England, 1583. A country awash with paranoia and conspiracy - but a safe haven for a radical monk on the run. Giordano Bruno, with his theories of astronomy and extraterrestrial life, has fled the Inquisition for the court of Elizabeth I.

Autumn, 1583: Queen Elizabeth's rule is under threat. Plans for invasion to put Mary Stuart on the throne of England are secretly being laid. And an astrological phenomenon believed to herald the death of an age and the dawn of another has led to frenzied speculation of terrible events to come.

Summer, 1584. The Protestant Prince William of Orange has been assassinated by a fanatical Catholic, and there are whispers that Queen Elizabeth will be next. Fear haunts the streets of London, and plague is driving citizens away. Giordano Bruno, philosopher and spy, chooses to remain, and finds that someone is following him.

Summer, 1585. As English ships are held captive in Spain, fear mounts of an Invincible Armada, built by King Philip II, and intended to invade English shores. Sir Francis Drake prepares to embark on an expedition by royal commission to cross the Atlantic and seize major Spanish ports, diverting Philip's American treasure supplies to Queen Elizabeth. Giordano Bruno, radical philosopher and spy, accompanies his friend Sir Philip Sidney to Plymouth to oversee Drake's departure. Unbeknownst to Bruno, Sidney intends to join the mission - and he wants Bruno to go too. But when a ship captain is...

The No. 1 bestseller - perfect for fans of C.J. Sansom - and the fifth historical thriller featuring Giordano Bruno, heretic, philosopher and Tudor spy.