I’ve mentioned SJ Parris’ Bruno series before and I’m a big fan, Execution is the 6th in the series.
Bruno is back in London, the Catholics aided by the French and Spanish are plotting to restore the prisoner Mary to the throne in place of Elizabeth. Bruno has to insert himself into a ring of aristocratic plotters by pretending to be a Jesuit priest on a secret mission. Alongside the main plot, a young woman (an agent for Walsingham) has been murdered, has she been discovered as a spy or is there something else going on? Add in a cast of characters living in the slums and brothels of Southwark and you have very readable historical mystery.
But, and this is a big but, this series doesn’t seem to be going anywhere, the characters don’t seem to develop, every book has a catholic conspiracy of some sort and it is beginning to feel a bit samey. If you haven’t read any of the series yet, start at the beginning because they are really good, if you have read 1 to 5, you won’t miss much if you skip this one. I’m still looking forward to the next one!
3.5/5