makings for some serious court intrigue.
 
Each time I read historical fiction that centers on the past royals of England, I am struck by how truly treacherous the times were. Gortner skillfully brings the reader straight to the middle of these dangerous times. It's edge-of-the-seat reading for sure.
 
Gortner has become one of my favorite historical fiction authors. I am so looking forward to his next book. If you have not read him, I recommend you start with The Last Queen.
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Young Brendan is recruited by spymaster William Cecil to travel to Queen Mary's court to try to protect the young Princess Elizabeth. I found this historical novel to be short on history and plodding in plot. ( )

Is the winter of 1553; reign of Bloody Mary who is hiding her betrothal to Philip of Spain. It is also the time of the disastrous Wyatt rebellion.... with the Dudleys in the tower, Jane Grey & Guilford Dudley about to be executed, and Elizabeth playing now you see me/now you don't at court.

The Spanish ambassador, Don Renard, is plotting against Elizabeth, hoping to catch her in an act of high treason against Mary and there is one plotting against him..... Spies and murderers abound. Enter Brendan Prescott (aka Master Beecham), Loyal to the Tudors, illegitimate son of Henry's sister Margaret, champion of Elizabeth, spy for Cecil.

It was an interesting book, a bit overlong and written in a not-so-masculine voice. This is not the first time I've noted this about Gortner's writing. His: "The Last Queen: Catherine de Medici" definitely had the feminine air of writing, so much so that I was surprised to learn the author was male!

I'm not sure if I'll read more of this series or not, it depends on how prominent a place Elizabeth plays, she was mostly absent from this story. ( )

4.5 Stars

Full of rich detail that helps to bring the Tudor period to life, The Tudor Conspiracy, the second Spymaster Chronicles novel, illustrates why C.W. Gortner is one of the finest historical novelists writing today. First introduced in The Tudor Secret, Brendan Prescott, trusted friend to Princess Elizabeth, once again takes centre stage in this novel. Living away from court after his previous adventures there almost cost him his life, Brendan is called upon by William Cecil to insinuate himself back into court life in order to investigate a possible plot by the Spanish ambassador to discredit Elizabeth. Operating under the name Daniel Beecham, Brendan isn't long at court before he is called upon by Queen Mary to uncover evidence of Elizabeth's plotting. Determined to protect Elizabeth from the scheme to bring her down, Brendan quickly realizes that there is much more to the plot than meets the eye, and he must act quickly if he hopes to save Elizabeth from her very determined foes.

Much like Gortner's previous novels, The Tudor Conspiracy contains all the elements I look for in great historical fiction. Not only is the book filled with the right amount of historical detail needed to create a strong sense of both time and place, it is evident that historical accuracy is important to Gortner, who takes liberties only where necessary to advance his story. Basing the characters of both Princess Elizabeth and Queen Mary on what is known of their personalities, Gortner does a commendable job of bringing both of these formidable women to life. I especially enjoyed Gortner's portrayal of Mary. The novel's hero, Brendan Prescott, is well-drawn and, even though he has his faults, easy to root for. The narrative itself moves quickly, is well-written, and keeps the reader turning the pages. The mystery at the heart of the story is both interesting and, given the intrigues that were part of life in the Tudor court, entirely plausible. Although The Tudor Conspiracy is the second novel in a series, I think it can be read as a standalone given Gortner does a good job infusing necessary background into the story. Nevertheless, given I'm not the type of reader who likes reading series out of order, I do recommend starting with The Tudor Secret. I'm looking forward to finding out what Brendan Prescott gets up to next.

Recommended to historical fiction enthusiasts who enjoy historical thrillers, as well as those who like novels set during the Tudor era.

Note: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. ( )