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The Heretics

From million copy bestselling author Rory Clements, the iconic historical mystery series

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About this listen

 'Does for Elizabeth's reign what CJ Sansom does for Henry VIII's' Sunday Times

The fifth book in the iconic John Shakespeare series, beloved by thousands of readers, from true master of historical fiction, Rory Clements.

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'Sixteenth-century London comes alive in all its tawdriness' Daily Mail

'Beautifully done . . . alive and tremendously engrossing' Daily Telegraph

'Plot and dialogue that hums with Elizabethan slang, profanity and wit' The Times

'Enjoyable, bloody and brutish' Guardian

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England have survived the Armada threat of 1588.

But when Spanish galleys land troops in Cornwall on a lightning raid seven years later, is it a dry-run for a new invasion? Revenge for the sacking of Spanish shipping and ports? Or is there, perhaps, a more sinister motive?

The Queen is speechless with rage at Spain's temerity. Sir Robert Cecil demands answers. But as John Shakespeare tries to get a grip on events, England's secret defences begin to unravel as one by one his network of spies is horribly murdered.

But what has all this to do with Thomasyn Jade, a girl driven to the edge of madness by the foul rituals of exorcism? And what is the link to a group of priests held prisoner in the bleak confines of Wisbech Castle?

From the pain-wracked torture rooms of the Inquisition in Seville to the marshy wastes of fenland, from the wild coasts of Cornwall to the sweat and sawdust of the Elizabethan playhouses, The Heretics builds to a terrifying climax that threatens the life of the Queen herself.

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Readers adore Martyr and the John Shakespeare series . . .

'If you love C.J. Sansom, you'll love this'

'You can feel, smell, see and hear the dangerous times of Tudor England'

'An absolutely delightful Elizabethan mystery'

'If you enjoy S.J. Parris, you need to try this'

'Rory Clements has struck gold with John Shakespeare'©2012 Rory Clements Crime Fiction Espionage Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Mystery Renaissance True Crime Exciting

Critic reviews

Rory Clements again brings to life the dark side of Elizabethan England.
Enjoyable, bloody and brutish.
Beautifully done ... alive and tremendously engrossing.
I found this the best book in the series.
All stars
Most relevant

Would you listen to The Heretics again? Why?

I would listen to the Heretics again, really enjoyed the plot and the narrator, interpretation

What other book might you compare The Heretics to, and why?

its like the Ken Follet books,

loved it

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Rory Clements does well to keep a grip of actual history and in this case English geography in this wide ranging John Shakespeare adventure mystery. It is interesting how insights into recurring characters add to this series, and never fails to underline the damaging religious factions and the utter waste of it all. Gareth Armstrong performs this novel exceptionally well and kept me glued to my earphones, so much so that I listened to the last three hours without a break. His depiction and characterisations of a woman involved in an exorcism was truly, truly frightening but so well done. I am so pleased that I have the other novels in this series in my Audible library. Clements does not shy away from violence in these novels and this listen has its grisly turns. I was reminded how in Georges Simenon's Maigret, one one Maigret's detectives is killed with a hat pin. That has nothing on this. Those that are lucky to have the hard copy of Heritics will enjoy the additional material that is included at the end of the book. Two novels to go, then in this series. Great stuff.

Never a Dull Moment, So Many Gripping

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Where does The Heretics rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Not a bad read but not a brilliant one either. At times it feels like the author is spoon feeding you with super runny food thats not easy to swallow. Yet at other times he tends to go off on a tangent which leaves you dangling in midair until the relevancy becomes clear.

A real who did it story that on occasions left you wondering "well who are they talking about" as characters seemed to drift in and out.

Gareths performance was clear and pleasant to listen to.

Who did it

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what a great story that twisted and turned everywhere, with no idea who to trust ,loved it !

Shakespeare in real trouble this time !

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The fifth book in the Shakespeare series. Another complex plotted thriller. Another intricately plotted historical drama. Well narrated.

Complex Investigation

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