Great historical fiction...wonderful characters. I would have given it five stars except for the very ending of the book, which hit me out of the blue. ( )

An interesting read centred around the Gunpowder Plot. I did like the idea of Robert Cecil as some Machiavellian puppet master; you were never sure if he was trying to save or harm James I. The main fictitious characters were a little bit bland. A decent read. ( )

A light but lively and entertaining novel taking place during the infamous gunpowder plot during the reign of James I. ( )

I enjoyed this book which is set in the months leading up to the Gunpowder Plot. The main characters, whilst fictitious, are well drawn, believable and likeable. You already feel you know the history of the famous conspirators, but you are led to see a more rounded version of their caricatures and a broader picture of the politicial situation in 1605 than is, perhaps, taught in school.

Like the previous reviewer, I found the romance conclusion odd and out of sync with the previous chapters. Overall though, a pleasant meander through the highly dramatic times of the Gunpowder Plot. ( )

Enjoyable historical drama based around the Gunpowder Plot. Not the most exciting earth-shattering novel but a good read nontheless. Apart from the weird resolution of the romance part of the plot... ( )