The Mapmaker's Daughter

By: Clare Marchant

Narrated by: Charlotte Strevens

Could a rediscovered map show her the way?

Present day: When thirty-six-year-old Robyn Willoughby discovers an exquisite yet blood-stained Tudor map in her father’s antique map shop, desperate for a distraction from her problems, she decides to investigate. But as Robyn delves into the mystery, she finds herself caught up in a centuries-old secret – one that will change her life forever.

1569: Forced to flee Holland to escape persecution, twenty-year-old Freida Ortelius uses her mapmaking skills to start anew in London. Soon her rare talent catches the eye of Queen Elizabeth, who demands Freida’s help in fighting the Spanish threat. Freida must now embark on a deadly mission, the consequences of which will echo down the ages…

A sweeping and heartbreaking read, perfect for fans of Lucinda Riley and Kathryn Hughes.

©2022 Clare Marchant (P)2022 HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Critic reviews

Praise for Clare Marchant:

‘Emotional and intense, this is a page-turning story of secrets that echo through time’ RACHEL HORE, author of The Love Child

‘A rich and vivid historical story, The Secrets of Saffron Hall is one of those rare books that is totally engrossing. I loved it’ NICOLA CORNICK, author of The Forgotten Sister

‘The past and present is skilfully entwined in this captivating and emotional debut’ HEIDI SWAIN, author of The Secret Seaside Escape

‘Emotive, immersive and compelling, a beautiful story that captures the heart’ LIZ FENWICK, author of The Path to the Sea

‘This pulled me in and didn’t let me go: a page-turner with such historical depth and tender touch that it enchanted my heart. I adored it.’ LAURA JANE WILLIAMS, author of Our Stop

‘Intriguing and fascinating, a real insight into a turbulent time in England’s history’ KATHLEEN MCGURL, author of The Secret of the Chateau

‘An intensely gripping, emotional read, that kept me turning the pages until the early hours of the morning. An atmospheric story sure to please all fans of timeslip novels!’ CHRISTINA COURTENAY, author of Echoes of the Runes

‘A beautifully written story which pulls you in and whisks you away to another time. Clare Marchant is a fabulous new talent’ ROSIE HENDRY, author of the East End Angels series

‘A charming and engaging mystery, beautifully told’ JENNI KEER, author of The Hopes and Dreams of Lucy Baker

‘An emotionally gripping and page-turning tale of love and loss’ NATALIE MEG EVANS, author of The Paris Girl

Amazing story

Love the story with the history. The descriptions were so detailed and felt like you were right there.

Historical Map

Map commissioned by Queen Elizabeth raised interest in the story.
The portrayal of the mapmaker's strengths and shortcomings provided the uniqueness of a woman mapmaker in a historical context.

Bad accent from the narrator

Good story, I disliked the narrator. Her accent for Freda and her husband were not well done. Took me a while to engage in the story because of that. Overall a good story.

Freida the Fighter

Freida was an admirable and ambitious character. Probably quite unique for the time period in which she lived. Though she literally bowed to Queen Elizabeth’s wishes, she recognized the danger obeying put her in, She worked cautiously and arranged security for herself and her family. She was a strong female protagonist.
Robin on the other hand was a whiner, paralyzed in a web of her own grief. Though employed superficially, she initially accomplished very little, and was a burden to family and friends. She was not an admirable character. She was the antagonist of her section of the novel. Thankfully she was coming to life again by the end of the novel.

It was ok

I was hoping for a very inspired story but it was ok. It’s not Nightingale or Hidden Figures (I can hope :) ). But ok story. Excellent performance.