The King's Players

A king approaches. A traitor's shadow lingers. And Suffolk Hall hides more than anyone dares to imagine.

One year ago, Edmund de la Pole, the traitorous Duke of Suffolk and Yorkist heir, vanished into exile, slipping through the fingers of King Henry VII and leaving chaos in his wake. His mistress disappeared with him, and not even her closest friend, Edda, a gifted seamstress, has heard a whisper of her fate.

Now, Edda works in uneasy silence at Suffolk Hall, stitching intricate loops into a costly new gown for Lady Keelyn, wife of Sir William de la Pole, the duke's younger brother. But tension crackles in the air, for word has arrived: King Henry VII is coming. No one knows why, but the town fears the worst... an arrest, a reckoning, perhaps even an execution.

Edda and her father, the local woodcarver, brace for what seems inevitable. Not even the gift of a finely carved throne may sway the king or his feared enforcer, Sir Thomas Lovell, known for rooting out treason with brutal efficiency. As whispers of rebellion stir and loyalty is tested, Prince Henry, the future Henry VIII, observes and learns from his father's iron rule.

Into this tense atmosphere arrives a struggling troupe of actors, hoping to gain royal favor before winter dooms them to poverty. Their playwright, Tristan, suspects the court hides more danger than opportunity, but knows failure could cost them their lives.

When the king's visit is marked by a shipwreck, a mysterious figure haunting the cemetery, and an attempted assassination, it becomes clear: Suffolk Hall is no ordinary estate. It holds secrets that could threaten the Tudor throne.

Rich in intrigue, suspense, and historical detail, this gripping installment in The Tudor Throne series is perfect for readers who love Tudor-era historical fiction, hidden plots, and the rising storm of Henry VIII's England.