Thoroughly enjoyed Traitor’s legacy. I’ve read most of S J Parris’ novels and this was as enjoyable as any. Full of secrets and twists the story unfolds from the mysterious death of a young girl found in a London street, and the boy accused of her murder. Would recommend to those who love tales set in Tudor times.

Rating: 3.8/5

Set at the very end of the 16th century under the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, "Traitor's Legacy" is the first book in a new series from S.J. Parris (a pseudonym for Stephanie Merritt). It features the leading protagonist, Sophia de Wolfe, an erstwhile spy with a somewhat spurious background, but who is now a wealthy widow.

I found the first half of the novel dragged a little a times, but this was essentially a consequence of the need for the author to establish the key characters, setting and background for this series opener. The pace is far more engaging in the second half of the story. There is quite an extensive cast list for the reader to cone to terms with, although S.J. Parris does mitigate this to a degree by including a helpful "Dramatis Personae" at the outset. The characters are well-depicted and engaging once the audience has had sufficient opportunity to get to know them and to understand how they interrelate. The setting, too, is well-drawn and paints a convincing backdrop of the period. This is aided by the inclusion of real historical figures from the era being written into the fictional narrative. The mystery hangs together nicely and the author makes good use of politicking and ulterior motives to add to the sense of intrigue.

Overall, there is plenty here to appeal to fans of the genre. Sophia de Wolfe makes for an effective central protagonist as a strong, capable female - though not without her flaws - operating in a world that is heavily dominated by powerful males with their own agendas. This opener successfully sets the scene for further outings by Mistress de Wolfe as the series develops.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.

This was a great historical book which really brought to life the era it was set in. Although things moved very slowly then in the book it doesn't get boring. I shall definitely look out for more from this author in the future. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Step aside Miss Marple! Here comes Sophia De Wolfe in 1598 - she rides, fences and solves clues in a heartbeat!

In December 1598 the Lord Chamberlain's men, a group of playwrights and actors, dismantle a theatre to rebuild it on the other side of the river following a dispute with the landlord. That night, two men visit the scene and leave the body of a well born lady in the foundation holes. Wrapped in a simple blanket and stripped of all jewellery, she is discovered by a street child known as Badger. The only trinket Badger finds is a small brooch bearing a coat of arms and a letter written in code. The body is later identified as that of Agnes Lovell - the ward of Sir Thomas North, a favourite of Queen Elizabeth I.

It isn't long before, Thomas Phellipes is approaching Sophia De Wolfe to come out of her retirement at the express request of Robert Cecil - the man who is investigating the murder. Sophia has multiple secrets that Cecil knows as she used to spy for Cecil's father - and he uses these secrets to force her into re-entering the spy game. Sophia sets about trying to find out why the cipher that was unique to her has been used in the coded letter and what links her dead husband has to the dead girl and her family.

What follows is a story that takes place over a two or three days as Sophia rides all over London trying to piece together the clues to the mystery. Witnesses and evidence seemingly fall into her lap as people just give her information when she talks to them. She spends large swathes of time galloping around London - sometimes with a bodyguard to keep her safe due to the threat against her, and sometimes not, almost like the bodyguard was forgotten about.

Minor characters die, or are threatened or treated with caution because Sophia can't work out who she can trust. Some of the events stretch believability to the limit. One character runs away and is discovered boarding one of the many trade ships leaving London within a matter of a couple of hours, and the sword fight/fencing episode at the end had me laughing out loud. The wrap up of the story happens far too quickly even though it is kind of obvious what has happened from pretty early on.

It's not a bad story - there is something in there that, with better handling, could have been a great story.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Fans of Parris’ previous Elizabethan novels featuring the spy Giordano Bruno will welcome this first in a new series where the protagonist is his former lover Sophia Underhill, now Sophia de Wolfe. When a young girl’s body is found at a theatre with a secret code on her used by Sophia in her days as a spy for Francis Walsingham Robert Cecil, the Queen’s first minister, asks Sophia to investigate. She discovers lies and secrets which lead her in various directions whilst she too has a secret which causes her heartache.
Parris is keen to show that Sophia, a rich widow, is a feminist of her time. Strong, brave and not afraid to treat men as equals, she faces threats and danger.
Factual characters such as Burbage and Shakespeare and members of the Queen’s court are woven into this tapestry of historical fiction which is an intriguing, dramatic murder mystery which I can highly recommend. I look forward to reading Sophia’s next adventures.

Thank you very much to the publishers for the ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for the arc of Traitor’s Legacy I totally loved it the historical fiction and the suspense I was hooked from the get go and it kept me going loved the plot and everything s j Parris has did again 5 star ⭐⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Formerly a spy for Francis Walsingham, Sophia De Wolfe has to bring all her skills into play to discover who murdered heiress Agnes Lovell.
Through the dark streets and alleyways of Elizabethan London, our plucky protagonist encounters plenty of men who would rather silence her than allow the truth to prevail
I loved this novel. There was enough intruige and suspense to keep me reading. I loved the idea of a female spy, especially in historical fiction which is one of my favourite genres.
I will leave my review on Goodreads, Bookmory and Storygraph now and on Amazon and Waterstones on publication day

A wonderfully written, historical mystery that has an array of fascinating characters who really drive this story forward.

i guess i am just tired of the Tudor times historical novels that proliferate! the characters form the opening are almost cartoonish - and the set up is so formulaic - but Parris knows what she's doing, and what her readers like - it just feels a bit tired for me. professional and well constructed despite my disaffection! I think her fans will really go for it.

This is a new series but the heroine, Sophia de Wolfe, we have met before as the beautiful spy and sometimes lover of Bruno in Parris' last series. During the final illness of Walsingham, the Queens spymaster, he arranges for her to marry a rich merchant widower, now passed on, and she is rich and independent. A young heiress is found dead in a public space and Cecil. the new spymaster, asks Sophia to be involved because a coded message in a cipher unique to Sophia was found with the body. There is plenty of intrigue and action laid onto accurate portrayal of the time, including the London theatre scene, with a cameo appearance by Shakespeare himself. I loved all of the Bruno series and this is equally good, I look forward to more.

An exciting and compelling thriller set in the first Elizabethan era, with a strong female protagonist in. Sophia de Wolfe - what’s not to like for fans of historical mysteries? The plot is complex, with a big cast of characters and it is easy to get a little lost at times with who is working for whom and with who the ‘goodies’ and ‘baddies’ are - there are plenty of both! While this could be a drawback of some writing, in this instance it added to the intrigue of the plot, as it gave a strong impression of the way life was lived long before the days of easy communication, well lit streets and well used thoroughfares., when factions and individuals were often plotting and scheming against each other and truth was not easily found. This was an atmospheric read and hopefully we will have more of Sophia de Wolfe’s detective skills and compassion soon.

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! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️