TLC Book Tours – The Locksmith’s Daughter by Karen Brooks

Another day, another great book!

Thanks to William Morrow Books and TLC Book Tours for the free copy in exchange for my honest review.

THE LOCKSMITH’S DAUGHTER – Karen Brooks (out now!)

Book Description:

From acclaimed author Karen Brooks comes this intriguing novel rich in historical detail and drama as it tells the unforgettable story of Queen Elizabeth’s daring, ruthless spymaster and his female protégée.

In Queen Elizabeth’s England, where no one can be trusted and secrets are currency, one woman stands without fear.

Mallory Bright is the only daughter of London’s most ingenious locksmith. She has apprenticed with her father since childhood, and there is no lock too elaborate for her to crack. After scandal destroys her reputation, Mallory has returned to her father’s home and lives almost as a recluse, ignoring the whispers and gossip of their neighbors. But Sir Francis Walsingham, Queen Elizabeth’s spymaster and a frequent client of Mallory’s father, draws her into his world of danger and deception. For the locksmith’s daughter is not only good at cracking locks, she also has a talent for codes, spycraft, and intrigue. With Mallory by Sir Francis’s side, no scheme in England or abroad is safe from discovery.

But Mallory’s loyalty wavers when she witnesses the brutal and bloody public execution of three Jesuit priests and realizes the human cost of her espionage. And later, when she discovers the identity of a Catholic spy and a conspiracy that threatens the kingdom, she is forced to choose between her country and her heart.

Once Sir Francis’s greatest asset, Mallory is fast becoming his worst threat—and there is only one way the Queen’s master spy deals with his enemies…

My Thoughts: 4/5 stars!

It’s no secret that I love historical fiction, there’s just something about the author being able to transport the reader into another time and experience it. This is no different with THE LOCKSMITH’S DAUGHTER. We are brought into the Elizabethan England and Brooks brings us an incredible, strong female lead.

Mallory Bright has an interesting set of skills. As the daughter of a master locksmith, she was taught all of his skills and secrets of the trade. One night, they are approached by Sir Frances Walsingham, the Queen’s spymaster, and wants to train Mallory to be a spy for them.

I wasn’t expecting it to be so tense throughout the book! You get drawn into the dark world that Mallory finds herself becoming apart of as she works for Walsingham. The research that had to have gone into this book shines through in the descriptions. This story and all of it’s details felt authentic and real. I don’t know much about locksmiths, but it was so cool to be brought into a world that I wasn’t familiar with.

If you want a captivating historical thriller, then look no further! While it has a slower build in the beginning, Brooks hooks you in.

About the Author:

Australian-born Karen Brooks is the author of nine novels, an academic, a newspaper columnist and social commentator, and has appeared regularly on national TV and radio. Before turning to academia, she was an army officer, and dabbled in acting. She lives in Hobart, Tasmania.

Find out more about Karen at her website, and connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.

Where to Purchase a Copy: