So lucky to get my hands on one of my most anticipated reads for this year. Sophia de Wolfe is a brilliant character, and her first full outing is such an exciting read, brilliantly plotted with twists and turns right up until its gripping end

Christmas season in 1598 Elizabethan England sees the Lord Chamberlains men remove the theatre from its location to remove it across the river. In one of the post holds the body of a young girl is found along with a note written in a cypher and a brooch.
The cypher was that that was used by Sophia DeWolfe, a wealthy widow who prior to her marriage to Humphrey DeWolfe, was a spy for Sir Francis Walsingham. As the cypher was unique to her Sir Robert Cecil calls upon her. Thus Sophia is soon immersed in solving a murder and saving herself.
Characters real and fictional make their appearance. Fortunately the historical personages do not feel slotted in but appear naturally in the narrative.
4.5* rounded up to 5*

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the ARC.

::|Traitor’s Legacy
By S.J Parris
Chapter Four Page 48
5.5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

{ Now, at twenty-four, she appears entirely at ease with her boyish manor. Sophia envies her this freedom to choose, but it's easier to get away with it if you work in the playhouse, as Jo does, where she is usually assigned to be one of the boy actors, though in fact she designs and sews costumes for the players. Not that her choice is without risk; there have been instances of girls from the Southwark bawdy house set in the pillory for dressing as boys at their clients’ request.
“Taking these to Blackfriars for a fitting.” Jo pats the bundle on the table.
“Ben says I can ride with him over the bridge as it's on your way, if Mistress de Wolfe doesn't mind? The boats are struggling to cross with the river half-frozen.”
“Are those for the Chamberlain's Men?” Sophia asks, trying not to betray too much interest.
“I'd have thought they'd be lying low after yesterday's escapade.”}

What a read! I was introduced to the de Wolfe family after a simmering introduction of mischief and murder, betrayal and consequence and intrigue and mystery, to set up this monster of creativity. I was enthralled and wanted to keep reading, no breaks, no distractions.
I instantly liked Sophia, I knew she would be a risk taker from the moment I learned of her techniques in fencing. That and her refusal to put on a skirt to keep up tradition. Why should she change?
Pretty quickly, we are introduced to Robert Cecil, and with important players, and with the storyline blurred from the start, it was so hard to predict what would happen next. Once I thought I had the storyline pretty much wrapped up, it would take a nose dive in a completely new and not yet explored direction.

It was an amazing read and I have a feeling I will need to read it again to take everything in, but I'm sure if I did, I would be seeing new things I never saw before, subtle hints and little clues. I loved the books, the characters, the twist and turns, and more importantly, the little details that made this book one of the best I have read.
It was hard to drag myself away from this book, I have to admit. Historical fiction always has me hooked. I felt the author had researched, perfected, and laid the scene, setting and characters out enough to offer a glimpse about what it was like in Elizebethan times. It's hard to have the concentration to pull off different characters steeped in history to twist it into something believable. From the poor and unlucky to the rich and the greedy, it is not easy to pull off such hard character in a male dominated world.

A huge thank you to S.J.Parris, Hemlock Press, HarperCollinsPublishers and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and relay my honest feedback. |::

🗝️Traitors Legacy - S J Parris 🗝️

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

ARC - Release date - 8th May 2025.

Blurb - When a young heiress is found murdered at the theatre, the Queen’s spymaster Robert Cecil calls upon former agent Sophia de Wolfe to investigate.

A cryptic note found on the dead girl’s body connects to Sophia’s previous life as a spy, and her quest soon takes her into dangerous waters. Powerful enemies emerge, among them the Earl of Essex: the Queen’s favourite courtier and a man of ruthless ambition.

This is a murder that reaches directly into the heart of the court. And Sophia is concealing a deep-buried secret of her own. She must uncover the truth before her past threatens to destroy her

My thoughts 💭- while I did enjoy this one I’ve struggled with it, I’ve found it a little heavy and had to really think to get my head around the characters and story. It’s a very detailed book and has alot of scene setting this may be why I’ve struggled. This is still a new genre for me historical thriller.

#arcreader #arcreview #netgalley

Set during the end of the reign of Elizebeth I, where women are treated as chattels and the poor have less protection under the law than the rich.. Sophia de Wolfe is drawn back into dangerous politics whilst trying to provethe innocence of Tobie an young actor.
He is accused of the murder of a young girl Agnes Lovell, murdered a few months before coming of age where she is set to inherit he father's estate..
Is Sophia's past connected with this tragic turn of events and just what is the interest of the Earl of Essex the queens favourite? Who really gains from the murder?.
Great crime mystery for anyone who enjoys crime novels mixed with political intrigue and an historical context thrown in.

Really enjoyable for pans of SW Perry, SG Maclean, KJ Maitland, Andrew Taylor and the like. The Giordano Bruno series has been on my TBR for years, so I came to this book having never met any of the characters. There was no expectation to know about Sophia’s history and I found the plot really engaging; it’ll be great now to see her crop up in Bruno books having encountered her alone first. Definitely not at the standard of CJ Sansom, but I don’t think it’s trying to be. A really enjoyable Tudor crime novel and the start of what should be a great series.

In S. J. Parris's 'Traitor's Legacy' the body of a young girl, Agnes Lovell, is found in the footings of a dismantled theatre. On her person is a note, written in a cypher used by Sophia de Wolfe during her service to Walsingham, spymaster to Queen Elizabeth I. As a result she is pulled into trying to uncover the murderer, and in doing so, finds herself embroiled in a plot that spans from Ireland to far closer to home.

This is a hugely enjoyable novel. Parris manages to write in a very evocative way, creating detailed pictures in the head of the reader. Sophia de Wolfe is a complex but likeable character and the plot development is excellently done. This was a book I looked forward to reading and I hope there are further de Wolfe novels as the setting, and interweaving with real life characters, made for a compelling read.

S. J. Parris’ Traitor’s Legacy is a compelling historical thriller set in England during a time of political uncertainty. In 1598, the country was on a knife edge, with Queen Elizabeth’s successor yet to be named, and the threat of unrest ever-present. When a young heiress is found murdered at the theatre, the Queen’s spymaster, Robert Cecil, calls upon former agent Sophia de Wolfe to investigate.

What follows is a gripping journey, as Sophia uncovers a cryptic note found on the victim’s body that connects directly to her past as a spy. The investigation quickly leads her into dangerous waters, as powerful enemies close in. Among these adversaries is the Earl of Essex, the Queen’s favourite courtier, whose ruthless ambition puts him at the heart of the intrigue.

Traitor’s Legacy is not just a murder mystery, but a tale that reaches into the very heart of the royal court, where betrayal and ambition are constant threats. As Sophia delves deeper into the investigation, she is forced to confront the secrets she has buried within herself—secrets that could destroy her if uncovered.

The novel beautifully blends historical events with real-life figures, including a few appearances from the legendary William Shakespeare. This fusion of fact and fiction adds an extra layer of richness to the story, making it even more immersive for fans of historical fiction.

Sophia de Wolfe is a strong and intriguing protagonist, and her quest for truth against the backdrop of Elizabethan England is both suspenseful and captivating. Parris does an exceptional job of weaving historical detail into the narrative, creating a vivid and authentic atmosphere that brings the period to life.

Traitor’s Legacy is a must-read for fans of historical fiction and anyone who enjoys a well-crafted mystery with a strong, complex heroine at its heart. I highly recommend this thrilling, page-turning book that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

Great historical thriller, highly recommended Thank you Net Gallery for the book. It was very enjoyable, very entertaining, I loved the characters. The only bad thing I have to say about this book is that it kept me reading way past midnight, I couldn't put it down! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Traitors Legacy by S.I Parris

Traitors Legacy , set in England at Christmas 1598. The body of a young girl is discovered in the remains of the The Theatre, the murderer witnessed by a lowly kitchen boy.
The victim is identified as a young heiress, and a coded message is found in her clothes, the Queen’s spymaster Robert Cecil calls upon former spy Sophia de Wolfe (neé Underhill) to investigate. The reason being, the message was coded in a cypher known only to her .
Another great book by the author and the first in the series of having Sophia de Wolfe as the protagonist.
I think I'm going to enjoy reading further titles if going by this one.

Another excellent novel by SJ Parris. I have read most of the books in her previous series about Giordarno Bruno and this new book based around a character previously featured in that series is just as good. The amount of research put into these novels shows as I can sense the fear and intrigue of the 16th century. I hope this will be the first book in a new series.

What a cracking good book. A new main character appears and we’ve still got all the fantastic writing and storytelling. Good to see a female lead character that is so strong and determined. So well written I actually felt cold when then characters are moving around in the snow! Hopefully, the start of a new series.

Sophia, a former spy, is forced to investigate the murder of a young girl found near a theatre. The action takes place in Elizabethan London, a very dangerous time for women and those falling foul of Elizabeth’s favourites, so Sophia is under constant threat. She also has secrets in her past that she doesn’t want exposed. A lot of the plot centres around the theatre and actors and the introduction of William Shakespeare as a minor character was interesting. This was a fast-paced thriller with a satisfyingly strong female lead. I look forward to the next in the series.

With thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for this review copy.

1598; London; the late spymaster Sir Francis Walsingham; his successor Robert Cecil and rich widow and spy Sophia de Wolfe - what more do you want? Recommended!
My thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for this arc in exchange for my honest and unbiased rview.

Traitor’s Legacy is intriguing, electric, twisty and powerful. Sophia is so fearless, brilliant and bold I loved reading her tale. Thank you so much to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this.

This is the first in a new series by S. J. Parris featuring Sophia de Wolfe a rich widow with an interesting past as a former spy for Sir Francis Walsingham. It’s Christmas 1698 and a body of a young girl is found together with a coded message using a cipher that was formerly known only to Sophia, and her former spymasters. When Robert Cecil the Queen’s new spymaster hears of this and knowing something of Sophia’s past he asks her to help with the investigation.
This is a superb tale of intrigue and mystery woven through the lives of real historical figures and is a joy to read.

Sophia De Wolf is a young woman living in Elizabethan London near the close of the Sixteenth Century. She has a past. A former spy for Walsingham, she is sought out by his successor Robert Cecil on the murder of a thirteen year old girl, the ward of the North household. It seems that a message left with the corpse is written in a cipher unique to Sophia. Who has left it? Why was it used? How can it be connected to Sophia?

The reader knows that Sophia De Wolf is actually Sophia Underhill, sometime ally, sometime lover, of Giordano Bruno, the hero of the author's other novels. Bruno makes no appearance here, but the new cast carry the plot superbly: Sophia herself, talented, determined, but impulsive; Anthony Munday, the playwrite, who loves her, and will do anything for her. Sophia must find the murderer because her son is accused of the crime. She also needs to solve the mystery of whoever knows her past.

Real characters mix with the fictional, a melange of the virtuous and the villainous, in a highly entertaining adventure - well worth reading. Observing everything is a crafter of drama, from Stratford, who ultimately makes use of his observations in some of his plays.

A detailed Historical Fiction read. It took me a while to get into it and get my head around the story and characters as I hadn't read any of the previous books. Great scene setting and attention to detail and I love the main female character for her confidence and gumption

"Elizabethan London, 1598. A frozen Thames, a kingdom on edge, and a young heiress found murdered with a cryptic note tucked into her clothes."

That’s how this book kicks off, and let me tell you, it’s a gripping dive into a world of spies, secrets, and shifting allegiances. Enter Sophia de Wolfe—once a spy, now a wealthy widow—who’s dragged back into the game when the Queen’s spymaster, Robert Cecil, demands her help. The coded message on the victim? It ties directly to Sophia’s past, and solving the murder might just mean saving herself.

I loved the rich historical details—London felt alive (and freezing!), and real historical figures pop up in ways that feel natural rather than forced. Sophia is sharp, layered, and more than capable of wielding both a blade and her wits, though I did find myself wishing she got to sleep or eat once in a while. The murder mystery itself plays second fiddle to the intrigue and setup for future books, but the mix of espionage, court politics, and the ever-present danger kept me hooked.

If you love historical thrillers with a smart, complex heroine and a touch of grit, this one’s worth picking up. It’s a strong start to what could be an addictive new series.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins Uk, Hemlock Press, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

Once again SJ Parris takes us back to the world of Elizabeth's spies. The year is 1598, the location is London and the cast includes the players of the two most famous acting companies, a scattering of nobility, catholic plotters, spies and a young heiress.

If you are familiar with the Giodarno Bruno series then you will find a number of familiar faces, so familiar in fact that I kept wondering when Bruno was going to make an appearance. He doesn't because this time our hero is a woman and one first met in the first Bruno book Heresy, Sophia.

The story centres around the death of a young girl, a wealthy heiress ward of a powerful family and niece of a notorious Catholic rebel. Sophia has to, under threat from the Queens secretary, uncover the truth of the girls murder and save an innocent boy from death.

This story is very much in a similar vein to the Bruno novels bringing to life the factions and intrigues which ran through Elizabeth's Court and all who came into contact with it. No-one is entirely who they seem. The advantage in having a female protagonist is that we get a glimpse into the worlds of the late sixteenth century women. Here they are seen, not romantically or as thoroughly oppressed pawns, but as dynamic humans playing their own games of power and politics. Parris manages to combine historical accuracy with a plot as twisting and turning as the roads of Elizabeth's capital.

I really enjoyed this novel and I hope it will be a start of a new series, but hopefully not at the expense of more Bruno books.