The Midwife and the Assassin
A Midwife Mystery
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
A thrilling historical mystery set in the turbulent era of the English Civil War, where a former midwife turned spy must navigate a web of secrets and lies to uncover a killer bent on destroying England.
It's 1649, and three years have passed since midwife Bridget Hodgson and her deputy Martha Hawkins fled York for the safety of the countryside. But when a mysterious letter from London brings them to the capital, they are forced into service under Jonathan Marlowe, Oliver Cromwell's chief spymaster.
Marlowe's first mission for Bridget is to spy upon Katherine Chidley, a notorious political radical and potential rebel against Parliament. However, as Bridget spends more time with Katherine, the two grow closer. When Katherine's husband Daniel is murdered, Bridget and Martha join the search for the killer, uncovering Daniel's secrets and a growing list of suspects that includes royalists, radicals, and a mysterious figure from Bridget's past.
As the killer strikes again, Bridget and Martha realize he intends far more than mere murder, but to revive the civil wars or destroy England entirely. In this page-turning historical thriller, Bridget must navigate a treacherous landscape of political intrigue and personal betrayal to stop a killer and save a nation. Midwife and the Assassin is a gripping tale of secrets, lies, and the pursuit of justice in a divided land.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Midwife Bridget Hodgson has been leading a dull life on her estate in Hereford since the events of 2015's The Witch Hunter's Tale. Now in her excellent fourth outing, set in the late 1640s, Bridget receives a letter stating that Will, her beloved nephew, is being held prisoner in the Tower of London. Bridget rushes to Will's rescue, only to learn that his continued wellbeing hinges on her cooperation with Jonathan Marlowe, Oliver Cromwell's spymaster. Marlowe insists that Bridget move to London and set up trade in Cheapside so that she can infiltrate a group of revolutionaries known as the Levellers. Katherine Chidley, one of the Levellers' leaders, is also a midwife, and Marlowe believes that Bridget will be able to gain her confidence. The mission ends up involving multiple murder investigations, played out as Parliament decides the final fate of Charles I. Thomas expertly integrates the tumult of the time into a fair-play mystery.
