The Muscovy Chain

Get ready for the final THRILLING instalment in John Pilkington's Thomas the Falconer Tudor mystery series!

‘English history fans who don’t know the Thomas the Falconer series should get up to speed quickly.’ Booklist

THE FINAL DEADLY HUNT

When Thomas’s master Sir Robert is charged by the Queen’s Council to host an important guest – Grigory Stanic, ambassador of distant Muscovy – Thomas is tasked with entertaining His Excellency’s party, who are all keen hawking men.

Soon after their arrival he is ordered to guard a priceless gift for Boris Godunov, the most important man at the Tsar’s court: a magnificent gold chain with jewelled pendant. But dismay ensues when the priceless chain is promptly stolen – with potentially disastrous diplomatic consequences.

So the desperate hunt for the Muscovy chain begins - and a body is discovered, the victim having been brutally tortured. Moreover, a mysterious figure is seen on the Downs, sowing fear in the community. Is he the thief - or worse, the murderer?

As matters hurtle towards a deadly conclusion, Thomas must use his sharp mind and all his skills to uncover dark secrets lurking among Stanic’s divided followers. But is he truly ready to confront the most terrible adversary he has ever faced?

Praise for the Thomas the Falconer series:

‘Larger-than-life characters and authentic 16th-century ambience… Pilkington successfully draws readers into his world and keeps them turning the pages.’ - Booklist

'The story moves at a great pace ... it made a welcome change to discover Elizabethan England through the eyes of a lesser mortal.' - The Historical Novels Review

‘A sturdy and entertaining historical for fans of Elizabethan mysteries’ Library Journal

'The quality of the writing and evocation of the Elizabethan Age is right up there with C J Sansom - and that could be no higher recommendation. I devoured it with relish and a buzz of contentment! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review

Brilliant! A master of descriptive prose! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review

Interesting tale of intrigue, murder and mystery. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review

I was gripped from start to finish. A very well crafted read which was unputdownable. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review

Well-drawn characters in a colourful and dangerous world, drawn into a plot that will keep you guessing (and keep the pages flying by). Thoroughly recommended. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review

"The Muscovy Chain" was written by John Pilkington.

A writer for over forty years, John Pilkington was born in Lancashire and worked at many jobs including laboratory assistant, farm worker, weaver, shipping clerk, picture frame-maker and cabaret musician before finding his true vocations. He has written plays for radio and theatre, television scripts for a BBC soap, a short-lived children’s series and numerous works of historical fiction, including several Elizabethan mystery series for award-winning publisher Boldwood Books.

He lives in a village on a tidal estuary in Devon with his long-term partner.

Yes, "The Muscovy Chain" is part of the "The Thomas the Falconer Mysteries" series.