The Rebel's Mark: The CWA nominated Elizabethan crime series (The Jackdaw Mysteries Book 5)

The Rebel’s Mark is the 5th and latest book continuing the story of Nicholas Shelby and his wife Bianca Merton.It’s set in Elizabethan England and towards the end of Queen Elizabeth 1’s life.Nicholas is a doctor and the son of a Yeoman Farmer. Bianca, is half Italian and an apothecary, and following in her mother’s apothecary footsteps. She (Bianca) also owns a pub in an area of London called Bankside situated on the south of the river Thames.In this novel, Nicholas who is also an intelligencer for Robert Cecil, Secretary of State to Elizabeth 1 is asked by Cecil asks to go to Ireland with the Earl of Essex, commander of the English Army, as the army doctor and also a spy. Bianca is insistent that she goes with Nicholas as she would be invaluable to Nicholas and the army as an apothecary.The Earl of Essex is sent by Elizabeth 1 to sort out the Irish Issues between the North and South of Ireland. Basically, a religious war.There was no love lost between Essex and Cecil..Although, this is the 5th book in the Jackdaw series, it stands alone very well, as the author, S W Perry skilfully weaves relevant information about the characters from the four previous books.I thoroughly enjoyed the book, the historical detail of the war in Irelandand the story line in London around the Jackdaw Pub which is run by Rose and Ned, is both informative and very readable.I would really recommend this novel and indeed the whole series..It’s an excellent read..

What an adventure. It made be look into so many details of the history of the period. Why did I know nothing of the Earl of Tyrone , when my family are originally from Ulster. Great reading with believable characters.

The mixing of the main characters across continents but still combining and weaving a historical plot. Lots of 'name'dropping woven into detailed described settings.Have followed the series since picking up the first book now on number 6

‘The Rebel’s Mark’ is Book 5 in S. J. Perry’s Jackdaw Mysteries, a series of historical thrillers set in Elizabethan England.As always background is provided for new readers, though it is a series that I would recommend reading in order to observe the development of its characters, certain ongoing plot threads, as well as to experience Perry’s vivid descriptions of the Elizabethan world.It is now 1598 and three years have passed since the events of ‘The Heretic’s Mark’. Nicholas Shelby and his now wife, Bianca, have been summoned from Padua back to England and Nicholas has been appointed to serve as physician to the ageing Queen Elizabeth as well as to continue his work as a reluctant intelligencer for Elizabeth’s Secretary of State, Robert Cecil.After receiving an enigmatic message from the poet Edmund Spencer, who is residing in Ireland, Cecil sends Nicholas, accompanied by Bianca, there in order to meet discreetly with him. It proves a dangerous undertaking as Ireland is torn by rebellion against the English occupation. No further details to avoid spoilers.In his historical note Perry provides details of the events in England and Ireland that had informed his storyline.Overall, I enjoyed ‘The Rebel’s Mark’ very much and have found the Jackdaw Mysteries to be an exceptional series of historical spy thrillers. Happily I see that a sixth book, ‘The Sinner’s Mark’ is due for publication in April 2023.

An excellent writer, great characters, fantastic scene description and an absorbing story. Well worth a read, but I do find myself wishing for a story which, like the earlier ones, is based much more in London and around a more traditional whodunit.

As the title of this review suggests, I have enjoyed all the books in this series. The characters have been allowed to develop and although they face hardship and peril, the author resists the simplistic approach of other writers to knock them back each time. The characters are given a chance to grow. I learned much from the story and was prompted to study further (read Wikipedia really) some more about the true historical figures in the novel. Hopefully there will be further books in the series.

I have read S W Perry’s previous 4 books in this series and this latest adventure for Robert Cecil’s reluctant informant, Nicholas Shelby, is a real page turner. I am usually not attracted to books written in the present tense, but Perry’s mastery of this style flows so well that he transported me right back into the late 16th century. I can thoroughly recommend this book – the series is getting better and better with every new instalment. I can’t wait for the next one!

I love this series of books. The writer brings the Elizabethan period to life and you can engage with the main characters in the books almost like getting to know them on a personal level.

Love the story lines in this series. I'm always looking up for more details on what he writes about. Why isn't his last book on Kindle?

Another enjoyable read what a great series long may it continue, how the writer brings new books out so quickly one after the other is remarkable, with no loss in the story telling,bring in the next one