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‘A gripping tale of treasure and skulduggery with fine period detail – a welcome and intriguing addition to Elizabethan spy fiction.’ John Pilkington, author of The Ruffler's Child
England, 1585.
The Sparrowhawk, one of Drake's lost treasure ships, is found wrecked in Devon. Rumours spread through England of its booty, including a mysterious treasure: El Sol Dorado.
Thomas Lewgar, the resentful roommate of aspiring playwright Christopher Marlowe, hears of the rumours. He discovers, too, that the boastful Marlowe is engaged in a web of espionage.
Intrigued and repelled by the irreverent Marlowe, Lewgar joins the poet in seeking the lost treasure. If they can find it, they will be richly rewarded by queen and court.
But they are not the only ones hunting the prize.
A crooked courtier, Henry Howton, has also heard the rumours. In the secret employ of the Spanish, he hopes to find the treasure himself - and he will stop at nothing to get his hands on it.
Racing their Spanish-backed enemy and his dangerous associates, Lewgar and Marlowe must discover the strange history of the ghostly wreck. Their journey will lead them into the rotting carcass of the Sparrowhawk, into the presence of sea-dogs Francis Drake and Walter Raleigh, and through the ravaged home of spiritualist Dr John Dee.
Betrayal, falsehood, and deceit lie in wait.
Can they discover the lost treasure and unravel the mystery of El Sol Dorada before the Spanish?
Steven Veerapen was born in Glasgow and raised in Paisley. Pursuing an interest in the sixteenth century, he was awarded a first-class Honours degree in English, focussing his dissertation on representations of Henry VIII’s six wives. He then received a Masters in Renaissance studies, and a Ph.D. investigating Elizabethan slander. Steven is fascinated by the glamour and ghastliness of life in the 1500s. He is the author of fictional and non-fictional works including the Simon Danforth Mysteries, the Ned Savage thrillers, Elizabethan thrillers A Dangerous Trade, Dividided Loyalties</i and The Last Judgement and Elizabeth and Essex: Power, Passion and Politics.
Praise for Steven Veerapen:
A Dangerous Trade
'A slow-burn character driven spy story that grips like a thumbscrew tightened by twist after twist towards the end - Le Carre transported to the 1560’s. Brilliant work, based in impressively wide research and the kind of competition that I and a good number of others could well do without!' Peter Tonkin, author of The Ides
The Abbey Close (Book One of the Simon Danforth Mysteries)
'The author balances gimlet-eyed research with narrative drive and clever reveals... Danforth is a strong yet torn central character... I look forward to reading the second book in the series.' Richard Foreman, author of The First Crusade series
Blood Feud: Mary Queen of Scots and The Earl of Moray
'Much-needed analysis of a sinister sibling rivalry.' Marie Macpherson
Elizabeth and Essex: Power, Passion and Politics
'A sensitive and lively account of one of the most politically significant relationships of the Elizabethan age.' Lisa Hopkins
Assassination
'Both a crime and spy thriller.' Richard Foreman, author of The First Crusade series
‘From its tense beginning to satisfying end, Steven Veerapen skilfully weaves historical fact into a gripping tale, making a superb contribution to 17th century fiction.’ John Pilkington, author of The Ruffler's Child
Genre: Thriller
England, 1585.
The Sparrowhawk, one of Drake's lost treasure ships, is found wrecked in Devon. Rumours spread through England of its booty, including a mysterious treasure: El Sol Dorado.
Thomas Lewgar, the resentful roommate of aspiring playwright Christopher Marlowe, hears of the rumours. He discovers, too, that the boastful Marlowe is engaged in a web of espionage.
Intrigued and repelled by the irreverent Marlowe, Lewgar joins the poet in seeking the lost treasure. If they can find it, they will be richly rewarded by queen and court.
But they are not the only ones hunting the prize.
A crooked courtier, Henry Howton, has also heard the rumours. In the secret employ of the Spanish, he hopes to find the treasure himself - and he will stop at nothing to get his hands on it.
Racing their Spanish-backed enemy and his dangerous associates, Lewgar and Marlowe must discover the strange history of the ghostly wreck. Their journey will lead them into the rotting carcass of the Sparrowhawk, into the presence of sea-dogs Francis Drake and Walter Raleigh, and through the ravaged home of spiritualist Dr John Dee.
Betrayal, falsehood, and deceit lie in wait.
Can they discover the lost treasure and unravel the mystery of El Sol Dorada before the Spanish?
Steven Veerapen was born in Glasgow and raised in Paisley. Pursuing an interest in the sixteenth century, he was awarded a first-class Honours degree in English, focussing his dissertation on representations of Henry VIII’s six wives. He then received a Masters in Renaissance studies, and a Ph.D. investigating Elizabethan slander. Steven is fascinated by the glamour and ghastliness of life in the 1500s. He is the author of fictional and non-fictional works including the Simon Danforth Mysteries, the Ned Savage thrillers, Elizabethan thrillers A Dangerous Trade, Dividided Loyalties</i and The Last Judgement and Elizabeth and Essex: Power, Passion and Politics.
Praise for Steven Veerapen:
A Dangerous Trade
'A slow-burn character driven spy story that grips like a thumbscrew tightened by twist after twist towards the end - Le Carre transported to the 1560’s. Brilliant work, based in impressively wide research and the kind of competition that I and a good number of others could well do without!' Peter Tonkin, author of The Ides
The Abbey Close (Book One of the Simon Danforth Mysteries)
'The author balances gimlet-eyed research with narrative drive and clever reveals... Danforth is a strong yet torn central character... I look forward to reading the second book in the series.' Richard Foreman, author of The First Crusade series
Blood Feud: Mary Queen of Scots and The Earl of Moray
'Much-needed analysis of a sinister sibling rivalry.' Marie Macpherson
Elizabeth and Essex: Power, Passion and Politics
'A sensitive and lively account of one of the most politically significant relationships of the Elizabethan age.' Lisa Hopkins
Assassination
'Both a crime and spy thriller.' Richard Foreman, author of The First Crusade series
‘From its tense beginning to satisfying end, Steven Veerapen skilfully weaves historical fact into a gripping tale, making a superb contribution to 17th century fiction.’ John Pilkington, author of The Ruffler's Child
Genre: Thriller
Praise for this book
"A gripping tale of treasure and skulduggery with fine period detail-a welcome and intriguing addiction to Elizabethan spy fiction." - John Pilkington
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Used availability for Steven Veerapen's The Queen's Gold