The Crown - (Joanna Stafford) by Nancy Bilyeau (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

An astonishing debut in historical fiction, hailed as "part The Da Vinci Code, part The Other Boleyn Girl," (Woman's Day), The Crown follows one nun's dangerous quest to find an ancient relic during Cromwell's reign of terror.

Joanna Stafford, a Dominican nun, learns that her favorite cousin has been condemned by Henry VIII to be burned at the stake. Defying the rule of enclosure, Joanna leaves the priory to stand at her cousin's side. Arrested for interfering with the king's justice, Joanna, along with her father, is sent to the Tower of London.

While Joanna is in the Tower, the ruthless Bishop of Winchester forces her to spy for him: to save her father's life she must find an ancient relic--a crown so powerful, it may possess the ability to end the Reformation.

With Cromwell's troops threatening to shutter her priory, bright and bold Joanna must decide who she can trust so that she may save herself, her family, and her sacred way of life. This provocative story melds heart-stopping suspense with historical detail and brings to life the poignant dramas of women and men at a fascinating and critical moment in England's past.

Review Quotes

"[An] inventive thriller...A captivating heroine, Stafford will have you eagerly following every step of her quest." "- Parade "

"[A] captivating thriller."" - All You"

"An engrossing thriller...[the] extensive historical research shines." "- Entertainment Weekly "

"Bilyeau deftly weaves extensive historical research throughout, but the real draw of this suspenseful novel is its juicy blend of lust, murder, conspiracy, and betrayal." "- O, The Oprah Magazine"

"Bilyeau weaves her breathtaking story though a string of events to a pleasing conclusion while giving the reader a more thorough understanding of a complicated bit of history. Historical fiction as it should be." - "Florida Times-Union"

"History buffs will delight in the details interwoven in the story." "- Times Record News"

"I'm loving 'The Crown.'"" - Redbook"

"Part The Da Vinci Code", part The Other Boleyn Girl", it will keep you guessing until the very end!" - Woman's Day, Book Pick of the Month"

"The right sort of action to lure fans of historical fiction: righteous nuns, evil bishops, real-world figures and a potential burning at the stake." - Time Out New York"

"When her cousin is condemned to death by King Henry VIII, daring young nun Joanna risks everything to be by her side."" - People Magazine"

"Bilyeau weaves her breathtaking story through a string of events to a pleasing conclusion while giving the reader a more thorough understanding of a complicated bit of history. Historical fiction as it should be."--"The Times-Union"

"An engrossing thriller...her extensive historical research shines."--"Entertainment Weekly"

"A must read...Part" The Da Vinci Code", part "The Other Boleyn Girl", it will keep you guessing until the very end!"--"Woman's Day", Book Pick of the Month

"All the ingredients for a thriller: murder, violence, intrigue, sex, and religious fanatics."--examiner.com

"An amazing first novel, filled with excitement, intrigue, espionage, and set against the background of one of the bloodiest periods of British history; the schism between Church and State. It's an action-packed tale of one nun's dangerous quest to discover the secrets of an ancient relic that dates back to centuries."--Katherine Neville, author of "The Eight"

"Bilyeau deftly weaves extensive historical detail throughout, but the real draw of this suspenseful novel is its juicy blend of lust, murder, conspiracy, and betrayal."--"O, The Oprah Magazine

"

"Captivating thriller..."--"All You" magazine

."..will appeal to fans of Dan Brown and Philippa Gregory."--"Library Journal"

"Strong character development, realistic historical detail, and an atmosphere of pervasive tension coupled to a fast-paced plot make it compulsively readable."--"Booklist"

"The events of the period come to life in Nancy Bilyeau's dazzling and heart-wrenching novel. "The Crown" is evocative, provocative, and full of intriguing characters--a gorgeously written novel that has mystery and history, pathos and depth. This is a stunning debut about a woman whose spirit shines through and deeply moves the reader." - International Bestseller, M.J. Rose

"This fast-paced debut delivers Tudor intrigue and mystical thrills in one satisfying package--and leaves room for a sequel."--"Kirkus"

""The Crown" by Nancy Bilyeau is an amazing first novel, filled with excitement, intrigue, espionage, and set against the background of one of the bloodiest periods of British history; the schism between Church and State. It's an action-packed tale of one nun's dangerous quest to discover the secrets of an ancient relic that dates back to the time of Christ."--Katherine Neville, author of "The Eight"

"Nancy Bilyeau's polished, inventive debut has all the ingredients of the best historical fiction: a broad cast of characters, well-imagined settings, and vivid story-telling. . . . In Joanna Stafford, Bilyeau has given us a memorable character who is prepared to risk her life to save what she most values, while Stafford's desperate search for a lost religious relic will satisfy even the most ardent mystery fans." --Deborah Harkness, author of "A Discovery of Witches"

About the Author

Nancy Bilyeau, author of The Crown and The Chalice, is a writer and magazine editor who has worked on the staffs of InStyle, Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, and Good Housekeeping. She is currently the executive editor of Du Jour magazine. A native of the Midwest, she lives in New York City with her husband and two children. Visit her website at NancyBilyeau.com.