Traitor’s Legacy: The latest gripping royal Tudor historical crime mystery thriller drama from the No.1 Sunday Times bestseller perfect for reading in 2026

THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER INTRODUCING AN INCREDIBLE NEW SERIES FROM THE NO.1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING MASTER OF HISTORICAL CRIME, S. J. PARRIS

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

'Sophia is a dazzling heroine, and the world of late Elizabethan England brimful of plot and conspiracy, is vividly and thrillingly brought to life' LAURA SHEPHERD-ROBINSON

'Right from the intriguing opening pages everything Parris layers into this Elizabethan crime drama screams bestselling series' OBSERVER

'A new historical crime from S. J. Parris is always cause for celebration but she really has excelled herself with Traitor's Legacy ' ANDREW TAYLOR

'A writer who repeatedly proves that she is one of the most stylish of historical crime practitioners' FINANCIAL TIMES

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

England, 1598. A COUNTRY ON A KNIFE EDGE

Queen Elizabeth is ageing, but her successor remains unnamed. Conspiracies, deception and betrayal lie around every corner.

A MURDERED HEIRESS

Undercover agent Sophia de Wolfe is thrust into this nest of vipers when she investigates the terrible murder of a young heiress at the theatre.

ENEMIES AT EVERY TURN

The killing reaches into the heart of the court, and Sophia soon makes powerful enemies. But she has a secret of her own.

Can she uncover the truth before her past destroys her?

READERS LOVE TRAITOR’S LEGACY … ‘Top class historical crime’ 5 STARS

‘Another fantastic historical thriller from master of the Elizabethan mystery’ 5 STARS

‘A straight 5* for me! A very compelling novel I highly recommend’ 5 STARS

‘The only bad thing I have to say about this book is that it kept me reading way past midnight’ 5 STARS

‘Sophia De Wolfe is a truly epic character’ 5 STARS

‘I had very high expectations for this novel. It is excellent. And the even better news it is that this is the first of a new series’ 5 STARS

‘The richly detailed Elizabethan setting and clever twists kept me hooked from start to finish’ 5 STARS

‘The murder mystery is layered with political intrigue, keeping you second-guessing every revelation’ 5 STARS

‘Excellently researched, great plot, beautiful execution. I love the combination of historical menace and a thriller’ 5 STARS

‘S. J. Parris does it again’ 5 STARS

‘I didn't know who to trust or who to believe the whole way along’ 5 STARS

‘Another glorious dive into the murky world of Elizabethan spies and lies’ 5 STARS

‘Loved every minute of this book. More please featuring Sophia!’ 5 STARS

‘I'm already looking forward to book two’ 5 STARS

‘Tense, well-paced, twists that feel real and it’s easy to become immersed in a different world’ 5 STARS

S. J. Parris's book 'Traitor’s Legacy' was a Sunday Times bestseller w/c 2025-05-12.