Dorset, England, 1685. After a brutal Civil War, the country is divided, this time by religion, Catholics versus Protestants. When Charles II, a Protestant dies, his brother James succeeds the throne. People of England suffer, for James is interested in self-aggrandisement, not the views of his people.
When a dissident group of Protestants led by Charles’ illegitimate son, Lord Monmouth, incite a rebellion, the King seeks revenge and appoints Lord Chief Justice George Jeffreys to deliver punishment to the rebels. The trials are farcical and the punishment severe. They are later called The Bloody Assizes and Jeffreys, ‘The Hanging Judge’. There are thousands of people facing trial, and tens of thousands more who are outraged.
Walters not only reimagines the period through careful research, but she also has a keen understanding of human nature. The main protagonists are Elias, Duke of Granville, his mother, Lady Harrier and a young woman, Althea Ettrick, smart as a whip but locked away because of palsy. Elias, a master of disguise, is instrumental in saving the rebels and commuting their sentences to transportation to the West Indies. Lady Harrier is a strong character, who wins over the cantankerous Jeffreys with her wit.
The dialogue in The Players is clever. It keeps the story moving, shows us the complex characters and reveals the intrigue. Minette Walters is a gifted writer. She writes a well-crafted story and keeps us entertained throughout.
A must read for anyone who loves historical fiction.
Reviewed by Sue Stanbridge
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ABOUT THE AUTHORMinette Walters is one of the most successful crime fiction writers in the world. Published to critical acclaim in over 34 countries, each new novel reached the top of the Australian bestseller lists. Her last novel was The Chameleon’s Shadow in 2007.
The Last Hours sees Minette moving in an exciting new direction. She has written an extraordinary historical novel set in 1348, the year the Black Death came to England. The sequel The Turn of Midnight is published in 2018
Minette lives in Dorset with her husband.
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