I love mysteries and historical books so this book was right up my street.

Set in Elizabethan times, the FMC Sophie was dragged back into her old world as a spy to try and solve a murder of a young heiress.

The book is full of intrigue, secrets, twists and turns which will keep you reading.

DNF 40%
I have read work by this author before and really enjoyed the books but I could not connect with the characters or location and time with this.
The story was quite long and convoluted and the pace was very slow, but that is just a personal view.

It’s been several years since Sophia de Wolfe was in the employ of Francis Walsingham, Queen Elizabeth’s spymaster. On her retirement from the trade, Walsingham had arranged a marriage for her which had turned out to be happy. But her husband has since died and she is a wealthy widow with time on her hands. She spends some of her time and money supporting The Lord Chamberlain’s Men, a theatre troupe famous for the plays of their resident playwright, William Shakespeare. But Sophia’s interest is one of the young boy actors, Tobie, who is her illegitimate son though he doesn’t know it. Walsingham is also now dead, so Sophia is surprised to be summoned by his successor, Sir Robert Cecil. He tells her that the body of a young girl has been found, murdered, and she had a note on her body which was written in the cipher that used to be exclusively used by Sophia in her spying days. He sets her the task of finding out who could have got hold of the cipher but the investigation soon becomes more personal when young Tobie is arrested on suspicion of the murder. Now Sophia must find the real murderer to save her son…

I’ve popped in and out of Parris’ Giordano Bruno series over the years, in which Sophia occasionally appeared (as Sophia Underhill), but I’ve not been consistent enough to know her full back story. However, on the whole I found this one, which is being billed as the first in a new series, stands on its own merits – only occasionally did I feel I wanted to know more, like about who her lover and Tobie’s father had been. I had often wondered what Parris would do when she reached the time when Bruno was executed in real life. Being true to history is always one of her strengths, so I assumed she wouldn’t keep him alive. Transferring over to Sophia is a good idea, giving a sense of continuity to existing fans while allowing new fans to jump aboard. It also allows her to create an enjoyable new set of who will doubtless be recurring characters in future novels – Tobie, the Chamberlain’s Men, Sophia’s household staff, and another playwright, also a real person, Anthony Munday, who is in love with Sophia.

The plot in this one is very strong, and not bogged down in famous events of the time, which has sometimes been a weakness of her books in the past for me. The victim is a thirteen-year-old girl, Agnes Lovell, the orphaned ward of Sir Thomas North. Sir Thomas planned to marry her to his son as soon as she reached her majority, which would have been on her fourteenth birthday, so that the family could retain her valuable inheritance. But Agnes had fallen in love, Juliet-style, with young Tobie, a willing Romeo. As Sophia begins to delve into the mystery, she uncovers various possible suspects and motives for the murder, some of them leading all the way to the highest in the land. Justice in Elizabethan England works differently for those in high places and Sophia knows that she can’t make accusations that are more likely to lead to her own incarceration than Tobie’s freedom.

The book is peppered with real people, like Cecil, the Earl of Essex, Shakespeare, etc. Again one of the weaknesses of her previous series for me was that her main character was a real well-documented person from history, and I felt she sometimes strayed too far from his life and probable character to keep it credible. (This was a minority view – the books are highly popular with a loyal following, so I accept that my opinion is entirely subjective.) In this one, however, Sophia is fully fictional, while all the real people play more minor, secondary roles. This works much better, I feel, and gives her more scope to be inventive, which she takes advantage of here to the full.

I found it a slow starter which is fairly common in the first of a new series, when all the new characters and their connections have to be laid out before the main story can get going. But once it got into the plot properly, I found it increasingly gripping. Parris doesn’t have her characters speak in faux Elizabethan English thankfully, but nor does she make them overly anachronistic. Sophia is undoubtedly a strong woman with a will of her own, but she does stick more or less to the conventions of her time, and she doesn’t battle the bad guys all on her own. She does object to the subordinate position of girls and women, especially with regards to them being bought and sold in the marriage mart, but she accepts that it is as it is – she’s not a secret suffragette, though she would probably like to be.

I thoroughly enjoyed this one. The new characters all have plenty of room for development and are a likeable group, and Sophia herself has matured into a more believable character than I remember from her earlier outings. I’m very much looking forward to reading about her future adventures as the world moves towards the end of the Tudor era and into the Stuarts.

Having been some time since I read the author's previous series, it did take me a while to recognise the character of Sophia Underhill and her significance to Giordano Bruno. This Easter egg for me however, elevated the rating to a definite five stars. Even without the previous insight, the story is fast paced, intriguing, and wholly plausible. The main characters are sympathetic and well rounded, although I look forward to learning more about the steward Hillary, and suspect (hope) we may do so in future instalments.
The first half of the book did seem to have a lot of riding to and fro', with little gained, but the mystery and peril definitely ramps up in the second half, leading to an exciting climax and satisfactory ending. I am already looking forward to book two, and will probably revisit GB novels while I wait.

I like reading books set on Tudor times and this author was new to me. I didn't realise that, even though is the first on a new series, it is related to another series. I wanted to like this a lot but it was too repetitive for me and very slow.

Derring-do and skullduggery – oh, that history in school had been as exciting – with fine, fine writing and intriguing characters thrown in, make for a truly engaging and zippy read. The weaving of fact and fiction in an Elizabethan setting, murder, spies abounding, splendid sword fights, not to mention the excellent dialogue, ensure time is well spent in reading Traitor’s Legacy, the first in a new series from S.J. Parris.

I found the first part of the book was slow going but as the book went it got a bit better.

Sofia ends up investigating the death of a young girl. A boy of 15 is accused of the murder of the girl. We see the things that Sofia goes through and the dangers that she finds herself in. She has people helping her investigate the death. Will she find the culprit or will the boy stay in prison only time will tell.

I was looking forward to reading the book but as I say it was a slow burner and got a bit more exciting as the book went on. I liked the characters and they all worked well together.

Sophia de Wolfe is a rich widow who used to be a spy and now her past is catching up with her. The body of a young heiress has been found and pinned to her is a note written in a cipher that identifies Sophia, in addition the person accused of murder is Sophia's secret son. In the depths of winter London is not a safe place to be and Sophia must save her son.
Parris' previous novels have featured Giordano Bruno, a real-life individual given fictional stories. Now a character from those books, Sophia Underhill, is brought to the fore and the timeframe shifted to the end of Elizabeth's reign. The knowledge of London in the very late 16th century is excellent and there are some wonderful characters evoked, as well as known personae. I loved the plot, clever and complicated but simple enough in motive, but I really loved the little touches especially the appearance of William Shakespeare and the hints at him using actions in this plot as inspiration.

This is an author whom I have been wanting to read for quite a while now. This seemed to be the perfect time, as Traitor's Legacy is the first book in a new series. The main character is Sofia de Wolfe, and her story is beginning to emerge, but I am sure there is more to come!

Sofia has had a mixed past. She is recently widowed and has been called back into service for Robert Cecil. She had worked for Lord Walsingham, and Cecil is aware of her skill set. The era is that of Elizabeth I. Walsingham was a spymaster to the Queen.

The case is that of a young woman found dead, the culprit is thought to be a young man who is an actor. As Sofia is a supporter of the p[layers she is asked to help, but there is a lot more at stake here than that of a murdered woman and a man held in prison.

The setting and era of this story are great, and there is so much detail that has been included about the politics, society and living conditions. The research that has gone into this is very good, and while there is a lot of detail, it is blended in with the story. The mystery of the murder takes the plot into darker and more dangerous areas for Sofia and also those who are helping her. Working in secrets, lies, and manipulation leaves Sofia unsure who to trust. While she may have status, she has not had the standing she once may have had since the death of her husband. There is a very good amount of backstory to Sofia's character, and as I mentioned earlier, I do feel there is a lot more to come.

If you are a fan of historical fiction set during the Elizabethan period that involves known figures of the time, playwrights, murders and a whole lot of scandal and mystery, then this is a series that you may find interesting. I really enjoyed it and I would be happy to recommend it.

This is a multilayered historical fiction. Set in England, 1598. Author takes us back to the Late Elizabethan England. The world that is filled with mysteries, conspiracies, secrets, lies and history. The book is so compelling and well researched. Character development is good. Sophia’s character is phenomenal. Sophia was called to investigate the case of the young heiress but the mystery gets deeper when she finds a cryptic note and it opens the window to her past life. Now she is on a quest to find out the truth and unveil secrets from both past and present.

Thanks to the Publisher.

For fans of historical fiction, this hits the mark. Sophia de Wolfe is a strong, determined woman and not about to keep quiet as women of her time were expected to. When the murder of a young woman is found in a theatre linked to individual s dear to her, Sophia begins to investigate. Her past life makes her ideal for the task, and brings her back into the world of the Elizabethan spymasters. Can she uncover the truth behind the murder?

I enjoyed the depiction of life in Elizabethan times. It was beautifully done and brought me into a time and place where women were mere chattels and not expected to have minds of their own. I also enjoyed the historical detail of the political and military intrigues of the time. The use of real people as characters added to the story.

A great read, with the promise of more to come.

Traitors Legacy is the first book in a new series by SJ Parris, which is centered around a character from her famous Giordano Bruno series, Sophia De Wolfe.

This Elizabethan mystery sees Sophia, a former spy, investigate the death of a young woman who is found with a letter written in Sophia's old spy cipher. As she pursues the truth, she finds herself entangled in a web of political intrigue.

This entertaining historical fiction mystery is well written and well researched. Famous historical characters such as Robert Cecil, the Earl of Essex, and even William Shakespeare make an appearance. An interesting start to a new series.

A recommended read for fans of historical fiction series with murder and intrigue.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you, Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction | HarperVoyager , for providing an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

S. J. Parris is a new author for me. Therefore, I did not have any particular expectations when it came to this book. The premises looked intrueging and it has been a while since I have read a good thriller.

England 1598. Queen Elizabeth’s successor remains unnamed. The country teeters on a knife-edge.
When a young girl is found murdered at the theatre, the Queen’s spymaster, Robert Cecil, calls upon former agent Sophia de Wolfe to investigate. A cryptic note on the girl's body points to Sophia's previous life as a spy. As powerful enemies emerge and her secrets are on the verge of being uncovered, Sophia must uncover the truth before her past threatens to destroy her.

The first 100 pages dragged a bit for me—lots of setup, not much momentum. I get that laying the groundwork is important, but I found it hard to stay engaged early on. That said, I’m glad I stuck with it because the second half really took off. The pacing picked up, the stakes grew, and the secrets started unraveling in such a satisfying way. The twists were well-timed, and each reveal added a new layer that kept me turning the pages. By the time I reached the final chapters, I was fully invested. The ending was a bit open when it comes to Sophia's background story—which makes sense, since this is the first in a series. There are still unanswered questions and unresolved threads that I’m sure will carry into the next book.
If you’re someone who doesn’t mind a slow burn with a strong payoff, this one might be right up your alley.

Traitor's Legacy by S. J. Parris is an immensely enjoyable mystery that kept me on edge to the very end.

Set in 1598, when England is at war in Ireland and fearing an invasion from the Catholic enemies in Europe, the body of a child is discovered where a theatre used to be located. Sophia de Wolfe, a wealthy widow and patron of the theatre is moved to discover who could be responsible for such a cruel act.

This story is cleverly written with the narrative switching between Sophia and Anthony Munday who writes plays for the theatre group as they try to figure out who killed young Agnes.

This is a sweeping story encompassing generations of privileged households with a strong female lead character who deals fearlessly with her rivals having previously worked for the Queen's intelligence department.

I will certainly be looking out for the next one in this new series as this opener was excellent.

The first in a new series centered around Sophia de Wolfe, a character first introduced in the authors previous series of books. Set in London in 1598, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth. Sophia is a wealthy widow and was previously a spy for the queen’s spymaster Francis Walsingham, who has been dead for 10 years. This is so well written and the author has clearly done a great deal of detailed research, and it shows.

Briefly, a young girl, the ward of the North family and a wealthy heiress, is found dead in a ditch where a playhouse had previously been located. There is a note on her body written in a cypher, previously used by Sophia, and Walsingham’s successor Robert Cecil calls on Sophia asking her to see what she can find out. But matters soon take a more serious turn for Sophia when a 15 boy Tobie is arrested for murder; Sophia is distraught and determines to prove the boys innocence.

Sophia is a great character, clever, strong and feisty, but she does rather jump in with both feet, risking her life, and others unnecessarily. She is terribly headstrong and does need to rein it in a bit. The plot is excellent with a few red herrings, and twists and turns, that make it difficult to work out who the killer was. The vivid descriptions of life in Elizabethan England, particularly the disparity between the rights and treatment of the wealthy and the poor. A fascinating and entertaining historical story and I’m very much looking forward to book 2.

What an incredible introduction to Sophia de Wolfe!

A former spy agent in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, Sophia is implicated in the murder of a young ward being looked after by a very prominent family.

Mistress de Wolfe is tasked by her former boss to investigate the case further due to the use of her old cypher in a message. She also has a unique relationship with the young man accused of the murder which fuels her desire to weed out the truth and ensure that justice is served.

With espionage; deception and misdirection abound, Traitor's Legacy is an intricate web that takes time to unravel. It's definitely worth a read if historical fiction crossed with a crime thriller is up your street.

This was an engrossing read. It had very interesting characters and a murder to solve. Sophia de Wolfe was the main character, she had previously been a spy for the Crown. Now she was a wealthy widow, and was being involved in solving a crime. There are a number of possible suspects but Sophia is determined to find out the truth, even though this brings danger to herself. I did like that real events and people of the time were involved in the story. It was certainly a grim time to be poor and this was portrayed in the book, the scene was definitely set. This is the first in a series and if they are all as good as this one, I will look forward to reading them. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

S J Parris is perhaps best known for her bestselling historical fiction series featuring the Italian philosopher Giordano Bruno. Traitor’s Legacy marks the start of a new series centred around Sophia de Wolfe, a character who will be familiar to readers of the author’s earlier series.

London 1598. Francis Walsingham is eight years dead and Sophia de Wolfe is living the life of a wealthy widow. However, when a young girl is found dead carrying a copy of de Wolfe’s old cypher, Spymaster Robert Cecil calls upon her to investigate.

I enjoyed this book. Sophia makes for an interesting and well rounded character with plenty of layers to unpick in future instalments of the series. The plot is strong, with enough twists and turns to hold the readers interest throughout and the setting is convincingly written. This isn’t a perfect book – I found the ending a little abrupt – but that is my one and only quibble

Perfect for fans of well-written historical fiction. Recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers, Hemlock Press, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sophia De Wolfe is a former spy during Elizabethan England, now a respectable merchant's widow. When a body of a young girl, a wealthy heiress and ward of a prominent family is found in a ditch by the theatre with a note written in a code specific to Sophia, she is drawn into the investigation to find her killer, which soon becomes a dangerous mission.

I've never read anything by SJ Parris previously, and was excited to see that this as the start of a new series. I had no idea that this is in fact a spin off of the Giordano Bruno series by the author.

As soon as I read the blurb for Traitor's Legacy I knew this was right up my street and I wasn't disappointed. It was written so well I had no idea it was a follow on from a previous series and fell straight into the world with no problems. Sophia is an excellent strong female character who it was easy to share frustrations with. Constantly being told to know her place and to be more discreet etc. Well to them I say "well behaved women seldom make history". Strong female characters, detective fiction, mystery, thrillers and intrigue are some of my absolute favourite tropes and this absolutely nailed it.

There was much to love about this novel; the rich tapestry of characters, the many twists and turns, the historical setting and even an appearance or two by William Shakespeare. It was so compelling I could hardly put it down.

I give this a very well deserved 5/5 stars.

I can hardly wait for book 2 to come out, but in the meantime, I am most definitely looking forward to catching up on Parris' back catalogue!

Definitely pick this one up!

This is a compelling read. The atmosphere of intrigue and fear is wonderful and kept me gripped throughout. Sophia is a fascinating main character. The historical detail is excellent, I felt fully immersed in the sixteenth century. I have enjoyed all the books in this series, but this could be read as a stand alone. I hope there are many more to come in this series.