Traitor in the Ice

Daniel Pursglove, Book 2

By: K. J. Maitland

Narrated by: Nathan Turner

Whispers haunt the walls and treachery darkens the shadows in this captivating historical novel for listeners of C. J. Sansom, Andrew Taylor's Ashes of London and Kate Mosse.

Winter, 1607. A man is struck down in the grounds of Battle Abbey, Sussex. Before dawn breaks, he is dead.

Home to the Montagues, Battle has caught the paranoid eye of King James. The Catholic household is rumoured to shelter those loyal to the Pope, disguising them as servants within the abbey walls. And the last man sent to expose them was silenced before his report could reach London.

Daniel Pursglove is summoned to infiltrate Battle and find proof of treachery. He soon discovers that nearly everyone at the abbey has something to hide—for deeds far more dangerous than religious dissent. But one lone figure he senses only in the shadows, carefully concealed from the world. Could the notorious traitor Spero Pettingar finally be close at hand?

As more bodies are unearthed, Daniel determines to catch the culprit. But how do you unmask a killer when nobody is who they seem?

©2022 Karen Maitland (P)2022 Headline Publishing Group Ltd

Critic reviews

"A beautifully crafted thriller: tense, edgy in all the right places.... This is another cracking step in Daniel Pursglove's dangerous tightrope walk through the lethal factions of the Stewart court. Breathtaking stuff, bone-chilling in all the right ways." (Manda Scott)

"Full of tension and danger...powerfully atmospheric." (Jennifer Saint)

"Maitland is a superlative historical novelist." (Rebecca Mascull)

Atmospheric

Good story with a great sense of time and place, particularly the scenes in and around Battle Abbey, where most of the story is set. Voice quality of the narration was excellent, though the execution uneven in spots.

Really enjoyed!

The descriptive language is transporting, and the narrator does an amazing job of telling the story. His character and dialect work is really impressive!

Authoritative

KJ Maitland writes with a strong authorial voice that is prominent in all the characters. Each one is sharply defined and dimensional. The plot is a clever mix of history lesson and mystery delivered in a compelling, pacey manner. The setting is all too vivid and makes me REALLY glad I was born now. Overall, this was as much an experience as it was a story. I would have liked more tied up at the end but I’m definitely reading the next book as a result.