The Tudor Secret

November 8, 2010
In Gortner's latest riveting historical (after The Last Queen), the influential Dudley family sends orphan servant Brendan Prescott to serve their cruel son, Lord Robert, at King Edward's court, and the young man is soon caught up in intrigue, suspicion, and shifting loyalties. Young King Edward is under the thumb of the Dudleys, but illness is greatly affecting his influence. Then the lion-eyed Princess Elizabeth, whom the Dudleys view as a threat, arrives and Prescott becomes a spy for her protector, William Cecil. Deeper involvement in the conspiracies surrounding the throne makes Prescott increasingly uncertain of loyalties, including his own, and he begins to question his fate and identity. In Gortner's capable hands, Prescott is a believable and enjoyable hero, a man of strong loyalties but naïve enough to be exploited. And while the Dudleys are mostly broadly drawn villains, Robert has depth, and though readers familiar with the Tudor era will know the key players, they may be surprised by their depiction here. Gortner handles action with aplomb, adding a riveting, fast-paced thriller to the crowded genre of Tudor fiction.

Gortner's historical mystery is filled with the courtly intrigue that abounded during Edward VI's brief reign. Narrator Steve West is wonderfully sinister when giving voice to the obsequious noblemen whose shifting alliances stymie young Brendan Prescott. He's new to court and caught in something much bigger than he can imagine. West's work falters a bit when speaking for women and members of the lower class; in these instances his voice sounds a bit forced and unnatural. This is a minor complaint, however, since the majority of Gortner's characters are part of the nobility. In the end, THE TUDOR SECRET is a riveting mystery. J.L.K. (c) AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine