<p>‘With all his customary deftness and skill, Taylor weaves a colourful, complicated plot involving royal secrets, foreign spies in London and a mangy lion, caged in a merchant’s stables, that is used to frighten a man to death’ <em>The Times </em>Best Paperbacks of 2022</p> <p>‘A pleasure from start to finish’ <em>The Spectator</em></p> <p>‘Beautifully crafted story’ <em>Mystery and Suspense </em></p> <p>Praise for <em>The Last Protector</em>:</p> <p>‘Confirms his status as one of our finest writers of historical thrillers’ <em>The Sunday Times</em></p> <p>‘There is colour, violence, devotion, courage and fun here. What more could anyone ask of a crime novel?’ <em>Literary Review</em></p> <p>‘Taylor is on reliably good form in this fourth instalment of a series that effortlessly blends history and mystery.’ <em>The Times</em></p> <p>‘A teeming London (in the process of reconstruction after the Great Fire), political chicanery, duels, brothels, court manoeuvrings — all are grist to Taylor’s imaginative mill’ <em>The Financial Times</em></p> <p>‘A brilliant historical novel about Cromwell… Riveting’ <em>Evening Standard</em></p> <p>‘Superb… Cat, especially, remains one of the most compelling, multifaceted characters in contemporary historical fiction’. <em>Observer</em></p> <p>‘Taylor’s fourth Marwood tale is gripping and rich in detail – 4.5 stars’ <em>The Sun</em></p> <p>‘Boasting political intrigue and evocative period atmosphere, The Last Protector is crime writing at its most elegant and assured’ <em>Waterstones blog</em></p> <p>“[G]reat fun and perfect summer getaway reading”! <em>Globe and Mail</em></p>