This delicious series is getting better and better with each new addition. The author seemed to have finally managed to get a better grip on the really disturbing political and religious shenanigans that plagued France and England at the end of the 16th century. The plot is flawless and the cast superbly crafted.
I'm really excited and looking forward to more additions to this terrific series!

Many thanks to Sapere Books and Netgalley for this great ARC 👍

An interesting twist in that the main character is a relative of Walsingham, so we had some interesting familial insights brought to the story. With a setting in Rheims, we got to see a different side to the clash with the Catholic faith and it showed how far both sides were prepared to go to get their views elevated. Enjoyable book and hopefully more to come.

Last time I read a book in this series I was of two minds about the quality, on the one hand the book was well documented with detailed descriptions of the places where the story was set and the author certainly did a good job on the historical background.
On the other hand it was quite hard to focus on the story and follow all the details and there is no real arc of suspense.

However, I decided to give it another chance and requested Death in Rheims as well.
Unfortunately I must say that I haven't really changed my mind. What goes for the previous episode, is also true for this one. The historical details and the setting are exelently worked out, but the overall story is a bit dull and the pace only picks up towards the end.
I'll give full three stars for the historical background and nice descriptions of Rheims and because I liked the ending.

I want to thank Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my unbiased review

Tom Walsingham has been sent to France and Rheims to find out for Secretary Walsingham, his cousin, what is going on in the English Catholic College. C P Giuliani brings in Death in Rheims, in France at war with itself and the English College sending priestly spies into England against Queen Elizabeth. People are dying in the city but the cause is obscure, but evidence leads to the college. Tom has his job cut out as he pretends to be a Catholic follower and is tracked by the murderer. Enjoy a good historical mystery.

C.P. Giuliani's Tom Walsingham mystery series is both entertaining and well researched. Tom is a first cousin once-removed to Elizabeth I's spymaster Francis Walsingham as well as a protege. Tom is young and has a great deal to learn, but he also pays careful attention to Francis' instruction and works hard to apply it to the many difficult situations in which he finds himself.

In this volume, Tom has been sent to Rheims (as it was spelled at the time) on a two-part mission: first, to explore the possible murder of Francis' most reliable man in the city, and second, to investigate the situation at the Catholic College in Rheims—the main training ground for Catholic rescuants who hope to become priests an contribute to the battle to return England to "the old faith."

The possible murder appears to not be murder at all. However, young men are dying at the College, and Kit Marley (better known as playwright Christopher Marlowe), an English agent is sure their deaths are the work of a serial murderer. Marley is intelligent, but appears to lack judgement, and Tom isn't sure how seriously to take Marley's accusations.

This is the moment when I want to explain the quality of Giuliani's research. The deaths at the Catholic College did occur and occurred at during the time period in which Death in Rheims takes place, Marlowe was working as an English agent at the college at that time, and many of the novel's characters are based on historical figures. In her researches, Giuliani stumbled across this series of deaths and realized their potential as material for a Tom Walsingham mystery. She gives specifics about this in her afterword—and I always appreciate a good afterword to a historical mystery that honestly discusses accuracy and any liberties taken.

The Catholics are despised as foreigners in Rheims, despite sharing the same faith as most of the French, the faculty and students at the college are engaging in struggles for power and to direct the actions of newly minted priests sent to England, a former English agent once associated with the college has gone mad and Marley has heard him threatening to "kill everyone." In other words, suspects abound—and Tom considers it possible that Marley himself may be behind the murders.

So Tom poses as a naive, English almost-Catholic, disowned by his father because of his recusancy, and enters the college to investigate from the inside. He has many threads to follow as he works to maintain his cover, trying to his his level of education and to exaggerate his knowledge of and commitment to Catholicism.

All three volumes in this series are worth reading (and can be comfortably read in any order). Giuliani does a good job of exploring the motivations and options for Tom, who sees the issue of recusancy as treason and a potential threat to Elizabeth I's life.

One additional note is that Tom is accompanied in the volume, as in the others, by Nick Skeres, who is once again playing the role of Tom's servant and doing so quite ineffectively, loudly, and protestingly. Those familiar with the history of Elizabeth I's reign may recognize that name. Skeres was one of the individuals present at the murder of Christopher Marlowe, during that "great reckoning in a small room." Who knows if or when Giuliani's novels will reach this moment, but I am waiting to see what she'll do with that material when the moment arrives.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.

Sent to Rheims to investigate the suspicious death of one of his cousin's spies, Thomas Walsingham discovers a city in turmoil. A truce between the warring French king and the powerful Guise family is holding but the locals are not friendly to any English. Thomas finds himself drawn to the English College, a hotbed of Catholic indoctrination, and where there have been several mysterious deaths. Although not part of his remit, Thomas finds himself drawn to investigate further.
This series of novels is progressing nicely as both the author and the character find their stride. Here the focus is on the English College of Rheims, a successor to the Douai Martyrs and a place where catholic priests were trained to return to England. This makes for a really interesting background to set a convoluted plot but which really allows Giuliani's lead to be placed front and centre.

*Many thanks to C.P. Giuliani, Sapere Books, and Netgalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*
Another historical fiction with Tom Walsingham, this time in Rheims, doing his best to explain a mystery behind certain deaths. Tom, brave as ever, cannot refuse his namesake and travels to the heart of the Catholic plotting centre with a mission to find out more about a death of an English spy. Tom will have to manouver and be double vigilant while behind the walls of the Rheims schools for priests to be deployed over to England.
Interesting read, with á Christopher Marlowe vibe of whom we know that he 'did service to Her Majesty'.

I loved the historical mystery setting going on in this book. It had everything that I was hoping for. I enjoyed the time-period going on and thought it had everything that I enjoyed from other C. P. Giuliani books. It was a great third entry in the Tom Walsingham mystery series.

This was the first of this series that I'd read. I enjoy this time period and it was nice to jump to France for the setting of the story. I loved the great details of the city of Rheims, the Catholic College and the descriptions of daily life. I found the story, overall to be a bit hard to follow and the mystery/murder a bit dull. The ending picked up as Tom Washingham, the queen's man, joins forces with an unlikely source solve the murders. Thanks to the author and Netgalley for making this book available.

The third book in the Tom Walsingham series, and the characters and action continue to impress and provide great intrigue.
The action shifts to Rheims and the English College, well known for being full of Catholic priests who are being trained to be sent to England, to support those loyal to Mary, Queen of Scots, and to bring down Queen Elizabeth, by assassination if necessary.
Tom is going to Rheims to investigate the death of a Queen’s man, Thibauld. His cover was to gain information , whilst being best known as being a buyer and seller of English wool. Tom realises the best way to find the killer will be to pose as a trainee priest, he will have afoot in both camps.
The death count mounts up, as do the amount of aliases used by Tom and his fellow intelligencer Thomas Watson. News from Sir Francis means that doubt is cast upon the loyalty of this friend, no doubt this will be explored in later novels. There was less in this book from Nick Skeres, a most loyal protector to Tom Walsingham, his presence always makes these pages come to life.
The research and historical resources are primary, a diary of the English College at Douai is the main one. I have always been on the side of the Scottish Queen, and it is fascinating to read history from the alternative viewpoint, to realise how the English court were concerned about the mischief and grim determination of Mary Stuart to garner support for her claim to the English throne.
The dateline for this novel is 1585, therefore this saga will soon deal with the downfall of a central character.
I am delighted that more novels are in the pipeline, and can’t wait to see what mishaps will befall Young Tom next time.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers and Sapere books for my advance digital copy, freely given in exchange for my honest review. A five star read. I will leave reviews to Goodreads and Amazon UK.

Definitely a great read with a lot of treason, a couple of murders (or did they die from natural causes?), a search for people (what are their real names, so many aliases!) and a bit of action set in Tudor times!
I also enjoyed the historical background (France versus England; heretics (or not?), English Catholic priests educated in France to go back secretly to England; mistrust of the French towards the English....
Good characterisation making you wonder at who they really are.....
Can't wait for the fourth book of the series!
I received a complimentary digital ARC from NetGalley and I am leaving voluntarily an honest review.