It's 1578, and Elizabeth of England's enemies are plotting. Her spymaster, Francis Walsingham, recruits an unwilling agent, the physician and astrologer William Constable, to help umravel one plot.

It's dangerous work, mmade more so because Constable, as an astrologer, has a connection to the famous John Dee. Which makes him suspect, too. And religion is of course another layer of intrigue: Constable is to assist the Puritan John Foxe (of Book of Martyrs fame) in discovering the secrets hidden in an astrological chart and a coded message which unveil a Catholic plot - to reveal that the Queen has had a child, now hidden away secretly.

All of which is just the beginning of the twists and surprises in this fast-paced book which I raced through. There are likeable characters, villainous villains and plenty of period detail.

This book is one of those that were waiting patiently on my virtual shelf while I read easier and quicker books. I finally got around to it and liked what I got.
This is a historical fiction based in 1578 and is very immersive. It gives a full breadth of information, sights and smells to go with the actual political plot at the centre of it all. We have William Constable, a man of considerable skills and a reasonably humble attitude( for a man of his talents). This industrious lead protagonist had been called to give his opinions on a secret discovery. This secret has many tendrils that reach out in all directions linking back to many things in his daily life and that of others.
Due to the time, social constraints, and the language used, the going was slow initially. Once we get to the actual central plot being enacted and the clues are decoded, the book picks up speed. The end result is not exactly a surprise since we see the investigation taking place, but it qualifies as a good political adventure.
I personally might not pick up the next book in the series, but I recommend it to those who enjoy historical fiction of this kind and having a working understanding of British politics of the time will definitely be a bonus.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

William Constable is summoned to Whitehall in the middle of the night by Sir Francis Walsingham, Elizabeth I’s spymaster. He is unaware why he has been requested but on his way into the palace he spots a row of dead bodies, one of them an old acquaintance and William starts to fear the worst. At his meeting with Walsingham, he is introduced to John Foxe, a renowned Puritan and they are asked to unravel a cyphered message and astrological chart. On doing so they discover a plot to discredit the queen involving the birth of an illegitimate child and through some of his own discreet enquiries, he is drawn to the daughter of Sir George Morton, an old friend of the family. Soon William and his loved ones are in danger from the conspirators so he needs to find answers and fast.

This is a well researched and well written book that the writer should be incredibly proud of. In William Constable, Paul Walker has created an astute, compassionate and intelligent hero who isn’t typical in his thinking for the Tudor era. I look forward to reading the next instalment.

Many thanks to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for providing a digital copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

Ein kurzes sehr unterhaltsames Buch.
Ich mochte, dass die Frau des Protagonisten einfach um Längen schlauer, als ihr Mann ist.

This was a very interesting book, set in Tudor times. William Constable is a fascinating character, a medic and man of science, who is drawn into a conspiracy against the Queen. Normally I am not keen when fictional books include real people, such as Sir Francis Walsingham and John Foxe, but this is handled in an expert manner which really works.

Constable is an endearing character, and the historical setting is very accurate.

Overall a great read, good plot, believable characters and great entertainment.

Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Although this is the first book in the William Constable series I didn't know that when I read the second book, A necessary killing, so I read the books out of order.
While I gave the second book the benefit of the doubt and a 3,5 star rating because of it's slow start I'm less impressed with State of Treason. I found the pace of the book slow, the plot at times confusing and not very interesting, and I just didn't really get into the story. I kept struggling to finish it. Furthermore, I found the language a bit stilted, which didn't contribute to my enjoyment of the book. Maybe the William Constable series just isn't my thing, because I've seen enough enthusiastic reviews.

I'll round up the 2,5 stars to 3.
I want to thank Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A compelling spy mystery set in Elizabethan England. The Spy master, love interest, philosophical discussions, it has it all. The streets of London are vividly bought to life.

Rating: 3.5 stars rounded down to 3 stars

This is an interesting start to a new historical mystery series. The author, Paul Walker, introduces us to our hero, William Constable. It is 1578 London, and Constable is a bit of a jack-of-all-trades. He is a physician, and astrologer, and a nautical engineer. He unexpectedly receives a summons from Queen Elizabeth’s spymaster, Francis Walshingham. He is asked to collaborate with John Foxe to quash a rumor that Queen Elizabeth had a child out of wedlock when she was younger.

The author is obviously a good student of the Elizabethan era. The setting and descriptions of London, its environs and the political atmosphere at that time were accurately portrayed. It is a time of constant rumors and plots to bring down Elizabeth and restore a Catholic royal to the throne. Constable and John Foxe, the author of ‘The Book of Martyrs’ fame are paired together to solve this mystery. Together they are supposed to decipher a coded message and help track down who is heading the possible plot to take down Queen Elizabeth.

I found this book to be engaging, and historically accurate. It dragged a bit as the plot was being set up. There was quite a bit of description of the location, physical living conditions and the political times. I liked William Constable. He was certainly a Renaissance man, and perhaps the breadth of all of his accomplishments were a bit hard for me to swallow.

There is action, and intrigue and a mystery to solve. It is a good start to a series that I think holds great promise. This would be especially good for readers who like Elizabethan era books, and historical mysteries. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

‘Thank-You’ to NetGalley; the publisher, Books Go Social; and the author, Paul Walker for providing a free e-ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love historical fiction and this is one of my favorite times periods, I found the book interesting and well thought out

Brilliant historical fiction and excellently written. The characters in this book were all very interesting and made me want to know more and more about them but also the time period fascinates me so was something I really recommend if you like history and monarchy reads.

The State of Treason by Paul Walker presents an intrigued description of the political, cultural and social environment that surrounded the Queen Elizabeth I time period. The author achieved the ability to create a storyline within one of the most interesting times in British History. I appreciated the manner in which the author described the different characters, for example, Dr Dee, Sir Francis Walsingham and William Constable.

I particularly enjoyed the book because of the insightful events created and the ability to keep the reader from wondering what may happen next. The book presents a well-written approach and ability to provide an insight into various questions identified by academia over the past years.

The book presents a well-edited approach with the ability to read with ease and appreciate the different events or characters described in the reading material. I recommend this book to any person who enjoys reading about the Elizabethan age and the different events, theories and complexities embedded in the times.

A very good first novel in the William Constable Spy series. Thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for a free copy of this book in return for an honest review. A very interesting book that takes us back to medieval England during the Reign of Elizabeth and a potential plot to try and overthrow the monarchy. Out of nowhere William Constable, an astrologer and physician, is brought in to decipher a code found in and on and box taken from a Papist enemy of England. He is also thrust into dealing with a strict Calvinist theologian, and many others as they attempt to uncover the entire plot and figure out who is behind this. In addition, Constable is an inventor and is in the process of making a new device to help ships at sea and there is intrigue in that situation as well. Well paced, very readable and filled with characters I enjoy and others who are easy to dislike. This is a good first novel with the only drawback, for me, being that I found it easy to figure out the plotters, but even with that knowledge the book is a very good read and certainly one I can recommend. The 2nd book in the series is also in my Kindle and will be one of the next books I read. A job well done by Paul Walker!

Walker’s first William Constable book is a compelling Elizabethan mystery novel, featuring an unusual MC – a man driven by intellect and kindness rather than plain ambition or some rougher motive. A physician with an interest in astronomy, Constable is drawn in to an undertaking by Francis Walsingham to uncover a possible papist plot. This is fast paced but clever with plenty of pleasing historical detail and a compelling plot. Constable is a very likeable character while still being appropriate to his time. Thoroughly enjoyed this tightly woven and gripping historical novel.

Well-written, intriguing and compelling story of Elizabethan England. Politics and intrigue abound as do occasional murders not to forget the highly evocative sights and smells of 16th century dockland and Court of London. I love the language and the characters - they seem so of their time and it's clear that the author has done a great deal of research about the period (or has a time machine). Our hero, William Constable, is a young physician, astrologer and scientist brought to offices of the dreaded Sir Francis Walsingham where he is required to work with John Foxe on deciphering a star chart purportedly relating to, maybe, an illegitimate child of the Queen, He becomes a somewhat reluctant and nervous 'intelligencer'. Sub plots deal with William's mathematical interest and development of a scientific instrument to more easily measure latitude whilst at sea, with potential threats from Catholics either abroad or deep within the London underworld (or Courts). At the personal level he has his ailing mother living with him (I love the role of prunes here!) and soon brings John Foxe into his household whilst developing a fondness for the presumed daughter of the man interested in the latitude device. All are cleverly woven together in a story that keeps you reading on and on, Whilst the end is an end there is plenty of scope for the next instalment to which I look forward. Thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

“The thought that our Queen may have hidden a child is disturbing and I understand why enemies of our state would wish to spread such ideas...”

William Constable, a physician and astrologer, finds himself summoned by Sir Francis Walsingham. Walsingham enlists Constable to work with the renowned author of the Book of Martyrs, John Foxe. Their aim is to discover the meaning of a star chart discovered in an ornately decorated box. Working together they uncover a claim that Queen Elizabeth has a illegitimate child who the conspirators claim will be disclosed to all creating rebellion.

State of Treason is a fantastic historical fiction mystery. I look forward to reading more adventures of Constable and really hope Foxe is in any further books.

Many thanks to Paul Walker, BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for an arc in exchange for my honest opinion

#StateofTreason #NetGalley

1578. Doctor William Constable, physician and an astrologer, is ordered to a meeting with Sir Francis Walsingha,. Walsingham is the Queen Elizabeth I's spymaster. Here he is told that he will help John Foxe is solving the puzzle of a cabinet containing an astrological chart and coded message. Leading to the Astrological Conspiracy.
An interesting and enjoyable historical Tudor thriller, with its well-drawn characters. A very good start to the series which kept my interest right to the end.

*Many thanks to paul Walker, BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for arc in exchange for my honest opinion.*
A satisfying read set in the Tudor period, with a range of characters that are well-developed. The central plot evolves around a rumour which circulated during the reign of Elizabeth I concerning her alleged child whose very existence might generate turmoil and upheaval in the kingdom. Sir Francis Walsingham acquires the services by William Constable, a doctor with interests in astrology and navigation, to work together with John Foxe, the author of The Book of Martyrs, and try to solve the secret of a mysterious box. Papist plots are a real threat and the queen's spymaster is determined to uncover them.
William Constable is a fictional character but there is a plethora of historic figures with whom William gets acquainted. The historical background is well-researched and this novel is a good choice for HF fans.

Sixteenth Century England comes to life with this wonderfully engrossing tale of a doctor called upon by Sir Francis Walsingham, Elizabeth's spymaster, for assistance in uncovering a complicated conspiracy against the Queen. He must decipher coded messages hidden within a strange box, working with another man. Real figures from history are portrayed believably in a narrative by the doctor, William Constable. They include Puritan John Foxe and Doctor Dee, Elizabeth's favored astrologer.

I look forward to reading the next William Constable installment.

Net Galley copy granted, but it is available now on amazon as Kindle Unlimited or 3.99

State of Treason is a satisfying historical mystery with a kindness at its heart that is rare in this genre. The central character, astrologer/physician William Constable, finds himself part of a team led by Francis Walsingham that is racing to end a Catholic plot to destabilize Elizabeth I's England. The central mystery is satisfyingly complex, but what really pleases is Constable himself. He is unfailingly kind to hid invalid mother and, over the course of the novel, offers refuge to other characters whose health and/or safety are at risk. He is the opposite of the usual macho hero, yet manages to be a hero nonetheless.

I highly recommend this book for mystery lovers, fans of Tudor-focused fiction, and anyone who can appreciate a portrait of a genuinely kind and gentle man.

A very masterfully written novel. The language is created so arfully that one can feel the draft of the stone palace corridors and smell the candle fires of the times of Elizabeth I.
State of Treason is a mystery, suspense, political and historical drama all wrapped into one. A scholar is called to the Whitehall in the middle of the night. Is he called not to be seen again? Is he going to be tortured and executed like his friend from youth whose corpse still hands in the wind in the town square? Or
Astrological charts, hidden box bottoms, ciphers, libraries and medical potions. You will see and learn a lot about all of these and more. A very intricate plot will be uncovered. A very serious, treasonous document will be de-ciphered. A very powerful friend will be made and even more powerful enemy to boot.
A very interesting slow read about the times and troubles of Elizabeth I reign. It was the time when even to contemplate an astorological or any other prediction for a sovereign was treason!!! And the punishment for treason was... nope, I just had my lunch.