The Royal Secret cover art

The Royal Secret

James Marwood & Cat Lovett, Book 5

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The Royal Secret

By: Andrew Taylor
Narrated by: Leighton Pugh
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About this listen

From the No.1 bestselling author of The Last Protector and The Ashes of London comes the next book in the phenomenally successful series following James Marwood and Cat Lovett during the time of King Charles II.

Over 1 Million Andrew Taylor Novels Sold!A Times Best Paperback of 2022

Two young girls plot a murder by witchcraft. Soon afterwards a government clerk dies painfully in mysterious circumstances. His colleague James Marwood is asked to investigate – but the task brings unexpected dangers.

Meanwhile, architect Cat Hakesby is working for a merchant who lives on Slaughter Street, where the air smells of blood and a captive Barbary lion prowls the stables. Then a prestigious new commission arrives. Cat must design a Poultry House for the woman that the King loves most in all the world.

Unbeknownst to all, at the heart of this lies a royal secret so explosive that it could not only rip apart England but change the entire face of Europe…

©2021 Andrew Taylor (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers Limited Historical Mystery Royalty Thriller & Suspense Romance Fiction England Tudor

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Critic reviews

"A pleasure from start to finish." (The Spectator)
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Another fascinating plot weaving fact and fiction very subtly together. Narration makes these a joy to listen to, with distinctive voices and moods. This is a rare skill not often found in other narrators.

Great story and narration

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I devoured this in one day - everything about it is excellent.

The narration is superb. It's a series with complex and interesting characters. The period details seem excellent (though Kat is a potentially a little unlikely in the exact form of her very modern feminism, I'm sure many railed against the times). And the writing is excellent.

If you've followed the series before, you'll enjoy many familiar characters returning - and i think overall this book was better than the previous in the series. It's a while since i read that, but this has left a much better after taste. Strongly recommend the whole series if you're new to it

Really enjoyable

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Great story very well told. Fascinating history of a time of great change which is not so frequently explored. Highly recommended but start with book 1 to have the full benefit. Narrator does a great job.

Best of Series

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I have enjoyed all the books in this series and this book was no exception. Beautifully written and narrated , with characters you really care about. The historical detail is wonderful and fascinating, a true glimpse into the way both the rich and poor lived during the 17 Century. Of course the most important thing is that they are cracking stories !

Love this series !

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Andrews is great at setting the scene in medieval London and creating suspense and mystery.

A great read.

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Another great story, beautifully read. This story had me binge-listening, on the edge from start to finish, laughing and crying, not wanting it to end while dying to know what will happen next. Loved it!

Thrilling

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Leighton Pugh is brilliant. I wouldn’t have enjoyed these so much without him reading them

Excellent narration

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I really enjoyed this story between James Marwood and Kat Lovett/Hakesby. It was perhaps not as good or didn't enthrall/engage me as much as the previous stories but good none the less. I do like historical fiction & this period in time is very interesting. The narrator was excellent as ever.

Another enjoyable Marwood & Lovett/Hakesby story

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I was disappointed with the previous book in the series, but this was much improved. The story was a decent whodunnit, that immerses you in the period, and progresses the overall series arc nicely.
Pugh's narration is quite superb. His characterisations are excellent and really evoke a convincing historical atmosphere. A cracking performance.

Better story this time, with a stellar narrartion

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Such an entertaining series with the best of the best narrations. Really excellent, cannot recommend enough

Another great listen

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