The Abbey Close
The Abbey Close by Steven Veerapen is a historical fiction novel published by Amazon Digital Services LLC on June 29, 2018. This edition spans 245 pages and is presented in English. Set in Paisley during 1542, the narrative follows Simon Danforth, a Catholic exile, as he grapples with his loyalties amidst the looming conflict between the armies of Henry VIII and James V. Drawn to a secretive Scottish Abbey by personal grief, Danforth becomes embroiled in the mystery surrounding a missing girl and the dark secrets that haunt the sacred site.
Readers will find a richly woven tale that explores themes of murder, madness, and desire against the backdrop of a nation at war. As Danforth partners with his colleague Arnaud Martin, they navigate the tense atmosphere of a community rife with suspicion. The story delves into the complexities of loyalty and the consequences of uncovering hidden truths, all while revealing the intricate dynamics of life in a tumultuous historical period. The Abbey Close marks the beginning of a new historical crime series featuring Simon Danforth, inviting readers into a world where some secrets may be better left buried.
Official synopsis Publisher
Paisley, 1542.
As the armies of Henry VIII and James V prepare for battle, Catholic exile Simon Danforth must decide his loyalties.
Cast out of England, he is drawn by private grief to a secretive Scottish Abbey, and the mystery of a missing girl who worked there.
Though Paisley and its Abbey refuse to give up their secrets, they do give up their dead.
In the tense and suspicious atmosphere of a nation at war, Danforth, in an uneasy alliance with his dogged colleague, Arnaud Martin, uncovers murder, madness, and sexual desire infecting the sacred house and its neighbouring town.
With the fate of his adoptive country hanging in the balance, does he dare to uncover the unimaginable truth?
Some secrets may be better left buried.
The Abbey Close is the first book in a new historical crime series, featuring Simon Danforth.
Recommended for fans of C.J. Sampson, S.J. Parris and Rory Clements.
“A superb, page-turning debut. The author balances gimlet-eyed research with narrative drive and clever reveals… Danforth is a strong yet torn central character… I look forward to reading the second book in the series.” Richard Foreman.
Steven Veerapen was born in Glasgow and raised in Paisley. Pursuing an interest in the sixteenth century, he was awarded a first-class Honours degree in English, focussing his dissertation on representations of Henry VIII’s six wives. He then received a Masters in Renaissance studies, and a Ph.D. investigating Elizabethan slander. The Abbey Close represents his first foray into fictional writing. Steven is fascinated by the glamour and ghastliness of life in the 1500s, and has a penchant for myths, mysteries and murders in an age in which the law was as slippery as those who defied it.
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