* Book Spotlight *
The King’s Intelligencer
by Elizabeth St.John
London, 1674: When children’s bones are unexpectedly unearthed in the Tower of London, England’s most haunting mystery—the fate of the missing princes—is reignited.
Franny Apsley, trusted confidante to Charles II’s beloved niece and heir, Lady Mary Stuart, is caught up in the court’s excitement surrounding the find. Yet, as a dark family secret comes to light, Franny realises the truth behind the missing princes is far more complex—and dangerous—than anyone suspects. Recruited by her formidable cousin Nan Wilmot, Dowager Countess of Rochester, to discover the truth behind the bones, Franny is thrust into the shadowy world of intelligencers. But her quest is complicated by an attraction to the charismatic court artist Nicholas Jameson, a recent arrival from Paris who harbours secrets of his own.
Pursued by Nicholas, Franny searches for evidence hidden in secret family letters and paintings, and uncovers a startling diplomatic plot involving Lady Mary, which causes Franny to question her own judgment, threatens the throne, and sets England on a course for war. With only her courage and the guidance of an enigmatic spy within the royal household, Franny must decide how far she will go to expose the truth—and whether that truth will lead to England’s salvation or her own heartbreak.
In a glittering and debauched society where love is treacherous and loyalty masked, Franny must navigate a world where a woman’s voice is often silenced and confront the ultimate question: What is she willing to risk for the sake of her country, her happiness, and her family’s safety?
A captivating historical novel of conspiracy, passion, and courage, The King’s Intelligencer is one woman's quest for a truth that could change the fate of a nation. A companion to the critically acclaimed best-selling novels The Godmother’s Secret and The Lydiard Chronicles, The King’s Intelligencer weaves together beloved characters and actual events to bring a suspenseful mystery to life.
Praise for The King's Intelligencer:
"The King's Intelligencer ... is an exceptional work of scholarship. With its rich historical context and captivating emotional narrative, this book will keep you hooked until the early hours of the morning. This novel is undeniably successful and strongly recommended for fans of this era."
~ Yarde Reviews & Book Promotion, Book of the Year 2024
"From the first page, I was entranced. The descriptions of the debauchery at court are delightful and portray a realistic view of life in those days...a marriage meat market to strengthen political and trade alliances. Franny is sorely tempted in her search for the truth to protect both her family and the monarchy, yet she retains her morals and ethics, and the reader cannot help but fall in love with her. Elizabeth St.John is up there among the very best historical writers of today."
~ Readers’ Favorite
"The King’s Intelligencer offers a much more engaging and understandable portrayal than some of the nonfiction books on the subject I’ve encountered.
St. John handles complicated dynastic relations well, with terrific scene setting. What I found particularly intriguing is that these characters are members on St. John’s own family tree, the manor where many of the discoveries are made the seat of her own family."
~ Historical Novel Society
Lost and Found
The Mystery of the Missing Princes in the Tower, Part II
The Bones in the Tower – Did Charles II Bury the Truth?
In 1674, workmen digging by the Tower of London’s White Tower made a chilling discovery: two children’s skeletons, some say wrapped in velvet, just where Sir Thomas More had predicted they had been buried. The bones were hastily declared the remains of the Princes in the Tower—Edward V and his younger brother Richard—who had vanished nearly two centuries earlier. King Charles II ordered them reburied in Westminster Abbey, a solemn act meant to close a wound in England’s past.
But was it the truth—or clever statecraft?
For Charles, still fighting to steady his throne after civil war, rebellion, and plague, the discovery was suspiciously convenient. Declaring the bones to be the princes laid the blame squarely on Richard III, villain of Tudor propaganda, and reinforced the Stuart dynasty’s claim to legitimacy.
But what if the bones weren’t the princes at all? What if their fate was far more complex—and dangerous—than the history books admit?
This is the question I explore in my companion novels:
• The Godmother’s Secret takes you back to 1483, when the princes disappeared, to imagine the shocking truth of what really happened.
• The King’s Intelligencer picks up in 1674, when the bones are discovered, creating a tale of espionage and royal secrets that could shake the Stuart throne.
What readers are saying:
• “Elizabeth St.John gives voice to forgotten women, weaving a story as vivid as it is emotional.”
• “A richly imagined mystery that feels as if it could truly have happened.”
• “Once you start reading, you’ll be transported right into the Tower’s shadowed corridors.”
Two centuries apart, both stories entwine around the same mystery: what happened to the princes, whose bones were really buried in the Tower—and who stood to gain?
If you’ve ever wondered whether Charles II buried more than bones, join me in uncovering the secrets hidden in Westminster Abbey.
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Elizabeth St.John
Elizabeth St.John’s critically acclaimed historical fiction novels tell the stories of her ancestors: extraordinary women whose intriguing kinship with England's kings and queens brings an intimately unique perspective to Medieval, Tudor, and Stuart times.
Inspired by family archives and residences from Lydiard Park to the Tower of London, Elizabeth spends much of her time exploring ancestral portraits, diaries, and lost gardens. And encountering the occasional ghost. But that’s another story.
Living between California, England, and the past, Elizabeth is the International Ambassador for The Friends of Lydiard Park, an English charity dedicated to conserving and enhancing this beautiful centuries-old country house and park. As a curator for The Lydiard Archives, she is constantly looking for an undiscovered treasure to inspire her next novel.
Elizabeth's works include The Lydiard Chronicles, a trilogy set in 17th-century England during the Civil War, and The Godmother's Secret, which unravels the medieval mystery of the missing princes in the Tower of London. Her latest release, The King’s Intelligencer, follows Franny Apsley's perilous quest to uncover the truth behind the sudden discovery of the princes' bones. In Charles II's court of intrigue and deceit, Franny must decide what she’ll risk—for England’s salvation, her family's safety, and her own happiness.
Connect with Elizabeth:
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Elizabeth, I love your books on this intriguing subject of 'the princes in the tower', so well written, evocative and immersive. I was totally wrapped up in this period of history. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by, Julia. I agree with every word. These two books are beautiful. I'm glad you enjoyed them. x
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