THE PLAYERS
From the author of The Swift and the Harrier comes The Players, a gripping historical tale of espionage, treason, and surprising alliances set against the backdrop of the Bloody Assizes–the trials that would determine the fate of over one-thousand treasonous rebels.
England, 1685. Decades after the end of the English Civil War, the country is once again divided when King Charles II’s illegitimate son, the Protestant Duke of Monmouth, arrives in Dorset to incite rebellion against his Catholic uncle.
Armed only with pitchforks, Monmouth’s army is quickly defeated by King James II’s superior forces and charged with high treason.
From the author of The Swift and the Harrier comes The Players, a gripping historical tale of espionage, treason, and surprising alliances set against the backdrop of the Bloody Assizes–the trials that would determine the fate of over one-thousand treasonous rebels.
England, 1685. Decades after the end of the English Civil War, the country is once again divided when King Charles II’s illegitimate son, the Protestant Duke of Monmouth, arrives in Dorset to incite rebellion against his Catholic uncle.
Armed only with pitchforks, Monmouth’s army is quickly defeated by King James II’s superior forces and charged with high treason. Those found guilty will be hanged, drawn, and quartered.
As Dorset braces for carnage, the formidable Lady Jayne Harrier and her enigmatic son, assisted by the reclusive daughter of a local magistrate, contrive ways to save men from the gallows.
Compelling and powerful, The Players is a story of guile, deceit, and compassion. Secrets are kept and surprising friendships formed in a dangerous gamble to thwart a brutal king’s thirst for vengeance…
- Blackstone Publishing
- Hardcover
- December 2024
- 416 Pages
- 9798228315075
Buy the Book
$28.99
About Minette Walters
Minette Walters is one of the world’s best-selling crime writers and has sold over twenty-five million copies of her books worldwide. She has won the CWA John Creasey Award, the Edgar Allan Poe Award, and two CWA Gold Daggers. The Players is her fourth historical novel. She lives in Dorset with her husband.
Praise
“Historical fiction as it should be and at its best.” —Elizabeth Chadwick, award-winning author
“Told with the masterful skill of a true storyteller, full of action, with characters that light up the historical stage, The Players is a novel that abounds with danger and foreboding. A real page-turner that kept me riveted from start to finish.” Anne O’Brien, Sunday Times bestselling author
Discussion Questions
1. Lady Jayne Harrier is based on two real women from the 17th century who were granted licenses to practice medicine. Does this surprise you, or make you curious to learn more about the history of women doctors?
2. How did the author create tension within this novel?
3. Why do you think historical fiction novels are so popular with readers? Did this novel give you a look at a historical event you were already familiar with, or a new perspective on the Bloody Assizes trials?
4. What lasting message do you think the author is trying to convey through this historical fiction?
5. If you were in the characters’ shoes, do you think you would have made similar choices?
6. If this novel was turned into a movie, who would you cast and why?
7. What part of the book stayed with you after you finished reading? Why do you think that particular moment or detail had such an impact?
8. Were there any historical events or details that surprised you or changed your understanding of that time period?
9. Lady Jayne Harrier is a formidable character… What aspects of her character make her stand out as a leader in this dangerous time?
10. Which character’s personal sacrifices had the most emotional impact on you, and why?