Perfect for fans of CJ Sansom, SW Perry, SJ Parris and SG Maclean … “With skill, the reader is inserted into the sights, sounds, smells and streets of Richard III’s medieval England.” He's a spy for the king… In 1483 London, Andrew works as a spy for the king’s brother Richard. Through necessity, he has lived life in the shadows. But when tragedy points to regicide, Andrew delves deeper into a maze of dangerous duplicity. She's a fighter who barely survived a treacherous relationship… When young Tyballis discovers her husband arrested for murder, she is delighted. As a young orphan, coerced to marry her abusive neighbour, she was horribly used. Now is her chance to be rid of him for good and find the confidence she never had. Can they try their hand at uncovering one of England's biggest conspiracies? When Tyballis joins forces with the motley network of Andrew’s informers and thieves, they are lured into the dark and dangerous world of medieval London’s political intrigue and back alley slums. It’s not long before Tyballis is accused of murder herself… A thought-provoking mystery that fuses fact and fiction to stunning effect and explores what it means to be human. This edition of Blessop’s Wife includes editorial revisions, without sexual content. What readers are saying: •“This is a terrific book! As a lover of English history, I was totally engrossed with this story. Spies, treachery, poison, plots against England's throne and romance all combine into a thoroughly absorbing tale. I couldn't stop reading it!”•“Wow! Well developed, multifaceted, relatable characters set in a historical era fraught with medieval political intrigue come together to create a thoroughly enjoyable book.” •“I was expecting a common bodice ripping historical romance and was happily surprised to find myself immersed in 15th-century intrigue instead.”•"A great read that transported the reader instantly into 15th century England. I felt I walked in the footsteps of the characters and lived their lives."•"Medieval London, the setting for this tale, is as much a character as are the people who populate the city and the story. We see it as it was back in the 1400s." Reviewed by Helen Hollick for Discovering Diamonds From line one, page one, of this entertainingnovel, we are treated to action, romance and a story-line that I foundexceptionally convincing in this tale of conflict between York andLancaster. The sights, the smells, thetastes, the sounds - the descriptive writing brings the period vividly alive.There is violence and squalor, poverty and hardship, but also loyalty,steadfastness, a will to survive and, eventually, respect and love. Richard III is only a background characterhere, which is refreshing as it makes a nice change to not read about him butconcentrate on ordinary 15th century people instead. The main 'goodie' characters are verythree-dimensional, highly believable and likeable. Mind you, our heroine goesthrough the wringer with assaults, attempted rapes imprisonments and such, butis that not what makes a heroine into a heroine? Her ability to survivewhatever horrors are thrown at her? Thehero is equally as fascinating, a man of many surprises. London, the setting for this tale, is asmuch a character as are the people who populate the city and the story. We seeit as it was back in the 1400s: squalid, smelly, dirty, depressing andpoverty-riddled. I am (was) a Londoner and I thought I knew a lot about itshistory - I know even more now, although the narrative here is so well writtenyou don't realise that you are picking up information as you go along. I was satisfied at enjoying a good storywhen I reached the last page, but sorry, too, to have to say farewell to such amotley crew of interesting characters. I'll certainly be reading more ofBarbara Gaskell Denvil's novels. Reviewed by Mike Dixon for Readers' Favorite After eighty years of conflict, the War of the Roses is nearing its end. Edward IV made a disastrous mistake when he married Elizabeth Woodville. Her ambitious family did everything to increase their power and suspicions were aroused when Edward died mysteriously at the age of forty. The Woodvilles were suspected of his murder and Edward's younger brother, Richard, feared for his life. Richard had spies but history does not say much about them. Barbara Gaskell Denvil fills in the gaps and introduces us to the mysterious Andrew Cobham and his female companion, Tyballis, otherwise known as Blessop's wife. They probe London's sordid underworld and invade the equally dangerous world of the nobility. Damning evidence is uncovered and delivered to Richard who seizes the throne as Richard III. Shakespeare condemned him as the murderer of the princes in the Tower. Later generations have come to question this interpretation of history. Barbara Gaskell Denvil has a mastery of words. Blessop's Wife is well researched and follows the main course of history. Her description of places and events conjures up v