S.J. Parris, Traitor’s Legacy

The start of an incredible new series from No.1 Sunday Times bestselling S.J. Parris.

Bestselling author of the Giordano Bruno books, S. J. Parris will be joining us to discuss her latest book, Traitor’s Legacy.

England, 1598. Queen Elizabeth’s successor remains unnamed. The country teeters on a knife edge. A young heiress is found murdered at the theatre. A page-turning new historical series that pitches Tudor secret agent Sophia de Wolfe into a dangerous game with the royal court.

This event will include an audience Q&A and after the event there will be an opportunity to get your book signed by the S.J. Parris.

Sunday 29th June, 2.00pm
Venue: Layer Marney Tower, Near Colchester, CO5 9US
Tickets: £14 (includes entrance to Layer Marney Tower and gardens)
Box Office: essexbookfestival.org.uk or Mercury Theatre 01206 573948

This event is part of our History Books day at Layer Marney Tower. Built as a statement house by Henry, 1st Lord Marney, Henry VIII’s Lord Privy Seal, in the 1520s, Layer Marney Tower is one of the jewels in the Essex ‘crown’. And, as such, the perfect venue for The History Books.

Make a day of it. Explore the UK’s tallest Tudor Gatehouse and stunning gardens for free with your Essex Book Festival ticket.

Find out more about The History Books Day at essexbookfestival.org.uk/the-history-books-2025/.

The History Books Ticket Deal – £14 per event or all 3 events for £36
Discount automatically applied at checkout when tickets for all 3 events are booked:

12.00pm – Paul French, Her Lotus Year
2.00pm – S.J. Parris, Traitor’s Legacy
4.00pm – Gareth Russell, Queen James

Traitor’s Legacy by S.J. Parris

‘Successful historical thrillers need three elements: a killer plot that weaves seamlessly into the history; an engaging protagonist; and an atmospheric sense of place. Parris nails all three.’ – The Times

England, 1598. Queen Elizabeth’s successor remains unnamed. The country teeters on a knife edge.

When a young heiress is found murdered at the theatre, the Queen’s spymaster Robert Cecil calls upon former agent Sophia de Wolfe to investigate.

A cryptic note found on the dead girl’s body connects to Sophia’s previous life as a spy, and her quest soon takes her into dangerous waters. Powerful enemies emerge, among them the Earl of Essex: the Queen’s favourite courtier and a man of ruthless ambition.

This is a murder that reaches directly into the heart of the court. And Sophia is concealing a deep-buried secret of her own. She must uncover the truth before her past threatens to destroy her.

S.J. Parris

No. 1 Sunday Times bestseller S. J. Parris is the pseudonym of the author and journalist Stephanie Merritt. It was as a student at Cambridge researching a paper on the period that Stephanie first became fascinated by the rich history of Tudor England and Renaissance Europe. Since then, her interest has grown and led her to create this series of historical thrillers featuring Giordano Bruno, which has now sold over one million copies.

Stephanie has worked as a critic and feature writer for a variety of newspapers and magazines, as well as radio and television. She has also written the contemporary psychological thrillers While You Sleep and Storm under her own name. She currently writes for the Observer, and she lives in Surrey.