England, 1685.
Decades after the end of the civil war, the country is once again divided when Charles II’s illegitimate son, the Protestant Duke of Monmouth, arrives in Dorset to incite rebellion against his Catholic uncle.
Armed only with pitchforks, Monmouth’s army is quickly defeated by King James II’s superior forces and charged with high treason. Those found guilty will be hanged, drawn and quartered.
As Dorset braces for carnage, the redoubtable Lady Jayne Harrier and her enigmatic son, assisted by the reclusive daughter of a local magistrate, contrive ways to save men from the gallows.
Compelling and powerful, The Players is a story of guile, deceit and compassion during the dark days of The Bloody Assizes. Secrets are kept and surprising friendships formed in a dangerous gamble to thwart a brutal king’s thirst for vengeance…
Available in Hardback and eBook on 2 January 2025.
Don’t be put off by the fact that this isn’t pure crime fiction. Minette Walters is a Queen to crime readers around this world, and The Players is a cracker of a read.
Ruth Wykes, Sisters In Crime Australia
Minette Walters has again crafted historical fiction which stands as both an accurate representation of a dark time in English history and romance infused with wit and intelligence.
An enjoyable novel on every level, and well recommended to all lovers of literate historical fiction.