Treason

'Remember, Remember, the Fifth of November...' For fans of Conn Iggulden and Bernard Cornwell, this pulse-racing and dramatic new thriller from Sunday Times bestselling author James Jackson sheds new light on one of the most dramatic events in British history.Behind the famous rhyme lies a murderous conspiracy that goes far beyond Guy Fawkes and his ill-fated Gunpowder Plot . . .In a desperate race against time, spy Christian Hardy must uncover a web of deceit that runs from the cock-fighting pits of Shoe Lane, to the tunnels beneath a bear-baiting arena in Southwark, and from the bad lands of Clerkenwell to a brutal firefight in The Globe theatre. But of the forces ranged against Hardy, all pale beside the renegade Spanish agent codenamed Realm.'There is no-one today writing fictionalised history, backed by ferocious research, like James Jackson. With his latest, Treason, he has done it again and the reading lamp just burns on through the night...' Frederick Forsyth

The focus is on the nitty-gritty of the multiple plots, and the way the narrative flips back and forth among the various protagonists increases the tension and contributes to the unrelenting pace. James Jackson captures well the underlying violence and fetid atmosphere of the time in this absorbing read., Treason is such a well-written book, its complicated plot kept tightly under control, the dialogue intriguing. The Gunpowder Plot itself is covered in such fascinating, meticulous detail and I lapped this part of the novel up, enjoying in particular the two characters who radiate some charm in this dark world of conspiracies and counter-conspiracies, Adam Hardy and the Princess Elizabeth, but I still wouldn't trust either of them as far as I could throw them. Treason is a compelling read and extremely difficult to put down, Jackson, author of bestselling historical novels Blood Rock and Pilgrim, shines a new and exciting light on one of the most momentous events in British history in an enthralling story packed with fascinating history, breathtaking action and a cast of captivating characters both real and fictional... Immaculately researched and teeming with suspense, malice and menace, this is an impressive portrait of the suspicion and intrigue that stalked the early years of James I's reign as well as a thrilling adventure story that will keep readers on their toes from first page to last, I love history. I enjoyed reading about this period in English history (...) I have never read a book specifically on James I, but aim to in the new year (...) The storyline is a plus (...) and the character Christian Hardy is a plus

Sunday Times bestselling author James Jackson has written numerous historical and contemporary thrillers, including three previous Christian Hardy novels Blood Rock, Realm and Treason. He is a former political risk consultant and a postgraduate in military studies. He was called to the Bar and is member of the Inner Temple. He lives in London.