All the Queen's Spies is book three in the Agents of the Crown series by Oliver Clements.
I absolutely love this fast-paced historical mystery and thriller that deals with real historical figures, events, and facts and weaves a fictional story that has a bit of a mystical and magical feel to it as well.
With an intriguing and detailed historical setting, complex and mysterious characters, and an intense plot, this novel is an absolute must-read for fans of the series and for sixteenth-century political drama in any format.

Thank You NetGalley and Atria Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Philosopher and astronomer John Dee is enjoying the quiet life when Her Majesty’s spymaster Sir Francis Walsingham darkens his door, instructing him to befriend a certain Polish count with an interest in alchemy and angelic communication. But when Dee and the count are caught breaking the law, trying to convene with angels, they are exiled, and must make their way to the court of Rudolf, Holy Roman Emperor, in far-off Prague. Meanwhile, Queen Elizabeth learns of Catherine de Medici’s infamous Flying Squadron, a group of seductive ladies-in-waiting scattered throughout Europe acting as her agents, and that one of them is already at work in Prague, bending the Holy Roman Emperor to join France and Spain in a crusade to crush Protestant England. With Dee on his way to Prague, Walsingham sees an opportunity to tip the scales. To convince the famously occult-loving emperor to join his side, Dee must distract him with the esoteric Book of Loagaeth, a volume transcribed from the angels that will, once decoded, allow control of the levers of heaven and earth, and everything in between.

Terrible dangers await Dee in Prague, as he faces challenges at every turn, including a reluctant female spy and a ruthless old enemy, and he is forced to call upon the many unexpected talents of his wife, as well as the playwright Christopher Marlowe.

I was offered the newest in this series by the publisher, and was also told the previous three would be put on NetGalley as well. So I requested and was granted access to them all, but unfortunately only the last two would download even after NetGalley tried to help me. This is the third in the series and was very good. I don't often read books in this era of history but this author does it well, sprinkling in real historical figures with fiction. I was able to get enough backstory in this book to understand the story. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my request for the newest edition as well a this one.

In the fourth book in Clements’ Agents of the Crown series, readers continue to follow philosopher and astronomer John Dee when the royal spymaster Francis Walshingham reappears in his life asking Dee to spy on an eccentric Polish count. However, this mission leads to Dee being forced into exile, so he flees England for the continent and the court of Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor. Also in Prague are the French Flying Squadron, a group of ladies in service to the Dowager Queen of France, Catherine de Medici, and Dee and his companions are set on a collision course with the Flying Squadron in Prague. Clements’ familiarity with the time period clearly shows in this novel, and his characters continue to astound in this novel. With new high stakes, sixteenth century Europe is a chessboard, and Clements makes his readers players in this high-stakes political game. The characters are the star of the novel, and Clements weaves some new and interesting female characters into the latest book in the series. With a vibrant and detailed historical setting, complex and mysterious characters, and an intense plot, this novel is an absolute must-read for fans of the series and for sixteenth-century political drama in any format.

Oliver Clements' "All The Queen’s Spies" is an engaging historical novel that offers readers a vivid portrayal of espionage during a pivotal era. The book is distinguished by its meticulous attention to historical detail and its dynamic narrative that keeps readers captivated. It presents a narrative so rich and characters so lifelike that they seem to transcend the boundaries of the printed page.

The novel is an excellent choice for those interested in history and adventure, as it provides an immersive experience into a world filled with high stakes and suspenseful excitement. "All The Queen’s Spies" stands out as a significant work of historical fiction, providing both entertainment and insight, stimulating reflection even after the conclusion of the story.

Overall, "All The Queen’s Spies" is a notable achievement in the genre of historical fiction, appealing to both avid fans and those new to the field. It delivers a deep understanding of an important historical period and is a valuable addition to any collection of literature. Readers are invited to delve into the depths of history through Clements' expertly crafted narrative.

An interesting story. Characters are complex. Plot twists add intrigue. I recommend this book for a new adventure.

"All the Queen's Spies" by Oliver Clements continues the riveting "Agents of the Crown" series, delving deeper into the clandestine world of Elizabethan espionage. This installment follows John Dee, Queen Elizabeth I’s advisor, as he navigates the dangerous political landscape of Europe, armed with a mysterious manuscript that promises unparalleled power.

Enjoying a peaceful life in Mortlake, Dee’s tranquility is abruptly disrupted when Sir Francis Walsingham, the Queen’s spymaster, sends him on a covert mission to befriend a Polish count with esoteric interests. However, their illicit activities in angelic communication lead to their exile, thrusting them toward the court of Rudolf, the Holy Roman Emperor, in Prague.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth learns of Catherine de Medici’s Flying Squadron, seductive spies influencing European politics. With one of these agents in Prague trying to sway the Emperor against Protestant England, Walsingham sees Dee’s presence in Prague as a critical opportunity. Tasked with distracting the Emperor using the esoteric Book of Loagaeth, Dee aims to decode it and gain control over cosmic forces.

Clements masterfully intertwines historical figures and fictional intrigue, creating a high-stakes drama where Dee must outmaneuver both visible and shadowy foes. With the help of his resourceful wife, the cunning playwright Christopher Marlowe, and a reluctant female spy, Dee confronts a formidable old enemy in a city filled with peril.

"All the Queen's Spies" showcases Clements’ ability to weave complex narratives and vivid historical settings, offering readers a thrilling glimpse into the life-and-death stakes of Renaissance espionage. This novel is a captivating blend of adventure, mysticism, and political intrigue, perfect for fans of historical thrillers.

This series is just amazing! And I came across it by accident. This is a great espionage author who went and found the scandalous bits of history and put a spy twist on all of it.
A few chapters were a little wordy but with historical fiction, I feel like that happens often.

I would like to start this off by saying I was unaware that this was the 3rd book in a series. I have not read the others, but after reading this, I definitely want to go back and read the others!

This was a very intriguing spy novel set in the court of Elizabeth I full lying, deceit, suspense, and mystery. What more could you want??

of I could tell that the author did a lot of research to make sure everything was as historically accurate as possible, which I really enjoyed! Historical accuracy is always a huge plus to me! As always though with historical fiction, some liberties were taken, especially with the smaller details, but that doesn't bother me as much as long as the big plot points are historically accurate.

The only reason why this wasn't a 5 star read was because I found it dragged at times. This also could have been due to the writing style as it was full of wordy descriptions of everything.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

All The Queen’s Spies is a novel that focuses on the court of Elizabeth I, from the 1570s through the 1580s. The main characters are Francis Walsingham and John Dee, the founders of what later became Her Majesty’s Secret Service/MI6. As I enjoy novels about English history, I found this book of political intrigue both factual and interesting. While I didn't know this book was the third in the series, I will have to go back and read the first two.

Do you like reading about political intrigue? How about historical fiction? All The Queen’s Spies is the third book in the Agents of the Crown series, all of which center on the court of Elizabeth I, from the 1570s through the 1580s. The main characters (in addition to the Queen herself) are Francis Walsingham and John Dee, the founders of what later became Her Majesty’s Secret Service/MI6. Walsingham and Dee were real people but are used in a fictional way, of course. In fact, there were a large number of real people in these books. (I fell down the proverbial rabbit hole reading about some of them!)

This time the story delves more into Dee’s more mystical efforts but is also full of international intrigue, with Dee going to Prague in 1583-1584 to influence the occult-loving Holy Roman Emperor there. A lot of the intrigue involves schemes to return England to Catholic rule. There’s a huge amount of worry over Spain’s power and intentions.

Dee’s wife, Jane Frommond is a terrific major character, as is a minor character known as Mistress Devereaux. I enjoyed all their exploits and loved reading the vivid descriptions of London and Prague, as well as various places along their difficult route. The author does not sugar coat things!

Don't miss the Author's Note at the end.

Will there be a fourth book in this series? We shall see!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books / Leopoldo & Co. for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book, although I was rather late to it. I bounced between the ARC and the published audiobook, courtesy of my public library. The narrator, Matthew Lloyd Davies, did a good job with the various voices and accents. All opinions are my own.

Firstly, I love the covers. Beautiful visual adaptation of Queen Elizabeth I's face is lovely. Yet another exciting historical novel, 3rd in the series, by Mr. Clements - it is full spies, intrigue, and lots of excitement. There is A Book of Secrets, which Dr. John Dee has created (unknowingly to others) that assists in keeping John Dee, his wife and Kit Marlowe (LOVE him!) alive. Unfortunately, this "Book of Angelic Magick" only manages to keep them hunted dow. I love that Queen Elizabeth I, Francis Walsingham, William Cecil are still involved in the main plot. The author has crafted wonderfully vivid characterization, an excellent plot, culminating in a very thrilling read.

I really enjoyed Oliver Clements' All the Queen Spies. I thought it was a fabulous book to read and realize that I have to rea the other installments from the Agents of the Crown series. Five stars.

Rich in historical detail, this novel grabbed me at the beginning and didn’t let go. I learned a lot about Elizabethan England and the characters. (Of course I always have to google to find out more!) Great plot!
Many thanks to Atria and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

As a disclaimer: I did not realize that this was 3rd in the series.

This is a good book. I would recommend it for any historical fiction or spy novel lovers. A bit hard to get into, but I attribute this to the fact that I didn’t realize it was a series.

Loved the time period and plot but struggled to enjoy the actual writing. The historical accuracy was a big plus for me in regards to characters I was already familiar with and historical events BUT I didn't realize this was a sequel when I requested the ARC. Needless to say, you will probably enjoy this book more if you know the backstory of previous events.

My biggest issues for not enjoying it as much as I wanted were the slow pacing and the wordiness... sometimes the descriptions were overlong in regards to travel and the plotlines could get a bit murky to follow. Big pluses for this book were the intrigue with a healthy dose of Elizabethan court politics which I always love to get sucked into. I will definitely take a chance on reading the first two books in the series to see if that fills in the gaps I felt I missed with All the Queen's Spies.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC for an honest review.

This story is about John Dee, one of Queen Elizabeth I's spies. He infiltrates the court in Prague and is able to stop a war from breaking out. One of Catherine de Medici's ladies-in-waiting is attempting to seduce the Holy Roman Emperor and in turn start a war with England. Dee astutely is able to convive the Emperor away from that idea by offerring the enticing Book of Secrets. It's a story with many twists and turns but this story will likely be enjoyed bu those who are intrigued by court politics.

I already knew who John Dee was and many details of his life. Renaissance history was my PhD field many decades ago. However, even though this novel is historical fiction, I very much enjoyed reading All the Queen's Spies. Author Oliver Clements provides many of the smaller details and imagines the history that might have occurred, thus filling in the historical blanks. All the Queen's Spies is the third book in this series. I have not read the first two books, which was a bit of a disadvantage. Still, I do think All the Queen's Spies can be read as a stand-alone historical fiction novel.

All the Queen's Spies is definitely for readers who are interested in this period, late 16th central England and Europe. The minutia can be overwhelming at times, and I suspect many readers will want to skip around a bit, but I urge them not to do so. There are rewards to having stuck with the details. So many of the historical characters populating this novel are portrayed in a manner that was surprising--Chris Marlowe, for example. Chris Marlow dressed in peach silk was a perfect description of the playwright but not one often seen. It was also very interesting to learn so many details about this plot to invade England and how the men surrounding Queen Elizabeth dealt with these events. Characters were given full lives with some depth. How characters spoke of and felt about death and the risks they faced was so matter-of-fact, which I imagine is how anyone might have dealt with so much death. Since I never could stand Hatton, All the Queen's Spies did not tell me anything I did not already know about this self-righteous 16th century politician.

I wish to thank author and publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Thank you also to NetGalley for their assistance in providing this book.

All the Queen's Spies by Oliver Clements
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 💫

Have you ever requested an ARC only to find out it is the third in a series? No? Just me then?

All the Queen's Spies is the third Agents of the Crown novel. Set in Elizabethan England, Clements weaves a thrilling mystery surrounding the religious politics of the Tudor court. Shining light on the competing claims to the Queen's throne along with the forces abroad that seek to undermine the Protestant English crown.

Returning is John Dee, the astronomer and philosopher, who has served the Queen as a spy and advisor. He is disgraced and exiled from his honored spot for conjuring. His knack for the occult puts him in a prime position to influence the Holy Roman Emperor. Full of magic, danger, close scrapes, and intricate plots, there is plenty to pull this story along.

I enjoyed the time period and how closely Clements hewed to the historical record. Most of the characters are based on real people, and the mystery is based around true events that demonstrate the tenuous hold to power royals held in the 1500s.

The story did feel weighty with description and characters. At times, it was difficult to follow the different threads and drug with long descriptions of travel. I did listen to the first two books before starting this one. While I believe you can jump in mid-series, there are many references to prior trials and tribulations that will be more legible with the backstory.

This is a great series for historical fiction lovers who want the intrigue and court politics of the Elizabethan era that is solidly grounded in real events.

Thank you to @netgalley and @atriabooks for providing me with an advanced copy!

This was an enjoyable entry in the series. I felt that the plot of this entry moved faster than the other two, but that is to be expected given the main characters have already been introduced. It can be read as a standalone, even though it mentions some events that happen in the previous entries. The elements of history are balanced nicely with fictionalized elements of the story. Together, they create an interesting tale full of suspense and mystery. A great book (and series!!) for fans of historical fiction.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, Atria Books, through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Perfect for fans of complex historical mysteries with their feet in facts- even if you like me have not read the earlier books in the series. John Dee finds himself trying to undermine a possible alliance of the Holy Roman Empire with the enemies of Queen Elizabeth in this fast paced and at times funny tale of espionage and politics. He's got a mysterious book to use with the Emperor- a book that purports to have the clue to controlling both earth and heaven-but life isn't going to be that simple. It does help, I think, to have at least vague knowledge of the period (and know that I found myself doing some googling to check on who was who) but Clements pulls you in fast and keeps you reading. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. Great read.