The second book in the series…. You can tell that this has been well researched, and the fact that there are a lot of real people in it makes a really good read. The way that the lives of the fictional characters are worked into the lives of historical figures just flows really well…… an excellent read

Well written and thoroughly researched, Daniel Purselove is an intriguing character and I felt immersed in the story as it enfolded. However, I think it could have been a little shorter as it dragged a little towards the end.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book and give my unbiased opinion.

I had not read the first book in this series, and I think I would have found this book a lot easier if I was already familiar with the main character. Also, my knowledge of history around the time of the Gunpowder plot is very poor, so I struggled at times to understand exactly what was happening. The content was at times confusing for someone who is new to this area of history. I also found it extremely confusing the way it kept changing from one time frame to another. I really enjoyed the main plot set at the Abby, and mostly followed that part. But some of the other parts left me confused, and although I understood the ending from the point of view of who had been the murderer, I had got lost somewhere along the line, and didn't understand the significance of the rest of the ending. I would recommend this book to someone who enjoys history, because otherwise the story is hard to follow.
Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

This is the second book featuring Daniel Pursglove I have read by the Author - set in the reign of paranoid King James the Author brings to life the ongoing conflict between the Protestants and Catholic Churches at this time ........ a King who sees plots all around .

Daniel has been sent to Battle Abbey , the home of the Montagues - who are suspected of hiding Catholics within their household . The previous spy sent by the King has not survived long enough to pass on his report - will Daniel himself survive ?
Daniels efforts are hampered from the outset - everyone he meets seems to have something to hide .
As more bodies are found can Daniel catch the culprit before he is found out ?

This is an enjoyable historical murder mystery which brings to life the sights and sounds of this period in history
I look forward to reading more books from the Author
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

The Assignment

A mystery set in 1607 Jacobean England. Daniel Pursglove is summoned to investigate the death of an agent Benet. In order to catch the murderer he must infiltrate the home of the Montagues. The Montagues are a house of Catholics. In this house he is looking for traitors to the throne of King James.

Daniel must solve the murder, but how? Everyone is a suspect and everyone has a secret. It is the middle of a long cold winter.

The book is a mystery but it has a lot of historical detail and sometimes I got a little bit lost in it all. I did enjoy reading about a historical period I know nothing about.

It was a good mystery and even though I did not read book one I still enjoyed the book. I wonder about how it ended there were some things I would have liked a bit more closure on.

Thanks to K.J. Maitland for writing a good mystery story, to Headline Review for publishing it, and to NetGalley for making it available to me.

This is the second mystery by K.J. (Karen) Maitland, featuring Daniel Pursglove, who first appeared in, “The Drowned City.” We are back in Jacobean England, in the winter of the great frost, of 1607/8. Like the previous in the series, Maitland, as always, does a great job of setting the feeling of place and time. You really feel you are in the places she describes, whether that is London, or the remote location of Battle Abbey in Sussex.

The novel begins on the 5th November, 1607, a year after the failed Bonfire Plot. Guy Fawkes is dead, but peace does not reign in the kingdom. King James and the Scots are resented, the Kings Pursuivant is dead on his way to deliver a report from Battle Abbey, a house that is suspected to be heart of the Catholic network, with suspected priests and spies smuggled in from the coast and one of the suspected gunpowder plot conspirators not yet run to ground. Pursglove is sent to infiltrate Battle Abbey, home of Lady Magdalen, and discover who killed the Kings Pursuivant, as well as uncover the Catholic conspiracy network.

This is a historically accurate mystery, with a great sense of location and setting. Flames sputter, the cold is bone deep and secrets, and murder, are in the air… If you intend to read this, I suggest you do start with the first in the series, just to be introduced to Purslove and the other characters. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.

I was pleased to get the opportunity to see where Daniel went next,but unfortunately,the book didn't live up to my expectations.
I found myself picking it up and putting it down a lot.
The plot seemed to move slowly,though this is partly due to the attention to detail I'm sure.
At times it amused me,at others I was confused as to who certain characters were.
As much as I enjoyed the character of Daniel,his charm might not stretch to a third book for me.

*3.5 stars*

Book #2 in the Daniel Pursglove series transports the reader to the year 1607, and sees Daniel being ordered to Battle Abbey, in Sussex, in order to infiltrate the Catholic Viscountess Montague’s home, and discover those traitors to King James 1, recusants who continue to worship in secret, aided by priests smuggled in from abroad.

Benet, the last pursuivant sent to Battle, to expose the treachery in the Montague home, never returned, and now it’s up to Daniel himself to infiltrate the inner workings of the Abbey and carry out his own secret investigation, and also discover what happened to Benet. He’ll soon discover that everyone has a secret at Battle Abbey.

Well written and meticulously researched, it has a real sense of time and place that makes it a must for fans of historical fiction. Daniel makes for an interesting and likeable character, who has you rooting for him right the way through. The storyline itself, though mainly interesting and exciting, did tend to drag a little at times, but nevertheless an enjoyable read.

4 stars for this atmospheric historical novel.

Traitor in the Ice is the second novel of a series set in Jacobean England featuring Daniel Pursglove as a spy, seeking out plotters against the king in the wake of the Gunpowder Plot. I have not (yet) read The Drowned City, the first book in the series, so I am glad that Traitor in the Ice is gripping and understandable as a standalone novel.

This book is classed as a thriller, and it does contain thrills and suspense as Daniel investigates murders, night-creepers and possible surviving co-conspirators of Guy Fawkes. Yet for me the book was not one to gallop through to discover ‘whodunnit’ – rather, this is a book to savour slowly. The reader is immersed in the sights, smells and freezing cold of the winter of 1607-1608; absorbed by courtly intrigue and political machinations; drawn into the secret world of persecuted Catholics in the household of Lady Magdalen at Battle Abbey; and engrossed by the lives of the characters, whether servants, priests or nobility. Above all of this, no-one writes about folklore, belief and superstition like Karen Maitland and that is what makes this novel a must-read.

If any of this sounds a little heavy-going, please be assured that it is not – and prepare to be entertained by fabulous seventeenth century insults that really need to make a come-back! The writer’s choice of words, whether for insults or description of scene or bitter cold, is a real joy to read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book in return for an honest review.

Traitor in the Ice is the second book in KJ Maitland’s new historical crime series set in the early 1600s during the reign of James I of England and VI of Scotland. The first, The Drowned City, introduces us to Daniel Pursglove as he searches for a mysterious Catholic conspirator known as Spero Pettingar in the aftermath of the failed Gunpowder Plot. That book is set in Bristol just after the devastating Bristol Channel Floods of 1607; Traitor in the Ice takes place the following winter – a particularly cold winter referred to as the Great Frost.

In these freezing, icy conditions a man has been found dead in the grounds of Battle Abbey in Sussex. The man was one of the King’s agents, sent to infiltrate the Montague household at Battle to try to root out those with Catholic sympathies. Lady Magdalen, Viscountess Montague is believed to be sheltering Catholic priests within the abbey walls, but the agent has been killed before having the chance to send his report to London. A replacement is needed, so Daniel Pursglove finds himself summoned by the King’s man, Charles FitzAlan, once more and sent to Battle to find evidence of treachery. He quickly discovers that almost everyone in the abbey has something to hide, but when more murders take place Daniel begins to wonder whether he is on the trail of the elusive Spero Pettingar at last.

One of the things I liked about the previous book in this series was the setting; I knew nothing about the Bristol floods and found the descriptions of the city in the aftermath quite eerie and otherworldly. The frozen landscapes of Sussex described in this second novel are equally atmospheric: the ‘withered brown bracken, each frond encased in its own ice-coffin’; the pink light of dawn ‘sending sparks of light shivering across the frost’. It’s the perfect setting for a murder mystery and Maitland weaves her usual mix of superstition and legend into the plot, adding to the sense of time and place. I was particularly intrigued by the practice of ‘night-creeping’, which Maitland explains in more detail in her very comprehensive author’s note at the end of the book.

I had hoped to learn more about Daniel Pursglove in this novel, but that doesn’t really happen and he is still very much a man of mystery by the final page. Although it’s not essential to have read the previous book first, I was pleased that I had as it meant I was familiar with at least some of Daniel’s background and wasn’t quite as confused as I might otherwise have been. I do like Daniel, though, and enjoyed following him through his investigations.

However, I had the same problem with this book that I had with the first one: there was just too much happening! The chapters set at Battle Abbey alternate with others set at court where through the eyes of two cousins, Richard and Oliver, we watch the rise to power of the King’s new favourite, Robert Carr. We also see Robert Cecil, Earl of Salisbury, working to maintain his own influence over King James, while in the streets and taverns of London violence is brewing between gangs of local youths and the Scottish courtiers who are newly arrived in the city. All of this is very interesting, but too much for one book on top of the murders and the Catholic conspiracies! With a tighter focus on just one or two threads of the plot, I think this would be a much stronger series. Anyway, I did enjoy this second novel overall and will be looking out for a third one.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Headline for an advance copy of Traitor in the Ice, the second novel to feature Daniel Pursglove, in winter 1607.

Daniel Pursglove is sent to Battle Abbey in Sussex, home of Lady Magdalen Montague, to investigate rumours of Catholicism and treason. It is dangerous work, because the last man sent was murdered. When he gets there he finds he not only has to unmask a murderer, but the secrets every inhabitant seems to be hiding, including the person kept hidden from the staff. Could it be Spero Pettingar, the elusive gunpowder plot plotter?

I enjoyed Traitor in the Ice, but it is a bit of a mixed bag for me because I haven’t read its predecessor. This novel is obviously episode two in what can be described as a serial novel and it assumes that the reader has the backstory. As I don’t have Daniel Pursglove’s backstory I was reliant on the snippets provided and they are insufficient to truly explain where he comes from and what his motivations are. He’s a man of mystery to me. It also means that I had no idea what the epilogue meant.

The novel is self contained when it comes to the hunt for the murderer and that I found interesting and quite compulsive. It was very well done with several twists and turns an unexpected perpetrator and an age old motive. I found the emotions involved realistic and understandable. The spying and intrigue, i.e the ongoing thread, is less comprehensible. It is told from various points of view and while I got the gist it is not quite clear where each character slots in or where the thread is going. Needless to say it’s all about bigotry and persecution with both sides holding extreme views on how to gain ascendancy. And then there’s something about Daniel Pursglove that makes him special and perhaps protected. Where does he fit in to all these machinations?

This is a beautifully written novel, which brings the period to life. It is, however, also a long novel, which sacrifices plot impetus to details of everyday life in a forbidden Catholic household.

Traitor in the Ice is a good read that I can recommend.

1607. A man is found dead in the grounds of Battle Abbey.
King James has Battle in his sight.. The Catholic household is said to hide those loyal to the Pope.
Daniel Pursglove is sent to find out what is happening but soon finds out everyone has something to hide!!

Based in the years after the succession of King James to the English throne in 1603, this is a story based on the continuing defiance by Catholics of the new regime. Daniel is persuaded to infiltrate a country house called Battle to find out…it is not very clear what. This is a long tale that does not get near the important historical events of the time. There are too many people in it. The research which creates the atmosphere is clearly carefully done but the story is not clear until the reader gets beyond half way. I did not enjoy this book.

I really enjoyed this historical mystery, it was well written with characters that were well developed and likeable and a well executed storyline. It was twisty and mysterious and incredibly well researched. A really good read.

Contains spoilers in the last paragraph.

Although this is the second in the Daniel Pursglove series I hadn't read the first one, and didn't feel like I needed to. This book can be read very well as a standalone, so feel free to dive right in!

It's two years after the Gunpowder Plot to blow up Parliament. James I is still on the throne. There is a three-line whip for everyone to worship in Protestant churches, and Roman Catholics comply, or are executed. That doesn't stop Catholics from continuing to worship in secret with the help of priests trained abroad and smuggled into the country. In the former Battle Abbey, the formidable Lady Magdalen presides over a house full of Catholics priests and other Catholics who have sought sanctuary there. After the disappearance of one spy sent to expose the truth, Daniel Pursglove is sent to infiltrate and investigate.

I enjoyed this book from the get-go. Even though this was a period of history I knew little about, and there was a back-story I didn't know, KJ Maitland starts the book so well it didn't matter - I felt immediately at home with the characters and the historical era.

The book is pacy and exciting. Setting it during the Great Frost of 1607-1608 is a stroke of genius, as it adds a further layer of jeopardy. Bodies cannot be buried, footsteps show up in the ice, and all the occupants of the house are effectively trapped as few dare to venture out for fear of breaking a leg or freezing to death. It is within this stifling atmosphere that KJ Maitland weaves plots within plots. Her writing is atmospheric and wonderfully descriptive. There is often a lot of detail. But pay attention - there's usually a reason for that, as the story will reveal.

I was disappointed and a bit confused by the ending. How did Daniel escape the Abbey? How did he get to London in such weather? What was the meaning of the letter he received? (I wondered whether this letter might relate to the previous book). The ending is definitely setting us up for more! And I, for one, can't wait for the next instalment!

Combination historical novel and bone chilling thriller! Where can you go wrong? Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review. It was a good one!

It’s 1607 in Jacobean England and Daniel Pursglove has been set yet another almost impossible task - to get into Battle Abbey, home of the Montagues and to see if it really is a hotbed of intrigue. King James is on the throne and this makes the job even harder as everyone is an enemy until proved otherwise and strangers are especially distrusted. But Daniel has an incentive to do the task, either that or he ends up back in gaol.

This is the second in this series, and I’m glad I read the first one. Although it can be read on its own, it’s nice to have the background already to Daniels troubled life. You can tell that this has been well researched, and the fact that there are a lot of real people in it makes a really good read. The way that the lives of the fictional characters are worked into the lives of historical figures just flows really well. The sort of book you wish you’d read when trying to do history homework. At times I felt that there had been a couple of short cuts taken in getting Daniel out of certain parts, however, this didn’t put me off. A really good read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This was the first book by K.J.Maitland that I've read. I will note that the book reads like a standalone and I did not feel I had missed any key elements by not having read the first. Set in the early 1600s during the reign of King James IV and I of Scotland and England it explores the dangerous world of the remaining English Catholics. Considered traitors to the crown they were hunted down and rooted out, living in constant fear of discovery and death. The story was engrossing, deeply layered and complex. I admit at times I was confused by the plot and lots track of some bit players. I really enjoyed the mystery and the rich period details. It's a dark story and the author sets a moody atmosphere. I loved that it was set during an actual weather event. I swear I almost felt the cold! Looking forward to reading more from this author.
Thank you NetGalley and K.J. Maitland for allowing me to read and review.

Daniel Pursglove is back! And this time he is sent to infiltrate Battle Abbey and find proof of traitors to King James.

I thoroughly enjoyed the first in this series, so much so that I dived almost immediately into book 2. While it doesn't reach quite so high in my opinion, it is still a wonderfully well-executed historical mystery, and is evidently thoroughly researched.

This one has a large cast and a complex plot, so readers pay attention! But you will be rewarded by the end as everything ties together satisfyingly neatly.

I will eagerly await a third instalment!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Headline Review for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Daniel Pursgrove number 2.
3.5 rounded up.

'Hark, hark! The dogs do bark,
The beggars are coming to town:
Some in rags, some in jags,
And some in velvet gowns' - a rhyme that may well be heard on early 17th Century streets as resentment of James I's favourites grew,the current being Robert Carr. It's the Great Frost of 1607-8 and in Battle Abbey, Sussex, in the icy cold a man is attacked and left for dead This proves to be an agent of the King. On 5th November 1607 Daniel is trying to extricate himself from the crowds celebrating the Kings deliverance from the Gunpowder Plot a few years earlier. he's heading for Rotherhithe to meet kings man Charles FitzAlan. His new mission is to go to Battle to see what treachery lies therein, his role to go undercover to see if there's a conspiracy in the household of leading Papist Lady Magdalen, Viscountess Montague, can he outfox the vixen lady? Is the legendary and extremely elusive Spero Pettingar, 'The Devil', holed up there, a man who keeps cropping up but leaves no trace?

As with the first novel this book is meticulously researched with great attention to detail. In my opinion, there's too much detail, it overloads and distracts from a complex plot and causing you to 'take your eye off the ball'. It also means that it builds slowly as you wade through it all. However, what it does achieve is a colourful and genuine feeling of atmosphere and which allows you to easily picture scenes. It's especially good on superstitions and I like the inclusion of The Night Creeper. It's certainly a dramatic story, a dark tale of rebellion and treachery, menace, murder and betrayal, capturing all the tension of religious and other divisions which leads to genuine danger. A multitude of secrets are lurking at Battle which makes for intriguing reading, there are people masking their true selves making it hard for Daniel to ferret out the truth.

There are a lot of characters to keep track of, it helps somewhat to have read the first instalment. Daniel's character is very likeable. Lady Magdalen is also well done as is the portrayal of James I's court. The ending is a bit of a puzzler, I'm not sure what to make of it.

Although this is without doubt well written, with the tone and vivid language of the time spot on (I especially like 'addlepated clotpole'!) it's ultimately too long with what feels like everything but the kitchen sink thrown in. This is a good series but it needs to be pared down for much more exciting reading .

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Headline for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.