by Arturo Perez - Reverte (Author)
Captain Alatriste's affair with the beautiful actress Maria de Castro is rankling not only his long-term mistress but also the King of Spain. With loyal companion Inigo distracted by the affections of Angelica, Alatriste becomes embroiled in a series of tussles outside his lover's house. Ambushed by arch-nemesis Malatesta, a skirmish ensues that leads to the death of de Castro's other lover - the monarch himself. But behind this tale of sexual jealousy lurks a darker truth. As it becomes clear that both Alatriste and Inigo have been cunningly honey trapped - and that the dead man was an impostor - Alatriste comes face to face with Emilio Bocanegra, President of the Court of the Inquisition, and the realisation that he is in league with dastardly Malatesta. With a puppet king waiting dutifully in the wings, Alatriste must use all his cunning and swordsmanly guile to prevent the murder of the real king - and his implication in a crime for which he has been perfectly framed.
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 288
Edition: UK First Edition; 1st printing.
Publisher: Weidenfeld & Nicolson
Published: 12 Mar 2009
ISBN 10: 0297852485
ISBN 13: 9780297852483
Book Overview: This latest book combines the return of the series' most colourful villains with a careering plot, full of twists and turns, deceptions and revelations. A plot to kill the king, rivalry over a beautiful actress, swordplay and court intrigue - this combines all of the best elements of Alatriste, with strong echoes of the best novels by Dumas. 'A thinking man's adventure novel, where sword fights and tales of derring-do are interwoven with wonderful passages of poetry and gems of historical and cultural information' The Times 'Alatriste's novels brilliantly rework the romances of writers such as Alexandre Dumas for our more cynical times' Sunday Times
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