Two women separated by time investigate the mysterious, tragic fate of the young princes in the tower in this engrossing novel, “a juicy mix of romance, drama, and Tudor history” ( Ladies’ Home Journal ) from the New York Times bestselling author hailed as “the finest historian of English monarchical succession writing” ( The Boston Globe ) “A page-turner . . . Alison Weir’s strong suit as a fiction writer is making her novels living history.”— The Courier-Journal When her older sister, Lady Jane Grey, is executed in 1554 for unlawfully accepting the English crown, Lady Katherine Grey’s world falls apart. Barely recovered from this tragic loss she risks all for love, only to incur the wrath of her formidable cousin Queen Elizabeth I, who sees Katherine as a rival for her insecure throne. Interlaced with Katherine’s story is that of her distant kinswoman Kate Plantagenet, the bastard daughter of Richard III. In 1483, Kate travels to London for Richard’s coronation, and soon hears terrible rumors about him that threaten all she holds dear. Like Katherine Grey, she falls in love with a man who is forbidden to her. Then Kate embarks on what will become a perilous quest, covertly seeking the truth about what befell her cousins—two young princes—who may have been victims of Richard III’s lust for power. But time is not on Kate’s side, or on Katherine’s, who has been imprisoned. What secrets will be revealed in the notorious Tower of London? “A juicy mix of romance, drama and Tudor history . . . pure bliss for today’s royal watchers.” — Ladies’ Home Journal “With its evident in-depth research and creative twists, this tale of two women trying to make sense of the power of the English crown . . . is nothing short of riveting.” — Library Journal (starred review) “No one alive knows as much about the Tudors as Weir. . . . Any reader of Hilary Mantel’s excellent Tudor evocations will want to explore this book as well.” — Kirkus Reviews “Stunning . . . a richly layered cake of love, sex, danger, death, and mystery.” — Sunday Express (UK) “A page-turner . . . too juicy to put down . . . Alison Weir’s strong suit as a fiction writer is making her novels living history.” — The Courier-Journal “Renowned historical biographer Weir [writes] a novel set against the tumultuous political backdrop of two eras, Plantagenet and Elizabethan . . . alternating viewpoints, an intriguing unsolved mystery, ghosts, romance and history to present a plausible, well-written blend of fact and fiction.” — RT Book Reviews “Beautifully written . . . the story of these two women [is] highly compelling [with] plenty to keep readers enthralled.” — Historical Novel Review “ A Dangerous Inheritance is a must-read for any lover of English historical fiction.” —Luxury Reading “A tale of two voices, two eras, and two royal upheavals . . . by far [Weir’s] most ambitious and satisfying novel to date.” —Open Letters Monthly “A novel compelling in its complexity.” — Booklist Alison Weir is the New York Times bestselling author of the novels Captive Queen, Innocent Traitor, and The Lady Elizabeth and several historical biographies, including Mary Boleyn, The Lady in the Tower, Mistress of the Monarchy, Henry VIII, Eleanor of Aquitaine, The Life of Elizabeth I, and The Six Wives of Henry VIII. She lives in Surrey, England, with her husband. 9780345511898
excerpt Weir / A DANGEROUS INHERITANCE Part One Acts of Usurpation Katherine May 25, 1553; Durham House, London Today is our wedding day. My sister Jane and I are to be married; all has been arranged so that the one ceremony will serve for both the daughters of my lord the Duke of Suffolk and my lady the duchess. It has come upon us so quickly that I have scarce had time to catch my breath, and am somewhat stunned to find myself standing in this royally appointed bedchamber being decked out in my bridal robes. Below the latticed windows the River Thames, busy with craft and the shouts of boatmen, glides swiftly past London toward the distant sea. There is the usual whiff of fish, mud, and rotting stuff in the warm air, but the light breeze that stirs the heavy damask curtains and caresses my skin is pleasant, and faintly redolent of the flowers in the formal gardens that cluster below around Durham House. We stand like statues as our nurse, Mrs. Ellen, and our tirewoman, Bridget, fuss around us, pins in their mouths, hands fiddling with points and laces, dressing us in such finery as I have never possessed, while our mother looks on, hawklike, screeching orders. “Stand still, Jane! And try to look happy. His Majesty has been most generous in his provision for you, and in finding you such bridegrooms. You would not wish word to get back to him that you are ungrateful, I am sure.” Jane looks mutinous as the heavy gown of gold and silver brocade is lowered over her head. “He knows that I did not want this marriage,” she says defiantly. “And it i