A papal decree. A queen condemned. A nation torn apart.
In 1570, Pope Pius V issued Regnans in Excelsis, excommunicating Elizabeth I and declaring her subjects free to overthrow—or assassinate—their heretic queen. What followed was three decades of conspiracy, persecution, and bloodshed that would reshape the relationship between church and state forever.
From the author of Bass Reeves: The Price of Justice comes an epic tale of power, faith, and impossible choices.
Elizabeth I faces threats from every direction: Catholic plots funded by Spanish gold, a rival queen imprisoned in her own kingdom, and zealots on both sides demanding blood. Her survival depends on men like Francis Walsingham, whose spy network uncovers treason in the shadows, and William Cecil, whose counsel guides her through diplomatic minefields.
But survival comes at a cost.
Heretic in a Crown goes beyond the mythology of Gloriana to reveal the woman beneath the crown—brilliant, ruthless, and haunted by the consequences of her choices. Through the eyes of queens and commoners, this novel explores what happens when faith becomes a weapon and mercy becomes a liability.
Featuring:
The dramatic events of the Armada summer of 1588The tragic imprisonment and execution of Mary, Queen of ScotsThe rise and fall of the Earl of EssexWalsingham’s legendary intelligence networkThe ordinary families caught between competing loyaltiesFor readers who love Hilary Mantel, Philippa Gregory, and Alison Weir—a meticulously researched historical epic that refuses to provide easy villains or simple heroes.
“This book refuses to provide villains. That statement may seem strange given its subject matter—the religious conflict that killed thousands, the executions, the torture, the families torn apart by competing loyalties. Surely someone must bear responsibility for such suffering? Many people do. But responsibility is not the same as villainy.” —From the Author’s Note
