A Pact With The Devil
(2025)(The first book in the Nicolaus Copernicus Mysteries series)
A novel by Anna Legat
'Compelling and vivid.' Fiona Forsyth
'Historical fiction of the highest order.' R.N. Morris
1491, Cracow, Kingdom of Poland. The 44th year in the reign of Casimir Jagiellon.
Nicolaus Copernicus and his brother Andreas embark on their studies at the University of Cracow. Nicolaus is a bashful young man and a keen scholar; Andreas, a wastrel with a passion for carnal pursuits.
The university is embroiled in scandal when doctor Faustus, an alchemist and royal apothecary, is found hanging over a crucible of boiling tar with a pentagon carved into his chest.
Rumours of demonic agency are rife. The Collegium porter, Bartlomiej, is arrested on suspicion of murder and consorting with the Devil.
Nicolaus is convinced of Bartlomiej’s innocence. He rejects superstition and vows to find the real killer. But even his rational mind is put to the test when his friend Jurgis, a fellow student and a practised astrologer, is murdered and his body desecrated in the same ritualistic way as doctor Faustus’s.
A fire is started at Jurgis’s lodgings and spreads across the city. Panic sets in. Gypsies are blamed, and they are hounded out of town by an angry mob. An exorcist arrives from Rome to free Cracow from demonic possession.
But soon Nicolaus uncovers a man-made conspiracy – a pact that could shake the foundations of the whole kingdom.
Anna Legat writes in a wide range of genres. She is best known for her DI Gillian Marsh detective series and The Shires, her cosy murder mysteries. Anna is also the author of the historical thriller, Buried in the Past. She lives near Bath.
Praise for Anna Legat:
'The Queen's Avenger is an atmospheric, thrilling novel, one that is well-structured and extremely cleverly written. I sincerely hope there will be sequels. Any lover of Elizabethan thrillers will enjoy this novel, which is vivid, strong and faithful to known history.' The Historical Novel Society
‘[Her] characters pull at our heartstrings and are incredibly vivid, their stories moving.’ Carol McGrath, author of the She-Wolves trilogy
‘The pleasure for the reader, as ever, lies in the believable and engaging characterisation, an expertly handled plot and a wry observational prose style.’ Tim Stretton, author of Catfish Alley
Genre: Mystery
'Historical fiction of the highest order.' R.N. Morris
1491, Cracow, Kingdom of Poland. The 44th year in the reign of Casimir Jagiellon.
Nicolaus Copernicus and his brother Andreas embark on their studies at the University of Cracow. Nicolaus is a bashful young man and a keen scholar; Andreas, a wastrel with a passion for carnal pursuits.
The university is embroiled in scandal when doctor Faustus, an alchemist and royal apothecary, is found hanging over a crucible of boiling tar with a pentagon carved into his chest.
Rumours of demonic agency are rife. The Collegium porter, Bartlomiej, is arrested on suspicion of murder and consorting with the Devil.
Nicolaus is convinced of Bartlomiej’s innocence. He rejects superstition and vows to find the real killer. But even his rational mind is put to the test when his friend Jurgis, a fellow student and a practised astrologer, is murdered and his body desecrated in the same ritualistic way as doctor Faustus’s.
A fire is started at Jurgis’s lodgings and spreads across the city. Panic sets in. Gypsies are blamed, and they are hounded out of town by an angry mob. An exorcist arrives from Rome to free Cracow from demonic possession.
But soon Nicolaus uncovers a man-made conspiracy – a pact that could shake the foundations of the whole kingdom.
Anna Legat writes in a wide range of genres. She is best known for her DI Gillian Marsh detective series and The Shires, her cosy murder mysteries. Anna is also the author of the historical thriller, Buried in the Past. She lives near Bath.
Praise for Anna Legat:
'The Queen's Avenger is an atmospheric, thrilling novel, one that is well-structured and extremely cleverly written. I sincerely hope there will be sequels. Any lover of Elizabethan thrillers will enjoy this novel, which is vivid, strong and faithful to known history.' The Historical Novel Society
‘[Her] characters pull at our heartstrings and are incredibly vivid, their stories moving.’ Carol McGrath, author of the She-Wolves trilogy
‘The pleasure for the reader, as ever, lies in the believable and engaging characterisation, an expertly handled plot and a wry observational prose style.’ Tim Stretton, author of Catfish Alley
Genre: Mystery
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