The Crown

Nancy Bilyeau

Jan 2012 · Joanna Stafford series Book 1 · Sold by Simon and Schuster

About this ebook

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.

Ratings and reviews

Have you ever wanted to be swept up into a mystery from another time? Pick up this book. From the beginning, the reader is taken to a different time and place to experience England after the demise of Anne Boylen. But the special nuance of this book is that you don't spend your time reading about the magical times at court, instead you are in a nunnery with a girl who came from a family of stature who has decided that a calling from God will take her in a different direction. As I don't read a ton of historical fiction, I am always swept away by a book that can easily take me to another time and place and I fall in love with characters no matter what time it is. A mystery with murder and intrigue with the backdrop of the fight between the church with nuns and monks and the kings and dukes was a page turner from beginning to end. The twists and turns made for a deep story that could be read twice and be enjoyed again and again. Normally, I don't compare one book to another or say if you like this then you should read this, but this book is a perfect companion to The Other Boylen. As this story takes place after Anne Boylen has taken the heart of Henry the Eighth, this story continues the history of England and the battle between church and state.

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.