1594, Bishopsgate Ward, London. Within the walls and without, unease and uncertainty lurk beneath the noise and bustle of a smoky, teeming city.

Matthew Cutler, newly widowed and caring for two spirited daughters, takes his position as constable for the parish of Spitalfields very seriously. So when Paulo Brisco, a quiet Venetian perfumer is found brutally murdered in his own shop, Cutler throws himself into his first major crime, and one which threatens to set all Bishopsgate alight. 🔥

Being a humble parish constable, Matthew Cutler’s powers are slight – and yet he possesses a skill which most others do not. As a former actor he can employ disguise, to considerable effect and to his unique advantage...

Plunged into a treacherous world of notorious rakes, angry tradesmen and a community seething with anti-foreigner sentiment and suspicion, Cutler must decipher shattered clues and confront a killer whose motive remains a baffling mystery - until the very last.

Step into the dangerous world of Elizabethan London with this cracking murder mystery!🩸🔍

Readers love John Pilkington's writing ❤️

'The quality of the writing and evocation of the Elizabethan Age is right up there with C J Sansom - and that could be no higher recommendation. I devoured it with relish and a buzz of contentment.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review

'Brilliant! I just love the way in which he brings his characters to life and makes them so believable. He is a master of descriptive prose.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review

'Gripping, enjoyable and too difficult to put down' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review

'John Pilkington continues to delight and inform. His writing style flows with ease and wit and I look forward to more of his tales' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review

'I was gripped from start to finish.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review